New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-07-11
"Reminiscences of Maior-General wool.


contributor to the Washington Union furnishes
the following interesting remniscence in the history
Of Major-Ge John E. Wool, derived from Der.
sonal observation ' -
notice with great pleasure the presentation of a
sword Of the richest quality to Gen. Wool for bis EN-
cient service on the boodiest battlefield OF American
arms-Bnena Vista p
his country at On earlier day-when Major in CON-
mand OF the 29th regiment of Infantry at the battle
of Plattsburg, September, 1914.
He was one OF the best discipIinarians in the army
quiring all under his command To- come N, 10 fis
own standard. On this account some considered him
harsh and severe, but this discpiHe was the glory of
the regiment. 1g
On fhe morning of the sth Of ss..emter 1914
when Gov. Provost was marching upon Plattsburg
with an army Of IA 500 men, mestIy the inyincjble
troops Of Lord Wellington Major Wool, with 400 men
of bis regiment, at clock in the morning. marched
out the Beekmantown road, eight miles distant. At
sunrise orders were given to file Of 10 an adjacent
field for refreshments at the same time Major wool
rode on In advance to reconnoitre the advancing en-
emy. Very soon he returned rapidly, waving his
sword for us TO form and take position in the road
We Immediately fell into column, and half way to
the road we received the first fire Of the enemy Pur.
suant to orders we formed in the road and adopted
the mode Of streetfrng the first company firing and
falling in the rear to load and in turn to fire again.
In this way, gradually falling back in good order as
ne enemy pressed upon u.s. disputed every foot OF
ground. Major WooPs horse was soon shot and given
70 his Sergeant Major, Bodsford, who was badly
his wound. ~ - = -',s : f21" - y.
When we had gradually fallen back to within two
miles Of rattsourg, Captain Leonard came up to our
battalion Of rifemen these latter took position
near the road BY q stone fence. Here We made q
stand formed tn solid column, until our ioes came
wlIan ,h p,s.oisn1 I M we then fred and then opened
awful effect; at the time the riHeIneu seuf in
their deadly messengers. Here the enemy was thrnvs
into momentary confusion, but instantly recovered
pressed on, and came within an ace Of taking Capt
Leonards guns. =,
Col. Wellington led upon battalion of cavalry
with great fury. Fifty men OF our company leveled
their uskets at his head and he fell 10 tic ground
| nortally wounded, when his command fell back
After this bloody conflict, where our foes suffered
dreadfaly, we soon fell back in good order to the
south side Of the Saranae taking of the plank Of the
bridge in the face OF the enemy and there making
behind the houses. The bravery displayed by Major
W. and his men, and the admirable regularity n their
movements, taught the British army lesson which
helped much to our glorious victory after an unequal
| contest OF five days and nights. .iia
The severest forlorn hope that ever tested the
courage OF soldier was performed by twenty men Of
the 18th. an ten men of another regiment in going
unarmed with hay and tar, and firing the dry pine
unoerousn GER IN me very face of the British batteries
one 81 onr soops-of-war nsed by McDonoagh on
the lake at this battle nineteen days previously the
trees Of which It was built waving green il the
foresti "a
and firm in battle chan it is for his men, After the
first onset the men become excited and eager to re-
venge their falling comrades, and think but little Of
their own danger. The greatest trial Of soldier ID
He feels like he had egg in his throst and is not
relieved until the effect of powder and had is seen.
The bloody 29th, as it was called, is now about
extnct-nearly all the men and officers having gone
fftth tho
and this writer far is known are the only sur
vivors Of this gallant regiment of infantry.