Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-08-12
A FEDERAL COLONEL ATTEMPTS TO vTNDIoArE
HIMSELF FROM THE CHARGE OF HIDING Be
uINn A PILE OF ROCKS

FEDERAL COLONEL ATTEMPTS TO VlNDlOATE
HIMSELF FROM TIE CHARGE OF HIDING Be
HIND PILE OF ROCKS"
yoLuxIEras, CANP or TIE 0xosBAsn,
- Arlington, July "A, 1861.
10 ths Editor Of ihe Washington Star;
Ahsr nv arrival from Bull Run with my regiment,
porused the daily papers published in Washington, CIV
ing accounts Of the recent battle and was 70
find such an account Of the AFFAIR published IN your
paper from special correspondent rejecting in severe
terms upon the courage Of my regiment, both officers
and men on that occasion Tho whole matter, as pub
lished 10 your paper Is untrue and would be doing
Justice TO al concerned that you give publicity TO the
following statement Of facts as they TRANSFERRED More
could be said Of the affair tina. ought TO be made known
to the public but it would impIieais certain officers o.
k;oh position in the ssrvics and would DO contrary 10
yiss governing the iaferior towards the superior.
However, court of inquiry will bring the facts fore
YOU At about OF the 1s.h inst, our Brigade was
posted in rear OF Sears battery, hill overlooking
thick wood, in which the enemy were hidden from visw
and waiting our attack.
After considerable cannonading from batter,
which was replied TO by the rebels driving the skirmis
era from the woods in double quick time two companies
of the First Massachusetts, Regiment ordered to at
tack them in the woods on their Left They marched
esantly to the attack and repulsed with oonsd-
cradle loss. Two field pieces under command Of Captain
Brscket were then sent In and met with such deadly
reoeptou that the pieces were in danger OF being lost
One of their being shot, one OF the men OF my heg'
ment Immediately advanced aud took his place at the
gun. Nv command was then ordered 10 form near the
foods in line ofbatle the left OF body OF cavalry
which was drawn up under of another piece OF
woods near the of action. person In cir,n's
dress with shoulder straps then rode from the woods
in great haste and urged forward TO sustain his bat
tery and prevent its loss had no Lieutenant Colonel
present, and vas near the right Of my regiment The
Adiu,nnt who was near the centre asked him who he
Ia al hat he vi Bracket.
m,ndipe the battery At that moment saw Col Rich
.rdsop, commanding the Brigade, approaching, and /
REPLIED TO Capt Bracket that II was Col Richardson
orders to advance would do Col Richardson ad.
dressed us saying "hove forward, New Workers, aud
sweep the voods" Immediately gave the order to
Forward" when the battery came rushing out Of the
woods and broke through ourne followed BY grape and
canister from the enemy.
Nv command moved steadily forwards into the woods
and low thick pine, and brush which yelled everything
in front beyond few paces and had proceeded some
twenty or thirty rods when murderous fire OF musketr,
GRADE and canister opened upon us. We returned
the FIRE and ordered my command to fall and load aud
fire living They did co. returning several voeys The
enemy continued 10 pour in their IRE from force which
must have been quadrupe our number, to say nothing
of them battery Yet my men returned the lire, W one
Of the hoe officers gave the command TO retreat when
the centre and left fell rapidly back. As soon as dis
covered the mistake tried to rally the men on the col
os but the murderous he being kept up, they would
rot obey, and actually ran over me- lfohoWed tnd en-
treated the men to rally the colos and partially sue
cseded several tines but unable to make perDa-
nent stand General Tyler at this time rode forward and
denounced us oil as cowsrds Several companies on the
riqh;-A, | and part Of Eremsined until the firing
ssed on the part of the rebels when they, by order
formed retreat in good order into the hsld IN font OF
the woods.
Az this time had the Regiment nearly formed on the
hill near the woods by the road aud left in charge OF
the Msior until went back about the wounded,
and when returned the word had been given for the
Brigade TO retire to Cenrevie see by the articles rc-
erred to- that " mounted my horse and cid not step run.
ming until sras safely behind pile Of rocks" Nov,
ST. this is false in every particular. Oar former Lieut.
Col Graham, (now Quartermlster of the Regiment)
mounted on gray horse that resembed mine very much
Who did ride to the in quick time doubt not but
nc was taken for myself chsa retiring from the battle
oroi,d feel that have been wronged and ask Of you
70 publish this statement and by so doing you will do
Justice to myself my Regiment and my friends | am
so confident that done my duty on that occasion that
would repeat If should be placed before the enemy
| under similar circumstances.
Z. L. WALRATH,
Colonel Of the Twelfth n. Y. Volunteers.