The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-06-14
HDQ'RS CLINGMAN's BRIGADE,
Cold Harbor, June 5, 1864.

IDQ KS CLlNGMANS brigade, I
Cold Harbor, June 5, 1864.
To the Editors Of the Enquirer:
Gentlemen My attention has been called to a
statement in your paper, that in the battle Of the
LIST inst ''Clingmans brigade gave way for a time"
AS this statement does great injustice to the gal
liant and patriotic under nay command, | earn
estly request you to publish, in your next issue,
this note. My brigade was in line of battle on
that occasion, and heavily attacked along its
entire front from right to left The enemy ad-
vanced not only in line of battle, but on the left
wing also in heavy columns, masked by the line Of
battle in their front. This attack was signally and
repeatedly repulsed with great loss to the enemy
in my entire front Near our left, where they
came in columns. their dead were much thicker
than l have ever seen them on any battle field.
Amy force advancing in front would have been
destroyed as fast as it could come up, for my men
were regularly supplied with fresh ammunition,
and fought with the utmost GOODNESS, courage and
cheerfulness.
There was, however, in the beginning of the en-
gagement, brigade from another State than my
own stationed on our left. This brigade did give
way, and, while the contest was going in
front, the enemy in large force occupied the
ground on our left flank and rear. After We had
repealed the last attack in front, and the
cheering along the line, the 9Th regiment, which
formed my left, suddenly attacked on its left
flank and rear. The woods there being thick and
the smoke Dense the enemy bad approached with
in few yards, aid opened heavy fire on the
rear of the 9Th as we'll as its left. If this regl-
ment had then given way, it might have escaped
with much less loss; but true to its reputation and
it's past conduct, it, by facing in two directions at
tempted to hold its position, and thus lost about
two-thirds of its numbers. The left wing of the
5lst, next it, suffered in the manner, heavi-
y, because it continued the fight by facing in two
directions. They persevered in this even after the
time when seeing that the contest could not be
confined in this mode, [ ordered them back, and
with the aid of their officers withdrew the survi
vors. They were then formed in line of battle
perpendicular to the original one, with the 31st
ald 6 list regiments, which had also repealed the
enemy, in their front. The brigade was thus IN
der constant fire from the enemy formed in a
new line of battle across the open field. While it
was so doing, the 9th Georgia reg iment, of Gen
Colqntt's brigade, came up from right hand
s0mely, and advanced with us. The enemy were
then, after short struggle, driven back, and the
whole of my original line was reoccupied but the
position of the brigade on my left remained in the
possession of the enemy, without any attempt ever
being made to retake It, [ feel confident that no
brigade from any State in this war, or any other
war, ever acted better than did nine under such
circumstances II may not be amss to state that
within the last three weeks, it has lost Gin battle)
eleven hundred and seventy three (1,l73) men.
It is singular fact, too, but that is indisputa
bly, true, that In every instance in which it has
been engaged, whether attacking or defending it.
SELF it has decidedly and signaily beaten the enc
my in its 'front.' and that four-ffths of its losses
have been sustained solely because its TANKS have
been left unprotected by the troops which should
have been there. They have suffered in this way
on six different occasions.
I will not, however, trust myself further to
speak of these things. Having been for full
month in the trenches every night and day, and
part of the time without a single staff officer, all
the members Of my staff present having been shot
down in the late engagements, have little leisure
to write at length. AS this statement is not long,
I earnestly request those editors whose papers
have copied the article above referred to, to pub
lish this remembering that next to his country,
the true soldier values the reputation and glory of
bis own good actions.
Very respectfully, yours, &C.,
7. L. CLlNGMAN; Brig Gen.