Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-06-09
Injustice to a Brigade.
HrAnospu EYTNCNr,r'o RDro.
Cold Harbor, June 5tb. 1864.

COlu HarDOr, June 9th, 1904.
To the Editor the Richmond Dispatch.
My attention has been called to statement in your
paper that 10 the battle of the first Instant "Cing-
mans brigade gave way for time" As this state
ment does great Djustclto the gallant and patriotic
under my command earnestly request you to publish
in your next issue this note. My brigud was in line
OF battle Cd that occasion, and was heavily attacked
along its entire front, fir light to lett The enemy adj
vanced not only IN line cf battle, but the left wing
also in heavy columns masked by the lire CT battle in
their front. This attack signaly repu
Sc with great loss to the enemy in my entire front
N ear our left where they came in columns their daao
were much thicker than have even them on any
battle field. Any for advancing in front would have
been destroyed last IS could come up for my men
were regularly supplied with fresh ammunition, and
fought with tb utmost cooInee9 courage and cheerful
ness.
here was, however, in the beginning Of The engage
ment, brigade from another State than my own Sta
toned on our LETT. This brigade did give way and
While ihe contest was going on in our front the enemy
IN large force, occupied the ground our leff
flank and rear After had repeed the last attack
~ 'front.' and the cheering along the line, the
9Th regiment, which formed my lett, suddenly at
lacked on its left flank and The woods there De-
ing thick and the smoke Dense the enemy had approach
ed within few yards aud opened a heavy free toe
rear of the as well as its left If this regiment lad
then given way, it might have ESCAPED with much less
loss but true to It's reputation and it's past conduct
1t, by facing In two directions attempted TO hold its
position, aid thus lost about twotbicds Of its numbers
Auc elt Why vi tut olSt, De&L 10 l suffered 10 tn5
manner heavily because it continued the fight By
facing IN two drectloD5 They peEsevered In this
after the time When seeing that the contest could not
be maintained in this mode ordered them back, and
with the aid OF their officers Withdrew the survivors,.
They then 10 line CT battle perpendicular to tbs
original one, with the 3lst and 6lst regiments, which
had elso repealed ell the enemy in their front.
The brigade was thus under constant fire from the
enemy formed in a new line of battle the open
field. While it was doing, the 9th Georgia reg
ment, of Gen. Colqultt's brigade, up from our
right handsomely, and advanced in line with The
enemy were then, after short struggle driven back,
and the whole OF my original line reoccuped, but
tie position of the brigade MY left remained 10 the
OF the enemy without any attempt being
made to retake it, feel confident that brigade from
any State In this war, any other war, acted bet
ter than did mine under the circumstances. 1t may
not be amss to state that within the last three weeks
it has lost in battle eleven hundred and seventy three
Q,l73) men. 1t is singular fact, too, (out that
is lndisputaby true that in every instance in which 1t
has been engaged, whether attacking defending it.
self, it has decidedly and sgnay beaten the enemy in
its front, and that four ths Of its lsses have been
sustained solely because its TANKS have been lett unpro
tected by the troops which should have been there
hey have suffered in this way on six different
sons.
will not, however trust myself further to speak Of
these things. Having been for full month il the
trenches every night and day. and part of the tine
without single staff officer, all the members of my
staff present having been snot down 10 the late engage
ments, have little leisure to write at length AS this
staten en is not long, earnestly request those editors
whose papers have copied the article above referred to
to publish this, remembering that next TO his country
the true soldier values the reputation and glory Of his
own good action.
Very respectfully, yours, &c,
Z. L. CL1NGMAE, Brig. General.