Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-11-08
Correspondence of the Petersburg Index.
Defence of McGowan's Brigade-a Letter
from the General


II. E. Young, Esq: My Dear Friend
The slip you had the kindness to send m
from the Petersburg Index, has Just bee
engagements on the Circuit, and I hav
not the time to give it the full REPUTATION
which it deserves The matter an th
manner of the statements about Wilcox
Division, and especially about the Brigade
of MCGOWAN and Lane, surprise me be
yond measure. The writer speaks as pos
itively as if he knew what he was saying
and as recklessly as if reputation had n,
value / do not know who he is, anC
therefore am not sure that it is expedien
now to reply to his inconsderate remarks
Still, as General Wilcox's report of thu
operations of his division, in the campaign
OF 1864, was destroyed on the retreat from
Petersburg, and as such incorrect state
ments may be repeated until the ignorant
accept them as the truth Of history,
have determined to put you in possession
of some of the facts concerning that cam
paign. If the official reports were publish
ed, there would be no necessity to say one
word, as they, coming from those who had
the best opportunity for knowing the facts,
Will clearly show what services were per
formed by my Brigade
FIRST. AS to the battle Of the Wilder
nesS-it is untrue that WilcOx's Division
was only slightly engaged on the first eve
ning-the afternoon of May 9Th. It was
very heavily engaged. My Brigade was
the first thrown forward early in the after
noon, to support Gen. Heth, who was gal
lantly engaged, but hard pressed. [ could
not now state what was done better than
WAS stated in the official report made by
me To Gen. Wilcox at the time, copy of
which | send you. / regret that Gen. A.
2. Hill is dead, but the other Generals on
the ground Lee, Heth and Wilcox-can
testify to its entire correctness.
EXTRACT FEoM M'GowANs REPORT.
"As [ approached the point Of fire, l
met Gen. Lee, who directed me to proceed
down the plank road and report to Gen.
SO, and was directed by him to deploy my
Brigade on both sides of the plank road,
and if possible to drive the enemy down to-
wards the D,'Och ro,nL We pressed through
the dense underground, and passing over
the line of Gen. Heth, which was lying
down, charged the enemy and drove him
some distance, four or five hundred yards,
the whole extent of our front.
eve passed over the dead and wounded
of the enemy, and through his lines, until
there was no firing on our front The
firing on both TANKS, and to our rear still
continuing very heavy. [ halted the Brig
ade, and as the firing seemed closing in
behind us, information OF our position was
given to Gen. Wilcox, who directed the
Brigade to be withdrawn through the gap
made. On our return the enemy was SO
near the road on both sides that their balls
crossed each other. They pressed so close
on the left that [ sent part of the Brigade
to drive them back where they found Gen.
Thomas engaging them. 1t was now sum
down. Night closed in and the firing
ceased, both sides retaining the ground on
which they had fought In this charge the
Brigade behaved extremely we'll. They
drove the enemy at all points, and captured
some prisoners. If our force had been suf-
icient to drive the enemy in the same way,
along the whole front, the bloodshed of the
next day might possibly have been prevent
I'd. [ am grieved to have to report that
our loss was heavy, being an aggregate of
Isl killed and wounded A full statement
IF casualties has already been rendered.
Col. John L. Miller, Lieuts. J. r. Mcknight
md J. \. Garvin, of the 18th Lieut.. S. L.
Wier, of the 18th, and Lieuts. B. J. Wat
1ins and J. II. Tolar, of the Rifles, we're
zilled on the field; and Lit. Col. 3. J. Book
er, Major II. II. Harper, Capt. Josiah Cox
". A. Kelly, Jno. G.. BarnweII, j. W. Nc
Carly, r. Junkins, and Lieuts. J. A. Wat
on,. s. S. Howard, H. II. Heise, l.. G..
3ellotte, J. A Beard, J. II. Robins, j. r.
5adler, and L. Is. Means, were wound
3D., &c.
The reports of Gems. Heth and Wilcox,
f now in existence, WILL in stronger terms
han used, set forth the gallantry and eff
,ient services of my Brigade OIL this occa-
ion and to these Generals I confidently
efer. 4 more graphic and eulogistic &C
count OF the charge made by McGowans
Brigade on this afternoon was written at
he time by an English correspondent, an
we w tness, and this may be found on the
lies of some of the Richmond papers.
SECOND. As to Spottsylvania Court Hous
he statements of the Index are equally I'M
ounded. II ever troops ''held their own"
!nder tho most difficult circumstances and
mmortalized themselves, my Brigade did
n ''the bloody angle" on the 18th of May.
think it may be said, with perfect mod
9sty and entire truth, that nothing in the
history OF the world surpassesit. [ enclose
you also my report of this great battle, but
1t surely cannot be necessary to do more
than refer to the report of Gen. Wilcox,
the following extract from which was, in
his own handwriting, furnished me by
Gen. Wilcox himself, before the retreat
from Petersburg, in which all his baggage
was lost: In speaking of my Brigade, he
reported as follows:
EXTRACT FROM GENERAL WILCOX'S REPORT.
ARTILLERY and infantry firing was still
heard 10 the left on Ewell's front, and this
continuing with increased violence, the
General directed me to send
Brigade to the support of that part of the
line. IcG0"om'S Brigoric was ordered, and
reached its destination, and went into &C
ton, about O. or 10 A. NJ, being directed
by Major General Rodes. It took position
on the right of his line in support of Har-
ris Miss Brigade, and to assist in filling
up the gap on tho right, caused by the
capture of Johnson's line. McGowan's
Brigade was on the left face of the salient,
which had been held by johnson, its right
resting about 80 yards from the salient
now held by the enemy, who also occupied
near 100 yards of the right face of the sa-
lient. In getting into position, this Brigade
was subjected to terrible fire of both ar
tillery and musketry; and lost severely
among the wounded was its chivalric com
mander, Brig. Gen. Samuel MCGOWAN, not
yet recovered from previous wound. He
was painfully wounded in the right arm,
-