Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-11-08

AS I understand it, the brigades of Lane
and MCGOWAN did most, if not all of the
fighting, and it is absurd to allege that two
small brigades should have beaten Warren's
whole corps Of three divisions on ground
of their own selection. It was simply i'm
possible.
The brigade was at that time very much
reduced and yet the casualties III this fight
were oil. Major Thos Pinokney Aston,
thu chevalier without fear and reproach.
and other gallant spirits fell in vain at Jeri-
cho Ford. (See Caldwell's history, page
1914
Can it be necessary to say any thing more?
Is it not very plain that the Index has made
statements, and made them in the most
positive manner, and that too upon the
delicace point Of soldiers honor, which
statements are not sustained by the facts :?
L cannot understand what motive could in
duce the IL ex to make such statements
about matters as to which he is not cor
rectly informed. All our efforts were in
vain. We have nothing left to US from the
great struggle but the glory of heroic
achievements, and to destroy that by care
jlessior,Wicked statements, to quarrel amongst
ourselves IN the circumstances surrounding
us, is not only wrong and ungenerous, but
foolish and suicidal The true soldier
depressing his comrades, nor attempts to
exalt the troops OF one particular command
at the expense of others. Brothers in fail
ure and misfortune should not limit their
feeling of brotherhood to particular local.
ties, or to ideal lines, which once marked
the limits of States 1t seems strange that
d voice should come from the centre point
OF those vast lines of decentralization, dis
paraglng the just fame OF men, VINO fought
gallantly on every great battle field of the
Old Dominion, and many of whose COM
rades sleep their last sleep far from home,
within the sound of the bells of Peters
burg
We have been told that truth will out
that history is reliable, but i'll reference es-
pecially to military matters, [ am disposed
to doubt it, The history of military events
is generally wide of the truth, at least of
the whole truth. The presnmptuous write
their own history-that of the unassuming
is never written. [ believe that the brigade
which, after the fall of the Iamented Gregg,
L commanded, has a record as gallant us
that of any brigade that Was ever organized
1t was al integral part CT tacksOn'S famous
corps, whilst that corps existed and it is
not believed that any similar body of men
ever fought more battles, assisted in gain
ing more Victories or suffered more in the
same period. In tour years, whose Summers
We're spent III constant fighting, and whose
Virginia winters We're passed in un-remit-
ting sutferings, five regiments, never hay
ing five thousand men in their ranks, lost
in battle 1920, from disease 1929, and
from discharges for disability l, 151 men
making the startling aggregate of more
than three f0urths of their original number
Besides nearly every one of the survivors
had been wounded once or twice, or Oft
ener, so that III the muurnful remnant who
the huge Eclipse" of Appomat-
Uax land it was one Of the largest brigades
there were more scars than
muskets
Under these circumstances it was hard to
lose all we fought for, but it is harder still
to be now told that even honor is lost.
Very truly and sincerely your friend,
5. MCGOWAN.
TT +, YOuno Esq Charleston