The Portland daily press., 1881-09-20
Burnside and the Ninth Corps


n o. d. Robinson writes as follows to the Al
Sbany Journal
The notice in last evenings journal of the
zsudden death of Gen. Burnside brings forcibly
Ito mind the scenes of this very day (Sept. 14)
nineteen years ago at South Mountain, Md
NIt was Sunday, and the day broke bright and
Sbeautiful. We had encamped the previous
Knight at the little village of Middletown, near
1.-THE mountain where was to be fought the first
Sbattle Of the war north Of the Potomac. At
Hearly dawn troops were seen moving toward
ESourh Mountain, from all directions, while
3the waving of signal flags from church
Ssteeples and lofty elevations, and the rapid
4riding of couriers in all directions, were un-
4 smistakable signs that there was 'serious busi-
y ness" lust ahead. 1t was a strange Sunday to
us. as our regiment was green one, havins
! been less than three weeks away from our ma
8 tive State. The skirmishing commenced at
sunrise, and the BATTLE which began in earn
est about noon, ragged around that little noun
4 tain till long after dark. Our regiment was
8 ordered in soon after noon, and as we were
3nearing the base of the mountain, saw Gen.
4 Burnside, who was in command OF our corps
\ posting a battery on little eminence and
sighting one of the guns. Noticing that we
! were green troops (for our regiment was as
slarge as the rest of the brigade), he inquired
asswhat regiment?' ana spoke word OF cheer.
la few moments more and we, with bayonets
86xed having with the recklessness of new troops
athrown away our knapsacks and haversacks
swere charging up the sides of the mountain,
/ (which seemed fairly to quake and throb under
zthe terrific ERE Of artillery and musketry. As
we reached clearing" near the summit
rebel battery, which was posted on our right
upon another peak opened upon us, and the
afirst she'll came cracking into our color COM
Apapy" wounding several men aud causing
Sgreat confusion. At this instant looked To-
4wards our battery which We had passed near
Sthe base of the mountain, and from tne very
Sgun which had seen our brave general slght-
Ming came q puff of smoke, and glancng To-
Award the rebel battery (for it was In pialh
Hsieht) saw that the first shot from Burn
Rsides battery had shattered the gun whlcn
Asent the shell into our ranks cneer went
Ann from our men, and we never forgot the
Scene of Gen. Burnside sighting that gun. In
1.-THE three years that followed, during which
athe ninth corps served in every department
Hfrom the Potomac to Vcksburg, think may
Ssafely say that saw General Burnside on the
9field OF battle, where bullets were flying, and
sshells were bursting, more times than saw
lany other or all other generals of our COM
mand, including the "briga6iers.
81 At Antietam, three days after the event
narrated above, saw him ride his old sor5el
1horse" across the famous stone bridge, amidst
M storm of shot and shell, and the cheers Oh
IBIS men rising above the roar OF a oattI,i ,d bis
Goodness in the face OF danger acted lke an
sinsniration unon his men. / never knew q
general officer so beloved by the rank and file
Isof his men. On one occasion he rode past our
Sbrigade at midnight as the men, almost ex-
ahausted by forced march, were resting by the
sroadside for few moments. As soon as the
sboys recognized "Old Burnie, forgetting their
sweariness, they began to cheer. he raised
ahis hand and said quietly, "Not now, boys
mot now; we are too near the enemy ana m
1stantly it became as still as though the "Doys
were asleep. His corps, from its frequent re-
5mova from one department to another, was
dubbed "Burnside's Geography Glass, and
Fthink it safe to affirm that no corps engaged IN
smore battles or endured more hardshipS than
9the old ninth. And yet l believe there was
snot a man in thecorps who would not have fol-
slowed Gen Burnside to starvation or to the cam
Hnons mouth so implicitly did they believe in
his integrity and patriotism. Our war devel-