The National tribune., 1881-10-29


Eustis's, was also severe, and swelled the Second
divisions loss to nearly 5000 men. The loss in
the Ninety third Pennsylvania (Wheatons bri-
gade) was 1872 killed and wounded, Major John
J. Nevn being among the latter. The casualties
in the One Hundred and Thirty ninth Pennsyl-
vania, which received the first shock in the con-
federate attack on the left, were fearful, and the
regiment had scarcely one commissioned officer
uninured at the close of the fighting. in his
official report upon the battle, General Getty
says:
In wrestling the possession Of the crossing of
the Orange Court House and Brock roads from
Hills corps when already occupied by his Skin
mishers, it is not claiming too much to say that
the Second division saved the army from dis
astrous defeat, for that point was of vital i'm
portance to us, and its falling into the hands of
the enemy would have cut our army in two
separating the Second Corps from the Fifth and
Sixth, and would have exposed to capture the
artillery reserve, then moving up from Chancel-
lorsville on the Orange plank road. Throughout
the terrible struggle that ensued this division
held the key point of the battlefield, the plank
road. Their losses, all killed or wounded and
few or none prisoners, show how tenaclously they
fought The reports of brigade and regimental
commanders mention many acts of individual
gallantry Captain Ricketts,, commanding the
section of artillery on this road, in the battle on
the 5th displayed great GOODNESS and courage
The officers of my staff, Major Charles Mundee,
Assistant Adjutant- General; Captain Hazard
Stevens, Assistant Adjutant Inspector-General;
Lieutenant John Faaon, Aid-de-Camp; Lieu
tenant Henry Murray, Aid-de-Camp, performed
their duties on the field well and CALAMITY.
Captain Hazard Stevens received a wound on the
9Th, and had his horse killed under him. Lieu
tenant John Faaon, Aid-de-Camp, was also Sc
verely wounded My horse was killed under
me on the 9Th. Lieutenant Cole, pioneer officer,
merits great praise He constantly kept his
pioneers close up, and once when our troops were
giving back he placed them in the front line and
did good service until the close of the battle.
In a letter of late date to the writer relating
to this action, Major General Louis A. Grant,
who commanded the gallant Vermont brigade
during the sanguinary engagement, says:
There is no doubt that the Second division of
the Sixth Corps ON the first day of the battle, and
possibly on the second day also, saved our army
from rout This may be readily seen by repeat
ing a conversation had between General Getty
and General Gordon, of the confederate army,
few days after the surrender, and this had from
General Getty's lips soon after. Generals Getty
and Gordon were riding along together and talk
ing over schoolboy days at West Point and the
events of the war; when Gordon happened to re-
mark that he was in command of the confederate
forces on the plank road on the first day at the
1soll %lnA
was in command of the Federal forces at that
point that day, and inquired Of Gordon how large
a force he had. Gordon said that he had his old
division of about seven thousand and Heth's
of about the same strength, making in all about
fourteen thousand. Getty replied that he had
only three brigades of about six thousand mus
kets, and asked Gordon what his object was in
forcing that engagement. Gordon said that he
knew that our reserve artillery was parked only
about two miles to the rear of the cross roads,
and that Hancock encamped the night before at
Todds Tavern, and that it must be several hours
before he could come up to form connection with
the rest of the army, and that his object was to
cut off Hancock from the rest of the army, cap
ture artillery, and strike us in the left flank
and rear and that he was pressing down rapidly
in order to accomplish it, not suppOsing that
there was any force in his front but small force
of cavalry, and that he was surprised on reaching
the cross roads to find infantry skirmishers, and
that he Immediately formed his forces into line
preparatory to attack us, but that our attack
upon him was a few minutes before he was ready
to move to attack u.s. and that our attack was so
strong, violent and persistent that all he could
do was to hold his own until dark, when he re-
tired. He also said that large share of his force
was massed upon our left and his right of the
plank road. Getty replied: "Why, only had
my little Vermont brigade there, of less than
three thousand muskets." Gordon replied ::
"Well, the brush was so thick we could not see
anything"
1t is undoubtedly true that the Vermont bri-
gade fought directly and almost hand to hand
over ten thousand men that day. l was over the
ground after the battle. The brush and small
timber were very Dense SO that it was next to
impossible to ride horse through, and yet al
most every tree and SADDLE was marked by bull
lets. 1t is not strange that nearly onehalf of the
command fell, but it is strange how any Of us
escaped unhurt.
IOSEpH RARA THE CHILD HERO