The National tribune., 1883-06-28
The following is General McAllister,s letter /:

Major FRED C. Low.
Ny DEAR SIR: In all my army experience no
scene of carnage and suffering Is so impressed on
my mind as that fatal charge made by your regiment
Oh The 18th OF June, 1864. The history OF that
charge, as well IS the one preceding it, is very
faIniiiar TO me; took part in the fist
/ WAS In command, temporarily, of the Second
brigade of our division for few days. The COM
rniader of that brigade having been wounded
while advancing Oh the enemy on the evening of
the i6th was ordered by General Birney to- take
command of it, OH the morning Of the 18th we
moved forward on the enenly's works ana carried
the first line without mach difficulty, the enemy
were about leaving this line Tor The stronger in
the rear OF It, Arriving III front of that found it
manned by strong force of artillery and infantry
After delaying little was ordered TO advance
the enen1ys works. We went forward Fhey
poured on my brigade terrific storm of shot, she'll
and mushery, aud my men fell like forest leaves
under a hail storm,
Seeing the utter impossibiIity of advancing fur
tiler, we dropped down, planted standard
along the line, and kept up the fire. sent
port back to division headquarters and asked what
was TO do. Orders came to retire from iny posi-
ton. In doing this LOST heavily On reporting
to General Mott for orders WAS ordered 10 place
my brigade on the reserve ready for action. /
asked, " Where my old brigas!e?" General Mott
replied just going in where you came out" I
exclaimed, God help thenl!r lie asked Why?H
answered " They cannot advance those works
they cannot liye-the enfiaele fire VIII cat them
down" just as sand this an aid from hcadquar-
tiers rode up and said the general: Order the
advance at once" 1t was DONE
the brigade moved oh-your fine regiment
handsomely in the front You went gailantly rot
to meet success; that was impossible. You were
forior1. hope. IL few minutes out OF your ressi-
if1ent, which advanced 500 strong, 632 laid low on
the battlefield. Darkness soon ovefspread the
Held ana was Sery anxious that my wounded
mea who had fallen IN TIE furious charge and lay
between enemy and our lines should be brought
of well rs those belonging TO your brigade aid
regiment, some of whom had advanced still further
than mine Expressing this anxiety, some of my
command volunteered the hazardous undertaking,
and. that il might be done as quietly rs possible
sent only few, with orders 10 very quietly,
lest tie enemy should discover them With these
orders they went. IL was necessary to so very
close to the enemy's line, which they did. The
enemy detected them, opened ire and the oppor-
tunity was lost
All that night we could distinctly hear the groans
oil the wounded and their cries for help; but no
stecor could be sent them, account OF the
stfnt fire. My brigade worked the whole night
long 10 push our works forward, that we might
them That terrible tifght at last broke int
another day (the 18TH: the battle continued with
increased fury; the sun poured down on the dying
ant, wounded, and amid the rafting of musketry
ana roaring OF cannon, We heard the cries OF these
our comrades for water - sNgater!"
When the long, terrible day over and night
again threw her dark NANTES over the contending
forces, aud the fire slackened pushed my brigade
which ran through where Your men lay the thick
est, and most OF your dead and wouned, well as
mine, were brought Off That line never pushed
further, but renamed as our advanced outpost
| fore Petersburg.
Whether history will do Justice or not, permit
me to say that no Language can be too strong IN its
praise of your gallant regiment in that splendid,
noble, heroic charge, when almost three-fourths
OF your number fell, fighting for their country.
rms tier my dear major, is why regard the First
aiaine aeaYy artillery as good regiment.
am, yours, verytHuly,
ROBERT MCALLrsTER,
| Late Breyet Mai.-Gen. u. s. A. Vols, Sd Div, Sd
! Brig, I'd Army Corps.