The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-06-07
Tie RegaIars at Jonesboro,

To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
In THE TRIBUNE Of May Il there is an article
entitled i2ard's Charge 1t J0aesboro .. written
by Benjamin +. Mattern, which in my opinion is
far from giyina. correct account of the fight OF
September /, 1854 The brigade Of Regulars Ia the
JoneS5oTo' fight was not commanded BY General
Long, and the Regulars did not belong 20 Bair,Is
division. The brigade O. Regulars VgeS the Second
brigade Of the FIRST division Fourteenth CsFr
and was commanded during the J0aesboro Gghs
by Major John Il. Eddie. while General King who
was major OF the First battalion Fifteenth United
States infantry, WAS in command Of the First d.
vision, Fourteenth Corps About two hoars-or,
perhaps, from Two t. 1--WE hCurs-beioTe the Jones'
boro fight, which the Third division Fourteenth
Corps, commanded by General Dslire participated.
IN, the Regular brigade IL te advance, and
TO the first line of rebels and think alone
drove the enemy about half q mile and e9uEeFed
two pieces of artsLsry. Il was known by Major
Eddie and General King tilas the rebels were very
strong and f0rtifying front and our bri
sade made h!t and Endorsements FOR.
General Davis. knowing that HeTdee's corps was
III our 'front.' sent either one or two brigade that
belonged 70 the First division 10 Te-enioree
Brigade With orders TO attack the rebels a4f5a Jlns
on an engagement if possible. and. under this
order, the First division, Fourteenth Corps, at
tackled Hardee's corps. The First division drove
the railroad, and when made the charge Gen
eral Davis, with two divisions of the Fourteenth
CoEs, vas m our rear ilout 0Ae mile and half
rom where we rad che fifst fight was reported
BY q captain General Davis staff when he
brought Us the order 70 bring engagement #
possible. Where drove the rebels Across the
railroad they had a masked battery ana this our
brigade captured. bat we were out Of ammunition,
and the reueis got re-eH3oEeaEleHts and had FIVE
H.eT 20 our one. We had 70 fail back aeross the
corn-feid nearly 2 quarter Of q mile About half
hour later, and while we're being furnished
with ammunition, General Davis came up with the
lIIfQ ifij10n ANA f0fIte! III the rear o. tsc 4t5
ssiEt Of timber IN the Tay!ne that were IL, AID
General Thomas arrived few minutes later ant
then the Whole Fourteenth Corps Izstss Jue charge
that drove the rebels from the field. In the last
charge there was g zou2ve regiment our lelt,
and think II the Seventeenth New York That
charged III front Of the masked battery. Ogr bastal
ion-tisc Second battalion Fifteenth United Stetes
Infantry Joined the zOuaye regiment on ti.s right
and went across the CoTG-fseiti with them IEey
eIifstt IN tue OF pattier win tls and fTiifl- ana,
if my memory serves Alright, they lost sztslx
/ men killed aEt! perhaps four times many
wounded. The company [ belonged to had lost
over half OF its members before Baird'5 division
went iuto the fight; and If there are any OF the
znUave5 living that were at J6neseoRO' that day
/ think they viii remember that captured tho
itlaksd battery again, or at least we're among the
first soldiers that got to the rebel guns. ana 4is
the Second battalion, Fifteenth United ot.te5 m
tintTy turned the rebel guns and direeted their ire
on TO the Tetreatiag rebels. All the running the
Regular brigade did after the rebels, except
when our ammunition gave out, and then we only
fell back about quarter of rlils. It certainly
was half hour beforo either General Si9irds CT
the Second division reached the battlefield Ii any
person wishes to knox now We Regulars stasn-
peded and whether General Long commanded
the Regulars. he find out by writing to com
pany Cs old orderly sergeant, who lost arm IN
/ the JCuesb0rc' fight. He q merchant at Canal
Wooster, FreGona, Chautauqu1, New York; OF ira
/ Chandler Santa Ana, LosaAngeles county Caliior-
/ MA or Captain Thomas II. Norton, Wheeling W est
/ Virginia would be very glad TO know the where
aboutS Of members of eox4ipy C. Second battalion
Fifteenth United States infantry, who were ~ the
/ Jonesboro' fight. ] know that john Legget, Mar
| tin Conway, Jo- Held, Robert o. Lease, and Joe
/ lEpp were from Pennsylvania. Let me add that
] was private In company c. and was In the Reg
/ uiar brigade the Atlanta campaign and IN the
| Jonesboro' fight Success to The NATIONAL
/ TRIBUNE. r. N AssEORE
/ Late Private Co. c. ID bat, 18th .. S. inf.
/ HowAgD KAN