The National tribune., 1883-05-24
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What Our Veterans Have 10 Say About
Their Old Campaigns.
Just Tribute to the valor Of the Twentieth Corps
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:

Just Tribute to the valor OF the Twentieth Corps
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
In the issue of THE TRIBUNE of April IS my at
tenton called particularly to two articles emit
tied. respectively, Harkers Brigade at Chcka-
mauga,n and "a Good Word for the Twentieth
Army Corps In regard to the first-named arti-
Gle, glad it written, not only because all
that the writer therein states is true but because it
affords opportunity to correct an impression
generally prevalent that after the break in the Fed
eral lines the right all the fighting done by
the Fourteenth Corps, re-enforced by Changers re-
serve corps. As member of the Fourteenth
Corps, well member of one of the first regi-
mentS which formed the nucleus of the grand old
Army of the Cumberland, am glad of the oppbr-
tunty to say a word in behalf of gallant brigade
and division, companions IN arms so many hard
fought fields. The facts in the pertinently
stated by Van Horn in his admirable and authori-
tatve history of the Army of the Cumberland
which, by the way, should be in the hands of every
soldier of that army. He says: AS the statement
appears In many histories OF the war; and in
some of recent publication, that General Thomas,
with his single corps saved the army at Chcisa-
manga it is imperative to refute the error, as it
does great injustice to the officers and men of other
corps. The preceding narrative gives an indirect
refutaton, but this prevalent mistake should be
explicitly corrected Generals Crittenden and Nc
Cook had each eight brigades on the field, and
General Granger had three. And of these nine
teen brigades, twelve were with General Thomas
III the final conflict. Five brigades of MeCook's
corps were cut off on the right but not more than
two from Crttenden's, counting fragments. Palm
er's division of Crittenden's corps, and Johnson's
throughout the battle, and General Wood, OF the
former corps with two brigades of his own diyis-
ion and one from Van Cieve's, went to him the
second day" Again, he says: The glory of the
final conflict is then the common inheritance of the
army, it was won by the vaIor of troops repre-
senting the four grand units" 1t will doubtless
be gratifying to every soldier who participated IN
that tragic and bloody battle, whatever his corps
to know that the above statement received the
commentator of General Thomas. Much of the
misconception and misrepresentation concerning
battles, which has given rise to SO much useless
discussion has been due to the fact that few of
our ex-soldiers have taken pains to post themselves
in regard TO the battles and campaigns in which
they at least participated. Especially is it to be
regretted when reliable history is within the reach
of all.
am certain that no soldier of the Army of the
Cumberland had higher appreciation of the fight
ing qualities or admiration of the splendid disci
pline of the Fourteenth Army Corps than myself
The splendid fighting of this corps at Resaca New
Hope Church, Peach Tree Creek, and in other en-
gagements during the Atlantis campaign, COM
manded, am sure the admiration of all true sol
diers, and was worthy the proud record it won on
the battieiieds of the East and the reputation of
its gallant commander Especially did il win
proud distinction at Peach Tree Creek where in
the words of the author before quoted your di-
visions and third OF another paTTied blow in-
tended to initiate the ruin of three armies Sc.
Comrade Ross however, seems to forget in feeling
that 1nvidious distinction is made in regard to his
corps, that the Twentieth Corps constituted an in
tegrai part of the Army of the Cumberland under
the command of General Thomas, and said army
together with its sister armies of the Tennessee and
ONO, constituted the three grand units of Sher-
mans army. Hence, it is but natural and proper
to designate the name of the department COM
mander IN referring to an engagement occurring
along any portion of his lines. For instance on
the 22d OF July, it would be said that Mcpherson
was attacked even though but little more than
one corps should have Electromagnetic Now, while
in the battle of Peach Tree Creek the Twentieth
Corps was all engaged, and did proportionate
amount OF the fighting, yet the attack swept from
Newtons division of the Fourth Corps to Johnsons
division of the Fourteenth Corps and General
Thomas directed the battle himself, and in person
urged the artillery horses of battery to the great
est possible speed TO meet the enemy by galoping
by the side and sapping the leaders with his
sword. This was near General Newton's position
which was on the flank and most exposed At
Resaca, If Thomas with his Rock of Chiekamau-
ga had been repulsed. who was it. ask, who took
the fort, but another portion of his own command?
1t was the same command, Twentieth Corps that
enemy at Dallas or New Hope Church. but failed
however, to walk off with any guns The signal
officer referred to by the conrade, attached to
the Army of the Tennessee, and hence was more
familiar with the operations of that particular COM
mGnd, whose movements he was especially re-
CURED to report. But the Twentieth Corps has not
been assaIled and it needs no defender no eulogst
Together with its sister corps of the army of the
Cumberland, the Fourth and Fourteenth Corps. ID
has an undivided tenure in the fame of the army
achieved in all the battles from Lookout Mountain
TO Bentonyile. Indeed, all the achievements of
these three corps, In union separation, por-
tons OF the history of the same army as by hearty
consent each has an interest in the aggregate
glory" j. L. MARTIN
Late 3Sth Ind. V. V. Inf, LIST Div. 14th A. G..
OyEDRn Iowa