The National tribune., 1884-01-24
And the Hot Afternoons Work Of the 18th New
York Volunteers.

HANOVER COURTHOUSE,
And the Hot Afternoons Work of the 18th New
York Volunteers.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
asa supplement- TO General Towards account
of the battle Of Hanover Courthouse nryour
issue Of the 10th inst, send the following:
When the army reached the White House
Landing, ON its way up the Peninsula. my
regiment. (the 18th New York volunteers, of
Martindaie's brigade with the 9th New York
lDnryeaS), LIST Connecticut heavy artillery
lacting as infantry, Rush's Lancers 18th Penn
sylvania cavalry, and Weeden's battery {com-
pany c. Ist Rhode Island) was formed into
provisional brigade, under command of Colonel
afterwards Generall Warren.
We marched TO Old Church, on the Pa
munEey, near which place we barely missed
capturing Lee. and on the morning of May
27th started for Hanover. 1t had been raining
necessarily for two days and nights previous,
and was raining when we broke camp, nor did
it cease until about IL o'clock.
The roads were in fearful condition, and
when the clouds rolled away the sun came out
so intensely hot and the air grew SO close and
muggy that many of the men were nearly
Frustrated.
1t was about noon, should judge, when we
heard the sound of artillery ahead of u.s. and
our march was hastened TO the uttermost posi-
bic extent. About o'clock, as / now remem-
Der we reached the field where the action had
been fOnght,-the first one-for there were
two engagements at Hanoyer.-and learned
that the foe were retreating. We were imme-
diately ordered in pursuit, lalthough we had
already marched something like fifteen miles,l
and passing DR.. Kinney's house, struck the
pike leading towards Richmond, or Ashland-I
forget which.
We had gone about two miles, or perhaps
little more, when heavy firing II our rear at
tracted attention. Presently Gen. Porter came
riding from the head of the column, and as he
came opposite my regiment he was met by {.
1 staff officer, who informed him that our men
/ who had been left behind on the field were be-
/ ing hard pressed By strong re-enforcements from
! Richmond, sent to assist Branch.
FORCED MARCH.
The 18th New York happened to be the
hIndermost regiment, and General Porter
turning TO Marshall, our colonel, ordered him
to reach the scene ef action at the earliest pos
! sible moment. We did not wait 10 counter
march, but about faced, and as soon as we had
passed Needen's battery, which had been fol-
/ lowing started upon the doable-euick By the
time we reached DR.. KinBey's l felt like the
I broadside of a barn with an ache all over it.
The clover, about knee-high, IN large field
near DR.. Kinney s, came near finishing all of
as il was wet, and chung 70 cur feet and legs,
tripping many soldier, and il was only by the
4
I quIcklng7 We were hardly able to walk.
! We passed TO the eastward of the mansion,
and presently turned our head of column 10
the right, and passed in rear Of the line formed
and forming under AIartindale who as he saw
US approaching, rode up and assumed command,
! lNarren was Tar IN the rear and ordered us
to the extreme left to anticipate movement
/ Of the enemy down the railroad in that direc-
ton TO turn our flank.
Again it was " double-quicE, r1archi until
we had reached a piece Of timber, on line
with the woods occupied by cur comrades
whom we had passed a quarter Of q mile away
There we were laced 10 the right, bringing us
fronting the railroad and ON an alignment
with the rest Of Martindaieis command and
put into tie woods, through which we passed a
distance of, perhaps, 300 yards, and then sud
denly emerged ia line Of battle upon the edge
OF a field OF growing wheat that came nearly
TO our knees.
On the opposite side Of this field was a rail
/ fence, parallel To our front, and less than 800
yards away; upon our right, with an interval
Of cleared country between, timber and tim
Der upon our left and left front. Towards our
right front, which, judge, to have been in a
westerly direction II have no distinct recollec-
tons as to the points Of the compa5s), the coun-
/ try was open; and at distance Of from one-half
to three-fourths OF mile away stood a house
from which foated a yellow flag near which
hospital. As we came out into the wheat-feld
referred TO, the sun, which was getting we'll
down IN the west, daZzled our eyes but we,
nevertheless, discovered body of men-we
saw the colors Of two regiments-marching by
the flank across cur front from right to left,
behind and partly concealed by the fence in
! closing the wheat. We could not exactly make
out whether they were friends or eAemies,
owing to the fence and trees and bushes grow
ing along it, and several Of US sang out to our
own color-bearer: Shake her out, Jack. the
flags had been furled on the march), "shake
her out aud lets see who they are"
TOO QUICK FOR JOHNNY REB.
The flag was given to the slight breeze that
prevailed, and as its folds gently spread out.
AIDED by tie swaying Of the hands that held il,
the passing column halted, coming to a front
by a left-iace,' and, before we had scarcely
time TO think. delivered tremendous Y0lley
iuii at US. But as we saw the movement of
leveliing the muskets every man Of Us dropped
TO earth, and The storm Of lead passed harm
lessy over our heads. Then kneeing, with
yisors Of our caps pulled low to shut ont the
glare OF the SUM- we opened by volley, and
then kept u aP as rapidly as possible, each do
ing has hest. The enemy shot wildly, whereas
Judging from the way the splinters flew from
the fence and the confusion in their ranks, the
heavy 5S-eallber of our Remingtons was rap
Idly making their position too uncomfortable
4 oVtVsS- 1ssSA PeaAdi1s twenty minutes Ihey
began 10 YayeT, and we were ordered 20 charge
Ahead we went, but they did, not await our
coming. Away they few TO The rear a ma
jority of them seeking the friendly shadows of
the woods adjacent
Reaching the fence we found it nearly dis
mantled by our fire. Behind il lay numerous
dead and wounded, and to our right, hidden
heretofore from our sight by the woods, we dis
covered the place where. when we made our
Inst appearance, they had evidently been pre-
pairing dinner Fires were burning, cups of