The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-05-22
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
} What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns.


The Second View Hampshire nt Williamsburg.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
IN your Issue Of May l, i see that john Gar
yer takes Matthew l.. kinskom TO task for as
sorting that the I'D New York regiment opened
the Dan ~ Williamsburg. Mr.. Carver is cor
rect a. il was the "a New Hampshire regiment
that had that honor. This regiment was part
OF The list brigade OF Rockers division, which
consisted OF the LIST and 18th Massachusetts,
I'd New Hampshire and 10th Pennsylvania
regiments.
on the Saturday night previous to the
evacuation oi Yorktown by the rebels, detail
from this brigade was on picket amid the
furious cannOnading 50 well described by MI.
Carver. The firing WAS kept up necessarily
Until about 4 Of clock. when the rebels blew up
their magazine. The firing then ceased, and
when daylight came nc one was TO be seen on
the rebel works. In few minutes two men
were seen coming across the field, who stated
that the enemy had fred their magazine and
fed and la less than half an hour body Of
cur troops were IN possession Of Yorktown. We
were soon relieved and returned 10 camp, but
had hardly eaten our breakfast before we were
ordered 10 prepare 70 march, and by noon We
had made our way through Yorktown and
were cut the road to Williamsburg. We
marched Until nearly midnight, when we turned
aside into q little clearing and went into camp
for the night. About o'clock the next morn
ing we started again, and after marching about
two miles we came out OF the woods. and the
drumming birds tas we called the rife-bails)
began to whistle past our ears. and the brigade
was Immediately drawn up IN iiBe of battle
with the ID New Hampshire and nth MaSs2-
chusetls. on the right OF the road, and the lst
Massachusetts and 26th Pennsylvania on the
LETT. We haa one company 81 that was armed
with Sharps rifles and Gen. Grover, command
inc the brigade rode apand said +" / want that
New Hampshire company with patent rifles;
where are taeyf" So companies and Il were
detached and depleyed a. skirmisheTs. An
abaris Of fciIed timber was ia front OF US for
several rods, through which our sklrmishers
advanced. driving the enemys pickets before
them. We made our way through as best we
could, and when we reached the edge of the
slashing covered ourselves and awaited de-
EeiOpments broad plain Jay before US, across
which we could see the spires and buildings OF
the city of Williamsburg. The enemy were
posted behind line of strong earthworks. Fort
MagruGer, mounting several heavy guns, was
directly la front Of Us. On either side were
thirteen smaller red0ubts reaching across the
peninsula. The plain Ia front was dotted with
Tile-p l.. each occupied by 3 sharpshoOter. For
three weary hours did our solitary brigade hold
this position with wei, drilling rain pouring
down upon as. and wondering where the bal
Rnce Of the army was The rebels supposed We
were la force aud so waited Tor US to begin the
rDmhing past aud went into position In front
Of Us TINS was the signal for all The rebel guns
60 open IRE and the shot and shell few So fast
that the aIIiilerymen left their guns anu lied;
but very soon volunteer artillery company
came up and worked the guns SO well that the
guns OF Fort Magruder were siie1ced Soon after
this the rebels finding that We did not make
RD attack, came cut with a strong force and
marched across the field TO attack US on the
left; but, fortunately for Us. the remainder of
our division had arrived and taken position on
the left 10 EJECT this new movement. The Ex-
celsi0r Brigade was on our left, and the jersey
brigade On the extreme left, and the rebels were
driven back, and cur brave boys on the left
held the ground until it was covered with their
dead Finally, however, no re-eniorcemenfs
coming 60 their aid, they were forced TO retire.
This made our position untenabe, so we were
obliged TO give way short distance, but were
soon at them again, and so the battle ragged,
with one little division against the whole rebel
army, until about p M, when Gen. Pull
hearny came up with MS men, wading through
the mud knee-deep. Our boys began TO cheer and
the BANDS began to play, and When they went
il the ress were ready 70 skedaddle. which
they soon cid. Ab0At this time Gen Hancock,
on the extreme right had taken possession Of a
couple OF En0ccnplec redeubts, and when the
rebels attempted 10 flank and dislodge him his
men made brilliant bayonet charge which ef-
4ecfuailg checked them. So that. with Kearny' s
appearance On orr part of the field, decided
the day ia our favor. The loss IN our division
was 39S killed, 992 wounded. 335 missing aud
prisoners, and in hancock's brigade thirty-one
ali told, nof many IN some companies Ia
our division The question often rsc1rs, Why
Was this division suffered TO bear the whole
brunt OF the battle, when thousands OF our
troops anxious 10 be in the fray, we're within
hearingaBd almost within range of the enemy S
gunsf i hope seme c0mTsde viii give some
Light OIL this subject. il always mas seemed a
mystery, not only u me, but ALL or nearly al,
who took part il that affair
a X. WALKER,
Serg't, Co. A, "a New Hampshire Yols
EAST SYRACUSE, n. 7.