The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-10-23
CHARLOTTESVILLE AGAIN
Who Was 70 Blame for The Defeat of the Eleventh
CorpS.

To THE EDITOR: In your issue of Sept. IL,
1854, saw an article in regard to the above
named battle by Sergt d. Nj. Conner, 1st Ind.
Cav, which corresponds exactly with my con-
victIons as TO the cause of the defeat OF the
Eleventh Corps on May 2, 1863. believe that
all of the 55th Ohio boys as well as those OF
the whole brigade in which we were (AicLain's),
will agree with Sergt Conner.
Our brigade took q position on the morn
ing of May 3 along by-road. The both ONO
occupied the right of the brigade, with the
10th and, think, the 18th Ohio on their lett
respectively, which constituted the advance
line of the brigade i think the reserve was
composed of the 18th Conn, I'D and 10th Ohio.
This is the disposition of the brigade as near as
can remember, for l write exclusively from
memory. i stand for correction by any COM
rade. Gen. Won Gilsa's Brigade of Germans oc-
cuped position to the right of us. HIS bri-
gade was the extreme right OF the Eleventh
Corps.
After we had taken this position, Co. b. 55th
Ohio went on the skirmish- line some distance
III front in a heavy body of timber, in the di-
rection of the Fredericksburg plank road. We
had not been on the picket-line long until we
could distinctly hear directly in front of us a
noise which sounded very much like the NOV
ing of artillery, wagon trains, etc, and several
times during the forenoon we were attacked
by small bodies Of rebel cavalry. Accordingly,
Capt. Sauter, commanding Co. B, was notified
of what we heard, and came to the outpost to
see for himself. He believed that body of
rebel troops were being moved around to our
light, and Immediately dispatched man to
Col. J. c. Lee with this information. COL Lee
went TO Gen. McLain, who reported the matter
to Gen. DevenS, commanding the division, and
it seems that the matter was carried no farther,
and McLain and Lee went back to their re-
speetive commands to await further develop
mentS. In the afternoon, perhaps about
o'clock, Capt Sauter became thoroughly con-
WINGED that his apprehensions were well found
ed, and at once sent in another report to
Col. Lee, who promptly reported the matter to
Gen. McLain as before, and they again APP
preached Gen. Devens, but with no better sue
cess than before. / think that at this time Col
Lee asked permission of Gen. Devens to change
the flank of his regiment, which Gen. Devens
refused, saying that be (Devens) was command
ing this division. and when il became necessary
to make the change he would do so himself.
This was the last report that came in the form
of words. The final report, however, was III
the solid form of grape and canister.
Our company had been relieved on the Skin
mish-lne by Co. X. OF our regiment, about half
an hour before the battle began. We had just
time to get TO the regiment and make our
coffee; but " there is many slip between the
cup and the lip, for just as we were ready to
sit down to our bareback and coffee we were
ordered TO fall in, and had to sling our coffee.
The rebels had placed battery in position
to rake our entire line on the by-road, which
they did effectively, as many were killed and
wounded. There we stood watching for the
enemy in our front until we heard the COM
mand of Col. Lee to fall back across the road,
viii oh we did promptly. Capt. Sauter was
killed while crossing the road. 1t was at this
time that Col. Lee made an attempt to change
the front OF our regiment and face the enemy,
but it was too late. The rebels were already
driving Won Gisa's Brigade and before we could
get into our new position they came pell-mell
through our ranks, the rebels at their heels.
There was no time for us to try to make a
stand, for Stonewall Jackson had succeeded in
gaining our right flank, and had massed his
whole corps (which l think was estimated at
some thirty five or forty thousand mem
against us, so that retreat was the only saliva
ton for us, and that we did right smartly."
Now, who was to blame for all this? 1t GER
tainly was not the men, for the Eleventh Corps
never flinched when they could stand face to
face with the enemy. Some have blamed Gen.
Howard, but i, with many others who were
there am of the firm conviction that had Gen.
Howard been apprised of the fact, even from
the picket-lnes, that the rebels were attempt
ing flank movement, there would have been
different state of affairs on the I'd of May,
1861. w. RUMBLE Co. b, 55th Ohio, La
dora, Iowa.