The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-03-13
The 18th Pennsylvania at Fair Oaks.

To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
failed to see in General Howard's account
of the battle of Fair Oaks any mention of the
57th Pennsylvania volunteers, whose major
(Culp) was killed in that fight, and whose colo
mel (Cainpbell) was twice wounded-one bail
piercing the groin, and the other passing
through the right arm and killing the man
who was helping him from the field-and
whose total loss was eighty-six killed and
wounded. We were in Jamison's brigade and,
when the battle began on the west bank OF the
Chickahominy, not far from Bottoms Bridge,
were at work on an earthen redoubt on a knoll
overlooking the stream, nearly a mile from
the camp, and three miles-perhaps more
from the field Of Fair Oaks or Seven Pines.
We were called in abont p. M, and double
quicked to the railroad, where there was a
hospital thence up the railroad nearly to the
station; then, leaving the railroad we fled left
across a small field and through a piece of
woods to the Williamsburg road, coming out
on it only a few hundred yards from the
Seven Pines House. AS we came out Of the
woods the rebs opened fire on us, and Major
Culp Us killed. We then fell back into the
woods, and afterwards came out into the field
on the north side of the road, a short distance
farther east; then crossed the road to the south
Of it, with the right of the regiment on the
road, and charged on double-quick into the
small strip of woods between the field we were
in and the Seven Pines house. In the woods
was a swail, crossed at the road by a corduroy
or log bridge, and, as we got TO that bridge, an
officer dressed In blue, without a kat, and with
a handkerchief tied around his head, rode
toward our front, and told Us not TO fire on the
men in there, as they were our men. We
supposed, of course, that he was a Union officer,
and when rebel regiment came IN sight IN
our front our captain ordered Us not to fire, as
they were our own troops But young boy by
the name Of Ferdinand Otis about sixteen, by
whose side ! was, az once pronounced them to
be rebs and sung out " Yes they are, for there
are their eolors,n and as quick as thought Otis
and l fred at the men carrying them, where
upon they Immediately left the road and
formed lire Of battle IN the woods parallel with
u.s. The read made short bend to the left
from the log bridge, away along in front of our
regiment for nearly half its length, and then
turned away from us again. On the opposite
side Of the read from Us was thick underbrGsh,
SO that, with the exception OF here and there a
small opening, we eoald not see into It at all.
We held our ground until we were overlapped
on each flank SO far that we were being fred
into from three directions, and had lost, as
have said eighty-six killed and wounded. a
ball went through my hayersaels and badly
demoralized ny grub and several holes were
made through my clothes, but ] escaped with
out scratch. Otis and myself were SO busy
IN front that before we knew that our boys had
left Us they were hundred yards away and
the rebs within fifty feet Of US in front, and
you can be sure we did some lively travelling
TO get out OF there. That night ! worked all
night. or nearly so, on bzeastwork in the
rear of where J. II. Hobart Ward. of the 3Sth
New York, made his charge on the rebs al
break Of day june l. At the close Of the fight
Saturday night. May 81, the maddest man in
cur company { Al was Jerry Storm, who had
been wounded five times, yet not seriously
hurt-al of the wounds being mere scratches
He was mad because the enemy's bullets had
spoiled his clOthesl
W. J. WHITING,
SAN DIEGO, CAL. Co. A, 57th Pa. Vols