The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-07-10
THE Esd GEORGIA.
What the LIST Regiment, Berdan Sharpshooters,
Had to Do With Its Canture.

To THE EDITOR: As there seems to be con-
ficting accounts OF the capture of the 23d Ca
at the battle of Charlottesville, thought /
would write what know about it. 1t appears
that they all have left out the 1st regiment Of
Berdans Sharpshooters In that skirmish. 1T
anything is vivid in my mind it is the capture
of the 23d Ca at Charlottesville. When, on
the I'd day of May, my regiment was ordered
to pile up our knapsacks and be ready to
march, we knew that business was on hand.
We left guard and babe good-by to knapsacks,
never expecting to see them again. and we
never did. l had somethingin mine that made
me very 10th TO leave it lit was photography,
but will say that / have seen the original
since / came home, and certain person that
keeps looking over my shoulder while l write,
certainly very much resembles the same, which
partly consoles me for the loss. We started on
a sllirmisb, and part of the line soon come in
contact with the enemy and succeeded in cap
turing about eighty of the Esd Ga, and came
near capturing some artillery that they had.
Now, l cannot say positively what troops were
engaged in that skrmSh. Our lines were long
and in the woods, but / always supposed that
part of my regiment was engaged at least
some of the boys told me afterwards how it
was done,-so that If this was the skirmish to
which the I'd Sharpshooters and 10th Me. have
reference, have nothing to say If not, shall
take ISSUE We soon came on to the rest of the
regiment and had a warm time with them, but
succeeded in driving them into an old railroad
cut and there they gave US a warm reception,
for it made them a good breastwork. They
had over three hundred men aud we had only
about one hundred engaged. We had them in
fix also; they could not get out without GO
ing back over a rise of ground in an open field,
or going by the flank across the road in the
woods. We soon found out that we could do
no execution while they remained in their
stronghold, and reserved our fire till some of
them tried to escape by going back over the
held, or by running out across the road In the
woods. This soon became too hazardous and
they stopped that. We were in about as bad a
fix, for we knew it was impossible, with our
small number, to advance over an open field
300 yards and drive them out. So a few of the
boys went around and fired IN their flank.
This soon brought them TO terms, and they
raised white flag III token of surrender. Capt
ii. Z. Garrison OF my company, went out TO
receive their surrender, and told us boys to lie
well concealed till they were well out of their
works, fearing that If they saw our small num-
Der they might fire on US again. So over three
hundred surrendered TO Us and we took them
TO the rear. i was one of the guard. and | saw
no other troops engaged, but part of my regi-
ment, in this affair. OF course we had a strong
support in the rear. 1t seems strange if so
many were engaged that / did not see them.
Ny own captain re.tived their surrender and
ordered detail of men TO go aud get their
guns and detail of my company for guard to
the rear, and if that is not positive evidence
that part, at least, of the 1st Sharpshooters mad
something to do in the capture of the 23d Ca,
then / do not know what is What Comrade
Bingaman says of the I'd Sharpshooters is true
| They We're a brave lot OF men and could be re-
lied on every time; and would say in regard
to the Goth Ind. that there was no better regi-
nent in the service. We always thought when
we had the Goth Ind. for support when we
were skirmishing, that we were all right
Now, / would like to near something from my
old regiment-the members of a regiment that
was always to the front or on the skirmish line
must have something to say for themselves. Il
any of my old company should see this,
would ike to hear from them.-N. SESSIONS
Co. |, LIST Sharpshooters, Hubbardston, Mich