The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-03-13

To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
take the first opportuae moment to write
you ia correction OF General HOward's details
OF the battle Of Gaines' Mills and, first Of all
Jet ne Soy that his sca1t allusion 10 General
titz-John Porter IN connection with the Ne
chaBicsviile fight has surprised many beside
myself We had supposed al along that Gen
er2l Porler's dispositions had much to do with
the repulse Of The C0nfederases, and / know
that Morei and the Regular division lSykesl
were 0D band quite early IN the afternoon
. assist EcC4lls division. ] know that
Ia moving forward the men Of our division
(AerelI's hac to step into many a pool OF the
eneIny's blood along the west bank Of Beaver
Dam Greek IA getting 70 the front, under 3
vigorous artillery and rife fire from the Con-
fecerztes. ] have reason 10 remember a hard
working might, looking repeatedly after the
picket line On the ChickahomiBy and under
the eye Of General Porter himself, succeeding
the battle day. Accurate history viii tell the
story as TO General Porter: but really, what
has caused me 70 pen these lines concerning
the Gaines Mills day 10 you at all is this
which General Porter viii verify 10 you per-
eonaliy, il he is IN Washington and that is
General Towards statement that . the first
active skiraish commenced about O'clock
General Lougstreet knows well 10 the con-
tTaTy. So dad the Hills. 1t could not have
been much later than s a. m when the 9th
Massachusetts skirmishers occupied the left
bank--a good military one--of the Gaines
Nil stream. Two pieces Of artillery and the
eight other companies OF the regiment sun
ported them. Down came the enemy in great
confidence, through the late camp grounds of
the corps either side Of the road across
stream. They did not discover who was wait
ing for them until buck-and-ball reception
sent them b2ck-ail who were able-fying. At
tempts were then made to effect crossing fur
theT north, near the Mills, but two more conlpa-
MES were sent there in close deployment. 1t was
hot work for honrs-so hot that eight companies
Of the 9lb were actually On the skirmish line
at one tine, and Ia command of Lieutenant
Colonel Quincy and Major Hanley, with my
self as the sole mounted communicating agent
between them aud Colonel lass, commanding
The enemy made repeated attempts 70 force the
passage, and in such close order that Our buck
aud bail cid great havoc The mRskets were
b9-callDer. Al last, and after about four hours
whole colHlnnE came down beh ind the advance
line jackson was coming down on the road
beyond the mill basin. union with him by
those "a Cur front On our side Of the stream
must not saii az sarh moment On their fourth
or fifth attempt TO cross, and coming ia great
force the ground was yielded The 9th fell
back, swinging TO its left rear into the line az
battle IN tho woods. II held portion OF tho line
which General Slocufn's brigade relieved in tho
afternoon. In ais report Ia portion of which
q few days afterwards foBn6 its way into the
New York Herald be paid a special colnpli-
ment 10 the Sth, becaase Of its desperate fight
ing in the line Of battle. IL was almost dusk
when the Irish brigade after crossing the
Chickah0miDy, came 10 where the 9th had
been making a last charge. l thought that
even then, along the whole line the Con-
1eoeFstes had had bellyinl Of lighting Tor the