The National tribune., 1884-02-07
FAIR OAKS,
And The Behavior of the s5th New York in that
Battle.

AK OAKS,
And The Behavior Of the S5th New York in that
Battle.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
The account of the battle OF Fair Oaks by
General Howard reminds me that the S5th
New York infantry never has had any credit,
TO my knowledge, for the splendid work which
it did in that battle. and, accordingly, / here
with send yOa what | know about the battle
from personal observation as member of that
regiment.
The regiment was encamped to the left Of
the Williamsburg road, and about one hundred
yards to the left and rear Of the redoubt, lin
which Colonel Bailey was killed, and was the
support OF the battery Of Napoleon guns, three
of which were in the reloubt and three at the
left, a few rods in rear of our rifie-pits, and
were attached to Palmer's brigade, Casey's di-
vision.
We had nearly completed line of riae-pits
extending from the redonbt to the left-of
sufficient length 10 cover the regiment. Ex-
tending TO the front of our works and the
rsdoubt for about 400 yards was level field
covered with green wheat; then came q rail
fence and one-forth of mile Of slashed timber;
then the woods in which cur pickets were
posted. About noon of the 3lst of May, three
cannon shots were fired by the rebels, the shots
falling short distance in the rear of our
camp after going over our heads We were
ordered to fall in and advance to the rife-pits.
Picket firing in our front soon commenced,
and the l03d Pennsylvania was sent out on
the Williamsburg road TO support the pickets.
The 92d New York was posted soon afterwards
along the fence, next TO the slashing in our
front. In a short timea heavy yolley OF mus
kerry was heard where the i0sd Pennsylvania
had gone 10 support the pickets, and IN a few
minutes the Pennsylvanians and piekets came
pouring back on the williamsburg road in
perfect panic, and don't think they stopped
tll well TO the rear Of COUGHS division, three
quarters of z mile in the rear, ~ doubt giving
rise to the rumor that Casey's men had been
surprised aud retreated in disorder"
We could now see therehel battle flags above
the slashing as the rebel troops advanced
through It. The battery in and near the re-
doubt opened on them, but without apparent
effect. They fired wildly, throwing some of
their shells into the ranks OF the 92d New
York and breaking them up and causing their
retreat. There was now no force between US
and the Confederates, who soon got through
the slashing, brigade strong. in our imme-
date front, dressed their lines at the edge Of
the wheat field, and commenced their advance
on as. Our battery fired one or two rounds of
cagister and then stood not on the order of
their going, but went as fast as their legs could
carry them, leaving cannon, ammunition,
horses and al, and the SJth regiment TO hold
the position unaided.
Ia the meantime we had taken position in
the -l,Its-standiBg III water from ankle TO
knee-icep. The Johnnies were now in good
shape with their brigade, the feld-otficeTs,
mounted, following close in rear OF their line
Of battle Our colonel and major had disap-
peared orr iieutenant-eolonel was wounded,
leaving the command to Captain w. " Clarke,
Of company b, who, cool as cucumber and
brave as q lion, ordered Us 70 fire low and
4 take good aim. The rebels advanced slowly,
loading and firing as they came, and on the
/ green field IL our front presented splendid
mark Ia a short time our FIRE had dismouBted
their officers and WAS having terrible effect on
their ranks. They began TO find it extremely
dificglt to carry their colors, and when within
about 100 yards Of US they began to break up
and lie down. IN firing at rest over the wet
and soft hank OF Che pits, our guns had cut a
channel that bore directly on the rebels, and
with little pains we could make nearly every
shot tell They We're now in fine range and not
firing at us, for ii was 100 hot for human endur-
ance. They soon commenced running back,
/ and plnekily tried 10 lake their coiors and bat
/ tle-iags, but il was sure death TO all who
touched staff, and they gave it up--leaving
every Gag on the field and at least tWo-thirds
1 Of their number.
We remained there for over two hours, and
no other force appeared in our front while we
stald IN the rliie-plts, but we c01ld see heavy
with arms al right shoulder-shiif, 10 take US
and our forces IN the rear IN flank. We ex-
pectcd re-enforcements from COUGHS division
I &c hold our lines but none came and VIC were
! ordered ont and retreated as far as our camps,
and were then ordered back to the ri1ie-pits
again. By this time all the battery horses had
been shot down as they stood hitched to tie
IimbeTs: therebels had broken our lines 10 our
right and were some distance in rear and right
OF Us. Az the same time there appeared to be
no end Of the Johnnics IN the Ranking column
or our left, the head OF which was Far to the
rear Of orr line. No re-enforcements com ing,
we were again ordered To the rear-every man
for himself-and that ended the organized
fighting OF the S5th for thatday We got back ia
COUGHS line as best we could, but we saw ne
fighting there except al extremely long range
The 55th New York were drawn up across the
Williamsburg road, but gave way easily. The
writer was near the right of the 10th Massa-
chusetls when they received the heavy fire IN
flank from the troops that had fankcd us out
OF our position. SO lar as / observed, Couch'i
division had no Notifications whatever. but
stood il line three fourths of mile IN the rear
OF sasey's line, without making a move during
our three hours of lighting
Now, II there was any regiment in the army
other than the S5tb New York in that battle
that stood their ground and effected coElplets
and bloody Tepuise of the enemy, would like
TO hear from them. There may be others who
like u.s. were never credited with what they
did on that day, and ifso, it is time they wert
heard from.
Yours, truly, z. +. STTLLNAS,
Il S5th New York Vet Vols.
II