The National tribune., 1884-08-21
MARYE'Sf HIGHTS.
Composition of the storming Column.

To THE EDITOR: In THE NATIONAL TRIB-
UNE of the 7th saw astatement in regard to
the storming of Maryes Hghts which was
very incorrect-wrong in every respect, except
one regiment, the 43d N. Y, that glorious and
true old 43d Now, being participant in that
fearful charge, | will give you the regiments
and formation of our force which was termed
the Light Brigade" or division, consisting of
the 9th Me-, 9th Wis, Add N. Y, 49th Pa. and
10th Pa. The 9th Me. formed in line of bat
tie, the 9Th Wis. on our left flank and rear, in
fours, the 10th Pa. in rear of 5th Wis, by
fours, and on our flank, by fours, comes the
49th Pa. with the 43d N. Y. in rear of the 49th,
making hollow square. The artillery fire of
the enemy was directed against our fankers
and the 10th was piled in heaps at the foot
of the nights. The 49th had orders before
we charged after they crossed the canal to
file right without orders. Here they got a
murderous fire. Their Colonel and the COM
missioned officers of the advance company
all fell, and some of the men filed right
and some filed left, which caused split !;
and in the din of the battle, back they went
Not so with the Add N. Y, in their rear As
fast rs one man or more got clear of the mob
on they came after us. We routed the enemy
from a strong rifle-pt at the foot of the nights,
the enemy crawling up the nights on their
hands and knees We undertook to run up after
them, but had to get down on all-fours and
crawl up after them. By the time the enemy
were in the works on the nights we were on
top of the works, and with dubbed muskets we
were the best men. We never blamed the 18th,
and never knew anything about their repulse
until the fight was over, as we had enough to
attend to in our own front, without looking
after fankers. We had orders from Col Burn
ham,, acting General, that the Light Brigade
was to carry the nights at all hazards. If we
did not take them the first time we were to try
Il i 4 IL Al i
be taken, and taken by us. We lay before the
nights from daylight until 10 o'clock, / should
say, and perhaps for one-haf hour after we had
orders that we were to charge them, we lay
on the low ground in plain view of the works
and thought of Hancock's desperate charges
and repulse. 1t looked blue for US, but we
made UP our minds before we started that those
of us that lived to get there would go into those
works the first time, if we were made prisoners
by doing so. My regiment the 9th Me-, lost
in killed and wounded 165 of men and officers
out of about 450 men engaged. i do not recol-
lect the losses of the other regiments at this
date but judge they must be as heavy as our
own, as the enemy seemed to be determined to
drive our fanking column back and take US
prisoners after cutting through their lines.
l would like to see the rebels try to drive my
or any regiment belonging to our brigade out
of as strong a work as they had at the foot of
Marye's Hights Would not you, comrades? !?
Where are you of the Light Division? All dead,
that you wait for crippled comrade, who has
to write with piece of hand for the want
of whole one Now, do not give up the fag but
write up some of you, for our glorious Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE-the soldiers friend--the
part you took under Mcclellan, Burnside,
Hooker, Meade and Grant.
Who carried Marye's Hights? 9Th Maine, 5th
Wis, 43d N. Y, 10th Pa, 49th Pa. We cap
tured 2S5 men and seven cannon, one caisson
and horses.-JUpsoN w. CURRIER Co. II, 9th
Maine, Hartland, Somerset Co., Me.