The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-06-19
HOOKER'S BOYS.
A Massachusetts Veterans "Reminiscences of the
williamsburg Battle.
To the Editor NATIoNAL TRIBUNE:

To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
As there seems to be some difference of opin-
ion in regard to the battle of Williamsburg,
with your permission Ell tell my experience"
/ served in the 18th Massachusetts, one of
the original four regiments aud 18th Mas
sachusetts, I'd New Hampshire, and Goth Penn
sylvania-of Hookers brigade.
On the morning following the evacuation of
Yorktown, we were advanced up the PENN
sula, and about noon began meeting small de-
tachments of our cavalry going to the rear with
prisoners. Our advance continued until about
10 D. M. when we biyouacked in an open field
at the right of the road. About o'clock the
next morning we were aroused by General
Grover in person, ordering us to Stand to
armsl" and be ready for what might be in
store for US. AS soon as it was light enough
we filed into the road; General Hooker taking
the advance in person, followed by his old bri-
gade, commanded by General Grover, with the
I'd New Hampshire on the right and the list
and 18th Massachusetts, and 26th Pennsylvania
in this order General Hooker rode to the
front and personally stationed his battery in
front of the slashing, at the right of the road,
supported by the I'd New Hampshire. The LIST
Massachusetts were deployed on the left of the
road, while the 18th Massachusetts, and Goth
Pennsylvania were filed off to the right and
held in reserve until about 10 o'clock, when
there was flag of truce displayed from Fort
Magruder. We respected it and ceased firing,
but the enemy took the opportunity to get
battery in position on our left, under cover of
which he sent a strong force of infantry, who
were held in check by the Jersey brigade until
we could get in position on the left of the road,
when the action again became general.
During the hottest of the fight in our imme-
date front, there appeared a small white flag,
and we were called upon to stop firing. We
were told that we were firing upon our own
iafa
handing company b, accompanied by some
six or eight men, stepped out to investigate,
when the flag was unrolled and battle-fag
with a white tip was displayed. The party
were charged upon, but were not captured, and
at about the same time Sergeant Cram, of COM
pany H. covered" lieutenant, who ordered
him to hold on, as he was shooting his own
men. We wore dark-gray overcoat furnished
by the State.l Said the sergeant, who are
your" eve are the 18th South Carolina"
was the reply You are just the fellows we
are looking for. We are the 18th Massachu-
setts-talze that, said the sergeant discharg-
ing his musket, and the lieutenant gave one
spring and fell a corpse. | saw his body the
next morning.
We held the ground until about p. M, when,
our battery having been sileneed and our left
flank completely turned, we were ordered to
fall back, and as we did so the enemy pressed
into the roadway between the two slashings as
thick as they could stand; and as | passed a
section of artillery that commanded the road,
the lieutenant ordered his guns double shotted,
and l stopped to see the result on the troops
opened sWath through the mass as a farmer S
scythe does through the grass in a bayfield,,
and was accompanied by such yell of horror
as / never heard before or since.
| The 1st Massachusetts, band was standing at
the side of the road, some two or three hun
dred yards from this artillery, when a man on
| horseback rode up, and in a peculiar nasal
| twang called out, Come boys play something
| lively to cheer these boys up.1 One of the
| band who didn't know him, called out "Who
! are your" I'm General Heintzelman, and
am going to win this fight" was the reply.
| The general soon saw bugler sitting on his
| horse, and, riding up to him, said, Come my
/ man, play something to cheer these boys up"
! can't play anything but the calls, said the
| bugler. Well, said the general, loot! toot
! you can toot, can't you?" 1t is useless to
add that the band played something lively
and the bugler footed"
About o'clock p. IN. Captain Dickinson
| General Rockers A. 4. G.-told me that our
| division of about ten thousand had been fight
/ ing General Magrudhr's whole force of about
] forty thousand all day, although General Sum
/ ner, with his division, was within half a mile
Of Us, and had twice been appealed to for re-
endorsements by General Hooker, the second
time returning the envelope containing the
request Endorsed Opened and read by the
senior officer ON the field" Mark the contrast:
/ That glorious old soldier, General Phil Kear-
ny, although still at Shipping Point, upon
learning that we were fighting, waited for
nothing, but started for the front in the Highest
| of light marching order" and, coming in
through mud and rain on the double-quick,
rode up to General Hooker, saying, Hello,
! Hooker! here we are. Where do you want
us?" You are my senior, and of course viii
take command" was General Hooker's reply.
Command be hanged" said General Kearny
| /" tell US where you want u.s."
They then rode out together. General Kear-
| ny formed his line in rear Of ours, and, pass
/ ing through, took possession of the ground and
held it until darkness compelled truce, and
in the morning the enemy, like the Arab, had
/ folded his tents and silently stole away, leav-
| ing his dead and wounded in our hands.
SELDEN PAGE,
Captain, Co FL, 18th Mass.
| ROCHESTER, N Y.