The National tribune., 1884-05-15
GEN. Q. 0. H0WARl'S "REMINISCENCES.
[o9ntinled .frem Is. paqe.I


Iconfi'''ted from Isl poge.l
were the same troops that had led on the
Peninsula always retained special inter
est in them. One Of the colonies Gross, Of the
9th y. b. was severely wouRdcd. Hancock
commented him highly, and says that the
condEct Of his regiment was most heroic; re-
fuSing to yield any ground, his brave officers
sna Iaen died where they stood" The loss was
seventeen officers aud l55 enlisted men. Five
different officers commanded this regiment in
the battle, four having been placed hOrs de
eca,bat by being killed wounded. Colonel
J. L. Brooke, in the 53d Pennsylvania, lost
eight officers and Ia7 enlisted men; looks
brigade, thirty eight officers and AL enlisted
mcn. II MeaghoT's brigade, Colonel Robert
Euuent, G9th New York, himself badly wound
ed, lost sixteen officers and LIZ enlisted men.
Celouel Nelson A. Miles the same who is now
bFigadier- general}, commanding 6lst and Gath
New York, gained a need Of praise for hls
bastaiions seldom attained" Sieadiness I'M
surpassed by any TROOPS" He was wounded N
the neck. Ee had himself brought 10 me, hold
ing the lips of MS wound together, and, sitting
mp on his stretcher, he showed me where he
thought could put my troops into action so as
t. make some impression upon the enemys
line. The loss OF his command was three COM
nlissioncd officers and l05 men.
Among the other regimen;al commanders
wounded in this division 1 notice many famil-
lar names as Colonels II. L. Brown, l45th New
York; Dennis Herman, 10th Pennsylvania;
William p. Bailey I'd Delaware; Lieutenant
Colonel III. Boyd Mckeen, Slst Pennsylvania
fits colonel, Miller, was slain at Fair Oaks;
Major \. q. Throop. 57th New York; Lieuten-
snt-Colonel J. IL. Bull. Goth New York, NOR
tally wounded; the next commander, Captain
Julius Mchle, was killed. This last regiment
had four commanders during this engagement.
] think these few examples are sufficient 70
indicate the nature of the bloody work in front
Of the deep roadway whence came the contina-
Gus fire, bullets flying swift and sure, dealing
death and wounds 10 our brave fellows without
q possibility of return shots.
My division without delay followed that of
HancOck-Owen's brigade first and Halls next
/ kept Sully's for time in the edge of the
town for reserve. but was obliged TO send one
regiment after another, to support Hall and
Owen, 10 the very thickeSt of the conflict.
Every regiment began to fire when il reached the
general line of battle. The rattle of musketry
was unceasing for hours. Hazards Rhode Island
battery, SO often before brought into action,
came up az a trot crossed the canal, and IN
Gmbered in rear of Owens troops and fired
with wondrous rapidity. This battery staid
ordered back under cover. Franks New York
battery followed Hazards example and en-
deavored by rapid work 10 open way for the
front attack. Our attempts continued till Gen
eral Hooker appeared. He pushed in Hum
phrey's excellent division in the same manner
as ours. As we ceased firing Humphrey made
O charge. leading his men. They reached my
line. passed It little, met a tremendous volley
of musketry aud artillery. and. like ali others
who had ventured so near the base of Marye
Hill, were forced back in very few minutes.
WELCOME DARKNESS.
After several more vain attempts to carry
the enemy's position, darkness pat an end TO
the hopeless sacrifice. My division, being the
last OF cur corps to go under fire On this fatal
day, remained out there in close proximity TO
the foe TIL far into the night. General Sykes
relieved Hall and Sully about II midnight, and
Owen did not get under cover of the town till
Pam.
The loss IN my division was sixty-four off,
Gers and total Of So. The sids-de-camp had
q hard time IN this battle. l remember with
what feeling OF -smost terror sent an aid or
mounted man 10 carry an order. Lieutenant
e S. Stimson. my aid-de-camp, showed SC
much fearlessness as he passed under the fire
Of vOlleys Of musketry that several brigade
commanders noticed him and spoke of him in
their reports; SO they did, too of Lieutenant A
]. Atwood, a ID. c. Once my brother, Lieu
tenant c. H. Howard. left me with an order
BE was obliged 20 cross the most exposed street
aid when he returned ! saw be was very pale
He exclaimed: Oh, General, they fred vol
leg az me, bat il passed over my head" IL
this engagement my former acknowledgement
T. ID. Segail, having become colonel of the I9tt
Maine, commanded his regiment 1t would b,
pleasing 10 me 10 notice more organizations
particularly those of the 9th corps, On our left
under General o. p. Wilcox, who supported
oEr desperate attack in front of McLaws and
Pickett; but in every instance along this from
the manner Of attack of regiments and bat
teries was the same and the results the same
went up into church tower the following
DAY with General Couch, and we bad plain
view of all the slope up 10 the fatal suburban
street or roadway. We could see the mel
prone on their backs or faces Couch cried out
Oh. see, see. our poor boys." And truly the,
Etrewed the ground
Burnside closes the remarkable tragedy II
these words: On the night of the 18th de
cided 20 move the army 70 the north side O
the river. and the work was accomplishe
without loss Of men or material"
To be continued.