davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The National tribune., 1884-12-11
The "IrOn BriGade" at GottYshurp.

To THE EDITOR: In the beautiful and graphic
description of the wcrld famed battle of Get
tysburg by that iilustri0us soldier and impair
tial writer, Gen. o. o. Howard, there appears
the following in referring to the famous old
=" Iron Brigade: In these were some notable
regimental commanders who gave strong char
acter to their regiments, such as Col. j. NJ
Hoffman, seth Pa; Col. H. A. Morrow, cath
Mich; Col. Lucius Fairchild, Cd Wis, and
Lieut-Col. Z. II. Dawes, 9th Wis"
! would not detract a syllable from the
glorious history made by the Seth Pa, or
change the 'strcng character" given to the
cath Mich. and I'd and 9th Wis. by their gal
liant commanders. But while it is fact that
the seth Pa did not belong to the Iron Bri-
gade, it is also true that the 18th Ind. and 9TH
Wis did; and speaking for the 18th Ind, of
which l was a member, believe its com
mander in this battle, Col. Samuel ]. Williams,
gave "strong character" TO it, and while we
stood shoulder to shoulder" at all times with
the other regiments in this brigade, we feel
that We ahould not be purposely ignored, even
If we are deserving Of more honorable mention,
In connection with the history of brigade in
which the 18th Ind. contributed its full share
to the justly-earned title of Iron Brigade
Z. l. PATTERSON, Muncie, Ind
The National tribune., 1884-12-11
The Longest Service.

To THE EDITOR: l notice in your issue Of
the goth ult a statement from Geo. Ben. Jen.
ness, of Kansas, in which he claims the longest
volunteer service under pay of the u. s. Gov
ernment of any man in the United States !
will have to ask the comrade to hold on little
for make the same claim myself. enlisted
some time in July, 1861 was mustered into
the United States service in Co. B, 9Th Me-, on
Sept. z, 1861; re-enlisted Jan. l, 1864, as vet
eran in same regiment; discharged therefrom
on the 9th of May, 1865, by Special Order, No.
l99. from the War Department., to accept ap-
pointment in the U. S. coored troops; was
Immediately mustered into the 117th regiment,
U. S. cOlored troops, and discharged therefrom
on Aug. 10, 1867, at Brownsville, Tex, and
mustered out of service at New Orleans, La,
Aug. %, 1867. My service was continuous not
being out of the United States service single
day from Sept z, 1861, to Aug 10, 1867, being
five years, IL months, and three days Some
body beat this, if they can.-C. I. HILTON,
Salina Kan.
The National tribune., 1884-12-11
CONDENSED LETTERS.

Jacob Wooster, Hastings, Neb., thinks that
]. n. Nye, Co. d, 18th Ohio, is little off him.
self in his attempts to correct III. w. Wickham,
and says: by his (Nye's) statement, it appears
that Gen. Turchin had no hand in the battle.
/ wish to say right here that Turchin did COM
mand as good brigade as that army had in it. -
Henry c. Vaughn, Mulberry Grove, Kan,
writes in answer to A. Mullin, Van Vert, Ohio.
who wanted information in regard to the kill
ing of John A. Dickson, Co. /, 11Sth Ohio at
De Mossville, KY, that he (Vaughn) saw the
shooting done, and, so far as he has been able
to judge, the deed was committed by Serg't
Black with pistol
Comrade W. T. Eddy, Oregon, Mo-, kindly
furnishes us with roll of the members of Co.
c, seth N. Y, who were present for duty at
Chapins Farm, Va, Oct. 81, 1864, which we re-
gret not having space to publish.
ID. S. Cochran, Dayton, Pa, writes that there
will be Reunion of Co. +, 9th Pa, on the Goth
of December.
j. d. McDearmon, Co. A, 18th ILL.,, Chicago,
ILL.,, tells an interesting story of his capture
near Jackson, Miss, while on a foraging expe-
dition, and his escape from Belle Isle by slip
ping into gang about to be paroled.
VIM. Blessing, Co. E. 9th Iowa Cav, Mount
Vernon, Iowa, complains that Sergt Bristoe
and ]. w. Boles in writing of the fight at
Ashley's Station, omitted to mention the 9th
Iowa Cav, which took an important part in
that affair.
The National tribune., 1884-12-11
One Who Seems to Know.

To THE EDITOR: have noticed number
Of communications in your paper from COM
rades of the First Brigade, First Division,
Fourteenth Corps, purporting to give the num-
ber of regiments composing that brigade Some
Of the boys are q little off in their estimates.
especially Comrade Free, of the 3Sth Ind.
When the Fourteenth Corps was organized in
December, 1862, the following regiments COM
posed the Ninth Brigade 36th Ind, I'd, 33d
and 9lth Ohio, and 10th Wis. The 42d and
SSth Ind, 18th KY, and Sd and 10th Ohio COM
posed the Seventeenth Brigade of Rousseau's
Division; the brigades being numbered con-
secutively and not by divisions as they were
later. In the Spring of 1868, at Murfieesboro,
the 10th and Sd Ohio were relieved by the
10Th Ill. After the army was reorganizcd in
October, 1868, at Chattanooga the brigade con-
sisted OF the nine regiments named by Lieut..
Newman but in the Summer of 1854 II think
at Atlanta) the 18TH Ky. was relieved, its term
of service having expired, leaving the follow
ing regiments in the brigade: 10th H., 3Sth,
42d and SSth Ind, I'd, SD and 9ith Ohio, ard
10th Wis, which organization continued until
the close of tho war.-C. w. MCKEE, Serg't-
Maj SSth Ind, Sidney, Ohio.
The National tribune., 1884-12-11
The 4th Minnesota at Iuka.

To THE EDITOR: am constrained to write
you of the part taken by the 4th Mimi. in the
battle of Iuka Miss. We left Jacinto on Sept.
Is, in a rain storm, and marched that day
about nine miles, when we encamped. On the
18th our Brigade Commander (Gen. Buford)
Joined Us, but our Colonel u. B. Sanborn), who
had been temporarily commanding the brigade,
by request of Gen. Buford remained in charge
of it during this battle, Capt. LIE Gro, of Co. E,
commanding the regiment. We formed on the
left of the 4Sth Ind, and in a few minutes
fixed bayonets and marched about four rods in
advance of the line and lay down. In few
minutes we returned to our former position on
the left of the 4Sth. Soon the 10Th Wis battery,
on our left opened on the enemy, and the left
wing of our regiment and the 18th Iowa were
actively engaged. Our right wing was some
what protected by rising ground. After the
18th left the field we remained, perhaps 20
minutes, when we were ordered to fall back to
the edge of the woods, about six rods in our
rear. Our movement was made in great dis
order, and fully 10 minutes elapsed before our
line was reformed. On the extreme right every
man seemed to consider himself as an officer,
his express purpose being to form his comrades
into line. The writer got behind the roots of
fallen tree, and with Ethan Allen, one of our
color guard, stood guard. Allen shot one of
the enemy dead as he came over our line.
Our regi ment soon after moved into the road
in our rear, marched by the right flank up in
rear Of the 11th Ohio battery, and then by the
left flank, in line of battle, to the front. 1t
was dark as this movement was being exc
cuted, and, as we were cropping our way through
the timber, one of our own regiments, misak-
ing us for the enemy and thinking we were
about to gobble them, fired volley at us.
They were on little higher ground and dis
tant only about three rods, and a part of the
volley went over us. 1t was the S0th Ohio.
Who was to blame for marching us after dark
in that manner, without sending anybody in
advance to see where we were going, was one
of the unexplained mysteries. We were soon
after moved to the right and rear, and slept on
our arms in an old field beside the road near
the little house with the circular sign over the
gate, Iuka, two miles," which house we used
as our hospital. Stanleys Division kept ar
irving up to the small hours, aud the greater
part of the night our boys and the enemy were
both gathering the wounded from the field.
At daylight the enemy had taken all their
wounded into Iuka and skedaddled. They
left none on that field. l went all over it at
daylight and did not find one wounded rebel,
but did find many of our own wounded up
at the Ohio battery. Carleton" had all of
the rebel wounded left on the feld.-A. L.
Brown, Brownton, MINI.
William NJ. Davis, Co. I, 4th Minn., also
writes brief account of the fight, speaking
particularly of the volley fred into his regi-
ment by the S0th Ohio.
The National tribune., 1884-12-11
The Hospital at the Wilderness.

To THE EDITOR: have been very much
interested in the accounts published in your
valuable paper of the various battles and skir-
mishes that occurred during the war in the
Southwest, but am surprised that so few of the
"grand old Army of the Potomac" come to the
front with their yarns of what occurred along
the numerous historic rivers that wind through
the Old Dominion. There has been consider
able written about the battles of Fredericks-
burg and Charlottesville, but how little con-
cerning the bloody campaign that began at
the Wilderness and ended with the investment
of Petersburg! Why don't some of the boys
write up their experience during those dark
days for the benefit of our Western comrades,
whose operations were confined to the Gulf
States?
As it is necessary for some one to open the
ball, will begin with shot from the Wilder
ness.
In looking over some old letters written at
the time l find the following account of what
saw and heard while acting as nurse at the
Division Hospital, located about mile to the
rear of the Sixth Corps, on the afternoon and
evening of May 5, 1864 AS it may interest
some of my old comrades, will copy it for
their benefit:
We lat the hospitaD had worked hard all
day caring for the wounded, and at about
p. m. began preparing for the night. Wood
and water had been brought, details of both
surgeons and nurses made, and these to be off
duty were engaged in pitching their tents,
when an unexpected outburst on the front
produced a sudden suspension of all operations
Crash followed crash in quick succession until
they deepcned into one continuous roar. Occa-
sionally there would be momentary lull,
quickly followed by cheers and another crash
of musketry. A cloud of white smoke began
to appear above the treetops beneath which so
many brave men were passing out of existence.
To add to the excitement, our ambulance train,
that had been sent to the front, came tearing
up the road at a fearful rate, quickly followed
by the officers cooks and pack-horses. Orders
also came FOR US to remove the wounded and
what we could Of the hospital stores down
towards the left Of the line as soon as possible.
OF that night march OF crpples / may write
moro in the future.-C. II. ENos, Thorn Hill,
Y v
The National tribune., 1884-12-11
Who Captured the Guns at Magnolia Hills.

To THE EDITOR: l have just read the say of
Comrade G. ID. Morris, Co. E. 33d Ill. He is
right so FAR as he goes. Now, in order to clear
ap the dispute about the capture of those guns
at Magnolia Hills, Capt. Charles of Co. III, 18th
Ind, was the first man to straddle one of those
brass guns south of the two log houses in front
of Benton's Brigade. Hoveys men were mixed
up with the First Brigade in that grand charge.
! know that to be a fact The I1th Ind.
Zouaves were mixed in with the 18th Ind, and
so were other regiments of Hovey's command
there. remember shaking hands with Har-
vey Quinn when the bullets were flying thick
as hail. He, too, belonged to another Indiana
regiment in Hovey's command. Hovey's men
came into our lines just few minutes before
the charge. The charge was not ordered The
reason that Benton's Brigade got those guns
was from the fact that his brigade held that
position all the morning against overwhelming
numbers. Hovey's men were under fire but a
very few minutes before the charge. Capt
James B. Black, please step to the front and
tell US what you know about the battle of Mag
nOlia Hills and the capture of those guns.
Indiana never sent better officer into the field
than Capt. James b. Black.-H. C. DENNY, Co.
ID, 18th lEd., Comanche, Texas.
The National tribune., 1884-12-11
The Oldest Nan.

To THE EDITOR: Having frequently seer
In The NATIONAL tribune communications
from comrades in regard to the oldest man mus
tered into the United States service, will tell
you what know on that subject. My old mans
name was Samuel or James, l really have for
gotten which, but think it was Sam'l Wdock
or Wydoc. He enlisted on July 26, 1861, in Co.
g. 41st Ill, at Tayorsville, ILL.,. in Capt. Francis
NJ. Longs company was mustered into the
army at Decatur, Ill, on the Fair ground. On
the 5th of August, 1861. He was past 80 when
he enlisted, and in order to get into the army
he had his hair trimmed then hair and whisk-
ers dyed, as he was quite white-haired. He
served and done his duty, think, until the
siege of Vicksburg, when he took sick, was
sent to st. Louis, and there died. If I am
not mistaken he was out in the war with
Mexico, the Black Hawk, or some other war
FRANK L. BENEpE, Bozeman, Mont.
The National tribune., 1884-12-11
The "Nind Up" at Petersburg,

To TIE EDITOR: AS ! have never seen a
word from the old members of the 5th Wis in
The columns of your valuable paper, have con
ciuoed TO give brief description of just one
Incident TO see if it will not call out something
from some of the boys of that regiment, and to
find outwhethcr they saw things as saw them.
II was the morning Of the I'd Of April, 1866.
We had broken the entire rebel line from the
James River TO Din widdie Courthouse except-
ing Petersburg, and after an extended recon-
naissance, we returned in order to give our at
tention 10 number OF little forts Just below
Petersburg which had not succumbed to the
early morning charge. Our brigade Third, of
First Division, Sixth Corps took close sup
porting distance. A little fort in front of US
was holding out tenaci0nsly. 1t had been
shelled az the morning, and while We lay in q
Ettlc depression, four distinct charges we're
made by our troops. At the fourth charge our
men gained foothold inside, where there was
not work for a little while, and then all was
still.
Az incident here is worthy Of note: Gen. A.
p. Hill, fresh from Gen. Lee, had ridden down
to this fort with his staff and given orders TO
bold out TO the last moment. Just at this
tuncture Hill received fatal shot from one of
cur sharpshooterE. We at once took an ad-
yanced position, marching past this fort, at
which point l dropped out 20 notice the terri
bic work done both in apd outside the fort. In
N S>n S.tt nOGhVed were plieu Ia
heaps; inside, the blue and gray lay around and
in the log huts in every conceivable position,
Ei0st OF them dead or inortally wounded
Passing out at the palisade door at the rear
confronted rebel Second Lieutenant and five
sthers (Privates), who were disarmed and under
guard. asked him how many troops had been
in the fort. lie answered, 243 of some veteran
South Carolina regiment. "And is this all there
ere left?" YES" said he; "we promised
you through the past Winter that when this fort
Was taben it would be over our dead bodies or
The National tribune., 1884-12-11
Wants His Name Spelt Correctly.

To THE EDITOR: My experience in writing
to you reminds me of the soldier who did not
mind being wounded if his name was not man
gled to death in the dispatches. / wrote that l
was mustered in as a private of Co. /, 10th
Conn, on the I'd of October, 1861, at Hartford,
Conn, and finally mustered out as Major, 125th
U. S. G. r., Oct. 81, 1867, at st. Louis, Mo. You
condensed what / wrote into paragraph in
your issue of Nov. 13, that 90. w. Knatt, of
Co. i, 18th Conn.,, was mustered" etc. In THE
TRIBUNE of Nov. 27 letter appeared from
Chas. II. Brooks, Co. H. 18th, saying he cannot
find that name in connection with any Con-
necticut regiment but he will find the under
signed name if you get it correctly printed. l
have not yet seen any soldier of the late war
whose term of service was longer than mine
OBADIAH NJ. KNAPP, Maj, 125th U. s. G. T.,
Armonk n Y
The National tribune., 1884-12-11
A Rebel DPSertpr's Grave.

To THE EDITOR: About the I'd of Decem-
Der. 1863, when the Army of the Potomac fell
back to go into Winter quarters, after the Mine
Run campaign, the Fifth Corps was ordered to
guard the Orange & Alexandria Railroad. We
crossed the Rapidan at Germania Ford. and
passed through Stevensburg. and while I was
struggling out of the ranks in search of water,
and little south of the town, under a large
apple tree, saw grave with wooden head
board My curiosity tempted me to 60 to it.
The board was lNtered with lead pencil and
stated that the occupant of the grave had de-
serted from a Baltimore Confederate regiment,
and had been hung on this tree. Who else saw
the grave2 Some part of our cavalry encamped
at Stevensburg that Winter.-JOs. MCCOY, Co.
L, 10th Pa Reserves, Chillicothe Mo.
The National tribune., 1884-12-11
Battle of Port ReppbIic.

To TIE EDITOR: / notice in your issue of
Nov. q an article signed LIST w. Va.," Cum
berlaDd, Nd, in reply to j. S. Covert, in which
the writer makes the assertion that Col. Car
roll did not burn the bridge, simply because he
did not have a chance to do so." What ignor-
ance OF the facts this shows!
The story in brief is this: A detachment of
my regiment (the 1st W. Va. Cav.) was in the
advance that Sunday morning June 8, 1852
l was one OF the men under Capt II. Z. Boone,
Of Co p, who went up the night before to locate
the position of the town, and, if possible esti-
mate Jsckson's force Oar detachment of cav
airy charged across the bridge and into the
town of Port Republic taking a number of
prisoners. We placed them in @ house and
left two of my company 10 guard them. In the
meantime the main part of Jackson's army
was just over ridge back Of the town. Also
IL the meantime our Colonel had ordered the
bridge fired, which was done but il was put
out by Col. Carroll's orders
Now, don't squ:rm, comrGde, for l am stating
facts, ard was there myself over in the town
and when the rebel infantry came pouring
over the hill their FIRE was so hot we retrcatcd
so hastily that we left our two men still guard
ing the prisoners. They were cut of and cap
tnred, ana spent nearly three months at Belle
Island, Va, and finally got back to the COM
pany al right. l remember how part of US
dashed into the river and swan our horses
across, and how the rebel bullets made tho
water bubble all around u.s. and of Sergt VIM.
Bell losing his balance and being helped out by
Serg't ]. p. Alum. Jackson's army crossed
over, and the next day June 81 was most
bloody and savage battle, in which we were
defeated by a greatly superior force of rebels.
In fact, only one small brigade of infantry, part
OF two batteries, aud small force of cavalry of
Shields'S Division were engaged, and that, too,
under a very dilatory and unskilled commander
Col Carroll. think surely your correspond
ent of Nov q could not have been in the ad-
vance, as he claims. or else his memory in very
treacherous; but | am willing to leave it to
those who we're there.-B. F. JONES, Co. Z, lst
". Va. Cav Montezuma, Iowa.
The National tribune., 1884-12-11
That Lonely Grave Onened.

To THE EDITOR: Pursuant TO an order issued
by the authorities of the War Department, the
lonely grave, of which mention has been fire.
quently made, located four and half miles
north of Corinth, Miss, was opened and the
remains of the soldier removed on Friday,
Nov. z, by Comrade Dickey, Superintendent
of the Corinth National Cemetery. With the
bones were a few soldiers buttons and frag-
ments Of blue cloth. OF course the remains
were carefully re-interred in the National
Cemetery.-T. COTTON, 129th Ill, Purdy,
Tenn
The National tribune., 1884-12-11
in the last ditch; and we have been as good as

IN the last ditch; and we have been as good as
our word"
That night Lieut. Col Bull of our regiment,
had charge of the advanced picket line III our
front. About a. IN. he crawled out far in ad-
vance, and was the first to discover that the
rebels were evacuating Petersburg. lie SO re-
ported to Headquarters, the army was at once
put in motion, and Apromattox was the result.
/ desire to say to any member of Co. L, that
version of what you saw and heard on that
memorable morning April 2, 1865. Do you
recollect Pat Mac, the red haired private of
Co. E, who dropped his gun just before charg-
ing the brcastworks early in the morning, and
said it was going to be too hot for him, and he
believed he'd "be afther going to the rearP"
Also, don't forget the dollar for THE TRIBUNE;
1t viii be good observation-disclosures SPoRE,
Corr, Co. Z. 9th Wis. Decatur. LII.
The National tribune., 1884-12-11
The Half Was Never Told

of the wonderful powers and virtues of the
best of all medicines, Kidney Wort. 1t has
been tried and proved. Its cures are number
less and the record of (supposed) incurable
cases that have yielded to its influence, is as
founding. If you have trouble with your
Kidneys, Liver or Bowels, if you suffer from
Constipation and Piles, if you are victim of
Rheumatism or Malaria, take Kidney Wort.
Xeu will find it the remedy you need.
The National tribune., 1884-12-11
A Printers Error.

Sweet are the uses of adpersity, the printers
copy said, but he set it up sweet are the uses
of advertising. Sweet indeed, to those who in
sickness and suffering have seen the advertise
ment of Some sovereign remedy, which upon
trial has brought them from deaths door,
:" The best thing l ever saw in my paper was
tho advertisement of DIR. Pierces Golden
Medical Discovery" is again and again the
testimony of those who have been healed by it
Of lung disease, bronchial affections, tunors,
ulcers, liver complaints and the ills to which
flesh is heir.
The National tribune., 1884-12-11
Fight at RappaEannock Station.

To THE EDITOR: / have seen a mention of
the fight at Rappahannock Station, which is
not correct in every particular One mistake
was in regard to the brigade that the 9th Wis.,
belonged to. If l remember correctly, the 5th
was brigaded with the 5th Me-, 95th Pa and
the l21st n. Y, in the Second Brigade, First
Division, Sixth Corps. I did not mean to
write just for our own personal selves of our
regiment, I21st \. Y, but just to let the old
vets know of our brigade-that it was time for
rs TO have hearing.-F. D. ROUND, Winfield,
n Y
The National tribune., 1884-12-11
Shipmates, Alloy!

To THE EDITOR: If there is any member of
the bark Kingtisher's crew living who was
aboard of her on her first cruise in the Gulf of
Mexico in 81 and '62, would like to hear from
him. New Bedford was largely represented,
also the Maine coast. Also, on the U. S. steamer
Howquah in "a and '65. Let them address
their old shipmate-FoRBEs P. HASKELL,
West Gloucester, Mass.
The National tribune., 1884-12-11

Nothing is SO reliable as Ayers Cherry Pee
toral for colds, coughs, in short for any and all
arrangements of the respiratory organs, which
tend towards consumption. In all ordinary
cases it is certain cure, and it affords sure re-
lief for asthma and consumption, even in ad-
yauced stages
The National tribune., 1884-12-11
Those Jurors.

To THE EDITOR: should very much like
to hear from some of those who formed the
jury which tried and convicted the Raiders" :"
st Andersonville, or from some one who knows
who they were-T r. s., Bucyrus, 0,
The National tribune., 1884-12-11
Wants a Snidior,s 0rnLan.

To TIE EDITOR: 1 would Ike to adopt q
soldiers orphan girl from 10 to Ia years of age,
and will provide good home for her. l can
furnish any number of references as to my
character, etc.-ANNIE C. SHRIG, lola, Kan.
The National tribune., 1884-12-11
Harper's Weekly During the War.

The famous war sketches can be obtained
only in "Harper's History Of tho Rebellion"
Write Mcdonnell Bros, Chicago, for circulars
and agents terms
The National tribune., 1884-12-11

Loss of power in either sex, how
ever induced, speedily, thoroughly and per-
manently cured. Address, with three letter
stamps for reply and book of particulars,
Worlds Dispensary Medical Association, 663
Main Street, Buffalo, N. Y.
The National tribune., 1884-12-11
Can't DO Without II.

To THE EDITOR: You are right when you
say that l cannot do without your paper, for
think it one of the best papers ever given to
the public.-F. B. ROUND, Winfield, N. Y.
The National tribune., 1884-12-11

William NJ. Davis, Co. I, 4th Minn, also
writes brief account of the fight speaking
particularly of the volley fred into his regi-
ment by the SOth Ohio