The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-10-30
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
PORT REPUBLIC.


Kansas Comrades Version or the right
To THE EDITOR: From Front Royal, Shields's
Division, already worn with long marches
through incessant rains and deep mud, was
ordered to Port Republic, 62 miles distant. TO
burn the bridge aud intercept jackson and
prevent him from escaping to Richmond. At
Iuray the Third and Fourth Brigades, under
command of Gen. Tyler, were ordered forward
on a forced march, the Fourth Brigade, under
Col. Carroll, few hours in advance
Col. Carroll reached Port Republic Sunday
(tbe Sth) and got possession Of the bridge and
a portion of his troops crossed over. He was IN
hearing of the battle of Cross Keys, and for
some reason the bridge was not burned. Jack
son got possession of the bridge and Carroll
withdrew short distance. 1t was limited, even
spoken that Carroll sought fight and a star"
During that night Gen. Tyler came up with
the Third Brigade and Battery III. The MORN
ing of the 9th of June 1862, dawned upon these
two brgades crowded close together at the
foot and on the side of the mountain. Clark
had two guns in coal-pit TO the left of the
road, supported in part 10y the 1st W. Va. The
positions NAV be understood, when / say that
the little, narrow road wound around among
the trees at the base of this steep and high
mountain, covered with underground. In front
of the pit, and to the right was a small opening.
In the rear of the opening and to the right, was
q rayine and swamp utterly impassable, extend
ing from the road to the river. A short dis
the log farm house. surrounded by some trees.
About 800 yards from the road TO the right was
awheat field, sloping away One-fourth OF a mile
TO the river, and in the center ridge, which
afforded protection TO troops. Near the
corner of this wheat field was q ditch, extend
ing back TO the swamp, only passa5le by bridge.
A hazardous position, indeed. There was but Que
little, narrow passage to the rear passabe for
a horse. Why Col. Carroll did not burn that
bridge and retire | cannot understand, but Gen.
Tyler and the Third Brigade walked into that
trap during the night. and "Stonewafl" came
over that night placed his troops in position,
and bore down on US like ten furies at daybreak.
Although was on every part of that field,
and at different times, j shall not attempt to
give all the movements made nor the positions
occupied.
Jackson opened on us at daybreak. Our two
batteries in and to the right and left OF the
road replied with deadly effect. Huntingdon's
battery was six brass rifles using Schenkle
percussion shells, and the wet weather had
swollen the paper heels on the shells until
they could not be forced into the guns. Men
were employed with pocket knives to pare
these shells dOwn-a slow task, but not long
needed. for in few moments We were pouring
in canister.
While the enemy was charging up the road
and along the mountain side it was reported
to Gen. Tyler that heavy force was approach
ing down the river and through the wheat field.
Col Carroll WAS Immediately sent with two of
Hpntingdon's guns and the 9Th and 29th Ohio
and 9TH Ind. far out into the wheat field under
shelter of a ridge. The eth Ind. was sent down
near the river where brigade of infantry,
under cover Of the bank, opened out, and the
9TH was compelled TO retire short distance.
The 9TH and 29th Ohio Immediately became
holly engaged. The canister was soon ex-
bausted. / carried from the supply wagon four
rounds of canister and stood in plain view be-
a.
used. The line of fire was enfilading. Col.
Buckley Il think it was) with his Captains,
could be heard saying: q" Fire low, boys; fire
low, boys" etc, and the artillery also needed
the advice The rebels first line was SEEM
ingly annihilated, and their second line suf-
fered and broke. few moments later the
infantry advanced and the artillery moved up.
/ passed over the ground occupied by the first
line of the enemy, where / met more sicken-
ing sight than my record shows in all the later
years and greater battles. Our right was now
advanced half mile beyond our left
The rebel infantry up in the mountain was
outfanking our extreme left, and also our
right at the river, while our center was driving
the enemy in confusion. A small advance from
Fremont appeared on the. west bank, some
distance from the river. On the ridge in the
wheat field it was very apparent that the enc
my was yielding, and / shouted "We are driv
ing them" Also, word ran along the line,
upon the mountain side an officer says, "Our
ammunition is low" Gen. Tyler says "One
step backward, and our right will be cut of.
Hold the road here"
Soon after our left was broken the infantry
on the mountain side was forced back into the
mountains and were at one time little scattered.
The road was held to the last moment. Our
troops were terribly outnumbered, but that
roadway in front Of our guns was strewn
with rebel dead. ] think that Clark lost
two guns in that coal-pit. One of Hunting
don's guns was forced into the swamp, where
il sank. 1t was spiked and the carriage chopped
down and two horses killed.
No one can describe this fearful trap. The
field must be seen in order to understand the
nature of the struggle. 1t always seemed to
NE folly. We could gain nothing by battle
1t that point against superior numbers. Our
losses were very heavy, but years since / found
sstatementshowing, in comparison, the enemys
losses were more than double that of ours.
1.-THE axle of one of Huntingdon's guns was
broken in firing, but the boys stuck to it and
got il some miles away from the field, when it
went down and was buried out of sight. ] am
informed that the gun has been recovered and
has place on the banks of the Potomac in the
Washington Arsenal, where others of our pieces
were standing few years since.
Back at Clear Creek, eight miles distant, we
met Gen. Shields with the First and Second
Brigades. / had the courage to say to him:
"0h! Gen. Shields if you had only been there
with the balance of the division!" He replied,
The enemy lost more than we have"
The Commander of our Post, J. ID. Gillespie,
1st w. Va, was wounded while supporting
Clark's battery in the pit. Many of out
wounded fell into the hands of the enemy. I
have not mentioned the regiments on the right
and left of the road. Only the Third and
Fourth Brigades, with the two batteries, were
ut this battle, and every regiment was engaged
holly, for it was hot everywhere on that line.
Jackson pushed on to Richmond. Our Division
marched back through Front Royal, Manassas
Gap and finally to Alexandria, where Shieldss
Division was broken up and the brjgades sent
TO other armies, where they sustained their
former good name for honest fghting.-J. s.
COVERT, Battery II, LIST Ohio l.. A., Leroy,
Kan.
The Charge at Jackson.
To THE EDITOR: In your issue of the 9th
inst in the very interesting story Of the siege
Of FicksburR the writer saws one of OrdS Di-