The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-02-14
TE NATIONAL TRRTNE WASHINGTON O. THURSDAY

that the front was clear, and at the COM
nand Forward with arms aport we
went over the railroad embanksnent in line of
battle, and at quick march pushed into the
thick underbrusE. There was a wood road
through the woods near DR.. Courtney's house,
across the railroad and through the woods be-
tween the railroad and Williamsburg road, and
up this road part of company Fl pressed, while
the rest were in the brush on either side.
Company Il, next in line and on the extreme
left, was obliged to go in by the right Hank
as by going in line it threw one-half OF the
company out in the open ground--a excel
lent target for the rehs across the opening.
We had traversed about onc-Ilalf the distance
across the swamp. when. in the midst OF
swampy brook that ran through the center, we
received the first intimation that we We're close
up to the rebels. 1t came in the shape OF
binding flash and a most terrific crash OF mus
kerry directly in our front and less than thirty
PAGES away. With one bound we cleared the
slough and saw before Us three rebel lines OF
battle-one lying, one kneeling and one stand
ing-intent on hurrying us into eternity by
the shortest cut The 9Th was at last face TO
to face with the fee. We dropped on one knee
and gave them volley for voley. All the lion
in Cross nature was aroused, and his spirit
communicated itself to the entire regiment.
His men had never before in their wauderings
over their native mountains, met such noble
game at such deadly range They wasted very
little lead and men died fast in that dark
swamp. After a very short time the rebels tell
back and made another stand, but held this
position no longer than the first. we made
three advances after our first encounter, and
the last one brought us to the Williamsburg
stage road, where we could see the long lines
of the rebels vending their way towards Rich
mond. Then, and not till then, did the fight
/ ing Stop on our division front Colonel Cross
in the meanwhile, had been wounded IN the
head and feshy part of the thigh, near the
femoral artery, and carried from the swamp,
and the command deyolyed On Lieutenant
Colonel Langley He deemed it impractical
TO follow the foe with our shattered regiment,
which had shrunk over third of its length,
/ so we fell back on the railroad, by right of
company, fling to the rear, and Meaghers bri-
| gade took our place, but encountered only the
dead and wounded.
THE CLOSE OF THE BATTLE.
The battle of Fair Oaks was ended with our
| last advance. When we went in, the Irish
! brigade was marched to the position we had
! Just left on the railroad, and when the first
| crash burst on rs many of the bullets few
among them. Thinking that they were at
tackled, and not knowing that the 9th New
! Hampshire was in there, they gave one of then
famous volleys right in our rear, but fortu-
nately their aim was too high. After reform
! ing on the railroad and calling the roll, it was
found that the 9th had lost one hundred and
eighty-six f156) killed and wounded. Not q
man had been taken prisoner, and not q man
accounted missing It had all happened in the
space of q little less than forty minutes. Il
was the 5th's maiden fight and first bloody
/ baptism Company 4, on the right, lost twenty
three men, while company i (the left-danR
company, out of fifty-eight men taken into
action, lost tWenty-eight. Company H, nexi
in line, out Of sixty-tygo taken IN, lost twenty.
two. The nature Of the deadly work may bt
inferred when | say that on measuring, TIKI
next day, the distance between the lines o.
dead of the two armies, it was found that a
no place were they over thirty PAGES apart an6
in some eases much closer together.
We were told by the prisoners we had taker
that we had engaged and beaten Pryor's entirt
brigade. They eould not be persuaded that wt
did not have repeating rifles until they saw 70
themselves, so rapid was our fire. / think ",
had the cartridge there that did not require t.
be torn, but would drop to the bottom of tn
rifie-barrel without following with the ram
ner, but am not certain.
/ have one more fault TO find with Genera
Howard, and that is for going into French
brigade for examples of heavy losses and har'
, fighting when he could find such fearful one
, IN his own-in the 61st and Gath Now York, t
say nothing Of his other two regiments. d
i not think the general intends any slight, and
. have merely written this to supply his omis
sions The facts are nearly all taken from N,
{ army journal. ! should like to hear frer
: Lieutenant Daniel Libby. He kept journa
during his entire three years, and know OF Ii
one better qualified to write the bottom fact
than he. c. w. GILMAN.
Orderly Sergeant, Co. IL, 9Th n. Fl. V.