The National tribune., 1884-10-09
The lsth Pa. at Narye's Nights.

To THE EDITOR: notice In your issue of
11th nit correction from Comrade Quigly
Co ID, 4Sth Pa, denying the statement of COM
rade JEdson w. Currier as TO his regiment
breaking al Marye's Rights, May 3, 1853 I
was present al that little affair, and am sure he
tQuigly) is correct in his statement. As TO
what regiment did break i will say that ii
was the left wing of the 26th n J., Col Morri-
son, but the wing was under the immediate
command Of Lient.-Coi Martindaie The 26th
n. J. was a nine months regiment, and at
tached TO the Vermont brigade. At the time
in question the 28th N. J. and I'd VT were
ordered forward to storm the redoubt on ton
OF the hill, ana, on advancing, met fearful
fire from five guns. Four or FIVE companies on
the left scattered TO the rear, while the balance
Of the regiment and the I'd VT kept on. NY
regiment 18th VT had been supporting bat
tery which was shelling the redoubt, but was
ordered up TO I'll the gap, and up we went on a
run for mile or more. But before we arrived
the fun was over, for the rebels had evacuated
the redoubt, leaving the five guns which then
understood belonged to the Washington Artil-
lery, of New Orierns, La. a caisson 10 large
boWiizer had stood directly behind the gun.
and when the fire was the hottest the siege gun
on the Stafford Hills in charge of LIST Conn.
Heavy Artillery had opened fire with the in
tention Of sllencing the large gun. The first
ehot struck in line but under the second went
ever and the third exploded the caisson kill
ing the team Of six mules. The captured guns
were drawn away BY the rebel teams TO Fred
ericksburg, where j saw them an hour or two
later when we passed through the town to
effect u junction with Hooker's left wing. 7
cannot say what became Of the csissons, nor
what battery furnished the men that took
charge Of the guns, nor what became of the
1eff wing Of 2oih n. J. NY impression is that
the Vermont brigade was on the left Of our
division, and Joined Brookss Division, which
was still farther 20 the left. and that the Light
Division was in and about the town. At any
rate, when we passed through saw dead and
wounded men Of the Light Division in the
streets, but TO what regiments they belonged
cannot now say.
also notice in your issue Of the 18th ult. az
article from Comrade Hodgson, Lieut., 9th
New York, in which he claims that the regi-
meDts first gaining admission to the nights
were the 9th New York Long Island) and
sd Pa, under Col. Alexander Shaler. / ap-
prehend that the worthy comrade is in honest
error, because Marye's Nights were taken by
che Vermont Brigade I'D. Sd, 4th, 5th and 9th
VI. and 26th ". j. a hill TO our right was
taken by New York troops-what regiment
caanotsay but think the AID New York was not
one Of them, because that was in our Third
brigade, with z9th n. Z. and z9th Pa, and, Il
nay memory is correct supported as in the as
~~Notf
have been the ones / should have chosen fol
supports In such place. / have no doubt but
what Comrade Bodgson is correct In that he
with has gallant regiment, assaulted a hill and
successfully, but not Marye's Hill or Hights
That liz Vermont property, with what helI
we had from the 26th N. j. As I under
stand 1t, the troops composing the left column
Of attack that took the hill were the 26tl
=. j., I'd, <th and 9th Vt, the Sd VT support
ing the 4tb and 9th, and the 5th supporting tn,
ID Vt. and 2Sth n. J., the Third Bri
gade, Second. Division, supporting the Vernon
Brigade, with the Light Division in and abou
the town. and some New York troops between
us and the Light Division. When Conrad
HodgSon says that the left column Of attacl
was formed by the 7th Mass, Col. Johns. an,
S6th New Jersey Col. Walsh" he lis evidentl,
IN error, for j have already shown what troop
did form the left column. In point of fact th
troops moved to the attack as steadily as thougl
OH parade, with no hating or wavering, excep
o. the rart of the broken companies slread,
spoken Of The 50th went TO the rescue in col
nEan Of fous on donble-quick, the rest in lin