The National tribune., 1885-01-08
Rappahannock.

To THE EDITOR: Your correspondent, F. b.
Round, of Winfield, N. Y in brief note about
the fight at Rappahannock Station, Nov. Z,
1863, is in error. The redoubts and rifle pits
and pon.oon bridge were carried by Russell's
Brgade-the 9th Wis,-Sth Me-, 49th Pa, and
1lSth Pa. The .skirrishers of the 9th Me-
with our skirmishers, entered the redoubts and
aided in the capture. The enemy was penned
up between sheir rife pits, not yet seized by
us, and the river. The river at this point was
Deep being dam constructed for the purpose
of navigation; the Rappahannock having been
improved SO as to afford means of navigation
as canal by locks and dams. Our brigade was
oaiy about 1900 strong We made the attack
just at dusk, and when Upton's Brigade ar
rived on our right it was quite dark and the
firing had practically ceased. The enemy sur
rendered on our approach. We had about
1900 prisoners, eight colors, four guns, and one
gun-carriage. We suspected that gun had
been thrown from the bridge into the river
but could not find it. In the battle we lost
Capt. Walker of the 9th Wis. l noticed some
time since a story in regard to his having some
sort of presentiment OF his death. l know
nothing of that. ! know that men and officers
often declared, on approaching a conflict, that
they expected to find that their last battle,
and noticed that where it proved true pre-
diction the fact was remembered, and where it
proved a mistake it was forgotten. Capt. Rog-
ers of the 10th Pa,,, was killed just as we
seized the works and got command of the bridge,
and Capt Furlong, of the 9th Me-, who COM
manded the skirmishers, was mortally wound
ed and died on that bleak hillside within
few hours Jealous sgsuhordnates (his Lieuten-
auts) had accused hin, ef cowardly behavior on
the retreat from Salem Church in May 1868.
He was tried By court-martial, the writer de-
Tending him, and promptly acquitted; yet, as
he lay dying. the memory of it seemed to come
back. He sent for me, and after refusing to be
10 fn ,fc
or to do else than cover him from the cold
wind. he said to me: =" This will be fearful
tidings to that little lady up in Maine,"-he
had been married very recently, while on
lcayc,-and then added: Captain, they will
not call me a coward now, will they?" OF the
Lfeutenants who accused him, the first was
killed in the same conflict and the other
wounded The fight at Rappahannock Station
was very brilliant success. The credit of its
conception and execution belongs to our Bri-
gade Commander mainly, if not wholly-Gen.
David A. Russell. Although temporarily in
command of the division, he led the brigade
in the charge and was wounded severely in
one foot. He concealed that fact until his
wound became SO serious as to compel his re-
tirement from duty for time He was au-
thorized to visit Washington and present his
captured flags and he forwarded them by ex-
press. He fell amongst the first of our slain at
the battle of OpequanS Creek, or Winchester,
Sept 10, 1864.
The brigade which captured Rappahannock
Station was originally Hancocks, organized in
September, 1861. 1t was then the 5th Wis,
9th Me-, 49th Pa and AID N. Y. Practically
the three first regiments never separated dur
ing the war. They were temporarily separate
when the Maine, Wisconsin, and New York
regiments were part of y light division at the
time of the battle of Fredericksburg and Sa-
lem Church. and on reorganization the 10th
Pa, took the place of the 42d N. Y.
Col. p. C. Ellmaker, Of the 10th Pa, COM
manded at Rappahannock Station. have no
disposition to underrate the value of the serv-
ices of Upton Brigade, whose prompt arrival
on our right doubtless fastened the surrender
of the enemy; and well remember how eff
cient was the 121st n. Y .and that brigade un-
der the lead of that wonderful military ge-
nius-Gen. Emory Upton-whose tragic fate
the old Sixth Corps must universally bewail.
do not attempt detailed account of all the
Incidents of this fight could see but part of
it. Gen. Russel's diifidence operated to keep
it from newspaper notiee His Chief of Staff,
Capt. Hurd or Gen. James W. Latta, then Ad-
jutant to Col. Ellmaker, late Adjutant- General
OF Pennsylvania, and now of Philadelphia,
could either of them report it fully and aceu-
rately.-A. b. HUTCHINSON, Capt, Co. c, 49th
Pa, Wayerly, Kan.