The National tribune., 1885-03-26
From a First West Virginia Trooper.

To THE EDITOR: Let me reply to "Co. d.
Sth Ohio" in THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE of
Feb D, 1855, in regard 10 burning the bridge at
Port Republic. He says: "The cavalry never
crossed The bridge, as the town is on this side"
Now, if - Co. ID, Sth Ohio" had been there he
would have known that Port Republic is on the
point of land in the forks of the river, and that
the bridge IN question is across the branch, on
the opposite side of Port Republic from where
we Were. / find in my memorandum, written
at the time: Sunday, June 5, 1862. After
few shots from RohinsOns battery, our cavalry,
about 100 strong. charged on the town, and
swan the river, and held possession of the town
for about 10 minutes. Maj Cbamberlains
horse was shot and himself wounded. The
rebels opened on US with infantry and artil-
lery and We were driven out of the town, and
compelled to rcliDquish our prisoners and one
piece of artillery which we had captured. We
could easily have burnt the bridge, as there
was plenty of fire in the street at the end
of the bridge where the rebs were cutting and
tightening the tires on some of their wagons"
The order he publishes. and which he seems
to rely on as settling all disputes, is dated June
A, 1862, and tas il shows on its taee) was issued
on the supposition that Jackson would retreat
via Stanton. In that event, ths Importance
of holding the bridge can be easily seen. But
as jackson did not 20 by StauntOn, and did go
by this same bridge, it would seem that his
fourdays-ol order settles nothing
from "Comrade," in his communication in The
NATIONAL TRIBUNE Of Jan. I5 1885 seems to
be all Co. ID" knows about the matter, it will
be well TO look into Comrades" source Of in
formation. He says: "Our brigade was sta
TONED a. " mite House Bridge" "Comrade"
was then within 16 miles of Port Republic, and
that is as near as he got. And yet he presumes
to write the facts. He says: u have been
waiting a long time for some one else to write
the'iacts above stated, but cannot wait longer"
Great Caesar! how he must have suffered, car
rying these facts in his bosom day after day,
and waiting so patiently for somebody else to
write them, until he could wait no longer
Now, let "COmTade" state his facts, and how
he got them. He says the reason the bridge
was not destroyed was that Gen. Mcdowell inter
cepted Iinterfered?l. He sent a dispatch to Car
roll to hold the bridge, and not destroy it under
any circumstances" And the way he became
possessed of these facts is, that it was common
rumor in camp" / presume he means his
camp at White House Bridge. Even Com
rade" ought to know that Gen. Mcdowell
would not dispatch to Col. Carroll except
through Gen. Shields. his division commander
especially when we take into consideration
that Mcdowell being at Front Royal, he could
not communicate with Col. Carroll except by
personal messenger as there was no telegraph
line, and that the messenger would of necessity
have 10 pass through Gen. Shieldss camp
In regard to the 1st w. Va. Cav would say
to "Comrade" that they did not fight their
battles at such long range (l6 miles. and that
they do not obtain their facts from the "com-
mon report in camp" 1t would be natural 90
infer from Comrades" letter that Shicds's
Division would frequently have picnic"
and chase Jackson, and that the 1st W. Va. Cav.
was not fond Of that kind of diversion, but pre-
ferred the rear and we could not get them in
front" That is not my recollection. If"Com-
rade " will give me his address, and tell me Of
a time when he marched in front of the 1st w.
Va. Cav, except on a retreat, will send him
chrome.
The LIST ". Va Cav. is rot uneasy about their
reputation in the few skirmishes they were in
while with Shelds's Division. The record of
the regiment in Buford's and Averills and
Clusters Third Brigade, and the fact Of their
being assigned the right of the cavalry column
In the grand review, makes il unnecessary to
reply TO "Comrade" further.-T. ii. B. LEM
LEY, Capt, Co. A, 1st w. Va Cav, Jackson C.
H., w. Va.