The National tribune., 1885-11-12
The Charge of Duryea's zouaycs at Gaines,s Mills,

To THE EDITOR: To be brave in the despar
of life and be true then to country is noble, but
for 500 men, such men composed the 5th
Duryea's, to stand in line and charge brigade
and then go back reform, and charge again,
and reform and charge the third time, each
time against a bri gade, was feat which stands
unparalleled. This is how it was done:
The disaster at Mechancsville was mystery
! to us. We had seen engagements, but here was
defeat and a falling back. Camp Lowell
where we could now and then get glimpse at
the spires in Richmond-was lovely place,
but pIcketing on the Chickahominy gave us
fever. We fought White Oak or Seven Pines,
Gainess Farm, and made one or two reconnais-
sances, but this getting back without fighting
was new tactics to us. We retreated as far as
GaineS's Mill Gold Harbor) and lay there on
the roadside jibing each other; but pretty soon
we saw bright flash on the hills to the west
as a rebel battery wheeled into position, and
soon discovered that the enemy were after u.s.
We were in the plain level, with high hills to
the west and woods to the north. Fall in ("
sounded along the line, and then came the first
long, stubborn fight of our brigade. The Iith
Regulars were posted in an orchard to the cx-
IRENE right, the 10Th to our left front, and the
5th Duryea's, to the left front of the 18th and in
full view of every soldier in both armies The
9Th was nearest the line of hills and would
necessarily be attacked first so, while we were
po"y i'e'Nii5 sttit hi' gu ~ VIC were
constantly looking at the Zouayes, who were
getting the fire of the battery. Well, we soon
saw a movement Of the boys in red, and heard
Col. Warren, afterward the gallant and glorious
Maj Gen. G. x. Warren, as he rode in front of
his regiment: Rear! Open order! march,"
Even numbers, two PAGES to the front
march! !" Then, as he rode to the right of the
regiment, l saw the Johnnies coming out of the
woods. Gods! what sight There stood the
500 hoys-clerks of New York city-every one
q gentleman by birth and education: every one
over five feet eight inches in hight and every
one an athlete. Soon Warren said, as the rebels
came within 90 yards: Forward! Double
quick March," How we cheered; what royal
Godspeed we gave them, for we loved eyerv
one of them, and what n response Did the
boys in gray wait? Perhaps it would have
been better if they had, for the boys in red
could beat them running, and many were the
gray coats pierced in the back. Now Warren
rides along the line, for there are more rebels.
He reforms, and without an apparent break the
Zouaves are reg iment again. Again the reb-
els come on; again they are repulsed; but now
the rebels in reserve have formed, and as the
Zouaves 60 back they are treated to terrible
fire, and though they form again it is with diff
fculty. We heard them charge again, but soon
we were too busy to see more; we were fianked
and losing men like smoke. We were supposed
to hold that field to protect the bridge across
the Chickahominy on the road to White-Oa
Swamp for two hours. We held it for over six
hours, when, just before dusk, the 10th n Y,
with their straw hats, came up in splendid
form, broke the rebels back, and then Meagher's
Brigade of Irishmen charged the field for the
night. The casualties of our brigade were i'm
mense that day, and say now. and believe
it, that no regiment ever stood on American
soil, to come near equalling the 9Th N. Y. Dur
yeas Zouaves) for size, intelligence, bravery,
and patrotism.-E. A. PERRY Ex-Sergeant-
Major, l4th N. Y, Brooklyn, N. Y.