The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-05-14
GETTYSBURG.
Member Of the 9Th Wis. Takes Issue With
-

To THE EDITOR: have noticed in your
paper various articles concerning the opening
fight at Gettysburg, but not being controver-
sally inclined, l have RETAINED from cor
recting them; but "Carleton's" article in your
issue of March 26 is the last straw that breaks
the back of my patience. So far as my knowl-
edge extends, "Carleton's" statements are
tissue of errors from beginning to end. He
first omits the 9th Wis. from the Iron Bri-
gade," then assigns the 156th Pa. and 10th Pa.
to Wadsworth's Division, and commends the
prudence of Gen. Doubleday in hating the 9Th
Wis. and 100 men of the 10th Pa. What Bri-
gade of Wadsworth's Division did they belong
tor at the Seminary describes the tremen-
dous fire OF the other two regiments of Cutters
Brigade across the excavation, to escape which
the COEtederatcS rush into the trap of the cut ;
how Adiutant Brooks closes the eastern end
with company, and the pitiless storm that
causes the enemy to lift their hands in token of
surrender. If Adjutant Brooks, Col. Dawes, or
any man of the 9th Wis. who was present in that
charge, will admit that there is a word of truth
in "CarletOns" description of it, / am willing
To allow Carleton to " write me down an ass"
The drifting cannon smoke which thickened
the atmosphere must be the fumes of "Carle-
tons" imagination which became Overheated
while con- uring up the statements he puts forth
rs history. Gen. Sherman says Whiteiaw Reid
wrote description of the battle of Shiloh from
his view OF the field obtained at Cincinnati. and
judge by the tone of "Carleton's" article that
it was written while safely intrenched behind
newspaper gossip. The putting forth such NEIL
tai dribbe as history is an outrage upon the
men who stood between the Union and destruc-
ton on that memorable 1st of July. While the
9th Wis. always felt towards other regiments
claims as Prince Henry did towards Falstaff in
regard to the killing of Hotspur, yet we do
think that persons who attempt to write his
tory should state facts. Carleton" has
probably outlived his usefulness as historian,
and had better give way 10 men who learn the
facts first and write their history afterwards
Now, desire to write a few facts whether
it is history or mott about the actions of the 9th
Wis. on the morning of July l, 1868. About 10
a. m. we heard skirmishing on our left front,
and Immediately started at q double-guick across
the fields towards the Seminary, and just after
we had started line of battle of the enemy rose
over ridge on our right frOnt-or, more cor
rectly speaking, in right-oblique direction
and Immediately opened fire ON our column.
Our regiment formed line of battle "by
company into line on right company" and adj
vanced towards the enemy, who were advancing
and firing on our regiment at the same time,
until they reached the railroad cut, which they
occupied. We did not fire shot until the road
with u fence on each side of it was reached. In
this road we halted a moment until all hands
came up when the command was again For
distance OF $50 or perhaps 200 yards, our men
fired two or three rounds, loading and firing at
will as we advanced. All the while the enemy
kept up deadly fire, and our killed and
wounded lay thick on the grass between the
road and cut. Upon reaching the cut bayonets
and dubbed muskets were used by the 9th Wis,
and the rebs were dubbed and bayOneted into
surrenderiug. Some of them would throw down
their guns and cry I" surrender" and imme-
diately pick them up and shoot some of our I'M
suspecting men. few of them escaped to the
rear, but finally their commanding officer gave
his sword to Lieut.-COl. Rufus r. Dawes, who
commanded the 9th Wis., and Corp. Frank A.
Walar, of Co /, 9Th Wis, captured their eolors
after desperate struggle had occurred over
them. The 9th Wis. received no support morally
or physically, from any New York or Penn
sylvania regiment, but charged alone and I'M
aided. The 9th Wis. lost 40 killed and 80
wounded between the Seminary and the rail-
road cut, and if necessary can and will fur
nish the name of each individual.-JAMEsP p.
SULLIVAN, Co. K, 9th Wis.