The National tribune., 1885-11-12
DEATH OF GEN. HAYS.
Where and How He Fell at the Battle Of the vii
GerueSs.

| NHcTP anu How re re!I at the DAttie vi thc VIII.
GerneSs.
| To THE EDITOR: see Comrade Myron Fail
| ing, Co. L, 1llth n. Y, wants some one to tell
where Gen. Alex Hays. was killed, and what
his command was. Oct. % Comrade Berry
gave the correct composition of the brigade;
| also, COmrade L. l.. Calkins, of Co. X, 63d Pa,
| gave the correct date, May D, 1854 On the
morning of May we left our bivouac among
the skulls and skeletons of our comrades on the
old Charlottesville battlefield, and marched
| by the old Furnace through the woods, and by
the OLD ore mines. After marching long way
we were countermarched and took road fur
Their to our left. We followed this road until
we came out into clear country. There we
filed right and followed road along the edge
of the woods. AS went along the boys
were joking one another, and some claimed
they could see the spires of the city of Rich-
mond as there was a broad eXpanSe of clear
country away southwark as far as the eye could
see. We felt glad that we had got through the
woods into clear country without meeting the
| enemy, but we were doomed to disappointment.
The road we were following led us back into
the Wilderness. The order was given to dou BILE
quick, and we ran long way until we crossed
the plank road quite a distance. Then we
were halted and moved by the left flank in
line of battle into the woods, which was very
thick and difficult to advance through. We
seemed to be making left wheel by brigade.
We came to small ridge, and just beyond it
the Jersey brigade was holly engaged. We
moved over the crest of the ridge and lay down
q few rods in rear of the Jersey troops. While
we lay here number of our men were wound
ed. The troops in front were being cut up
badly, and we were moved forward few PAGES
in front of their line and lay down. Then the
familiar words passed along the line to Give
'em HI, boys!" and we did send them lead
for all that was in US; but the hell seemed to
come the other way, for the faster we fired the
hotter they poured it into us. As our men were
wounded they went to the rear over the ridge,
out of range, those who could, and those who
were unable to 20 were helped back.
1t was at this place that Gen. Alex. Hays
came riding forward to the line About three
rods from the left of the coors, when he seemed
to be in the act of raising his sword, he was
struck in the head by mimic ball. He chung
to the rein of his horse and the horse reared on
his hind feet and turned his head to the rear,
when the General fell to the ground. Twenty
men sprang to him and took him up and car
ried him over the crest of the ridge. l think
the men who carried him back were of Co. H.
as he fell in rear of that company. He was our
old Colonel and had led us into many engage
ments. When l saw him coming to us l felt
that we were going to have relief, as any change
would better our condition. l think he was lii
the act of ordering charge, as that was the
proper thing for us TO do at that time
We received no ORDERS and soon after we
withdrew over the crest of the ridge and kept
the fire up until after dark, when we carried
| our wounded back toward the road and did
what we could to relieve their suffering. None
of our brigade, division or corps Surgeons could
be found The Sixth Corps Surgeons and am
balances Were busily engaged all night hauling
their men away to the hospital, as the woods
were full of their wounded and they were Civ
ing attention to their own. l would like to
L latn Gu,, ,L,1,
were doing that night MAY 81 and our men
lying there bleeding aud dying, and no help,
except the little assistance their comrades could
render.
Near morning William Shaner and deter
mined that we would get orr messmates, Thos.
Shaner and William Mcmillan, who were badly
wounded, out OF there and we carried them
to the road. When the ambulauces came up
they would inquire what division the men be-
longed to, and each take their own men. We
soon found an ambulance of the Third DiviS-
ion and got them in. When the driver discov-
cred they belonged to the Third Division, Sec
ond Corps, he was determined to put them out,
but we soon convinced him that if be did not
haul them we would, and he consented to let
them go.
During the night our troops threw up breast
works along the Brock road in our rear and in
the morning we moved up to the left and ad-
vanced out the plank road, driving the enemy,
when they threw heavy force on us and
drove US back 10 the breastwOrks. After this,
about noon | think, / went down along the
woods opposite where we fought the day be-
fore, and found Patrick Deany, one of our
company, who was badly wounded in the leg.
he had crawled out of the woods to the
breastworks and was waiting for help Alex
ander Mitchell, another of my company, was
left in the woods, with many more whose names
| cannot now recall.
On brio do -, - ~,
Sixth Corps, and became separated from our
own corps, which was engaged farther to the
left; but why our Surgeons and ambulance
corps neglected us when we were in such dis
tress. has been mystery to me for the past
q years. Perhaps some of them can give us
light on the ubject.-SAMUEL DUNHAM, Co.
X, 63d Pa, Sharpsville, Pa.
We have also brief communications on the
subject of Gen. Hayss death, from c. G. Cooper,
Co. g. 63d Pa, Fort McKavett, Tex, and VIM
II. II. Golf, Co. A, 35th Mich, Cadillac, Mich
Ed