The National tribune., 1885-02-12
CONDENSED LETTERS.

Warren c. Hursh, Co. G., 1st " ]. Cav, Lay
ton, n. j., writing of the battle of Cedar Noun
tain, thinks that if StOnewall Jackson had
known the strength, or rather the weakness, of
the Union forces in the forenoon of that day,
and had made the charge then that he
made later in the day, he would have CLEANED
us out in short order" The timely arrival of
re-enforcements averted disaster.
George w. Hess. Kirby. o., says Col. James
Cantwell, of the SD Ohio was killed on the
first day at the second Bull Run. Having
been granted permission at his own request,
to charge the enemy, he did so with his regi-
ment. losing his life in the gallant effort.
l.. b. Heald, Co. III, 59th Ind, st. Johnsbury,
Vt, rises to remark that Capt. Geo. A. Clarke
of Co. III, 4th Minn did command the skirmish-
line in front of Sanborne'5 Brigade at Jackson,
Miss. May ii, 1863. Capt. John c. Simpson,
Co III, 59th Ind, under the direction of Col.
Sanborne, ordered the writer with three men
to go with the colors to the State House, which
they did. When they reached the dome no
troops had yet stacked arms in Jackson, nor
did any other Federals come near the State
House for 20 minutes more thereafter. The
9th Wis. was the only battery that charged in
line with the infantry, and the colors of the
59th Ind. was the first to enter the place.
Thomas Kean, of the Soldiers and Sailors
Home, Bath, Steuben Co., n. Y, sends an ac-
count OF the capture of the Confederate cruiser
Florida by the United States steamer Wachu-
sett in October, 1864. Its great length renders
its insertion impossible.
John f. Ilitf, Co. E. 18th ILL.,, Aurora, ILL.,,
writing of the desperate fighting at Chickasaw
Bluff, says: - A few yards from me lay the flag
of the 18th Ohio. A number of men tried to
recover it, but all were shot, and it was left on
the field. A few rods further north were the
two flags of the 18th Ill. Brave men tried to
drag them off, but every one who made the at
tempt fell. Further down the line to the left
were other flags. / think all the cOlors in the
front line of battle were captured"
Daniel Spear Cardington, Ohio, writes: 81
would be glad if any reader of THE TRIBUNE
will tell me if Acting Master J. b. Williams, of
the United States steamer Cincinnati, is living.
If l am correct, it was he who planted the
Union flag on the Battle House in Mobile Ala,
at the evacuation of that city by the rebels"
p. l.. Van Epps, Co. |, 44th n. Y, Weyau-
vega, Wis, takes issue with John NJ Lovejoy,
12lst n, Y, regarding the fight at Rappahan-
mock Station. He says the fort was taken by
a double skirmsh-line from the Fifth and
Sixth Corps, the main line being ut the time
they took the fort about 100 rods to the rear.
The writer was one of the skrmishers, and him.
self and cOmrade marched back 10 prisoners;
so he ought TO know something about it.
j. C.. Haines A. G. o., Fifth Corps Venango,
Pa, also writes of Rappahannock Station. He
says the fort was taken by Russelrs and Up
tons Brigades of the Sixth Corps He says it
was one of the most gallant charges he ever
witnessed. About 500 prisoners were taken
and four guns captured.
Slas w. Croker, Co. /, 9Th Pa Res, Climax,
Mo-, gives an account of the battle of Dranes-
vile, Va, in December 1861, one of the early
engagements of the war. Although considered
battle then, it was but a skirmish when COM
pared with the great struggles of succeeding
years. The total Union loss was 10 killed and
63 wounded. The writer says: "We chased
the enemy two miles, and when We got back
to camp l fully believed the rebellion was
crushed. / captured an old musket and car
ried it back as relic and remember that l
was so mad cried when had to turn it over
to the ordnance officer few days later"
Daniel Younken, Co. b, LIST w. Va. Cav,
Cameron, Marshall Co., w. Va, arises to his
feet and defends the good name of the
regiment to which he belonged from the
criticisms of "COmrade" in a recent issue.
Mr.. Younken ought to be believed when he
says: I'VE never got scared at a white horse
in pasture field, as COmrade says we did.
He further says that after lapse of % years
we are coming TO the front, where they
never could get us when in SheldS'S Division.
/ think if 'COnrade' had been to the front a
little more he would give his name and regi-
ment, and | am sure he would have known
more about the 1st w. Va. Cav. 'Comrade,'
did you really ever see battle? Were you
not always at the rear leading that old white
horse that scared you so badly?"
Orlando S. Murray. Co. ID, 18th Ohio known
in his regiment rs kingfsher''), Pleasant
Home, Ore, says that Chas. Allen. of Go. A, of
his regiment had a presentiment that he would
be killed when the fight began at Mountain
Cove, W. Va, shook hands with his comrades
and babe them good-by, saying g the rebs are
going to make me bite the dust this time" He
was killed early in the fight. Comrade Muir
ray will take pleasure in answering any in
quiries addressed to him concerning the eli
mate, soil, etc, of his part of Oregon.