The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-07-29
NEW MADRID.
COmrade Clerihan Thinks Ia. Ramsey's Imagina
tiOn Is Too Vivid.

COnirade Clerihan Thinks III. HaRsey's Imagina-
tiOn Is Too Vivid.
To THE EDITOR: Comrade Ed. I. Ramsey
takes occasion to fire a blank cartridge at Us in
The TRIBUNE of May 6, and from his state
mcnts i am compelled to say that my dear COM
rade OF the 43d Ind. must be endowed with the
imaginative faculties of Jules Verne. The
intention Of your correspondent IS not to rob a
encouragement of any of its Just merits; all
did nobly and well; hence our criticism springs
from just pride in the history Of that regi-
ment that made the first capture on the Mis-
sissippi.
We do not write from defective memory, but
refresh our memory from our diary kept as each
day Of camp and bivouac passed. On March 10,
1862, our regiment reported for duty to Gen.
Pope before New Madrid, and On the night Of
March IL We with the 10th Ill. and two pieces
Of heavy ordinance in charge Of a company Of
the 4th U. s. Art, reported at Pope's headquar-
tiers at p. N. The wheels of the artillery car
riages and caissons were mufIied, and at D. m.
this little band Of 1 500 men moved cautiously (;
the orders were silent tongues" Companies
A and b, 10th ILL.,, were thrown out as skir-
mishers and TO do picket duty, while the other
portion Of the command built intrenchments. At
10 minutes to a. m. March II the action CON-
menced, and for SO hours We lay in the trenches,
a pitiless rain storm setting in on the night Of
the 18th, and on the morning of the 18th New
Madrid was in our possession, and on the 10th
Gen. L. A. Paine, at the head of the 10th and
18th ILL.,, had the honor Of first marching into
the rebel fort.
Now, Comrade Ramsey, why did Gen. Pope
confer such honor on those two regiments?
Why didn't Gems. Hamilton or Stanley lead the
AID Ind. and accomplish what we did, although
you were camped before New Madrid long
enough TO become natives? Now about Tip
tonville. Comrade Ramsey seems to be lost in
r.. -
about Gen. Paine's command. Our good critic
is little befogged.
On the morning of April 9Th the Bloody
Tenth struck tents and transferred our earthly
belongings to the Polar Star, the 10Th, 22d,
and 5ist III. following the gunbOats Mound
City and Carondalet leading and clearing a
passage nine miles north of Tiptonviile, where
we invaded the sacred soil of Tennessee. After
landing the work Of pursuit commenced. The
gallant 18th Ill. formation was in close column
Of divisions on our left. We marched for many
hours in line of battle, with fixed bayonets,
ever and anon giving the Johnnies little lead.
Now, mark you, our only supports were the
22d and 5lst ILL.,, and from some cause this
command lost the track Of the "Web-fOOted y
10th and struck north for Paducah hence, we
| were facing five times our own number of men
Comrade Ramsey seems TO know all about the
| operations in the capture of McCalPs command
them without some fighting, and am very
certain Gen. Paine had more troops with him
at that time than the 10th and 10Th H." Now
this is big stretch Of imagination. Comrade
Ramsey was at least nine miles from u.s. How
| could you know so much so far away2 On the
morning Of the 18th of April, after the Tebe
| command had stacked arms and were coTralled
/ it was reported that there was body of rebel;
crossing Moon Lake. Co. b, 10th ILL.,, was sem
in pursuit; we double-quicked most of the
way, distance of about five miles, and we did
take in out of the wet Capt. Allen and 100 mel
of the 45th Tenn, G. S. A. Why was it thai
after marching and "slinging gore" all the
previous day, that we were sent in pursuit o
these rebels if Gen. Paine had plenty of fresf
troops? Where o, where was the AID Ind
Echo answers, lover in their 'Sibleys' at Rid
dies Point" This, | think, will satisfy
Brother" Ramsey that we do not claim TO-
much.-M. ]. CLERIHAN, Co. b, 10th ILL.,, Wood
son, Ill.