The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-03-25
ON THE HATCHIE.
How Gen. Ord Struck the Adiutant.

To THE EDITOR: Col. w. w. Jacksons refer
ence In his recent communication to Gen +. O.
Z. Ord as having been in command in the early
part OF the engagement, called to my mind an
incident that occurred just before Gen. Ord was
wounded and left the field The writer was in
command OF Co. q, 6Sth Ohio, in that engage
ment, and was associated with Capt S. S.
Sprange, now deceased who was in command
OF the adjoining Co. Il. The two companies
were of course on the extreme left of the regi-
ment and of the line of battle. As we crossed an
open field we were moving rapidly in line of
battle When we got across the open field we
struck the woods that lay between our line of
march and the river, there being a rail fence
near the river beyond the woods that, the en-
! thusastic Captain of Co. y on my left informed
me, he understood the orders were for our regi-
ment to reach as their objective point. But for
some reason the right and center of our resi-
ment halted when they reached the edge of the
timber; but Capt. Sprangc, on my left could not
consent to any delay, and at once assumed
command OF the two companies on the left and
insisted that we keep right Oh to the fence re-
gardiess of the line or the action of the other
companies of the regiment. So we advanced
with the two companies some 80 or 40 rods and
had nearly reached the fence. Shot and shell
were flying in all directions as we were near
the bridge referred to by Col Jackson, Col
Scott, who was in command of the 6Sth Ohio
advanced farther and beyond the line of battle
at once dispatched his Adjutant, Lieut. George
f. Wells, with positive orders 10 Capt. Sprange
to return to the line with the two companies
The Adjutant FASTENED TO Capt Sprange with
the order. Then commenced the parley be-
tween the two officers, which can be well under
stood by the old officers of the 6Sth who knew
the eccentricities of Capt. Sprauge. The Cap
tain replied that his command had made the
advance ordered and had nearly reached the
fence, and he should 90 to Col Scott and tell
him to bring up his regiment. But the Adiu-
tant knew that he would obey the order after
he (the Captain) had spoken his piece. So,
finally, the command was given to about-face,
which the two companies obeyed, and we were
just ready to march back to our place in the
line when old Gen. Ord came tearing down the
line on charger The shot and shell were
flying thick and fast, but the General happened
to espy our two companies, that had Just then
faced to move back, and the Adjutant appeared
TO DC the man giving the orders, which was a
very unlucky position for him at that time to
occupy. Gen. Ord rode UP TO the Adiutant and,
with some very impressive remarks and a slap
with his sword, said there were no orders given
TO retreat, but 10 advance on the enemy. The
AdJntant was great fav0rite with the men of
our regiment, and at least half dozen Spring
field muskets from the boys of Cos G aud b
were leveled on old Gen. Ord, who was ordered
to get out Of the way. With O few hurried
words of explanation from the Adiutant, the
old General skedaddled and orier.was scon re-
stored. Very shortly after the old General re-
ceived his wound and left the ficld.-L. w.
RICHARDSON, Lieutenant, Co. G, 6Sth Ohio, De-
fance, o.