The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-11-18
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have 10 Say About
Their old Campaigns
THE 18th INDIANA.
Gallant Service Under Gen. Butler In the Army
the James

~
the Games.
EDITOR NATIONAL tribune: When Gen.
Grant was placed IN command OF the Union
armies We were stationed at Jacksonville. Fla,
where we had hoen sent from in front OF Fort
Wagner. Morris Island, :. G.. 20 reinforce Gen.
Seymour after has disastrous defeat al Ou>tre.
We arrived there too late 10 do any Sighting IN
the Land of Flowers After a few weeks rest
We bo.an O. wonder where we would be sent
next as we knew full we'll, in the light of past
events. that Grant would not allow as 20 be Idle
when there WAS work 70 do About the middle
OF Apri 1864, we received orders 10 return 20
Virginia and report 90 Gen. B. + Butler, AZ
Yorktown, where he was then forming the
Army of the James composed of the Eighteenth
Corps Gen. ". r. {" Badly - Smith, aud a part
of the Tenth Corps. under Gen. q. A. Gilmore.
We went into camp az q oucesrpr Point opposite
Yorktown, about tie lst of May. Gen. kautz
was in command Of the cavalry, numbering
5000 or 1000, making in all about $4,000 or
40 600 men.
About the 4th Of May the feet consisting Of
four or five ronclads and about 20 wooden
gunbOuts, under command Of Admiral Lee,
Were IN readiness 10 move. There were also
transports. scbooners and harges 10 the number
OF 2Ho OF more, for the purpose of moving the
TROOPS, baggage etc, 70 some point just where
we did not know. We hrst moved upthe York
River a short distance then returned aud as
cended the James River 10 Bermuda Hundred
Whore we landed the next morning without re-
eistauce irom the enemy. 80 tar the move
meHt was success; in fact the rebels were
taken completely by surprise
Soon an advance was ordered. Our lines
reached from the James River on the right 10
the Appomattox on the lett. We moved for
word until we reached the Richmond q Peters
burg Railroad, pHrt of which was destroyed.
We then fell back short distance and built
line of works from river to river. After some
sharp skirmishing on the 9Th az Walthal
junction, with some loss on both sides, we
strengthened our lines and from that day on
We were bottled mp" at Bermuda Hundred,
as Gen. Grant said
On May 10. Maj. Burton, with five companies
of the 18th ind, moved ont TO a point about
mile 10 the right of Chester Station. Here the
enemy was met in force and sharp. holly
contested fight took place. Maj. Burton gave
orders TO fix boyonets and charge, which
the troops did in fine style, capturing two pieces
OF artillery and some prisoners and gaining a
good position for further movements. The
rebels made a desper8 te attempt To dislodge him,
but failed az first Aiterward by flank move
ment they compelled our troops TO fall back.
Our loss heavy. Mai Burton received
painful wound; Capt. Beebe, of Co i, and
several more OF our men were captured. Lieut..
Alfred Dowdy, Of Co. G, received a mortal
wound, and after giving some directions about
his personal effects, told the boys 30 save them
selves, as bis wound was fatal. Capt Chauncey.
of Co. ID. was confronted by rebel. who said to
him, lou are my prisoner Chauneey re-
piled, We will see about that" just then
Bob Minor, OF Co. i, came up took in the stu
RtlOn, raised bus gun and fired. Capt. Chauncey
was prisoner no longer.
In the meantime Col. D0bbs, with the rest Of
the 18Th, moved out about a mile beyond the
pike, on the lett, connecting with j think the
lb9th N. ", 9th Ohio. 9th Conn, and 9TH
n. III. Here the enemy were met in force. They
undertook TO drive the troops from their front.
They advanced with infantry. cavalry and ar
tlllery m large numbers. Our troops held their
fire until the rebels we've close TO our lines, and
then vOlley after Volley was poured into their
ranks with fearful effect. At last, when they
found that they could not break the line they
wavered and fell back in disorder. They re-
formed and came again and again, with the
same result. Finally. with 40 hope of success,
they retired inside their works ruined, dis
organized and demoruized army. Our loss was
very heavy. Az roll-call at night ll2 failed
70 answer to their names out Of an aggregate of
less than 400 men. or this number 10 reported
before morning, leaving our loss during The day
lO2 la killed. wounded and prisoners. To this
day some Of the missing have never been heard
from.
After this we were under more or less
FIRE daily. On May 20 the 18th Ind. aud g7th
Pa. were sent out TO the front at Fosters farm
10 retalsC line Of rhe-pits taken from our men
q few days before. The 18th moved out through
an open field on the left OF the 9th. Ii was
very evident some one had blundered, 10 send
out TWO small regiments with a total OF not more
then zoo men 10 Tetake a line Of works manned
by al least 1000 rebels with two batteries OF
srtilery-oue on each flank. Ii was done how
ever, aud resulted ln fearful loss Of life, with
nothing gained. Somebody was 10 blame foi
this uncalled-f0r and disastrous charge When
the enemy opened FIRE they poured forth THEN
.fa.f a. u. IA a. a.
number with raking cross-fre from dozen
cannon. AS the troops advanced into this
valley Of death, cool aud defiant with a ful
determination 10 obey orders at whatever cost
bound 10 do their duty, they moved on anC
on, all earthly hope abandoned, except the
hope for final victory. Scores Of brave meI
fell al each volley from the enemy Still they
moved on with determined STEP These brav,
men seemed 20 think that the success OF on
cause depended on their actions in this engage
ment AT last after suffering a loss of almos
fofourentirenumberi in killed aud wounded
we were compelled 90 fall back within on
lines. Col. Wilson received a painful wOun,
through the shoulder, WAS carried from th
field by Sergt Ream, whO apparently withou
fear ran the gauntlet OF this terrific aud muir
derous FIRE, and safely placed him in the Sur
Reon's care. The regiment or rather those win
did not re-enlist had less than four weeks {
serve. IL seemed as though one or two NOR
engagements such as the above would win
out the remainder OF the Old Guard VIII
three years before bad left home a thousan
strong with 300 additional recruits, IL scenes
that none would be left TO recount these strrin
scenes.
On May p we left Bermuda Hundred o
transports for White House Landing where W
arrived in due time and Joined the Army Of th
Potomac near Old Church Tavern about Oh
3lst Of May. We were in the battles of Col
Marlboro June j, and 3, Of which / may hav
something 10 say hereafter ] have read th
letters of comrades Of the 9th Conn. and CIT
Ohio Ia regard 10 the capture of the rebel Gen
Walker Allow me % suggest comrades tina
you settle the question of his capture anon
yourselves and write accounts of our seryic,
IN the Army OF the James--GEo L. LowR,
13th Ind, indianapolis, Ind.
Capt. CrAcllin Responds.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The only r,
ply shall make 10 the ungentlemanly attae
uu8n by Andrew (4plaps If iup.ln M