The National tribune., 1886-06-10
SPQTTSYIVANIA.
esd IA. Oomrade TeIls About the Flight.

la. Aoiitaot itiit ABDUL tue ftkh-
To THE EDITOR: ] see in THE TRIBUNE OF
March Is that Comrade Joseph L. Miner, 90.
c. 18th Mass. corrects me in date, and gives
an account of the march TO Spottsylyania, but
fails TO answer my inquiry as to who captured
Gems. Johnston and Stewart etc. In the abb
sence OF some one more competent, will write
what came under the observation Of a private
on the nth Of May, 1864. Our regiment was
engaged in supporting Michigan regiment,
which was skirmishing along the enemys
broastwoTks, and we received a severe shelllng
in the woods, and several Of our mon were
wounded. In the evening we were withdrawn
from the front, and drew rations and had our
ammunition roplenished. As IL got dark we
were ordered TO fall in and marched out into
a field that seemed 20 be surrounded with
woods and halted, and other troops marched IN
until we stood en- masse. While we stood mere
two cannon shots were fired from our right, and
one Of the balls fell in the field among the
men. Soon after this We marched out, and
continued the march the entire night
through the rain, with an occasional jam
in front when crossing a run or through
the brush. The only special thing i can
recall now of that long nights march was
while we were passing through the camps OF
some of our troops / inquired OF sentinei
who they were, and he said the Sixth Corps
and that Gen. Sedgwick was killed that day
When il began to get daylight we crossed
line of breastworks and formed in front OF 1T.
We stood In line perhaps 10 minutes, when we
were ordered forward in line Of battle. We
crossed q small run and then entered the
woods. As we were entering the woods several
picket-shots were fred at Us. Our right gave
9 little cheer and started forward on the run
and came up to men of the First and Second
Divisions OF our Corps.
Ac .nrn nr,,nrwa1 Frnu. he woods KVp saw n line
of newly-made breastgoTks at a left-oblique
from US and clear ground intervening, except
some low brush il did not require any one 10
tell us what 10 do, as every one seemed TO catch
the inspiration that his safety depended on
getting 10 those works. Several shots were
fired at us as we rushed for the works. Their
infantry was taken by surprise TO lind US dash
ing over the works on them Some resistance
was made. but we went for them so vigorously
that they dropped their guns aud began 10 jump
over the breastworks. The line on the right
and left of us did not reach the works as soon
as we did, and they suffered worse by the ene-
mys fire. The turmoil and excitement in cap
turing the prisoners and getting them out oil
the works scattered and jumbled up our men
so that ] don't believe there were 10 men OF any
one company together.
Daniel DougheTiy, Captain Of Co. II Of our
regiment, took Gen. Johnston prisoner. DE
was in an tent, and ] think had just got up
and had not pat his sword on. Dougherty
ordered him to give him his sword. Johnston
hesitated. and remarked something about mill
tary etiquet; that he would surrender it &c
one of his own rank. Dougherty said, ITO
hell with your rank. Give us your sword I
and he handed it over and Dougherty ordered
two men TO take him TO the rear. The battery
men were putting their revolvers TO the heads
Of their horses and shooting them TO prevent
us from getting them. j think we got but
three Of the horses out, one Of them an old
bobtail, and five or seven Of the cannon. The
enemy soon opened fire on US with infantry
and battery commenced 10 throw grape and
canister Up along the works from our right
While they were firing on us there was rebe
officer and some men brought out, and thu
men were doing some lively lodging, and ht
began swearing at them for lodging. He SAID
il would be better for them TO be killed by
their own men than 10 be taken prisoner and
starved TO death by the ID Yankees. y
SAMUEL DUNBAR, Co. K, cd Pa, Sharpsville
/ Pc