The National tribune., 1886-11-25
COLD HARBOR.
The story OF the Slaughter as Told by an Indiana
Veteran.


Grant at or near a place called old Church
Tavern. After a march of about D miles we
Joined the grand old Army OF the Potomac.
Our march was a very hard one, owing TO the
condition Of the roads, which were very muddy
al first, but soon became packed hard, ana from
that TO a fine dust, which rose in great clouds
and gave the enemy our position. The weather
was very hot water scarce, aud for some reason
we had 10 march nearly twice ms far as neces-
sary 60 join Grants army. We joined the Sixth
Corps about o'clock i'm the afternoon OF June
j. When the line OF battle was formed we were
on the right of the Sixth Corps. We advanced
over the battlefelds where the Army OF the
Potomac had fought two years before under
Mcclellan. As we passed over the ground We
could see some Of the marks of battle here and
there-small lines of rife-pits and now and
then a lonely mound by the roadside, which
marked the resting place OF some brave, loyal
heart who gave his life for his country's good.
We could not help but wonder if our campaign
on this blood-stained ground would result IN
victory OF defeat
Sheridan's cavalry had been engaged for sew
eral days before our arrival in almost con-
tinuOus fight. As we advanced in line OF battle
we passed scores of dead horses, showing that
the enemy had holly contested every inch OF
ground. We soon came 10 where the Gainess
Mill road made sharp turn 10 the right The
rebel pickets were just beyond the road IN
strong force. A charge was made by the cav
airy by which the rebels were compelled TO
fall back 10 their line of works. The LIST N. Y.
Dragons i believe, were in our front They
made
BOLD DASH FORWARD,
and suffered severely, but they were not OF the
kind 10 retreat, and moved calamity forward
until the works were 10 be charged by the IN
tantry. They then gave way and we moved
forward, Col. Drake Of the ll2th \. y. IN com
mand Of the brigade, which was composed OF
the 18th lad, 9th Me, 10th and l69th n. y;
Barion's Brigade, composed of the 47th and
4sth N. Y, 10th and 9Th Pa, was on our right.
The llJth n. Y. was also on the field, but do
not remember the brigade. We moved Tor
ward through an open field; near the right
center was large house and few trees, but
aside from this there was no protection Tor our
men.
The rebel works on the opposite side of the
field, in the edge of the timber, were of very
irregular form. which gave the enemy great
advantage over as. We soon drew their fire.
charge was ordered, and the slaughter COM
menced. At times il seemed as though We
could not successfully carry out the orders Of
our superiors. Scores of brave men fell with
every step we made, but the troops moved on,
with the old flag rs a guardian angel above us.
Our loss i'm officers and men was great. Col.
Drake fell while calamity leading his troops.
The lG9th N. Y. lost its Colonel lMcConike)
and Lieutenant-COlonel. The 18th Ind. was
IN command of Capt. Chauncey. We had but
one field officer left, and he was unable TO
be with us. As we moved forward our Color
Sergeant Charley Truax, received a mortal
wound. Just before he fell be looked 10 the
right and TO the left, AS though he wanted
some one to save the flag. One of the color
guard took the colors and safely carried them
through the engagement. Charley TruaX was
as brave a soldier as ever wore the blue. He
was honored by all, and as long as life shall
last those OF us who knew him will cherish his
memory.
Cheer after cheer went up as the troops moved
on. The rebels made determined effort 20
hold their works, and in their loading did not
take time 10 return their hammers, but laid
them down i'm the ditch. When at last they
found they could hold out no longer they
undertook TO save themselves, but they were
compelled to retreat in disorder. We took sew
era hundred prisoners and thousands Of small
arms, but at what cost To look back over the
field through which we had passed and view
the hundreds Of dead and dying made us feel
as though any further attempt 10 capture their
second line OF works woulq wipe out the bal
ance Of the two brgadesi After an unsuc-
cesstul attempt TO capture the second line, we
fell back 10 the first line and remained during
the night The rebels made an attempt TO dis
lodge us in the night, but failed. On June 2
%
the war fought. Careful estimates made at the
time, and aiterward found correct, give
THE LOSS IN 20 MINUTES
on the morning Of June 3 as 10000 men; 500
men a minute were either killed or wounded,
and in an engagement, too, that was not Of
great benefit 10 the Union arms.
We remained with the Army Of the Potomac
for several days, when we were ordered 10 re-
turn 10 Bermuda Hundred, or Point of Rocks
by way Of the river from White House Land
ing, aud to move on Petersburg with the Army
Of the James, while Grant was coming through
by land, moving his army by the left flank.
We were in the advance in the movement on
Petersburg, and were successful in capturing
line Of earthworks, some guns and prisoners.
The term Of service Of the regiment expired
on the 18th of June, and all the talk was of
going home. We were left at the front up 10
the last day, when we were relieved from duty.
We went a short distance 10 the rear 10 be
mustered out. About one-third Of those pres
ent for duty were veterans and recruits. Every
thing being ready, the time came 10 say fare
well TO our comrades The reception at home
could moi have been any more joyous than the
separation was sad. The men who had stood
shoulder 10 shoulder for three long, weary
years and shared the hardships of the weary
marches over the mountains Of Western Nir-
ginia, through the Luray and Shenandoah
faNSsn bhiouRn TIC hWdups Oh Anc AHlChh-
homlny, and along the muddy James, and had
stood side by side in a score Of battles. were
more than brothers, and to part now never
20 meet again, perhaps, made every one wish
the war was over and we could all return 10
our homes; but
With "A cheer for those who lived IL out
And "A tear Tor those who died,
we returned 10 the front, while those whose
time was out started for home. Our little band
of less than 100 men present for duty, under
command Of Lieut.. Gent was formed into three
companies and armed with Spencer carbines.
We soon received some recruits, formed five
companies, and afterward five more.
We remained around Petersburg until De-
oember. When the capture Of Fort Fisher was
decided on we were selected as one Of the regi-
ments 10 take part in the movement under
Gen. Butler. After his failure to capture the
fort we returned 20 Virginia, and were i'm hopes
we could remain quiet for a while, but such
was not our luck. Gen. Grant was dissatisfied
with Buffers failure aud early in January,
ls65, we were sent again TO Fort Fisher with
Gen Terry. After It's capture we moved on 10
Wilmington, and then 10 Raleigh, TO meet
Sherman's army.-GEoRGE Il. LOWRY, 18th
Ind, Indianapolis, Ind.
Had the Joke the Colonel.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: While on a