The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-06-24


regiment was leaving camp. This regiment
moved quickly and CALAMITY on TO meet Brig
Gen. Heath's left wing that had, by this time,
advanced to wooded knoll on the outskirts OF
the village. Col. Gilbert ordered his men TO
reserve their fire until they were within about
forty yards of the enemy's lines, the rebs OBJ
serving the same tactics, and at the same in
slant the blue and the gray poured into each
other their first volleys. The second volley
from the 4lth Ohio completely broke the enc
mys ranks. few fought stubbornly from
whatever cover they could find, but TO rally
their men, reform their lines 10 meet and re-
sist so cool valiant and determined a foe as
the oath proved themselves, they could not.
So swift was the movements of the oath that
the enemy were unable to remove their bat
terry. well directed and opportune volley
from one or two companies had killed or
wounded so many Of the artillerists that there
was not a sufficient number of them left 10
remove the pieces: thus four, two of them
rifled guns, all that Gen. Heath brought into
action. were calamity won and held as trophies
of victory by the 44th. After this the boys in
blue fired only as chance gave them an oppOr-
tunity at the scattering and scattered fugitiyes.
The loss of the oath was six killed and IL
wounded. Its field officers, Col. S. A. Gilbert,
Lieut.-Col III. Blair Wilson, and Maj. A. o.
Mitchell. bravely did the work assigned them.
The Both with the exception Of Co. B, Capt.
Adney, which / have overlooked stating re-
mained TO guard Summeryille until our success
sors should arrive, and did not rejoin the regi-
ment until some days after the battle) formed
on the east of the pike within the village linn
its, left in front. Co q, upon being ordered TO
JOIN its regiment, marched across the face Of
the enemys battery and took position on the
right lproper left. Not less calamity moved
the Both 10 the attack Of Heath's right wing,
there to meet squarely, front 10 front, with all
advantages of position aud numbers against
the 36th Ohio, the RECOGNIZABLE 22d Va an old
regiment and thoroughly seasoned veterans for
that period. lt had been organized year be-
fore In the Kauawha Valley, and was mainly
composed Of the elite rebels of that delectable
region. They had met Gen. j. ID Cox at Scarey-
town; Col. Tyler at Cross Lanes; Gen. Rose
Grams at Carnifex and Cotton Hill, and suisse
quently Gen Cox again at Giles Court house,
and vauntingly boosted that they had never
suffered defeat. The regiment was certainly
large and a very fine one, supported, too, by
that morale Of the soldier that comes TO him as
the fruit of victories past and an absolute con-
iidence of victory in the immediate future
After forming, the 36th advanced TO the top
OF low bluff, under the partial shelter of which
the regiment had formed to where the slope
became more gentle, and there halted. At this
moment Col Crook rode and ordered Co. G TO
advance as skirmishers. Capt. Palmer imme-
diately gave the command, " Company as Skin
LiohNAHI va NhD AiEHb MT AfihC
ble-quick-March." Company G bad adj
vanced but a short distance before it met the
enemy In force drawn up in line of battle and
waiting 10 receive them. BY the time the Skin
mish-line had fired several rounds, advancing
slowly as they fired, the regiment came up with
IL. The battle at once became general, the fir
ing hot and incessant. The skirmish-line as /
now remember il. never rallied, but continued
its line along with the front Of the regiment.
which never broke its line Of battle, but moved
firmly and at times rapidly forward in open
field. The enemy. slowly at first, yielded, yet
disputed desperately every particle of ground.
taking advantage Of every fence or other cover,
fancied or real, 10 halt, to rapidly fire, and
bravely endeavOr 10 hold Here their wounded
and dead lay thick. Their bravery. neither
their old Virginia pride, nor yet the fact that
they were scions OF the Il. +. VS." could en-
able them to resist the steady, onward move.
mento Of Crook Pets IN this their first pitched
brittle. After being steadily driven back nearly
half q mile, at the summit, completely discOm-
fitted, they at last broke and fled in utter rout,
and we gained the summit about 500 a. m The
road being very unfavOrable ono for pursuit,
we followed as rapidly as circumstances would
4 permit We could tell by the large pools Of
blood where the surgeons had been at work,
and the numerous trails Of blood plainly showed
that many poor mortal had by ambulance,
stretcher or other means, been assisted from the
battlefield. We subsequently learned, when on
a raid through Union, Monroe Co, w. Va, that
Gen. Heath brought over hundred of the
wounded from Lewisburg, and placed them in
4 hospitals there many Of whom died OF their
wounds; also that a number had died en- route
or at their homes, where they were taken that
\ they might be nursed back TO health by loving
/ tender hands beneath the old home roof, but
Yankee bullets had done too etfectually their
mission 70 permit those yearning stricken
hearts and willing hands 10 accomplish their
prayerful hopes.
/ The Both Ohio lost, in killed, five; wounded
1 81. two Of whom were mOrtally wounded and
l died that night. Col. Crook being in command
Of the brigade Lieut.-COl. Melvin Clark, as
sisted by Maj. T. B. Andrews commanded the
regiment Both these officers were conspicuous
for their GOODNESS, courage readiness Of compre-
hension and the celebrity with which they seized
and held every point OF vantage that presented,
aud much 70 them, as well as TO the thorough
/ drilling Col. Crook gave his pets during the
previous Winter, was due the fact that the Both
behaved SO nObly.
The enemy's loss, that fell into our hands,
were $50 killed or wounded, over 90 Of whom
were killed on the field or died very shortly
after being removed to the hotel in the town,
that was converted into hospital. OF these a
| number were residents Of Lewisburg. They
had sent their friends word 20 kiln the fatted
I calf provide feast, aud be prepared 10 make
merry; that they would be there upon that
morning TO surprise and whip the Yankees and
I drive the invader from their homes. True 10
instructions, and firm in the belief that IL would
be as foretold, the feast had been prepared in
more houses than one; but alas for cherished
hopes man proposing, God dispOsing, mans
plans gang aft glee," and houses Of feasting
were converted into Bethmatbs and houses OF
mourning Rachel weeping for her children
and would not be cOmiOred because they were
not"
Their army was greatly demoralized by
the terrible discontinue, and upon what we
deem 10 be reliable data have since been led 10
believe that fully oDe-third Of Brig Gen.
Heath's whole force during or Immediately
after the battle deserted him. Our victory In
this way alone, weakening him presumptiveiy
from 1000 10 100 men. These deserters upon
reaching their homes became radisting centers
OF cowardice not only themselves stunning
the Confederate ranks, but preventing many
Others that otherwise would from entering the
rebel army. Such square, open fighting az We
gave them on that beautiful 23d Of Nav morn.
ing appalled, them fearfully.
Gen. Heath confessed bis defeat by at once
burning Greenbricr Bridge as soon as he, with
bis tuguves, had passed over IL.
The ground was Of such character as Il
render pursuit by cavalry welnigh impracti
cable. or possibly, the number OF dead, wounded
prisoners, etc, falling into our hands would
have been greatly augmented and the bridg,
spared.
: BY some misunderstanding neither Lieut.
Durbeck's battery nor the cavalry under Lieut..
Col. Bodies were brought into action. Col. Crool