The National tribune., 1886-04-22
JONESBORO.
The 18th n. 7. In the Fixht

To THE EDITOR: notice in your issue of
Feb IL a communication from Charles Van
Wye, 23d No., relative to the battle of Jones'
boro, in which he describes the part taken by the
18th N. Y. As Comrade Van Wye is mistaken
in some of the details which he well describes,
/ will endeavor to set him right.
was then in command of Co. T, 18th N. Y,
which l think was the seventh company in
line. After moving in line through the cotton
field, which he describes, we entered belt of
timber, where we found the enemy and began
| firing. After being there some time, Acting
Adjutant Menkie came to Maj. Martin, whose
position was near me, and said, Col. Grower is
very badly wounded, and directs you to take
command of the regiment (the Lieutenant
Colonel being ABSENT, and if you think the
enemy are gaining our left flank to fall back"
On receiving this communication Maj. Martin,
for reasons best known to himself, Immediately
gave the order, "fall back, 18TH" And thus
having got authority to leave a pretty warm
place, we fell back, as comrade Van Wye says,
Gin confusion" in fact we stayed not on the
order of our getting, but got at once. On ar
irving at the edge of the cottonfeld we were
met by some staff officer mounted, who, gesticu-
lating, said, "for Gods sake, men, don't fall
back: only just hold them there!" Whereupon
our Color Sergeant Il forget his name) ad-
vanCed six Or eight PAGES with the colors and
Maj. Martin gave the command, forward on
the colors," to which the regiment responded
to man. We entered the woods again and
"staid until the show was over" but the
firing cooled down after awhile, and regiments
Of the enemy surrendered with their colors and
passed us to the rear. One Johnny refused to
surrender. but kept firing from behind the log
works as we approached them. believe he
was disposed of with the bayonet.
Who the staff officer was whom Comrade
Van Wye mistook for Col. Grower l do not
know, but hope our comrade is mistaken as to
his being mortally wounded, for he certainly
was gallant officer, and it was due, no doubt,
to his exertions that we "went in" again
though the regiment acted under orders in
every move it made on that field.
Our noble Colonel Nv. T. G. Grower) died of
his wound the second day. A Drawer, truer,
nobler man never lived; but my pen is unable
to portray his virtues, and my heart saddens at
the remembrance of his loss. / thank Com
rade Van Wye for favorably mentioning our
Colonel and regiment; it calls to my mind that
before that fight the Western boys were down
on US, we being lately from the East; but after
it, we were cordially received into the frater
nifty of Western boys.-C. 81. PEAsE, Captain,
Co. G, 18th N. Y.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
To THE EDITOR: In your issue of Feb. II
see an article on the battle of Jonesboro, by
Chas. Van Wye 23d No., in which he speaks of
the 18th n Y. falling back, etc. Now, as an
actual participant, allow me to give the par
ticulars. L can only speak of our brigade
First Brigade, Second Division, Fourteenth
Corps. 1t was composed as follows: 10th and
14th Mich, 10th and Goth ILL.,, and 18th N. Y.
| think the First Division was ahead of us, and
made the first and think, second charge.
We marched in regular line of battle across
very thick high blackberry swamp. When
within about 80 yards of the enemys line we
reformed, and the order was communicated
along the line to charge. While charging my
bayonet was shot off. my gun. I remember
going through the embrasure. could not see
the 18th N. Y, but 1 got to the second line,
where / received bullet in my left breast. /
would almost pledge my life the 18th N. Y.
was there and stayed until the rebs surren-
dered.-H. G. REMLow, 10th Mich, Juniper,
Arizona.