The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-09-30
THE WILDERNESS.
How the 9th n. y. Cav. Had q Hand in Opening
the Plight.

To THE EDITOR: In the pride we have in
our respective regiments we are liable, after
many years, 10 misstate or overlook facts. how
sensitive we are for our regiments hghting
reputation, even when not questioned or doubt
ed; how prone, when a member OF regiment
writes of an act, TO jump at the conclusion that
injustice has been done another regiment, be-
cause the narrator has omitted referring to the
one of which the reader was a member, which
he believes or claims was also engaged in the
same fight whilst in point Of fact The narrator
refers 10 one engagement, the reader another,
oftentimes not only entirely different, but days
apart. We are fighting our battles over Tor sue
ceeding generations. Would not many seem
ing contradictions and controversies relating
TO particular engagement be avoided IL We
Were a little more carefully
In the language of q. NJ. Galloway, 95th Pa,
in his article published Oct. ID, lSSl, IN the
Weekly Times, OF Philadelphia, a lew references
10 which are hereinafter made, the battle OF
the Wilderness WAS one which will al
ways remain mystery in the history of the
late war. IL was an action the very mention
of which makes one shudder"
In your issue OF July {, lSs6, Serg't Toms re-
fers 10 the opening of this battle and the 9th N.
Y. Cav. In two subsequent issues Comrade
Lnsdlay, LIST N. y. Dragons Aug. ~, and
Comrade Seypes, 9th Pa. Cav. Sept. y, both
cavalrymcn, go for the scalp of Serg't Toms in
his claim that the 9th N. y. Cav. opened the
battle. Are not the three comrades right, aud
at the same time left2 Are not the comrades
all correct in the main TACT 10 which each re-
fers namely the respective "muss?" DO Serg't
Toms and the two comrades refer TO the same
engagement
Let us see. The Third Division, Cavalry
Corps Wilson. who succeeded kipatrck)
broke camp midnight May 3, 1864, crossed the
river in the morning of May and encamped
that night in the woods OF the Wilderness, be-
side plank road. Early the following morn
ing-namely May 5, lS64-the 9Th n. Y. Cav,
being alone, was attacked by the enemy in
strong force. Why the regiment was not with
its brigade or division at the time Of the at
tack, the reason IL was not supported by Gen.
Wilson during the trouble, or where the bal
Rnce Of the division was, i don't know. This i
do know, that very early in the morning of
May s. 1864, our regiment, leaving camp in the
woods, formed in a small clearing which was
q little in the rear Of where We had spent the
night, and on the left side OF the road, fronting
the enemy. Barely had the regiment formed
for the purpose OF joining our di DIVISIONAL least
i think for this purpose, but being only pri-
waite, don't know posltiycly-shOts, at first few,
but rapidly increasing were heard on the
picket-line. Company after company was dis
mounted and sent to participate in the fun.
until, If my memory is correct, only Cos. A and
when staff or other officer directed him at all
hazards 30 hold on, as our infantry was near at
hand and coming rapidly.
A moment after i was severely wounded,
and went 10 the rear. As Assistant Surgeon
Armstrong was probing the wound, a General,
with his staff, galioped up, Immediately followed
by the infantry on q double-quick. My i'm
preston was that the boys of the Fifth Corps
came up, but If COmrade Galloway is right il
was the Second Division, Sixth Corps, Gen.
Getty-that is il his and Serg't Toms's fight
arc the same
The 9Th n. Y. Cav. was the only cavalry en-
gagged for two hours and upwards, the infantry
then relieving US on the double-quick. On
the other hand, the LIST n. Y. Dragons and
the 9th Pa. Cav, as stated by the two com
radeS, were engaged at the action at Todd's
Tavern, May :, two days after the opening Of
the battle The commencement is the main
point Ct SgTg't Tomss article, and in that he is
correct. Where he and our two comrades have
got this thing mixed is perhaps attributable TO
his time of the raid and the detail of the regi-
ment for headquarters, both Of which occurred
subsequently.
is il not pardonable for a member of a regi-
ment, especially cavalry, TO desire "bonor TO
whom honor is due when the regiment held
a largely superior infantry force in check, Gen.
Gordon with his division and Gen. Heths
DiyiSion-see article Of Culloway,) thus ell
abling our infantry in the nick Of time 10 save
the army from disssterY Gen. GOrdon's object
was 10 cut of Hancock from the rest Of the
army, capture our artillery and strike Us in the
left flank and rear he was pressing down
rapidly in order 10 accomplish this, not suppos-
ing there was any force in his front but small
body Of cavalry. VIII not Col. Hammond,
commanding the 9TH n. Y. Cav. contribute
chapter Of unwritten history by giving the
opening Of the battle of the Wilderness 10y his
troopers who, with the aid Of their Spencer
carbines, held the fort until our brethren, the
dough boys, made time and distinguished
themselves ?-I. }. LIcHTEYBERG, Co. B, 9Th n.
Y. CRVr Pottsyille, Pa.