The National tribune., 1886-06-17
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have 10 Say About
Their Old Campaigns
A oomrude Of the 9th Ind. Tolls Of the Fight and
Crlticizes Gen. Gordon.


and marched to Culpcpor where we arrived
about midnight on the Sth. About ll O'Clock
next day lAug g. 562) the brigade, The 2'th
1ud In advance started on the march through
Culpcper 10 Cedar Mountain, about eight miles,
aud after a iatigung march in the dust ana
heat we reached high point on the road over
looking Cedar Creek Valley and the spurs OF
Cedar Mountain heyond, about o'clock. where
tho skirmishcrs Of Gen Crawlord's Brigade OF
onr lMiliams's division were engaged with the
enemy. After having rested on this hill lew
minutes. we faced 10 the right and marched
through the fields 10 n heavy woods on the hill
about one mile 10 the right Of the road, and
west of a farmhouse where we stacked arms
and rested
The 27th being on the extreme right. Cos. G
and i were sent about mile to our right ana
front occupying a high ridge of ground cover
ed with timber, and deployed a part OF each
company forward about one-fourth of a mile as
skirmishors, holding about half Of each COM
pany on the highest part Of the ridges as re-
serves. Prom this position the surrounding
country for some distance was in plain view,
and from the disposition made Of Che two
companies hv Col Colgrove, Of the 9th
Ind, our right was secured from surprise by
any flank movement Of the enemy. Shortly
after this disposition had been made Of the two
companies, the artillery on our front and left
commenced firing, which continued until about
6o'clock. About this time the remaining eight
companies of the regiment received orders TO
march 10 the open field I'm front OF the WOODS,
which was complied with MS promptly as possl-
BILE, and then halted for some time in compli-
ance with Gen. GOrdons order. While stand
ing IN position here we had fine Neew OF the
little valley IN our front and TO our left as FAR
rs Cedar Mountain, which was about one and
half miles from our position on the right The
enemy occupied Cedar Mountain and the high
ridges, which were covered with heavy timber
on the other side Of the valley. We could see
Gen. Augurs Division move up the slope OF the
mountain against the enemy; we also saw Gen.
CraNioro Brigade move into the woods on the
ridge on our leltan front, and attack the enemy
with its usual vigor Then the Sd Wis. moved
forward from the left of our brigade; il moved
down the slope, across the valley, and mp the
bill into the woods on the right Of Gen. Craw-
ford's Brigade, where il
CHARGED THE ENEMY.
The roar Of musketry was very heavy for
about 10 minutes, then the wounded Of the 81
WIS. commenced streaming out Of the woods
and IN few minutes more the whole OF the SIX
companies of the brave Sd Wis. that were en-
gagged were forced 20 retire before the superior
numbers OF the enemy. Col. Ringer rode up 70
our regiment and said: "HO0sers, for God
sake, 60 to the rescue Of my men; they are cut
all 20 pieces" Instantly the 9th Ind. and the
I'd Mass, on its left sprang forward in response
down the slope, through the bottom land,
which was covered with dewberry vines. across
the little creek. where we met tine Sd Wis. re-
tring and mp the hill into the woods on run.
Here we met the enemy's skirmishers and
drove them out Of the woods into and across
the wheatfeld, at the edge Of which we formed
line OF battle. While driving the enemy
through the woods several Of our men had
hand-tO-hand combat with the enemy, and
George Thicker. of Co. A, killed a six-fO0ter OF
the 5th Va. who was handling his comrade.
john layton, Of the same company, rather
roughly.
When we reached the fence at the edge Of
the wheatfeld weopenod FIRE upon the retreat
ing skirmishers. who sought shelter behind the
wheat-shocks. The main line Of the enemy
was IN the heavy woods and behind the fence
on The opposite side Of the wheatGeld. about
300 yards from our line The enemys lines
were formed 10 conform with the timber around
this field, which was diamond shaped, thereby
overlapping both fanks of the 21th Ind, and
pouring a terrible fire into our ranks, which
was promptly returned By rs and kept up for
some 10 minutes While thus engaged word
was passed along our line from the left OF the
rcgimeut. that we were firing upon our own
fr00FE The writer, who was Oh the extreme
right ni the regiment, turned looked 20 the
left and front and saw what he took 70 be q
National fag carried by a regiment which was
moginc across the wheatfold on the left Of the
18th Ind. The uniforms Of our men were 80
cOvercd with dust that we could not distin-
Fuish the blue from The gray.
Some OF the Confederate flags az this time
werc similar 20 fhe National flags. aud would
Dc hard tD distinguish In the smoke Of battle
An intelligent Confederate officer informs mt
that bis regiment was fred upon by their OWL
men on ono occasion through similar mistake
However, Wc were soon convinced by tho
heavy Gre opened upon our front and bots
fanls that we Lad no troops there, and We
again opened frc npon the enemy. in tht
meantime this rebel regiment which we saw
moving upon our left moved into the gap be
tween tic left Of the 9th Ind. and the right o
tho % Mass. which was some distance % fhi
leit q the 27th Ind. and was MP TO this tins
standing a. rcst behind the heavy thinker q
the leit OF tic Nheat6eld, aud the result wa
that thc 9th Ind. was forced 10 retire a shor
cisiance but was soon rallied and brought int
action AGAIN, and opened Gre upon the enemy
While thus engaged Lieut.. NanArsdale Of Co
A, called the writer and half dozen other
or the right of said company 70 face 20 Ia
right and fire upon about two rebel regiments
who were then about 700 yards of and marchin
in llne of battle upon our right flank. kfte
Lieut.. Nanhndale had placed his men behin
trees ~ shelter them from the enemys hre, b
Fan 10 Col. CoigrOyc and informed him tina
tho enemy bad
GAINED OUR RIGHT FLANK.
when Col. Colgf0ye reached the right Of h
regiment hc Immediately ordered the first ",
companies on his right 10 change front by Oh
right Sank and By Gle right, which order, Co
C0lgoyc says, WaE ObCyed by Co A only. I'll
enemy opened a heavy Gre upon us, killing an
WOuncng many 81 our men. A rife ball passc
through Col Cogrovrs hat, grazing the seal
and cutting Oh a lock Of his red top-knot; b
faithful horse that carried him through tll
war, Baf shot through the body, but rccOycre'
The regiment WAS compelled 90 fall back
second time and was rallied al the creek
tic bottom. The little squad Of as on tho riga
continued firing upon this hanking column
tnc enemy uutil they got within 80 yards OF u
j had discharged my rife and saw by N
ciDsencss of the enemy, who were advancI
steadily through The woods aud up q gentle alOI
toward whore we stood, that ] would not has
time 10 reload before the enemy reached U
and as ! bad no desire 10 be taken prisone
] shouted 10 those Oi my commdes near m'
Let run boys 70 which they responded.
we about-iaced and uncovered ourselves fro
behind the trees the enemy shouted 20 us
very unFenuemanly language 10 halt al u
same tmc pouring vollcy u musl1etry aft
rs, wtich had the tendency Of accelerating ol
speed 10 the
RATE or A LIGHTNING EXPIRES.
One Of our squad, Lewis Stone Of Co J. wi
got in Co. a somehow received D slighf woui
in The shin. But. fortunately Tor us, we q
not run very iar before we turhcd down Il
opposite slope Of the hin from which wc startc
leaving swell oi ground between at and o
wicked puruoTs and soon iOined our regimen