The National tribune., 1886-01-21

the enemy. They did not halt until wltnn
the lines Of their support where they were
rallied by their officers.
We were then within 100 feet of their
combined force, from which we received
deadly fire. At the same time the enemy
poured ont in vast numbers from the DeVIis
Den. not more than 150 yards from us, on
our left flank, and opened an enhladIng IRE.
No troops could long withstand such storm.
Col Ellis and Maj. Cromwell were kllied
and Lieut.-Col. Cummins wounded. AT the
rate the men were being shot down 1t would
have been the work Of but 4 few minutes to
have annihilated the 12ith \. \. Every
man stood his ground aud did his duty un-
Ill the order was passed alone the line TO
fall back to the top Of the hill. don e think
the 124tb was supported on either flank, but
had made the charge independently and
alone. Once back to the top OF the hill our
colors were stuck in the ground and we were
ordered to rally on those colOTs; not man
to leave them"
The order was cheerfully obeyed. Once
more On the line o. battle, with the eoth
n. Y. on our right in the woods, and the
4th Me. and 99.h Pa an our LETT, we had no
fear of being flanked from either direction. Ihe
enemy. encouraged by our falling back 10 our
old position, advanced on rs iii force. But we
had taken a position we were deterlnlncd -
hold rs long rs there were enough OF the l2ith
left to hold the ground, or to stay until ordered
back by our officers. Our company officers
bravoly did their duty. They were every
where amongst the Hlcn with cheering words,
telling them we had them on our own ground,
where we wanted them, and to give 1t to
them
/ think thc I2ith ohcyod that order Judging
from the appearance of the battlefield in its
front after the fight As nearly as can Judge
the I2ith was under musketry fire two hours
and half oH open ground, and at no time were
the lines more than 100 yards apart, and part
of the time not half that distance. Our ranks
became depleted; there was not more than
st7Ong skirriish-line left. The 4th Niainc's
colors stood beside ours. We were not particu-
lar what regiment We were in, or who were
fighting with US, so long as we held the
ground Every foot was held until re-enforce-
ments arrived
II ever there were happy lot Of men on
Gods green earth il was when we saw Sykess
Division of Regulars coming to our support.
Every man shouted Re-enforccmentS! !" over
and over again. Not until our Brigadier Cen
eral. J. Hobart Ward, who was stationed just
in the rear OF our regiment, gave the order to
fire and fall back in good order, did man
leave the ranks. Syisess Division advanced in
splendid line Of battle and when within close
musket range, we withdrew behind its line of
battle and Wero marched to the rear to reform.
We had become scattered in the fight, so that
when relieved there were just four Captains and
Is men Of us with the cciorS. That was Just after
We got through Sykes's Division. When we
stacked arms that light there were so guns N
the regiment.
While passing TO the rear we met Lieut.-Col.
Cummius mounted silewise Oh his horse. de
had been 10 the field hospital 10 get his wound
dressed which was severe one in the hip, and
was coming back to the front TO find the
"OranCe Blossoms We were glad 10 know he
was alive, an1 he was happy 10 meet lis, TO
know the 124th bad uobly done its duty, and
to see the flag which the ladies of Orange
County, had presented 80 US less than year
before. still in Cur Possession and unsuilied.
The l2ith suffered terribly in the fight, los
ing its Colonel and Siajor killed and Lieuten-
ant-Cclouel wounded, and seven other officers
and 50 men killed aud wounded out of Is
officers and 220 men that went into the fight.
The i24th after coming out of the fight marched
TO the rear sufficiently far enough 10 be out of
range Of the enemy's shells, and there rested
that night and reformed what was left of the
regiment Ne Were moi actively engaged again
during the battle, although VIC occupied q po-
sition on the line of battle the next day, on the
extreme left OF the army.
The I2ith y. \. was styled by Col Ellis. who
organized the regiment, the Orange Bios
soms' or account OF the regiment having been
raised principally il Orange County.