The National tribune., 1886-03-04
HATCHER'S RUN.
He Indorses Lieut.. WedenssIl's Account Of the
Affair.

To THE EDITOR: In THE NATIONAL TRIB-
UNE of Jan. Ia, 1886, 1 saw an article from the
pen of Lieut.. ]. Weidensall. of the Saith Pa, on
the action of Oct %, 1864, which / can indorse
to the letter, and say that he did not tell all.
The Second Brigade of the Second Division
of cavalry (Greggs), of which i was member,
was composed of the following troops: I'd, 4th,
Sth, 13th and 10th Pa Cav. On the morning
of the 9th the 10th Pa. was assigned the right
of the column, or, in other words, the advance.
We had not proceeded very far until We en-
cOuntered the rebel pickets and drove them
back on their reserves which made short
stand, but were forced to fall back on their
main body of cavalry, which was in the neigh
borhood of Hatcher's Run. did not learn to
what States they belonged, but did learn that
they were commanded by Gen. Hampton, who
engaged us until relieved by their infantry,
when he was sent to turn cur left. Gen. Han
cock, with portion of the Second Corps, being
on the ground, took the 'front.' which left Gregg
to look after cur left and reaT-a thing he was
perfectly able to do and which he did Go. The
rebels in the meanwhile extended their lines
around our left and in our rear, across the
road that we passed over in the morning, so
that, as Lieut.. Weidensall says, the firing came
from all Sides and for q while we did not know
which was front or rear. During the afternoon
it WAS currently reported that Hancock roce
up to Gregg saying General, we seem to be
getting in a tight place" "Humph," says
Gregg, 81 have a few sabers strapped to my
saddles yet" Butwe were not ordered to make
a saber charge. And, as the Lieutenant says,
at dark we were in tight place and did not
know where we would get CUT but fortunately
for Us the rebels abandoned that part OF the
line after dark, which left us clear road out,
that we took advartageof. lam not acquainted
with Lieut.. Weidensall, but was acquainted,
intimately, with different members OF the S4th
sud 1I0th Pa, which saw going into action
in the early part Of the day, when we were be-
ing relieved on the front line, aud know that
they did their duty like men. l saw some
hard fghtng-charging and counter-charg-
ing-done that day that reflects great credit to
the troops engaged.
Lieut.. Weidensall, being commissioned ofi-
Ger, had better chance of seeing and knowing
than l had. was only private and was ac-
lively engaged all day on different parts OF the
line | saw great deal that went on, and
there was a great deal that did not see. My
company was detached from the regiment but
myself was with the regiment, doing duty with
Co. F. We Of the cavalry were under the i'm
preston that there was q number of our men
aud led horses captured that day by the rebels
when they came in the gap left open by the
Fifth Corps; but when the gap was finally
closed the rebels were captured and our men
released.
Now, will Lieut.. Weidensall or some other
comrade tell me whether such was the case. l
presume from the way that the Lieutenant
writes about being attacked in the flank that
that was the time men were captured IL at
all.-JAMEs P. SUTER, Co. D, 18th Pa, Royer,
Pa.