The National tribune., 1886-06-17
CoggsreIr, BrIgaae a. EsntonrIlIe.

To THE EDITOR: In your issue of March %,
1856, Comrade John s. Schenck, 10Th ILL.,, gives
O very good description of the battle of Benton
vile, n. C., and the march from AverysborO to
the scene of this conflict He may be correct
as to the disposition of the Fourteenth Corps,
and perhaps the Twentieth Corps with the ex-
ception of the Third Brigade, Third Division,
commanded by Brig. Gen. William Coggswel.
This brigade was composed of the 33d Mass,
Goth Conn, 136th ". Y, 26th Wis, and I'D
and 55th Ohio. If remember rightly, this
brigade was guarding the trains of the Twen-
tieth Corps that day, consequently did not ar
rive on the field until late in the afternoon, or
about the time that part of the Fourteenth
Corps was being forced back. 1t was nearly
dusk, however, when we took position on the
front line, which was some distance to the right
and front of our first position, which, think,
was nearly in front of Gen. Sherman's head
quarters.
Our brigade formed on the right of brigade
of the Fourteenth Corps in the midst of y heavy
pine forest, where many of the trees were afre,
so that it was hard for skirmishers to get tree.
The 55th Ohio was on the right of the brigade
on the front line, with the 33d Mass. o few rods
to their rear ON the second line.
Co. b of the 55th (which was on the right of
the regiment) and a company of the 33d were
deployed. and formed line at right angles with
the main line, to protect the HIk. The re-
naming four regiments of the Bigade had po-
sition on our left, but / do not know the exact
order, as it was nearly dark when we entered
the woods. We had no time to throw up any
breastworks.
Shortly after we took this position numbers
of rebel soldiers began to pour into our lines
and give themselves up, but this kind of work
didn't last long. for it was but few minutes
until they came in full force to go through this
gap, as they supposed, but found somebody
there to intercept them. L think, however,
that one of their regiments did get too far TO
our right and were taken in" 1t was said TO
be the 26th Tenn. or a portion thereof. The
battle ragged furiously for two or three hours in
the darkness, except the light of the burning
trees which was soon obscured by the smoke.
/ do not remember hearing any firing on our
right, except when there was lull of firing
along our line we could hear distant eannOnad-
ing which was ascertained to be the right wing,
in the direction of GoldsborO. The firing on
our lines finally ceased, aud we rested on arms
till morning.
After we got some of the black from our faces
and served our scanty breakfast we were or
dered TO throw up breastworks, which we began
reluctantly, but when we had got them under
| headway we were relieved by a brigade of the
Fourteenth Corps, and they finished them
suppose.
We were then marched to the extreme left
| next to Kilpatrick's cavalry, which position we
occupied most Of the time until we started on
the march to Goldsboro.
| My opinion is that it was Coggswells Brigade
of the Twentieth Corps that was on the extreme
right the night OF March 10, 1865. instead OF
Vandevers of the Fourteenth Corps. w.
| RUMPLE, Co. B, 55th Ohio, Ladora, Iowa.