The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-09-23
THE 9Th N. Y. CAV.
COmrade Toms Maintains His Points By the
PAPERS"

To THE EDITOR: In justice to myself and
the 9Th n. Y. Cav. l ask you to publish the fol-
lowing. l wrote piece some time ago, whieh
you published, speaking in praise of Carrie
tons account OF the battle of the Wilderness
under Gen. Grant; stating also that the 9Th Ny.
Cav. was the first regiment engaged in that
fight. was first called to account by Comrade
Nj. w. Lindsey, of the lst n. Y. Dragons, who
claimed that his brigade and division were
engaged at TOdd's Tavern, in Wilderness. May Z.
l said nothing about Todds Tavern, only that
the battle was opened by the 9Th N. Y. Cav. at
Parker's Store May D, and that they were the
only regiment there. Comrade Lindsey Is
right in saying that the cavalry did not go on
the raid 10 Richmond until May 9. The cav
airy crossed the river May 4. The 9Th ". Y. was
detached that day and sent to Parker's Store
to form picket-liue. We did not see the divis-
ion again until after the raid
And in THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE of Sept. q
Comrade George 5. Scypes, OF the 9Th Pa. Cav,
gives me shot, saying that / claimed that IN
the light as Todds Tavern the 9Th n. Y. Cav.
was the only regiment engaged, when, as be-
fore stated, did not say q word about TOdds
Tavern; and to end up, he says he supposes the
9th n. \. did its duty, but he objected to one
regiment claiming all the hOnOrs Of fight to
the exclusion of all other regiments. And l
object to a man commencing to talk when he
does not know what he Is talking about. i hope
he Will hunt up the paper which had my piece
In and read it. As to pickering" between
the Eastern and Western armies or to cast q
slur on comrade, it is something l hope 1 am
not guilty of.
A correspondent of the New York Herald at
that time May 5, 1861 gives this account ::
The 9th N. Y. Cav. was detached from Col.
Mclntoshs command for duty under the imme-
date orders of Gen. Meade. This was a COM
pliment well earned by it's gallant conduct at
Parkers Store. 1t is under the command of Col.
Hammond, one of the best officers in the serv-
ice."
May there was hard fighting all day between
the two armies. The following is copied from
Historic Records" of the 9th N. Y. Cav:
May 7.--EarIy this morning the following order
was received:
HEADQUARTERS SIXTH CORPS.
May Z, 1864.
Col. HAMMOND commanding 5th " V Cav:
Gen. Sedswiek directs lin accordance with orders
from headquarters Army Potomac and Gen. GrInt)
that you move forward and remain rs far as posi-
Bile near Germania Ford, and report Immediately
any movements Of the enemy. lie sure that no
iorce OF the enemy crosses the plank road without
Notifying Gen. Sedgwick at once.
BY command of MAJ.-CEN. SEDGwICK.
Z. n. WRITTEN, Major aud A. A. "A. G..
The regiment marched to the ford ON receiv-
ing the order, and picketed the road with two
other cavalry regiments which we found
posted on arriving. At 2 p. IN. an attack
Was made with cavalry and light artil-
leTy on the two regiments above mentioned.
They broke and fed, exposing our left, thus
compelling us also to fall back, which we did
quite rapidly down the river nearly as far as
Elys Ford. On our way toward the plank road
again, at no great distance from the river, Col.
Hammond received another order:
HEADQUARTERS .xTH CoRPs
Commanding officer of 22d y. Y. and I'd ohio Cav:
You will report immediately 10 Lieut. Col. Ham
mond, 9TH \. y. Cav. who Is hereby ordered 10
take command OF all the cavalry on the Germania
plank road.
BY command OF MAJ.-GEy. sEDGwIcK.
q. \. WHITTIER, Major and \. A. A. @.
Having made such disposition of his COM
mand Is was necessary to check any further
advance of the enemy. Col. Hammond moved
the regiment near the spot where we bivouacked
last night. arriving late. While we were cook
ing our suppers by our biyOuac fires, suddenly
the Wilderness before us became vocal will
deafening cheers, extending up and down our
vast army lines. Lee had been Outgeneraled,
his lines driven back, his right almost broken,
and Grant was prepared for his first left flank
movement. Before we slept, still another i'm
portant order was received:
HEADQUARTERS SIXTH CoRPs,
May 7, 1851.
Col. HAMMOND commanding cavalry:
You will please remain with your command near
the old Wilderness Tavern until you notified
by MfJ-'feil. hancock that MS corps ana picketS
are Withdrawn. Gen. HaHeock's picSets are to be
Withdrawn at a. m. Upon being notified you
will follow the Second Corps.
By command of MAJ. GEN. SEDGwfCK
G. A. WHITLEY, Major and A. A. A. G..
/ copy these orders TO show that we we're
detached from the Cavalry Corps and under
command of Col. Hammond, of the 5th y. Y.
Cav, and receiving orders from the commander
of the Army of the Potomac.-GEo. w. Tons,
Sergeant, Co. X, 9Th n. Y. Cav, Stamford, Conn.
After sea diet, to prevent boils and assist