The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-01-07
THE 95TH NEW YORK.
Continued from 1st page

was formed. the 90th n. Y. MED TO the lett
through and over rail fence, and instead of
deploying into line, filed to the right, and
thus marched by the flank to the line of battle
and was halted. The seth Pa. and 10th n. Y.
had already been properly deplOyed and placed
i'll position. The remainder of the division
was in line or rapidly being placed in position.
As the first company of the 90th reached the
crest of the hill the reg iment was halted, and
awaited orders to deploy. Time passed and no
order was given. A gap was thus left open in
our line of battle the length of our reg mental
front. Gen. Hatch, commanding the division
(Gen. King being i'll }, asked me very emphati-
cally why the regiment was not deplOyed. By
his order l rode to Lieut.-Col. Post, who was i'll
command, stationed about halfway down the
hill, and repeated to him Gen. Hatchs order to
bring the regiment into line Immediately, and
receiving no instructions from him, resumed
my position on the crest of the HILL The ene-
my were in force in our front, and rather more
combatlve than we presumed retreatlng forces
usually to be. Their fire was rapid and hot to
which Co. f was wholly exposed, and the ad-
joining company partially so, without being
in position to return it. The balance of the
regiment was somewhat sheltered by the slope.
A second time Gen. Hatch sent me with the
order to have the regiment brought into line,
and second time L carried the order to Lieut.
Col. Post, and with the same result. The third
time Gen. Hatch gave orders to deploy the reg-
ment, which L assumed to do by changing front
forward on first company. The right of the
regiment hearing the order executed the nee
esSary movements. In the meantime some
order had been given on the left which I have
always thought was to execute a regimental
wheel. Whatever it may have been it was not
similar to that on the right, and the result was
that the right companies came into line III
fairly good order, while the left became con-
fused. The disorder reached the right, and the
regiment was in confusion worse cOnfounded."
This all occurred in few minutes, and while
Gen. Doubleday was engaged at the left center
of the brigade. During this confusion the regi-
ment was punished considerably, but was not
panicstricken, many of the soldiers exclaiming
"We aint afraid,
AND WANT TO FIGHT,
but we want some one to put US in right
Three times Maj. Pye, the company officers,
and myself rallied the regiment on the line,
but in much disorder and as many times it
was compelled to fall back.
l finally rode to Gen. Doubleday, stated the
situation and asked for relief behind which we
could reform and go in right. He told me to
have the regiment cease firing and he would
send regiment to relieve US temporarily. The
18th Brook lyn was just then moving along the
base of the hill toward the left, and believe,
was ordered to our relief. 1t failed to come,
however, but continued toward the left prOba-
bly, under previous orders L subsequently
learned that it entered wood ON the left of
the line, where it was roughly handled by the
enemy, losing many men. The members of
the 18th at that time wore red pants, which
were conspicuous marks at which to fire, par
tcuarly in the timber.
Seeing that the relief promised did not come,
l determined to form the regiment on the color
company, the same as on dress parade. That,
being movement daily practiced, would be
tbon thar
and less familiar order. The Color Sergeauts,
with the Color Guards, were formed on the
line the color company on them, and the other
companies on the right and left of the color
company, and although this formation was
made under a CALLING fire, the men did not
finch. After thus getting into line the regi
ment was able to take part in the engagement
with some effect. The enemy's line of battle
was in the form of an oven V, with the point
from us, and they thus had to some extent a
cross fire on our line. After being reformed
the 9oth stood fast until 4 break occurred some
where in the line on our left which crowded
the regiment on the left of us into our ranks,
and again we were thrown into some confusion,
during which the whole line fell back, pressed
by the enemy. Several regimental formations
were broken, but no rout occurred, as the men
were not pauicstricken, but fell back fighting
although in some confusion.
At the base of the hill, and in the rear Of our
position i'll line, was dry ravine, evidently an
abapdoned railroad grade, deep enough to allow
person to stand and be sheltered, except from
the shoulders up. Into this ravine some 100
men of the Second Brigade and from other
organizations collected and made stand. AS
the enemy mounted the crest of the hill and
came down the slope they gave them several
rapid and telling volIeyS, which. in some
degree, checked the ardor of their pursuit.
They halted to consider, and came no
farther. Under cover of the darkness we
quietly withdrew from the ravine to the new
line taken by our forces a few rods to the rear,
and the men separated in search of their regi-
ments. l am informed that but two brigades
of our division were engaged in this battle,-
those of Gems. Doubleday and Hatch,-Gibbon S
Brigade being detached, and Patrick'S Brigade,
owing to contradictory orders, not coming up
in time except to check the enemy when they
followed us up. The force against which We
fought was the fresh troops of Gen. Longstreet
said to have numbered 14,O00 men. We prob
ably had not more than $500 men in line.
The 95th n. Y. was scattered here and there
in squads of from three upwards-some COM
pany formations not having been lost, and it
seemed a hercuean task to get the regiment
together again for the renewal of the battle,
WHICH MUST SURELY COME
on the morrow. Although driven back We
were by no means beaten. Coming to a small
mousse OTuereu buOSc Oh inc SOln Will me 10
halt there and detailed several to look up the
balance of the regiment, those remaining TO
halt any who might come along in that direc-
ton. Before morning those of the regiment
left were reunited and in the ranks, and had
rejoined the brigade, which was considerably
depleted, but ready for action.
The musketry fire of the enemy in this en-
gagement was rapid and generally accurate
although not so destructive on that portion of
the line occupied by our brigade as the noise
would lead one to believe The air for time
seemed alive with musket balls, the wheep"
and ping" of which were almost continuous
/ had several narrow escapes, some of which
was not aware of until after the battle One
ball struck a cap-boX containing pistol car
trdges one, the hilt of my sword close to my
hand; another cut a metallic shoulder-strap
from my shoulder as clean and neatly as il cut
with pair of shears: two passed through my
felt hat and two lodged in the pommel of my
saddle The one that struck the cap-box for
short time caused me some uneasiness. The sem
sation was as if the ball had passed through
my body, and it was with considerable relief
that found on investigation there was no hole
under my belt. The one that struck my sword
hilt numbed my sword arm for while by the
shock. The others l was not aware of until my
attention was called to them after the battle.
Early on the morning of the 30th | received
orders from Gen Doubleday to go with small
detail back over the road on which we had
marched the afternoon of the Goth, to the point
where we were passed by Gen. Porters Corps,
and to hurry forward all stragglers from our
brigade or division. l Immediately set out in