The National tribune., 1886-06-17


compelled 20 retire. arrived in the timber as Col
Ruger srailying his men. and added them TO my
command
In Gen. GordOn's book, Brook Farm to Cedar
Mountain" he says: AT the edge Of the woods
/ rallied aud gathered up the Sd Wis"
There appears 10 be discrepancy in these
statements as 10 where and by whom the six
companies of the Sd Wis was rallied. The
truth is that the Sd Wis. was rallied by Col.
Ruger and the officers of the regiment north Of
the creek, about 1000 yards north OF the tim
ber. After the ID Mass. and the 9th Ind. had
passed them at the creek TO engage the enemy
in the timber and at the odge of the wheatfield,
/ saw Col. Ruger approach the 9Th Ind. mo-
ment before il started. as / have stated above.
Col. Colgrove, in his official report, dated Aug.
II, 1862, says:
About the time commenced forming my regi-
ment into line, the Sd Wis, or six companies
OF il. that had been brought into action sometime
previous fell back out Of the woods and came down
the hill. apparently badly cut TO pieces, part Of
whom rushed through my ranks and delayed me
some i'm forming my line Of battle.
This line of battle mentioned by Col. Col
grove was formed on the South side of the
creek TO adjust his line which was considera-
bly, broken while crossing said creek with
very deep and steep banks. Col. Colgroye
says:
Al this time you (Gordon) rode up on my right
and ordered me forward at double-quick think
we had at this time about quarter OF miie
This was about the time Gen. Gordon was
according 10 his statement, rallying the broken
six companies Of the Sd Wis, adding 10 them
the other four companies which were, up to this
time, on the left of the 2d Mass.-in the mean
time the 9th Ind. was on full run-and
placing the whole of the Sd Wis. at the edge
of the wheatfeld on the right of the 9th, TO
open fire Immediately with the 9th upon the
enemy. If the Wisconsin men had wings and
could fly they could not have rallied and re-
formed the six companies that were retiring at
a run while the 9th was advancing at the
same rate Of speed. To add the other four COM
panieS TO them, which up 10 this time were on
the left of the ID Mass, about 500 yards TO the
left Of where the first six companies were raj
lied, and move the whole regiment forward
and place il on the right and in line with the
9th Ind, and with commendable coolness"
open fire upon the enemy from the edge of the
wheatfield at the same time the 9th Ind. did,
would have been physical impossibility.
The ground was not favorable for such rapid
movements Of troops. At the edge of the woods,
and about 10 PAGES 10 the right of where the
| extreme right of the 9th entered the woods
| from the bottom land, was a steep and abrupt
| hill covered with a thick underground over
which the Sd Wis. would have TO pass in order
/ TO take the position given them by Gordon on
the right of the 9th. There was also an
abrupt hill on the left of the 9th, over which
/
| the enemy.
Wisconsin in the War of the Rebellion"
p. 255 says:
The officers [of the Sd Wis that were left imme-
daiely rallied about one-hRlf that went into the
| fight which was the greater part of those that
were not killed or disabled, and. being Joined by
/ the other four companies Of the regiment moved
/ forward aud took position with the remainder Of
their brigade, who meantime, had not suffered so
severely. and had advanced 70 attack where
Gen. Crawiords command had met with a rep1lse.
CrawfOrd's Brigade was ON the left Of Cor
donis Brigade, and Crawfordis men at no time
reached as far to the right as the position oc-
cupied by the 9th Ind. So that the Sd Wis,
| if on line with the other two regiments of the
brigade, must have been on the left Of the I'd
Mass.
Col. Ruger's report, If he ever made one of
/ this battle, does not appear on the official
records; but be can explain the position oc-
/ cupied by has regiment when it went into this
battle the second time. The survivors OF the
9th Ind. feel that Gen. Ruger, their brigade
commander from January, 1863, 10 September,
/ 1864, would deal justly and fairly with their
regiment, and would not rob it OF the post of
honor, the extreme right Of the brigade Cor
don continues, in - Brook Farm to Cedar Noun
] tain":
The 27th Ind. which had retreated through the
woods, was rallied, reformed. and moved 10 the
right Of the ID Mass where again ID opened fire
upon the enemy. BY this time Pender. with his
/
had gained our rear In the confusion, the
and smoke. this force not seen until aer IL had
reached our side Of the fence and was within 20
PAGES Of the right OF Col Colgroves regiment and
a little In rear Of my line. AS IL marching
/ deliberately toward us in columns OF companies,
the commander Of the 9th Ind. saw IT, and shouted
Instantly to his men 10 face and file to the right; but
he was obeyed by his right company only. The
enemy halted, wheeled into line, opened with that
portion OF his front that could reach us and threw
forward the remainder Of his brigade full upon our
flank and rear; but the 9th Ind. had again fed
tn uoaaa ntr Aar
| rear Of the I'd Mass. tPp. $40. BIZ
Did Gen. Gordon expect the 9th Ind 10 re-
main in a hole, where they could not help them
selves TO save the I'd Mass. 2 Why did not Gen.
Gordon order the I'd off the field by the left
flank when he saw them thus exposed2 Gordon
| has no words Of commendation for the 9th Ind.
for being rallied, reformed, and moved into ac-
ton, a second time 10 be baptized in the fiery
food of Cedar Mountain" Why does Gordon
limit his cOmmendation TO the Cd Mass and
the Sd Wis, when it was we'll known fact 10
him that each of the three regiments of his bri-
gade were driven back in detail by the same
numbers Of the enemyl OF the eight COM
panies OF the 9th Ind. engaged in this battle
il lost one officer and ii men killed of the 10
companies of the Sd Wis. engaged, il lost one
officer and is men killed. So that the 9th Ind
lost in killed more men in proportion to the
number engaged than the Sd Wis. did, and
hence should have received the same commen-
Na1'on hom 4bs oiiBauc coInInanuers Dut Tor
don was not the generous soul 10 do il. On
the contrary, he studiously intended to Gre
ate the impression upon his readers that the
9th Ind. had fed on all occasions.
Ii ill-becomes Gen. Gordon 70 apply such
Pickwickian epithets as I" the incorrigible 9th
Ind" 10 regiment that lost l54 officers and
enlisted men killed in battle and died OF
wounds, GIG wounded and 100 died of disease.
making grand total of $50 out Of I,0S5 borne
upon It's rolls. Will Gen. Gordon compare this
record with the record Of the other brave regi-
ments Of his Cedar Mountain brigade ?-JoHS
BREsSAHAN. Co. A, 9th Ind, Washington
ID. c.