The National tribune., 1888-05-24

N'-A~~'T- bers OF the regiment
assuring me that | was
correct in every particular. Then, again,
1 see an article written by Capt. A. F. Denis
ton, of Co. of our regiment, which corrobo-
rates what said, except in one thing. He says
that the regiment was on the left of the cotton
gin, with the right resting on the Columbia
pike. / am sure that he did not intend to say
on the left, as we were on the right of the gin,
as we faced our works
Now, Capt Conner, frankly admit one error
in my article. Instead of saying, as l did that
our left was opposite the cottOn-gin, should
have said that the left of the regiment extend
ed nearly to it. You assure me that your arti-
Gle was meant as pleasantly, but say that you
have been calling upon others to diSproye what
/ assert, and that l am mistaken. Captain, |
know whereof | speak, and do not have to call
upon anyone to convince me that am correct,
although, as | said, quite number Of comrades
have voluntarily written me in regard to the
correctness of my statement The regiment
you saw from your very advantageous position
charge up to the works which were abandon
ed, as you state by the apparently cowardly
men of the 10th Ohio, was the 10th Ohio,
notwi thstaudiug your positive assertion that
we never occupied the 10th OhiO's or any other
front line of works on the left of the Columbia
pike. Where the 104th were compelled to aban-
don their works on the left of the pike is where
we met the rebels, and where we stood within
very lew minutes dIJeT Tue lO4bn SoL oub VI
the way. / mean those of that regiment that
made way for Wagner to come in. | will here
explain. A short time before that battle COM
menced we were temporarily assigned to the
| Third Brigade, Third Division, Twenty-third
/ Corps, and took q position on the left OF the
Columbia pike. Now, Captain, / mean the Co
Iumbia pike not the Carter Creek pike nor
any other pike but to the left of the Columbia
pike, just where you have reserve marked in
your diagram Behind us a few PAGES was the
18th KY, and in the rear of that, as | was told,
| the 18th Ky. If you had said that Riley's COM
maud was composed of the Tooth, 10th, 10th
/ Ohio, Sth Tenn, 18th and 10th KY, you would
! have been correct.
! After what the 175th Ohio did and suffered
on that memorable day, her surviving members
| will never consent nor allow anyone to try to
! pluck the honors she so nobly and so glorously
| won on that OCCASION Our loss in the charge
was very heavy, amounting to over $50 killed
/ and wounded. Capt.W B. Logan, Co. d. was shot
/ through the head leading his company up to
! the works.
! do not agree with your Captain that the
| 10th Ohio, or part of them, left the works
/ on account of a misunderstood order There
! can be no doubt butWhat Wagner's orders were
/ TO at once retire behind the works should he
! discover Hood advancing in full force, and that
! the l04th Ohio were instructed TO let him In !
/ that Wagner disregarded the orders Of his
| superior officer, which was not to stand except
| against cavalry and skrmishers, but to fall
! back behind the main line. When assured by
his officers that Hoods entire force was coming,
his reply was, Never mind; fight them"
Wagner was brave officer and great fighter,
and his men were as true as their leader. In
this instance he was rash and imperiled the
safety Of the men Had he done as ordered,
and retired to the main line when he should,
/ am satisfied that the 104th Ohio would not
have been accused of apparent cowardice. The
I04th had to do what they did, or in trying 10
beat back the enemy would have slain friends
and foe alike. The thing proper for them to
do was to let Wagner in. In order TO do this
they had to retire from the center. Had they
not done so they would undoubtedly have been
trOdden under foot. What Wagner's men did
after they got behind the main line | know
mott mean those that were not captured-bui
this / know, that as soon as they were out oil
the way the advancing rebel hOrdeS were
braYely met and in time repul5ed. The 175th
Ohio helped to do it, and remained in the
center until the retreat to Nashville was
ordered.
You misquote me again when you undertake
to repeat what / said about Lieut.. kimball.
said Lieut. Kimball, Of Co. G, 104th Ohio; not
Of the 10th Ohio, as you have it. What l said
he did can be corroborated by witnesses, ]
am sure, as well as by history. Whitelaw Reid
IN his History Of Ohio in the War, makes prom
inent mention of the fact You were also mis-
taken In regard to the position Of the 18th Ind
battery. One of the prominent farmers neal
here, member Of that battery, Mr.. Thomas
Tuttle, says that they were out Of ammunition
were over the river, and took no part in The
engagement. Again, Captain, may not justly
accuse you of getting a little mixed on tina
occasiOn,-oT at least, it was too big an affair TO
you to take it all in at glance as the time wa
: too limited. Then you say, 1t has been a l0nj
time since, and memory is often at fault.
will here add that / have depended upon IN!
diary kept while in the service for the aecurac,
OF some Of my statements. / do not question TIL
fact that you saw certain portion of our work
! abandoned aud at once filed by the reserves
and give you credit for believing that yO
were correct; but the trouble is, you were no
: aware Of our assignment and the position "
: occupied, aud probably did not know of on
. / existence, as we had not been in the field bu
. | a month and half. We had been in Comman
q of the post at Columbia, Tenn, with detach
: ments Of the regiment at the various block
7 houses between Pulaski and Spring HILL
= / trust that / have said enough to cOnvinc
I Capt Conner that he might be mistaken as {
= the position OF the l75th Ohio on that occasion
n as well as in other things, regardless Of b
: very positive assertions TO the contrary.-N
/ P. WOLF, Captain, Co g, 10th Ohio, Whining
y ton, o.
The Pennsylvania Reserves,
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In your issu
h Of April 26, the author Of" Boy Spy in Dixie
- says Meade's Division. of the old Sixth Corps
baC4 90 MO