The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-05-10
SABINE CROSSROADS.
lie Thinks the Quartermastcr Takes Unto Himself
too Much Credit

tOb Mhth OttuiLs
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: have noticed
in your columns several articles regarding the
saving from capture Of a portion of the train
at that stupendous blunder-the battle Of Sa-
bine Crossroads. The Acting Assistant Quar-
termaster Of the Fourth Division, Thirteenth
Corps, writing upon the subject, alter relat-
ing how the cavalry and Thirteenth Corps
had become panic-strcken," " scared and
"crazed with fright" aud were fleeing in
the widest confusion, tells as that during the
continuance Of the wild r0ut the Quartermas-
tors and teamstcrs Of the Fourth Division train
stood brayely at their post and never Ainched
but remained standing" until all had passed
to the rear. Then, and not till then, they
turned around and moved off quietly and in
the best Of order, until the pauic-stricken com
mand was caught up with, some four or five
mics ia the rear The article ends with tho
declaration that, for saving their grub, the old
Fourth Division, Thirteenth Corps, wiz ever
hold in the kludcst remembrance the brave
and heroic Quartermastcrs and teamsteTs who
stood by their trains until the last panic
stricken soldier had passed TO the rear, then
quietly and without undue excitement turned
around and drove away to where the command
had been halted.
Two brigades Of cavalry and two small diyis-
ions Of infantry, after being sent into the en-
gagcmcnt, Il regiment or brigade ut a time, to
be whipped in detail by four or five times their
number, became dCln0raiizGd and fed IN con-
| fusion. As none Of them were Spring chick
! ems, I suppose they did very much as a like
number OF any other old soldiers would have
done under ike circumstances. 1t Is not nee
| essary in order to prove the bravery Of any
/ portion Of the army, that the balance should
/ all be made TO appear IS towards. There was
/ glory enough even IN that defeat to 60 around
and give all, including the QuaTtCrnasters and
! leamsters, a share. The rebels acknowledged
| a loss in killed and wounded greater than we
/ sustained IN killed, wounded aud prisoners
/ While on their side some regiments were nearly
annihIlated, q large proportion Of our loss was
! in prisoners. They outnumberCd us 50 greatly
| that some Of the time they had little else to dc
! than surround and capture. Co f. goth Wis,
/ besides It's dead and wounded left on the field
sent eight representatives, TO Camp Ford, in
| Tyler, Tex.
But that brilliant exploit Of saving the train
| loser much Of its luster by an article from the
same doughty Acting Assistant Quartermastel
| which appeared in later issue of your paper
In the account there given the Nineteenth
/ Corps, which met us couple of miles from the
| Crossroads formed in line in advance of anC
between that part of the train and the enemy
thus rendering it altogether impossible that il
| should have been captured even although every
man belonging to it had deserted his post
The Nineteenth Corps held that position unit
along IN the night, while everything in theil
rear was getting away in good shape. being
afforded ample time to retreat in the best o
order and without undue excitement"
Again in THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE appear
another picket-shot from the same gun, as fol
lows: " Lieut.. Geo. H McKinny, Quartermas
ter of Ransoms Division Oh the Red River cam
paign, says the train Of his division was only
saved by the Thirteenth Corps at Sabine Cross