The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-05-03
THURSDAY

in rank, but tenth in line. A few minutes
later, however, they We're pretty well mixed
up.
This breaking up of the regular formation
arose in the following manner Col. Hawkins,
as he has already related, failed to penetrate
the swamp to the enemy's left, and then
brought the head of the column back to the
corduroy road, the only way of approach Access
sible to us. The head CT the column there en-
countered the left wing coming down with
rush, led by Maj. Kimball, which was entirely
unmilitary. The fact is, Maj Kimball had
boosted to the boys that they should take
that battery or he would eat his breakfast in
h-l!" To make good the former he waved
his sword and shouted to the Zouaves to charge.
There never was q Drawer officer than Maj.
Kimball, but it cannot be denied that on that
occasion he took somebody else's thunder,
creating such a confusion that it has not yet
done laundering
Col Hawkins, in speaking of the confusion,
(the account of which was so malici0usly per-
verted by Capt. Otis, Capt. Denny and others,)
says be was unable to ascertain that there was
any considerable amount Of confusion there. /
do not believe there was any unusual confusion
ON the right, where De Monteuil was killed.
Col. Hawkins could not have witnessed what
actually did occur. But as / was on the left,
where my eyes could sweep the whole line, and
but few rods from Gems. Foster and Parke,
Just here want to say that the following
statements regarding our actions at that ex-
citing moment, 90 that the 9th broke in the
widest confusion, and rushed back down the
road out of fire; that there was a grand fusil-
ade of their muskets in every direction but the
right one; that the General sprang in among
US, catching our muskets and throwing up the
muzzles," are basely, maliciously, outrageously
false. When they talk about Zouayes killing
and wounding one another, even the Kickapoo
language fails to respond to the situation. l
for one just begin to realize how much danger
l was in there. l did not know at the time
that not only the Johnnes but my own COM
rades we're thirsting for my gore.
When the right and left wings doubled up on
the corduroy road, which was only wide enough
for mule cart it produced such a crowding IS
/ never beheld elsewhere. About two thirds
of the regiment were involved in It, When
600 men try to stand on a space not large
enough for 100, of necessity something
must happen and the only wonder is that
many we're not really trampled upon. Each
one tried to get out and keep out of the mire
and water, for the swamp was a series of holes
waist and neck deep. But from first to last,
nearly every man had to take his turn at a
souse in the black filth. l am credibly informed
that Maj. Kimball himself foundcred more
than once in the muck above his eapacious
waist.
Up to this time the firing of the rebels had
been only haphazard Why the rebels did not
send the contents of their three guns into us
there | never learned. But our boys never
enjoyed being under fire without returning it.
So the men on the edges Of the jam, who could
do So discharged their pieces at the Johnnies
in the battery and the sharpshooters in the
trees over it. Perhaps 50 or 20 muskets alto
gether were fred. That is all there was OF the
grand fusilade in every direction. l heard no
command to fire, and I believe no order was
| given, unless by few officers to men here and
| there down the line. 1t was the understanding
| that we were to rush in with the cold bayonet,
and have the business done as soon as possible.
| do not believe any Of the terribly dramatic
actions mentioned by Otis and others could
| have occurred without being seen by myself
or the men whom I have talked with about
! it. No other regiments were sufficiently near
us to participate, as has been asserted. They
were all in the woods, where they could get
cover aud whore / wished / was.-J. ii. WHIT
NEY, Sergeant, Co. 3, Hawkins Zouayes, I15
| w. 18th ST., New York city,