The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-08-30
rhs Istior a lik.r. 8. G.

EDYTon NATIONAL TRIBUKsi rsSa az ae-
count of the battle of Aiken, 3. G., in IEE \ a
TIoEAL TRIBUNE, July 20 1888, by j. NJ Mo
Master, eth Ohio Csv. desire TO correct some
mistakes shat be makes In the 6rst place, be
says Fitzpatrick moved out OF camp with two or
three reglmentA Now, Fitzpatrick took tho
Second Brigade Of his Division OF Cavalry,
commanded by Gen. Smith ID. Atkins, four
yegilnents-9th Ohio Cav, 10th Ohio Cav, 9Th
Mich. Cav. snd e26 Ill. MID Inf. The S2d
Ill. waa in the advance. His statement is true
with regard to the rebel cavalry en- picket duty,
bat they we're soon disposed Of No more OF the
enemy was sesn until we vera within half
mile of the town Of Aiken, when We discovered
long lines of rebel cavalry. The column halted.
Now, Fitzpatrick wag not at the head OF the
colunD, ~ McMsstsr says, for Fitzpatrick came
dashinR up to the head OF the column and de-
sired to know the reason of the halt. just then
a locomotive ran cut in plain view near Aiken
and whistled and whistled. Fitzpatrick brought
up the artillery snd sent few rifed shell to-
ward the locomotive and into this town. Kill
patrick also called on the G2d Ill Silver Cornet
Band to play Yankee Doodle" The next
thing in order was for the ED III. to charge
into the town; so into the town they went
Now we felt that we were going into trap
but Fitzpatrick took the lead.
Theirs not TO reason why,
Theirs but to do and die;
Into the valley Of death
Rode the 92d Ill.
Gen. Atkins ordered the 9Th Ohio ipto line Of
battle on the right of the road, 6snking tbs az
tllery, and the 9th Mich. Cav. into line Of bat
tie thanking the artillery the left OF the road,
holding the 10th Ohio Cav. in reserve. The 9Th
Ohio and 9th Mich. we're ordered to be ready
20 charge into Aiken st the sound of the bril-
gade bugle, and on reaching Aiken and reliev-
ing any of the SD still there TO Immediately
fall back so the position then held by them.
The ladies Of the town waved their handkeT-
chiefs IN welcome and smilingly invited the
officers and meE into their houses. But that
kind of welcome was unusual in South Caro-
lima. Not sn officer or soldier accepted the
seductive invitation. 1t Was sn additional
evidence of danger. In the farther edge OF the
town the enemy WIS in limo of battle. Col. Van
Buskirk, commanding the 92d, took In the
situation at glance, quickly formed the regi-
ment to charge back again TO the Brigade the
rebels having formed IN line in our rear. Every
| man in the regiment appeared TO be conscious
/ that the only way to get out was TO assault the
rebel line end cut hole in it.
We rode forward TO the charge. The rebel
line of battle stretched fer Of to the right aud
! left, and the rebels, confident of taking Us in,
/ very coolly awaited our approach until within
/ close range, when they demanded halt and
! surrender, and we're answered by every man
] in the regiment pumping into them the eight
] Spencer bullets in his trusty repeating rifle
| Several Of the boys showed their guns UI
against the rebels aud shot them Ok tbeil
| horses.
! It was desperate charge and the SD Ill
men fought tsCs 70 face and hand to hand. 81
mixed up were the gray and the blue in q con
! fused, helter-skelteT, jumblsd crowd, pressing
on 70 the brigade, each claiming the other al
| prisoner, not shot could be fired by the bri
| gads. Now the brigade buge sounded shl
charge, ana with yell the 9tb Ohio and 9Th
| Mich. charged. the 92d wheeling and charging
With them into the town Of Aiken and back K
! their former position, recapturing great many
! Of the boys that had been taken prisoners
About 25 of the 92d III. wers killed and wound
| ed. The rebels lost about so killed and wound
| ed. We we're five miles from camp, where tn
| balance Of the division lay behind their raj
barriCades.
The rebels, bafled st Aiken, came thunder
ing down upon our four little regiments, anC
the FIVE mjles back to camp Wss battlefield
all the way. The ed moved back Ia line 0
| battle on the right of the road, and the 9tl
Mich. Cav, armed with Spencer repeating car
bines, commanded by Col. Geo. g. Acker, COO
and brave cavalry soldier, moved back in lin
Of battle on tho left Of the road. Time ant
| time agsin the rebels charged these two regi
ments, but were repulsed each time with terri
bic loss. When we reached camp We wer
ordered to dismount and take position behint
| the rail bsrrcsdes, SO the rebels were com
PEELED to halt.-JoHN REED, Co. ID, ED Ill
MsrteiIe, Iowa