The National tribune., 1888-08-09

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: have waited
long time to see if some of the old 9th Ind.
boys would not give short description of the
little fight we had on Buffalo Mountain, VIVA,
with Gen. Stonewail Jackson, but they have
not; hence / will try to give from memory
condensed description of this action
In 1861 Gen. r. II. Milfoy had the command
of four or five regiments on Cheat Mountain.
After Stonewall Jackson fell back to Buffalo
Mountain from Fort Barto, Gen. Milroy deter
mined to attack him there. So we started for
the mountain, and when we got within II
miles Of the enemy he called a council of Off
GERS, and they concluded to divide our little
army and send Col g. Moody with two regi-
ments to attack in the rear, while Gen. Milroy
would take the main force and attack in front
of the breastworks. The plan was for the rear
division to get up the mountain in time to get
the signal to commence the attack from Gen.
Milroy's Division
Well, we started at dark. Tt was cloudy and
raining, and our guide got partially lost, which
made us about two hours late. When we did
get up the rough cowpath in sight of the
breastworks we got no signal from the other
division; bat Col. Moody ordered Capt. MAIDEN
to form a skirmsh-line and drive in the
enemy's pckets, which he did, but in doing so
he had two of his bravest boys killed and he
was badly wounded After the skirmish-line
fell back Col. Moody ordered the column into
IIIlG VI UdJblC anu W uAdtEL u Z W itllI 4OO
of the breastworks among the thick timber,
which had all been chopped down in front and
formed an abatis. Then he ordered the whole
division to lie down. The ID Va. did not lie
down, aud commenced breaking ranks, for the
hail of bullets from the enemy was terrific.
Col. Moody became very sick, and ordered
Mai j. B. Milroy, who was in command of the
reserve, to come forward and take command.
He did So The only order given the Major
was to hold the division there until he got the
signal from our other division, then to order a
charge. AS soon as the Major took command
he saw the Cd Va. breaking line in great con-
fusion. Milroy cooked his navy revolver, and,
springing before the flying crowd, called halt
so loud that they all heard him. Then, with
| the aid of Capt. Gibson, and using language
that is never used in church. he got the most
of them back into line, and then ordered them
| to lie down and keep up a fire whenever the
enemy appeared on the breastworks.
In the meantime Col Moody and Maj. Owen,
of the I'd Va, made good their retreat down
the mountain to the valley, just three miles
| from the breastWorks, leaving the whole re,
| sponsibility on Maj. Milroy. He walked NJ
! aud down the line encouraging the men tC
keep up fire on the enemy whenever they
showed themselves, until about II o'clock. lie
| then called little council Of the Captains, and
! they soon decided that it was no use to hold
! our position any longer, as we had received nc
| signal from the other division. So the Major
ordered that the retreat be conducted in such
manner that the enemy would not know we
| were falling back. This was done by ordering
one platoon at time from each company tc
withdraw. commencing on the left.
About the time Milroy issued the order Chic
Buger J. Lathrop reported to Maj. Milroy and
said that by order of Col. Moody he was to blow
the retreat Maj Milroy came forward clinch
| ing his revolver and said: The first man thai
blows retreat for the 9th Ind without my
| orders / will blow his brains out"
Comrade Lathrop put his bugle under his
arm and retreated down the mountain without
blowing the retreat. lie knew it was better tx
have brains than to obey orders.
The Major by this plan kept the enemy from
knowing that we were falling back until oul
last platoon stopped firing. l was one of the
| 10 and the last platoon. Maj. Milr0y or
| dered us to fix two blankets on two guns anc
carry the last wounded man down the mount.
| ain. He belonged to Co. A, I'd Va, and wa
shot through the lungs. He weighed about 20(
pounds and it was a terribly hard job to ge
! down the cOwpath two miles. Our division
| had 40 men killed and wounded; the enemy
| lost 80 killed and wounded.-JAMEs WHoR
| TEN, Captain, 9th Ind.