The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-07-19
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
a. ID. Remlnisccnces.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The Boy
Epy" offers many texts il his very interesting
narrative, one Of which strikes me all over
st onee -: "a few Of the Sixth Corps charged
up MaTyes Rights IN IS gallant manner as
Pickett's men did at Gettysburg, though no
one ever hears Of It,
have before me letter written in camp,
May g, 1868, by Capt. r. w. Furlong Co. ID,
9th Me, who was killed IN the later charge at
Rsppahannock Station in which he warmly
narrates the rough work Of those days at Fred
ericzsburg aud salem Church.
de says at Marye's Nights several regiments
Of the Light Brigade were Ia line with the 9th
Ne. prepared for the charge, and Col. Burnham
advanced his forces TO the front OF the position,
sending out q portion Of the 9th Wis. as Skin
mishers.
At the order forward" they charged upon
the nights in the face Of the terrible cannOnade.
IL took about three minutes TO gain the nights,
those surviving never wayering, but advancing
with cheers and yells, they scaled the stone
wall, clambercd up the bank and rushed upon
the rebel guEners. 10 their great Rstonlshment
and dismay, before they could realize who had
arrived.
The 9Th Ne. boys were the first to enter the
embTasures, Lieut.-Col. Harris and Capt. Fur
long being the first 10 lay hands upon the guns,
which they mounted and gave three cheers for
the Stars and Stripes. The guns thus capt
ured were those OF the already famous Wash
ington Artillery, said TO be the best battery IN
the euemy's service.
Another of the many little skirmishes" of
the ever-active Light Brigade of the Sixth
Corps is narrated by Capt. Furlong IN letter
from the field, July Is, 1863, and this is the
distinct property OF the 9Th Ne, which deem
it necessary TO state clear claim Capt
Furlong writes: While the Sixth Corps was
pursuing the retreating enemy from Gettys-
hu-r an Fuf- 10 airancing alpuu the HaOerS-
town pike, with skirmishers out within rifle
range of the enemy's at r. III. l was ordered
TO take my company out and 20 through the
skiTmjsh-line, make sally on the enemy s
line, and bag some Of them if l could. 1t
seemed like sending rs into eternity, but away
We started, dashing through our lines; little
handful OF "a men In my company, we charged
in q sort Of line of battle. 1t was very hot
and my men were terribly exhausted, but they
went into the fight with fixed bayonets and
with one Of the almghtiest yells you ever
heard. We dashed right and left amongst the
enemy, and brought OF 81 men and Captain
and Lieutenant as prisoners, after inhicting
about the same number of casualties in the sud-
den assault Upon our return the General called
me and expressed warm thanks for the spirit
and success Of my company's exploit"
The next considerable engagement by the
9th Me. was at Rappahannock Station, New. z,
1863, at which time the 9th Me. carried at the
point Of the bayonet the fort with five guns
and the ride-pits occupied by 1000 of the
enemy-oger five 10 one odds-in q terrible
hand-to-hand conflict, resulting in a noble vic
tory. COrp1 Drew's narrative of that fight has
been much criticized, but il stands all test that
the 9th bic alone drove all the enemy out, and
held the works for distinct space Of time be-
fore any other regiment arrived TO their sup
port-H. z. MATHEWS, SOB Pine Street, San
Francisco Cal