The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-12-20
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
MARYE's HIGHTS.


The 9Th Mass. the First in the Works.
EDrroR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In your paper
sec that III. T. Matthews claims that the 9th
Me- was the first TO enter the embrasures at
Maryes Nights. lie oGotes Capt. r, w Fur
long as saying that several regiments OF the
Light Brigade were in line with the 9Th Ne,
and that Col Burnham advanced his forces to
the front Of the position. Any person not
knowing the country would naturally infer
thai they were the leaders in the charge, The
facts are that there were two columns chosen
to lead the attack. This Is in the account
given OF the charge by Brevet Lieut. OIL Hunt
ingt0n T. Jackson, in the Century Magd-jae.)
The right column, under Col George c. Spear,
was composed Of the 6Ist Pa. and 43d y. Y, Of
the Light Brigade. They were supported by
the 9th n. T. and SD Pa, under Col. ShaleT.
The left column consisted Of the Eth Mass. and
she Both \. Y, under command Of Col. Thomas
ID. Johns OF the 9Th Mass The supports
Of the left column were commanded by Col,
Hiram Burnham, and we're composed Of the
5lh WIS as shlrinlshers. the 9th BE. and 3lst
n. ]. these three regiments belonging 10 the
Light Brigade, and the 25d Pa
Early Oh the morning Of the Sd OF May the
sth Mass. were notified that we would lead the
attack GA the left. little before II q. N. We
were ordered 20 fall into line in light-marching
order, We piled up our knapSacks aud every
A4El& isldl MNAlA likely 10 lEj letiG our
reSS. We dotted dress-cOats and put on our
blouses; filed our cauteens with water Each
man prepared himself as IL the whole affair
depended on his own individual exert0ns.
There were banebed faces among the men, but
firmly compressed lips, which denoted that
each ana every one was determined 20 do has
duty We fell into line, were marched by the
flank 10 the street or road which passed 10 the
Jeit OF the AaTye House. As we started for
ward ] saw the lines Of battle of our supports
on either side, lying down waiting for the bah
20 open. We advanced 10 the foot Of the hill
before there was any firing. Il commenced by
the eucmys artillery firing 3 shell, which
killed Maj. Eihu ]. FaIou, of the 36th Y. Y,
and W0unded a number Of others Of that regi-
ment, which was directly in our rear. This
WAS the signal for the rest Of the eueUy's artil-
lery 10 open FIRE. which they did with a ven
geaDce; also, our siege guns On the other side
9f the river began firing, their shells just pass
ing over cur heads and exploding near the
rebel pits on the top Of the hill. Then the
rebel infantry on the hill commenced firing:
also those behind the stone wall, right into our
very faces. At this time it seemed that we had
entered the internal regions: with artillery
firing in front and into Us, and artillery firing
lH the rear Of Us and exploding over US and
mimic balls Whistiing all around US it seemed as
though pandenOnium itself were let loose. Co.
r was the leading company, numbering about
~ men; about . Of the number were stricken
down at the first volley fired by the enemy's
infantry. The Colonel was also severely
wounded
is il any wonder that the first companies
tried TO push back IN dismay? The companies
~ the rear who had lot suffered SO severely.
tried 70 push ahead. Some of the men had
lifted the Colonel. who, when he saw the men
struggling with each other, thought that they
ToHld sureiy retreat. lie spoke to the men
who were carrying him and said:
BOYS. carry me To the front: I know that
they viii follow me"
HE words % tie Colonel passed from mouth
10 mouth Tith lightning rapidity. The men
ceased 10 struggle with each other, and with
one accord they dashed forward over the stone
wall then MP the nights and over the pits at
the top clubbing aud bayoueting some of the
enemy who had the temerity to remain after
their fellows had left, who we're making the
best time they had ever made in running over
the fields 70 tae rear.
Ooi. huntington i. Jackson says the carry
ing 81 the Nights had completely divided the
euemys forces throwing either flank with
muca confusion on opposite roads This Of
lL7eil proves that tie enemy's lines were d.
vided ID the center.
/ myself was amongst the first haIf-dozen
who got On the top OF the nights I veered o.?
a little 70 tao left By myself. and had there
been lew cavalryT1en where / was, they could
easily have captured q rebel piece Of artillery.
They fred p0int-b.auk 1t me. and were not
above 80 yards away when they did so. They
Then started of for the rear, lashiDg their
Ao-ses bike nladmen in their hurry 10 escape.
Alter tdls I saw number Of orr men a littIe
&c mr right. 7 went and Joined them few
seconds after We reformed by command Of
LleGt-Col- Franklin F. Harlow. The Both also
began 10 reform. At this time one Of our men
gave an exclamation and said. See that reyi-
meat just coming over the nights" Another
made answer and said, Yes: il is the 9th Me-
CO not wish 10 disparage that brave body
OF men They came over the works gallanflv
with flags flying proudly aud defantIy: bnt /
must - justice 70 the comrades Of my own
regiment, both living and dead, claim for them
what is their due
Almost simultaneously with the appearance
OF TIE ON Ne on our left appeared on our
IlgAt tAe other column, with Col. ShaIer lead
ing iueA- lie ordered his regiments 10 pursue
The enemy. Lieut.-Col. Harlow rave ns tho
same command. and we kent M tbe rrrs,it
about three or four miles until We reached the
plank road near Salem Church. As the enemy
ia our mont had been considerably reinforced
further pursuit was checked
hat have described Of the charge of
Aarye flights did not occupy much time II,
us performance, as what was done was done
quickly; and i believe that had the 7fh Moss
failed, the Sixth Corps would never nav, car.
TIed the Rights. But they never did fail when
put to the test
have been Informed, but cannot youcb for
lts accUracys that Gen. Newton sent a disDatcb
TO Coy. Andrew saying il was owing ia +be
galiantry Of the 7th Mass that the hicbfs rvare
carried
We slept on our arms that night. and The
next day, the zth uf May. we saw fba+ os-
sacrifices q the day before had been in vain
y e could see the enemy passing through the
intervening space between us and Fredericl-s-
burg, winch they again occupied by about 10
o'clock q. m Oar corps was in the shane of =
horseshoe on tile crest Of a small hill called "a
lem Rights. Ii seemed TO me 10 be ahout 4
O'Clock 10 the afternoon when the rebels bav-
lng been still further reinforced from Lees
army aud some OF Gen. Lougstreet's Corps from
Richmond made al attack on our posif ion
Our division having captured the nights fine
Cay before, were kept IN reserve behind the
crest Of the hill. We saw what seemed -
rs a strong line in front Of us. but verv soo,,
The line vanished before the fierce onset of m,
AonieoeTates. Again was the line renewed aud
again 10 seemed 10 have melted into Thin air
At this junctare our regiment was ordered ~
the crest Of the hiI. We were at the extreme
left OF the line. As we advanced 10 tale 80
ton the rebels were coming up on the other
SIDE Of the hill Oh a dead run. scream, inc s,,f
yelling. Some Of them were within -aIart On
yards Of the crest Of the hill. when we no,,reS
q voliey into them that stoned fbe vii -
rFH Ts y