The National tribune., 1889-08-15
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What Our Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns
THE WILDERNESS.
The Turning Of the Right Flank May Q, isO

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In your val
liable historical paper of March ii, 1856, gave
Comrade w. w. Perry, SD Pa, my eXplana-
tion of who was TO blame for the turning of our
right flank in the Wilderness on the evening of
May 9, 1864. But / see that Capt Samuel c.
Kerr, Co c. I26th Ohio, has furnished Comrade
Syper, 9TH Me, with some more interesting in
formation in your issue of July II, in regard
10 that desperate conflict in that dark thicket.
Capt Kerr SAYS Shaler's Brigade relieved his
brigade Second Brigade, Third Division, Sixth
Corps commanded by Col. b. f. smith, in the
morning about a. m, May g.
Shalers Brigade arrived on the field at about
4 a. m and passed along the line towards the
right as "A murderous fire of musketry, and
some Smelling, was taking place, just north Of
the path which ran into or across the lines. No
breastworks had been erected, and our boys
were Fat upon their faces, pecking away at the
enemy, who were assaulting with considerable
yigor, supported by batteries. The led n. y.
was placed on the extreme right, supported by
the 65th n. Y. and at once advanced over hill
into a thicket and were received with a very
heavy vOlley Of musketry, which tore the earth
ali up in our 'front.' fortunately doing but little
execution as the JOhnnies had fired too quick.
This sudden volley threw us into confusion,
aud about two-thirds of the regiment broke
aud fell back onto the /" Chasseurs" t65th n. ",
who rose up and stopped the boys, while the
Colonel soon had them in hand. and again we
moved an, aud opened heavy FIRE on the con-
cealed foe. We fought until afternoon, hating
occasionally IN cur firing 10 close up our de-
pleted ranks. st dark VIC had so steadily kept
closing up 10 the left, that our right was 30 or
90 rods from where our left was in the morn
ing, aud the space over which we had closed up
was strewn with our dead The 9th Nd, only
about 80 or 90 men, with couple of officers,
was put IN small space on our right about
p. m, and skirmishing was kept up. The Ma
ryland boys at once sent out a skirmisher in
their front, but before he had fairly got TO has
tree he was shot by Confederate sharpshOoter,
and uttered the loudest yells Of pain i ever
heard, which was laughed at by the hendish
foes. To fact, all day long the most horrid
oaths came from the Confederate lines, which
were only short distance away.
But the climax came as we quietly got up
and crawled back into some slight breastworks
just az dark. The enemy had been suspicously
quiet Tor short time before, making false
charging yelis, and then laughing about IL
when they did not come on. This last yell,
however was in earnest and soon they came
on and poured over our hreastworks from
tie front as well as from the flank in
overwhelming numbers, brushing the Goth N.
J. away in a jiGy aud stamping down the
Maryland boys. who did not fee 10 the left,
but manfHliy made fight. Our brave Colonel
"a. w. Dwight caught a musket up by the
muzze and Drained a buTly Confederate Ser
geant as his head came above the works. Over
came several swarthy JOhnnies. one of whom
thrust his bayOuet through a Corporal of our
regiment as he was turning after firing his
musket down the flank In fact, the little
trench was quickly filed with our dead and
wounded, as we stubbOrnly contested the
ground. But this flank fire grew too hot aud
the Johunies too thick, and q race down the
breastworks TO the left commenced. Several
rallies were made, but they were Of short dura-
ri 81 g.
Brigade, and charge was made 10 the north,
IN onr rear. and the enemy was finally re-
pulsed late in the evening. This had been
hard fight. In the confusion Gen. Shaler, Gen.
Seymour and many Of our officers were capt
Hred. Ia fact, Shaler's Brigade WAS badly scat
tered and was broken up.
Let me quote something from the diary Of
Capt. J. q. B0rcheTdt s9th y. Y, Of Neili's Bril-
gaGe. in regard 10 this affair:
Mayo. Battlefield, Wilderness. Battle open
ed At a. M heavy gnnsketry until 5; then
battery opened upon Us In our immediate front
doing terrible execution with their shell and
solid shot: they could not have had better
range. At q. ~. l0-pound solid shot first
passed through large oak tree, then striking
Capt. Plogstead, who was sitting Oh the ground
leaning against large tree Immediately in
front aud right Of company, taking oil hIs LETT
Leg and shgttering bis right leg aud arm then
passing under my company, throwing Private
John Aelsmantei some six feet iBtO the air,
and finally bringing up at my left against
Orderly Sergt Gus Meyer, rolling him several
feet. but not injuring him. Weismantel WAS
killed by the conclusion; not a wound or
drop Of blood showed. i had Capt. Plog-
stead removed 10 the rear at once. IL will be
hard 70 forget the death-iOok on his face when
be gave NC hIslas message for his wife he died
81 GO a. IL Immediately after removing the
Captain, shell burst ia front o. my company,
- -. II.
OF 10 wOundiBg Private Joe Klein IN the baud
and arm. The loss was proving 50 great 70 our
regiment iTom this canuOnadlng, that Col. Bid
vel ordered the regiment 10 dOnble-quck 10
tie front about 100 yards 10 get out Of their
line Of fire The way they piled ia the shot
aud shell while We were advancing perfect
hal OF c4Hisier greeted Us, killing Capt HEX
mot Lieut. Valentine, and a large number Of
men. As the words " Halt lie down! :" were
given, shell burst within 10 feet Of my COM
pauys one piece passing through file Of my
men foot 10 the left of me- throwing their
blood and aesh ali over me, also wOunding I'd
D0rcherGts large piece passing 10 my immedi-
ate right killing Lieut.. Preston, tearing OF bis
entire lace. Poor fellow he was one Of our
n0biest young men il the service! So young
aud - fail OF hope! What a shock IL will be
for his young bride! But God Is lust
Our loss is very heavy in killed aud wound
ed today, especially in officers We have now
only Three Cap and seven LlCutcnants left
no direct charge was made upon us. But we
were annoyed by their shzrpsh00ters and oc-
easi0aai Smelling until 4 p. NJ. when orders
came 70 return 10 q rear line some 200 yards
Some light earibWOTks which had been thrown
ID by the 30 II. A. Heavy firing 10 our left
where Gen. Hancock must DC having a hard
struggle with the JObnHies, aud our noble Yer
mont Brigade is no doubt having its share Of
hard kH0cks
AZ p. ~ the rebels charged in heavy COL
umns Oh orr whole front, making charge after
charge. We held them until o'clock when
our extreme right gave way, which was held by
new troops Oi our First Division. Our old bri-
gade held them IN check until we received a
front, flank and even rear FIRE, which made IL
decidedly uncomfortable FOR US sill We held
on, jumping from one side Of the ri1e-pit TO the
other, until Gen. ScdgBick appeared along
about ,. "a, aud ordered Col. Bidwel 70 clear
tie plank road and woods In the rear. Col.
bidwell gave the order, and with yell the
boys charged aud cleared the woods, capturing
quite number Of prisoners ] was on the ex-
IRENE left Of the column, when, Ia the darkness
and dense jungle Of underbrush, was separated
from my command aud fell into rebel hands
At that moment portion Of the 9jth Pa, in
running 10 the rear, the rebels mistOok them
Tor charging column, aud gave way. / placed
myself al the head Of them, aud made for our
lines Came near being lost ia the wilderness.
reJOined my command al 3 a. m Ny cook
De- wounded, aud be has al the meat with him.
hhalerE Brigade lthe Fourth Brigade First
Diyision) at this time was composed Of the
Goth, 9th aud l2@d n. A.; the sd and 23d