The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-08-01
CRITICIzING GOODRICH.
What Took Place at Port Republic in June, 1so

What Took Place at Port Republic In June, 1867
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: How easy and
how common il is, and has been, for army cor
respondents and soldiers to be mistaken, or
fail TO "see ourselves as others see u.s."
In The NATIONAL TRIBUNE of the 18th
inst. / see a communication from Capt Il. S.
Goodrich of Lincoln, Va, in which he says the
rebel officer captured at Port Republic on the
morning of Juno s, 1862, got away because
there was too free use of applejack is true, aud
If proper management had been ordered jack
sons army would not have crossed the bridge
at Port Republic for there was plenty OF time
20 have burned the bridge that spans the Shen-
andoah at that town if that WAS desired; but
Gen. Shields gave Carroll conflicting orders on
the subject.
l saw the orders, being staff officer in Car
rolls Brigade. One order said burn that
bridge, and tho next said not to burn il. That
captured officer was not paroled, but made his
escape at the beginning Of the first days fight,
in the confusion at brigade headquarters.
It is not true the battle of the next day be-
gan by jackson at daylight; neither is it true
that Carroll was already in his saddle The
battle did not begin before 6 o'clock a. m, or o
little later, and Carroll had just got out of bed
at the house of Mr.. Lewis. on whose farm the
battle was fought. Gen. Carroll, Capt Reed,
Capt Kelly and myself occupied rooms IN that
house the night of the Sth, and next morning
Mr.. Lewis had family prayers, to which we
gave attendance. This was before breakfast
and within FIVE minutes after we arose from
our knees with Mr.. Lewis in prayer the rebel
cannon-balls struck the servants c0Ok-house,
frame structure, tearing il to splinters. The
negroes screamed from fright, and all were
startled. We left the house Immediately and
lost the opportunity Of breakfasting with MIR.
Lewis. All left unceremoniOusly, and have
never seen him since to thank him for the
nights lodging.
Carroll's Brigade alone did the fighting, with
Daum's and Robertson's batteries; the balance
of Shieldss Division failed TO be up with us.
In that fight the 9Th Ind. entered with 2S2
men; first met the 9th Louisiana Tigers, COM
maudod by Col Harry Hays, brother Of the
famous Capt. Jack Hays of the Mexican war.
Col Hays was shot through his lung. aud his
regiment of GOO men whipped and driven from
the field. Then Stonewall Jackson put Gen.
Dick TaylOr's entire brigade in front of the 9TH
Ind. This brigade was driven half mile, ana
until Col. Gavin got second order to retreat
be thought the battle was ours.
This regiment was on the extreme right Of
the Federal troops, near the river; some OF the
men swan the river TO escape capture, when
the command on the left near the mountain
gave way aud made the retreat necessary.
One of Jacksons stat officers since the war
told me that Jackson said this little body of
men did the most effective fighting at that
battle he ever saw, for the number ofmen. They
first whipped q regiment of more than twice
their number, and then an entire brigade. Col.
Gavin rode white horse in that BATTLE and
this same staff officer told me the order was
given along the rebel line TO shoot the officer
on the white horse, upon whom they directed
their fire and be fell because his horse was shot
with q number of bullets. There was shout
along their entire line. He expressed sstonish-
nent when / told him the Colonel was not
hurt.
BY the way, / may state that member of
the Lewis family, upon whose farm the battle
Of Port Republic was fought, was n men,
Der Of the U. s. Senate a few years after the
war. The Port Republic engagement Of juno
and 8, 1862, was a severely-ionght battle
many lives were lost on each side, and this bat
tie has not bad the notice IN history IL deserves.
Much more can be said Of it by those engaged.
-GEoRGE w. New, Surgeon, 9TH Ind, Indian
apolis, Ind.