The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-10-03
THE WILDERNESS.
Turnlnr Of tho Right FLANK, Nav q, 1864.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The question
rs to the right of our army being turned by
Gen. Gordon's troops on the evening of May q,
1864. has started the comrades to give their
recollections of it, and, with your permission, |
will give mine, from memory only.
Three regiments of our brigade (Shaler's),
of the First Division. Sixth Corps, that is, the
G5th, 9th, 122d n Y, (the SD and 23d Pa. mt
this time not being with u.s. after their Winter
camp on Johnson's Island guarding the Con-
federate officers confined there, keeping them
from being rescued by the copperheads and
friends from Canada, reioiDed the Army OF
tho Potomac a few days before the march
to the Wilderness. IL seems that all the
brigades except ours had been assigned places
in line, but we were assigned as wagon guard.
After being in the rear n day or two, Gen.
Shaler requested permission to bring up two
regiments to the front and leave one with
the wagons. Accordingly our regiment Goth
N. Y. list u s. Chasseurs) and the 122d N. Y,
/ believe, was the other regiment, went to the
'front.' where we arrived about o'clock n. M;
and soon after part of the 65th, including my
company, were sent out as piCkets on the ex-
IRENE right flank of the army, and during tho
entire day of May 9th, 1861, we remained out on
the picket-line, and were not engaged with the
enemy, the fighting being to our left and rear.
We were relieved about dusk by other COM
panies of our regiment and came back to tho
ceedng to make themselves comfortable, when
firing commenced on the picket-line just left
by us, followed by firing in front and rear, in
Guiding artillery. The portion of the regiment
at the bivouac took arms and fell back. Gen.
Shaer, in cndeavoring to ascertain tho direc-
ton of the enemy, rode right into their lines,
and was taken prisoner and sent to Charleston.
AT the time of Gen. Shaer's capture the firing
was quite heavy. We fell back, and other troops
fell back with u.s. until we met Gen. Mel, who
seized flag and called on tho troops to rally
around il, which they proceeded to do, until n
few shells dropped among them. We all retired
in good order When we halted for the night
and counted noses we had but fraction of our
regiment left. During the next day or two the
men aud officers who were alive Joined us.
Many of those on tho picket-line never came
back, being taken prisoners or killed. Among
the number was my cook. with my rations, he
having gone out to tho picket-line to lind me,
not knowing had been relieved. There never
has been any doubt in my mind but that our
right was turned that night, and things got q
! little mixed up. The provost-guard at head
quarters evidently thought so, MS they let the
prisoners in their charge shift for themselves,
because one of them belonging TO our regiment
reported to me on that eventful night, and said
the guard had left him, and asked mo TO let
him take u musket and join the regiment,
which he did. and did good service after that,
and for which he was restored to duty by Gen.
Wright, our Corps commander after Gen. Sedg-
wick's death.
In the above communication | have written
only what ] remember our regiment did. AS
to what other regiments and briKades did on
that evening | know nothing, as it was too
dark 10 tell one man from another IN the
woods.
In answer to Capt Kerr's inquiry as TO the
Major who relieved him, suppose he refers
TO Maj. Higginbotham. lie was captured at
Spottsylvania Courthouse. May 10, 1864, sent
to Charleston, afterwards exchanged, mustered
out and reappointed Northumberland, and
was killed at the battle of Cedar Greek, in the
Shenandoah Valley.-WILLIAM J. HAvERLY,
Captain, Co. d. 65th n. Y: list u. S. Chasscursl,
Santa Barbara Cal.