The National tribune., 1889-05-09
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
cRITICIzING CAPEHART.
Ehn Tonk fhe Stone Wan at Earnstomn!

De ia Inc nam, correct BuI referring 10 tiio
kernstown fight am sure the boys Of the l4th
Ind. and other regiments present viii be sur
prsed when they learn that the 9Th Ohio led
the charge on L he stone wall when il was taken.
In has account of the kernstown affair the
most prominent figures are the writer advising
Gen. himbaii, and Lieut.-Col. Creighton lead
ing the eth OHIO. That pen picture OF Lieut.
Col. Creighton, IN fun uniform, leading his
regiment and part Of the Ist Va. Cav. at the
wall Is quite thrilling, and one with the least
spark OF sentiment cannot but hesitate about
marrIng it "a any way. in truth were IL no5
that injustice is done 10 Others. so far as am
concerned, the Generals statements would be
allowed to stand unquestioned.
In the absence Of reply by some other COM
rade better qualified to do the matter justice,
propose TO state some facts relative 10 said
battle, briefly as possible without wearying my
readers by lighting it ali over again.
The lsth Ind. was on the left OF the pike, and,
was not on the RIGHT, as stated by the General,
until il was ordered there TO support the bat
teries IN the center about 2:39 TO 3 O'Clock p.
At this time, and Tor some time before. II could
be seen with the naked eye that the move
ments OF tse enemy tended 10 our right their
LETT. Our withdrawal from the left TO the
center would seem TO show that Gen. kiElball
was fully aware ef this fact 1t should be ex
planned thar the famous stone wall which
sheltered the rebels-tbeu As Row the head
and front of our trouble-was not more than
lao to l75 yards in length. and that the saith
Pa. and 9th Ohio more than covered the full
open front o. this wall. lying down and firing,
not more than 30 10 90 yards distant Here the
hardest OF the hard fighting occurred A ridge
TO the left rear Of the wall las we faced it,,
and running nearly parallel with its line,
enabled a second line OF the rebels TO give US
not only double line of fire, but partial
crOss-hEe which no mortal regiment unpFo-
tected, could Withstand. Ii was in attempting
TO hold THIS position that the S4th Pa lost so
heavily, and Was compelled 10 fall back. Then
IL was-lbouj 4:30 or O'Clock p. m.-that
the l4th Ind, supporting the batteries about
hall mile distant, was ordered 10 take the posi-
tlon lately occupied by the o4th Pa. Ten TO 10
inmates rapid marching brought our regiment
into Tie woods At the foot OF the little hlll on
the brow OF which eternity would begin for
many or Us. We were protected by the hill,
but tie bullets ratified like hail ia the treetOps,
anc some OF cur men were wounded by the
bullets striking branches Of trees and glancing
downwards few steps brought Us TO the top
OF tbe hlii ana little clearing, across which not
more than 80 yards distant stood tie stone wall,
decorated with q fringe Of smoke. This little
spot came nearer my h0yish ideas OF a battle
picture than anything had Yet seen in reality.
The dead, IA blue, with here and there horse.
lay thick M front OF Us. Some OF them had
almost reached the wall before they fell. A
horse lay some ID or 70 yards la front OF me. 4
soldier, just behind the horse, lay his face SO
fat 10 tie ground that somehow the thought
came, " wonder If be Is dead" Just then nc
turned his head little. ii he is still living he
should give ia his experience. Ia such BIther-
lns hire only Que OF Two thiagS could be dome
charge or retreat Five To 10 minutes IN that
position would aanlhllate amy regiment. One
EOlley, cheer aHa charge and the wall Is
Ours almost before the rcos knew what was the
matter with them. The 5tn Oaio. on our i'm
mediate right < as good regiment as was ever
KICKED 10y a Belgian musket, followed SUIT and
the whole gaiI WAS ours. As We pushed on The
enemy 10 the leit and right of Us fell back
Just beyond the ridge captured two brass
cannon, and We met a fresh brigade OF the
enemy coming up. But they were too late TO do
any good They WavereO, and she 18th Ind.
coming II on our leit gave them vollev winch
started them 0R the run. They were never
allowed 70 halt again until darkness prevented
Gll further movements.
Now. II any other regiments than the 18th
Ind alIa 9TH DhiO charged That wall and took
Do, thry did i after We bad taken ii and passed
beyond tie ridge 10 pay our respects 10 the re-
lnlOrce1neslts just coming up. Mind you |
OOnI sag they CID moi charge that wall for
most Of Us Mno saw active service can recall
some very IudicrOus incidents. And this re-
minds me OF hearing few days later how
commissioned officer and q Sergeant Of the
1th OhlO str0iling ssdong IN our rear, found
t-4H tht cannon ana some nOrSeS mad
taken and left IN our eager pursuit These
they took 10 the rear with great hurrah. as
captured by them ID charge This y,or
may not be 50, bat u WAS one OF the staBdiiNy
Jokes oI Our camp at the time. This late news
- 10 Tie ftb OaIo charging the wall tends 10
corroDOrate the cannon joke.
40 nOt pretend 10 say what the eth did do
and i WOULD DC iDe last 10 take single laurel
from lls banner. One thing. however. IS Ger
taiD- tie l4lh Ind. was ordered in some time
before the 4th Was, shown by Gen. Cape-
harris statements When advancing on the
Wal the l3th ina. only paused 10 IRE a vollev
and then charged ana took the wall in front of
them without any delay. There was no wait
Ing Tor IeIuiOTceinents; when we came into
position ~e were la TOO big hurry. and hadn't
ume 10 Malt. as things were too uncomfortable
Ne stce l4th 1ud.) were The first 10 Tia. wall
aBa 10 lake what covered our front The 5tb
Oas0 TOOK the remainder OF The wall which
LAY aii 10 cur right. Therefore, unless the 7th
Ohio Wcut IN with Us, which il did not do il
could have had no part in the charge. Not
Only Was the l4th Ind. the first 70 reach the
Wal, but the name ol the first man 10 get
thefe caa also be given, viz, Paul Truckey, Of
20. ~ HoOslcr from NinCennes Ind of
ETench descent. lie was third Of the way
over the little open space, waving his musket
over MS head, before We had fairly started
heard DO command TO charge. IL seemed as
though we ali rushed forward together. as IL
moved by common impulse feeling that any
delay would be fatal. IS lao viii say that it was
not ihe gallant 1Iuckcy's example that sug-
geslea and caused such prompt actione He
afterwards lost d leg at AntietaIu, and is now
over ~ years OF zge.
am under tie impression that the S4tb Pa
and OH ONO lost the heaviest ia proportion TO
lheir Numbers engaged, ana think that the
RECORDS OF the Wan Department viii prove IT.
nave never seen list Of the killed and
wounded vi the l4th Ind but have freouentl,,
been tod that our loss IL crossing tie littie
open space " 81 yards was 90 men. Had our
regiment loaoe the charge five minutes later
with depleted ranks, we would have failed
without aoubt, as the reinlorcemeuts we met a
few minutes later were Just at hand.
One more point The statement that Jack,
son had IN gaining this wall obtained posi-
ton IN the rear OF our right is also mistake.
Oar natural line OF defense on the right of the
center following the elevation, extended
oDilaueiy 10 cur Hear-to the rear as considered
from the front on the left Of our center. The
wal was about half mile maybe 1hrce-ouar-
tiers 81 milel 10 the right OF our center and
straight Inc ran square across the pike from
our let 70 tie center and extended on TO the
right as lar as the wall would show that the
wall would not have been In the rear Of 4 line
even 50 advanced. There was no surprise. nor
anything approaching It. We men, without
glasses could see the enemy moving through
the testiiess open woods to their left iour ripbt5
Iof some time before the attack on the right
HAD We wished TO act simply on tie defensive
our rgAt had only to fall back about half a
mile 10 a higher and better position. But the