The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-05-30
IN THE VALLEY.
The Fighting Done by shields's Division.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: have read
with much interest Gen. Capehart's account of
Shields's Division in the Shenandoah Valley in
1852. Especially his account of the battle of
Kernstown, which has been SO little spoken of
because of the disaster to Gen. Bankss COM
mand in the Valley so soon afterward, and the
calamities that followed the armies of McClel-
Ian on the James. Nevertheless, it was clean
cut victory over Stonewall Jackson, and we
were sadly disappointed when we read Gen.
Imboden's Century article on Jackson's Valley
campaign, TO find that he did not even allude to
this signal defeat of his favorite chief. Per-
haps the fact that the Federals were COM
manded by an obscure physician from Loo
gootee, Ind, made it too bitter pill for the
chigalrous SoutheTner to swallow.
Gen. Capehart is not disposed to give Gen.
Kimball much credit, saying he was doctor,
without military experience, etc. Gen. Kimball
commanded company in the Mexican war. At
the breaking out of the rebellion he was prac-
ticing medicine at LoOgootee, Ind. He imme-
diateiy raised a company, assisted in the forma-
ton of the 14th Ind, and was commissioned
first Colonel of the regiment, which was the
first three-years regiment mustered into the
service from Indiana. He was ordered to West
| Virginia about July 1, 1861; was at the battle
of Rich Mountain, and commanded the out
post at Cheat Mountain summit, which was
held by the 18th Ind, 25th and 32d Ohio from
.,
attacked by Gen. r Z. Lees forces but had
successfully beaten and driven them off. Had
commanded a brigade under Lander and
! Shields, and was entrusted with command of
the division by the latter General after he
was wounded the night before the battle. He
was probably not q strategist or skilled tacti-
/ clan, but he possessed what served him instead
/ a courage which nothing could daunt and
determination that overcame all obstacles He
/ sustained himself well throughout the war.
4 he commanded our old brigade in the Second
/ Corps, viz, the 4th and Sth Ohio, 9TH Va. and
1 14th Ind, until the charge on Marye's flights,
1 where he was severely wounded; after which
he commanded division in the Fourth Corps,
holding the right Of the line, l recolect at the
battle of Frsnklin, Tenn. He is now in very
feeble health, living at Ogden, Utah Territory.
/ He is asking place on the Utah Commission,
which his old comrades hope he will receive, al
! though the old soldiers have been system
aticalIy snubbed in this section in the matter
| of Postofiice appointments. Col. Philip Daum,
/ mentioned by Gen. Capehart, was with us on
Cheat Mountain summit, bringing with him
his raw Dutch West Virginia battery, which
he drilled TO perfection among the crags and
| powders that adorned the summit. He was
| splendid aTtillerst, model soldier and de-
serves all the praise bestowed on him by Gen.
C. wonder what became of him.
Col. Carroll, of the 9Th Ohio, afterwards
/ Gen. Kimball in command of the old brigade.
He did the writer many acts of personal kind
ness, and will ever be held in grateful remem-
brance. Col. Sawyer also of the Sth Ohio, was
one of the bravest of the brave; was univer-
sally liked, and wherever he may be the writer
extends to him comrades best wishes. Col.
Lockwood. Of the 9TH Va, was character in
the brigade who will never be forgotten by
those with whom he marched and fought so
long. Col. Harrow, of the 14th Ind. was made
a adier-General, and sustain d himself well
in after campaigns. He was succeeded by Col.
John COons, who died at the salient angle May
IL, 1864. Most of those who commanded regi-
ments under Shields were favorably heard
from in later campaigns. ! don't think there
was better set of men in the army than COM
posed Shields's Division. They were the first
of the three-years' troops; were young, enthu-
siastic and patriotic. We had an abiding faith
in our own proves, and had we been all up
and in hand at the battle of Port Republic we
would have given jackson lots of trouble be-
fore he knocked US out. As it was, that part
of the campaign was miserably managed. We
were scattered from Front Royal to Port Re-
public. Our brigade (Kimball's) were the near
est troops to Port Republic, and we were doing
our best to get there when we met the shat
tered regiments of Carroll's Brigade, who had
been cut TO pieces while disputing Jackson's
march toward Richmond.
With Port Republic ended the life of Shelds's
, fighting Division. The regiments who suffered
in that battle were left in the defenses of WASH
ington to recruit. Our brigade was sent to the
Army OF the Potomac where we arrived July
2. 1862, in time to see the beaten, mud -bespat-
tered, forlorn-looking regiments coming in to
Harrison's Landing from Malvern Hill. II
was gloomy introduction TO McClelIan's grand
army.
We slept that night in an oatfeld, which had
been deluged by recent rains, and in the morn
ing were sent to the front to establish the new
line at Harrison's Landing. We soon met the
enemy, with two pieces of artillery. We went
for them in our old style, and drove them IN.
til ordered to halt. Here we built temporary
, breastworks, and were molested no more AT
forwards our history was that of the Third
t Division Second Corps. We wrote our names
on many historic fields, but we always remem
e bered with pride and pleasure cur campaign
3 under Shields in the Yalley.-WM. HoUGR
t TON. Major, l4th Ind, Loogootee, Ind.