The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-06-06
CAPEHART CRITICIZED.
/ Regular Soldier Takes Exception to Some of His
Statements.

A Regular Soldier Takes Exception to Some of His
Statements.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In recent
issue Of your paper, in an article describing
the operations of Gen. George B. McClellan's
army on the Peninsula, the writer seems to
have taken offense at the favorable mention
made by the General of the small body of troops
forming a, part of the Peninsular army, and
known as Sykes's Regulars. and, in conse-
quence takes occasion to grossly insult the
surviving members of that devoted band, by
the statement that Z" 1t was we'll known in army
circles at that day that the courage of the Regu-
lars was far inferior to that of the volunteers.
Now, / would not seek to rob any portion OF
the armies of the rebellion of their hard earned
laurels, either volunteer or Regular. ! am at
all times willing to concede the volunteer ali
that is claimed for him, and ] am confident
that those volunteers who were true and good
soldiers during the dark days of the rebellion,
and who had acquaintance with that portion
of the Regular army, will brand the above
statement as 4 SANDER on 4 worthy portion OF
the Union army. / am willing to concede the
bravery even of those who fought against US,
so long as said concessions are in conformity
with truth, which no true Union soldier will
deny though exercised in a bad cause; but to
admit the above aspersion on the courage OF
men and organizations on whose military rec
Ords there is not single stain, is the worst OF
moral coRardice, indeed. The undersigned
was non-commissioned officer of the Sd U. D
Inf. during the Peninsular campaign, and conse-
quently belonged to that portion of the Regu-
lar service so offensive to the writer quoted
above. This regiment had earned itself an en-
viable record in the war with Mexico, and at
the close of said war was presented with SILK
National flag by the ladies of New Orleans IN
recognition of its meritorious service, winch
flag the regiment carried during the Peninsu-
lar campaign; and | do not think that the
conduct of said regiment or any OF the Regu-
lars commanded by Gen George Sykes at that
time or subsequently during the rebellion
could warrant the charge of cowardiee or the
want of the average courage of good military
organization. Had this little band of Regu-
lars been the towards this writer is disposed
to make of US we could not successfully have
opposed Gen. Twiggs's treachery in Texas. Cut
off from all communication with the Washing
ton Government and abandoned, or partially
so, by a Democratic Administration, it did
require at least a modieum of courage to DISC
hey the orders of Gen. Twiggs to lay down our
arms, and to conclude to retain them and fight
our way out of Texas if necessary, in spite OF
the superior force of Confederate troops wait
ing our suTrender. Were those Regulars penned
up in Fort Sumter and fighting against hope,
towards? Or did they give indications of infe-
riority or soldierly courage? Had those few hum
at the first battle of Bull Run been towards,
or had possessed very inferior article of cour-
age, as this writer claims, they could not have
been used to show such bold front to john
ston's oncoming legions, until the demoralized
Federal army had gotten out of harms way
and at last retire in good order in the face of
overwhelming numbers. Had we been lack
ing courage, as charged, no military discipline
in the world could ever have held US in the
position occupied by Sykes's Regulars during
the second days fighting at Gettysburg, and
Little Round Top would have fallen into the
hands of Lee. In fact there is TO my knowl-
edge not single instance on record where
Sykes Regulars were guilty of exhibiting a
want of the average courage of soldier, or of
any acts Of coYardice which might bring the
blush Of shame TO the cheek of any of the sur
viyOTs of that small band of soldiers. / feel
proud to-day, while with one foot in the grave
] look back and review the labors of the days
that are gone that my lot was cast in the midst
of Sykes's Regulars; and anyone seeking to
bcsmirch the hard-won laurels of these men at
this late day cannot know aught of the mill
tary record of these people, nor could he have
been brave volunteer during those dark days,
/ else would he have given due justice to Sykes's
I Regulars.-HERMAN DERsH, late of Sd U. S.
I Inf, Reading, Pa.