The National tribune., 1889-06-13
cAPEHART CRITICIZED.
The Part Taken by the I4th Ind. at Kernstoun.

The Part Taken by the I4th Ind. at Kernstown.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Gen. Cape
hart makes few mistakes in his account of
the battle OF kernston, or the first Winchester
fight, as we used to term it, He gives about all
the credit of the infantry fighting to Tyler's
Brigade; more especially to Lieut.-C Creigh-
ton and the 9TH Ohio who seem TO be his
special fav0rites.
The 18th and 14th Ind. are scarcely men,
toned. / wish TO add my recoIlections of this
engagement, but will only speak of the battle
after the infantry became engaged, about 4
O'Clock in the afternoon. Ali agree that Tyler's
Brigade opened the attack on the rebel line be-
hind the stone wall, and were the right of the
Federal line. The 9TH Ohio was on Tyler's
left and the Saith Pa. on the left of the 9Th
Ohio. The 14th Ind. was in the line of battle
about half mile from the stone wall and was
ordered forward soon after Tyler's Brigade
opened fire. We moved directly to the point
where the 84th Pa. was engaged. This regi-
ment had been roughly handled. We met their
wounded and stragglers coming back, and their
line had melted away before we reached them
Col. Murry had been killed, and his body was
borne through the ranks of my own company,
about 300 yards from the point where we came
under fire.
We moved steadily forward until within
about 90 yards Of the stone wall, where we re-
ceiyed a vOlley that staggered us for mo-
high, otherwise our loss would have been
frightlul. IN all our after experience don't
reeOllect being IN hotter place than before that
stone wall. We returned the fire and stood
our ground, but there was feeling in my mind
which / think was shared by every man in
the regiment. that something had To be done
and done quickly, or we would not be able to
stand long in the face Of that terrible fire. I
have distinct recollection of yelling forward /"
] ana sure | heard dozens of priYates shout the
same command; and forward we went over
the stone wall, with the Confederate column
running pell nell before u.s. At that time the
firing was continuous on our right, and we
received yolley from our right after we
passed the stene wall In moment, however
the whole left Of the enemys line gave way.
and We saw the cavalry charging among them
taking many prisoners.
We were the extreme left Of our line when
we came into action, and We're overlapped
nearly quarter OF a mile by the Confederate
right, which, having nothing in front turned
their attention TO us after we had broken their
line, and forced US to change direction to the
lett and take shelter behind powders and
trees, where we returned their fire, but were
too much broken to attempt to charge them.
Here we saw the 18th Ind. coming in splendid
style directly at their position. They went in
without break, and | could not see that they
| even staggered under the first terrible volley
that met them, as it had US. They moved over
the stone wall and routed and sent flying from
| the field this last remnant of Stonewall Jack
sons command.
1t was now dark, which stopped pursuit and
allowed the scattered columns TO escape up the
/ Valley.
am sure the 14th Ind. broke the line in
/ their immediate front, and l believe they were
the first over the stone wall. l have talked
with several members of the regiment who
were in the fight and our recollections agree
! Comrade w. II. Crays vino was present, and
has very clear memory, agrees with me ex-
actly in his recollections of the fight.
] would like for Col. E. II. G. Cavins. the
! historian of the f4th Ind. to write up Kerns-
town for THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE-WM
HoUGHToE, Major, 14th Ind, Captain Co. c
at kernstown, Loogootee, Ind.