The National tribune., 1889-12-19
VALLEY CAMPAIGN.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: / have read
with interest Capehart's "Valley Campaign of
1862" When the Doctor cracks up Col. Daum
so very highly, as an accomplished, able artil-
lery officer, using him to go for Capt. J. F.
Huntington, ! feel like ohjeCting with shot of
canister.
Remembering the castor oil and other good
things the Doctor served out to us in the old
days, / will be easy with him. think he has
been mised, and will only tell of things seen
and heard while in the ranks till the show was
ont.
Daum's handling of the artillery Of Shields's
Division was ridiculous in the extreme-was
the laughng-stock of the boys at the time.
Comparison with others under whom we served
later, only confirms this opinion.
For instance, Daum's getting the batteries
out in line near Fishers Hill, and all the guns
firing at once into our own cavalry skirmish-
line; getting excited, etc. when in action.
Daum lacked cool-headed common sense
was set down by the boys ms Prussian fraud
of tho first class-in fact an adventurer. As to
his honesty-wel, the War Department order
dismissing him from the service does not state
the cause, but it was understood at tho time
that il WINS for dishonesty in his pay accounts.
Let us look at Hnntingtons record mo-
ment At charlottesville Saturday night, /
heard Gen. ID. f. Sickles call for and personally
thank Capt. j. Il. Huntington and his bat
terry for their pluck and work under adj
verse circumstances. Sunday morning, Gen.
Joe HOokercomplimented in person Capt. ii. and
battery for their work and grit for duty done
that morning in his sight. Both of these on
the field in the hearing of others.
In the Gettysburg campaign. and till com
PEELED by physical disability TO leave the field
OF active service, Capt Huntington had COM
mand of brigade of artillery.
1t will take more than Daum's report to
make the boys believe Capt. ii. or his battery
showed the white feather ut Port Republic.
Daum's dislike of Capt. II. and battery was we'll
known. Beginning at Winchester, when Capt.
Huntington moved his battery by order of
Gen. Kimball commanding the tield), without
Daum's knowledge, Daum became excited.
using language for which he could and should
have been court. martialed
1t was understood by the boys ut the time
that kimball wished Huntington to prefer
charges against Daum.
At Port Republic Huntington's battery went
into action by the side of Clarke's (E. 4th u. 8.
Art) near the charcoal pits part of tho battery
going off the field at the same time Clark g
did
Early in the fight part of HuUtington's guns
were taken out of line and sent to other parts
of the field, two of them going over to the right,
in the wheatfeld. where they put in some fine
work on the flank of the charging column.
NuSu ioECeu DICK, UneSc TWO guns from tho
right were the last to leave tho field. On reach
ing the road from the wheat6ed Daum met
them and ordered them into position TO cover
the retreat. Daum at once turned and rode off
with the 9th Ohio, that were already some
distance away. These two guns held the posi-
tion without support till the rebs we're close
upon them, when they went off on the ly, being
fortunate TO escape capture. This was after
Daum and the infantry had left
Two guns were left on the field, because the
horses had been shot down, and there was moth
ing 10 move them with. They were served till
the rebs were upon them. One gun was fired
as the Johnuies reached IL; at the same time
the gunner threw the trail handspike at tho
chap who called on him to surrender, getting
away with a shot in his arm. When of the
field some distance n gun.axlc that had been
crippled by shell in action broke. An attempt
was made 30 sling the gun under the Timber,
but failed for want of time IL was spiked,
buried and tho wheels chopped up.
1t IS not pleasant 10 tell Of tho loss Of ones
guns, but ia this case, remembering il was two
small brigades against Jackson's whole Corps.
the odds We're all against us.
Gen. imboden, who was ia the fight on the
rebel side, has put himself on record that they
were whipped at one time during the forenoon
and planned TO leave when the tide OF battle
turned IN their favor
Itwas our misfortune 10 be under dishonest,
wiid.headed. foreign artillery otlicer.-SAauEL
w. CAss, Maumce, o.