The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-05-02
CRITICIzING CAPEHART.
DR.. Fosters Claim to Saving the Train in Il
Shenandoah Valley.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Your admir-
able soldiers paper has of late contained some
sketches of the early campaigns in the Shenan-
doah Valley, in which Gems Banks and Stone
wall Jackson were the chief figures, which is
pleasant reading to ali vets and has a peculiar
interest to those who followed these leaders in
the early days of the war of the rebellion.
Your correspondent and subscriber now ad-
dressing you was then Captain in the 5th n
Y. Cav, and claims to have been a somewhat
important factor in that part of Banks's retreat
which was connected with the bringing out of
a large train of ~ army wagons belonging to
the Union army, for the rescue of which was
sent under direct orders of Brig. -Gen. John P
Hatch, commanding the Federal cavalry.
Your crisp correspondent DIR. formerly Gen
eraD Capehart, who writes of these incidents,
would not, | am sure, Willingly take from a
former comrade land he a hard riding cavalry
man of the gallant 9Th N. } any of the hardly
earned need of his deservings, nor would those
to whom all the credit of this rescue has coolly
been assigned willingly wear the laurels that
are justly due another
1t is Lord Byron, ! think, who pungently
said, Fame is to be killed in battle and have
your name misspelled in the newspapers" Ger
tain it is that to get ones deserts and to retain
them when secured requires a bright lookout.
For to beg, TO borrow aud get ones own
IT'S the very worst world that ever was known"
With other things learned through our war
experiences, could we but go through it all
again with that acquired wisdom, we would all
be careful that the "gOod things" we had occa-
sion to do for our country should be jealousy
looked after and carefully maintained. We
appreciate now that worldly wisdom which
made much of the Army Correspondent and
was provldent in the prominence and preserYa-
tion of the bubble reputation"
Amid the demands of an absorbing profession
for 20 years, have at intervals lghtened my
graver duties with army Talks" to my com
rades and their friends of many Grand Army
Posts of central and western New York, One
of these is entitled "At Hide and Seek with
StOnewall," and the incidents of this are largely
made up of the rescue of this large wagon train
AS l am Parson now of 20 years standing,
| am little sensitive that The NATIONAL
TRIBUNE should overlook altogether my part
therein, and thus almost impeach my truthful
ness. Your limited space and my otherwise
appropriated time at this season will not now
permit rehearsal of the incidents and partci-
pants of this game of hide-and-seek played sue
cessfully with the great marcher and tanker.
"Stonewall." If you will grant me a column
in the early future, it will give me pleasure to
tell the true story of those three nights and three
days in the saddle aud the twisting of this
long, snakeiike train from Mosby's outstretched
hands in the rear and Jackson's baked at
tempts to head Us of at the front Meanwhile,
lest it may seem that i claim too much please
print herewith the kindly thought-of letter of
Gen. Hatch, sent me upolf his retirement from
active service which his gallantry and good
judgment honored for nigh 40 years continued
devotion to duty;
WASHINGTON, D. c.. JAN 49, 1888.
Col JAMES p. FOSTER, Geneva, n. Y.
My DEAR CoLoNEL: 1t gives me great pleasure
to bear testimony 10 your spldierly qualities when
you, then Captain, served under my command
The Judgment, skill and energy shown by you in
rescung from the confusion of Bauks's retreat the
cayalry-train of OVERSIZE wagons, guarding il with
your troop of the 5th n. y. Cav, and conducting
it by creutous route through a mountainous
country TO n ford OF the Potomac has always been
considered by one of the most crediable
affairs of that unfortunate episode in our military
history
l regret that yOu eontiaue to suffer from the
wounds afterwards received when holding higher
command This is however the case Of many
others, who find with increased age an increased
disability from wounds. Hoping you may receive
from a just Government the recognition to which
your services and sulferings entite you
remain, truly, your friend,
JOHN =. HATCH
Colonel and Brevet Brigader- General, U. s. A.
JAMES P FOSTER Ganeya NJ V