The National tribune., 1889-06-13
IN THE WILDERNESS.
Was the Right Flank Turned MAY 6

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In your paper
of the 14th inst. have just read an account
of what is called the turning of the right flank
of the Army of the Potomac in the Wilderness
on the 9th of May, 1864. Now, claim that
the right flank was not turned owing to the
staying qu.dties of the 7tfp Me-, of which was
at that tirIe an humble member.
Comrale Brewer, of the 9th Nd seems to
have had pretty good idea of the situation up
to the time of the rebel yell, but after that he
must have been terribly demoralized, as were
the rest of his division tThird) and also the
First At the time of the attack by Early's
Corps the Second Division, Sixth Corps occu-
pied front line, protected by temporary line
of breastworks, built of old logs and in some
places partially covered with dirt, dug up with
tin plates and bayonets. The Third Brigade,
Second Division, Sixth Corps, was on the right.
It was composed of the following regiments:
61st Pa, 10th and 77th N. Y. and 7th Me- the
last-named regiment being on the extreme
right of the line. About dark Early's Corps
charged our frof1t, but were driven back with
terrible loss Then there was short interval
of silence, but our boys knew its meaning.
The enemy were preparing for the final strug-
gle. Hearing them yell off on our right, our
men knew that the Third Division was to take
the whole weight of the onset, and they had no
fears for the result. But vain hope! They
broke and ran at the rebel yell, not stopping
to fire a shot, while their brave Generals, Sey-
more aud Shailer, who were both taken prison
ers, did all they could to rally them, but to no
purpose. On came the enemy, forming line
of battle in our rear, and opened fire on us
from front, flank and rear and ordered us to
surrender. Maj. Jones (the fighting Quaker)
replied, 'All Others may go back, but the 7th
Ne. neverio
After fighting some three hours, Neill's Bri-
gade Third re-established its line, and the
9TH remained in this position until midnight,
when we moved off by the left flank and took
new position on the right of the line. The
only falling back done by our regiment was to
change front to rear on fifth company, which
was done without confusion, although the men
were falling on all sides. During the fight the
rebs captured some of our boys disarmed them
and told them to go TO the rear (the rebel rear);
but they went only short distance, and then
turned to the left and came in over the breast
works and took part in the fun.
Now, / do not wish to cast any reflections on
the First and Third Divisions of the Sixth
Corps, as everyone knows that never before or
after that did they turn their backs to the
enemy, and had they been deployed in line of
battle facing the rebels they would not have
been driven; but being in close column by di-
vision and in the thick woods, with their right
exposed TO terrific fire, before they could
Wheel SO as 10 get in position to deploy, the
enemy was upon them. 1t was too much for
human nature to stand. | have no doubt if
our division had been in their place we would
have Jared the same But Comrade Brewer is
away off when he tells about any part of the
Second Division being broken or running, un-
less it was few straggers. He says he saw a
Color-Sergeant with his colors, and wanted
him to let him have his colors TO rally on.
What he could have been doing there l cannot
imagine, for the front line was not broken, and
the only change in the liue was the change in
the right flank of the 7th Me.
Well do | remember that night, and / can
almost hear the whistle of the bullets although
it is more than..24 years since it took place,
and one cannot blame the Adjutant of the 9th
Nd. for getting excited and losing his pipe
especially when the bullets began to clip the
pine bushes between his legs. If he had been
in the front line he would not have had time
to notice such trifes viii close by saying,
as began that the right flank was not turned
and that we left only when the flank move
ment to Spottsylvania commenced.-A. L. SY-
Pliers, Co. A, 7th Me-, and First Sergeant, Co.
II, 1st Me-, Scranton City, Iowa.