The National tribune., 1889-07-11
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What Our Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns
At PORT REPUBLIC.
A Brace Of Errors Regarding Carroll Once More
Corrected.

Corrected.
FprToR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: ] beg the
privilege OF correcting two errors occurring In
one OF a series Of articles describing the Sheh-
andoah Valley campaigns Of the summer OF
1852 written 10y DIR. Henry Capehart, ana pup
lished fu TIE NATIONAL TRIBUNE OF April 20,
lSsq which have lust fallen under my notice.
orc. touching the conduct and affecting the
honor OF gallant officer. and the other cover
ing an important fact, often misstated aud ire
oueutly before now corrected by competent au-
thority and proof
The first error occurs in the statement, in
substance that upon the entry into Port Re-
public of a detachment of the list w. Va. Cav,
on the morning Of June & 1862, and the capt
IRE there Of an officer Of Stonewall Jacksons
staff Col Carroll, in command OF the advance
brigade of Shields's Division was so oyerioyed
nj meeting in this captured officer an old TREND
and casSmate, that bottles were lnterchangCd
and streams of Federal Bourbon and COnfeder-
ate spplejack miuEing and uniting their ln-
Guence with a food of memories" induced
Carroll TO aeglect his duty aud indulge in
drunken carOusal, which led TO disastrous re-
suits To give point TO this representation the
article is illustrated with a spirited sketch of
the two officers seated al table and pledging
each other in " Federal Bourbon and Conteder-
ate appleiackn
During this advance MP the Shenandoah Val
icy wasdetached from headquarters of Shields's
Division, and sent ON duty with Col. Carroll.
Arriving on the morning of June Sth near Port
Republic Carroll ordered the officer IN com
mand Of the LIST w. Va. Cav, with a section of
Robinson's battery, TO cross the ford OF the
North Fork Of the Shenandoah 20 occupy Port
Republic and protect the bridge crossing the
South Fork, in compliance with the specific or
Ger of Gen. Shields. Delay occurring at the
ford. was sent to repeat the order, when, find
ing the cavalry in confusion and its commander
unhorscd behind a stone building near the ford,
and complaining Of sudden illness, took the
cavalry acruss and made the dispositions di-
rected by Col Carroll The capture of the staff
officer was made by the squad sentout the south
read aud he was brought in, mounted, at the
moment when Carroll, having delayed to place
q gun 20 command the bridge came across the
ford. The greeting between the officers was
brief, but being gentlemen, was cordial. aud
the consumption OF Is Federal Bourbon and Con-
federaie appiejack Was altogether imaginary.
The captured officer was placed IN my charge.
le did not dismonnt, but left Port Republic
and crossed the ford at nay side, without pro-
test and with an excess OF chiyalry, for he did
50 under rain Of plunging shot aud shell from
his oWn battery; and from that time until he
was released on parole at farmhouse few
miles from Port Republic on our retreat after
the next mornings fight he remained in my
custody. No occurrence took place OF the kind
detailed and pictured by DR. Capehart. Col.
Carroll was otherwise engaged.
The balance Of the Sth was consumed in
PREPARATIONS for the battle OF the 9th, then
clearly impending. The intervening night was
passed along the picket-line, and when Jack
son opened the 9th at daylight with a reveiIle
OF shot aud shell Carroll was already in his
saddle
There is better excuse for the commission
OF the second error by DIR. Capehart, for il has
al apparent official foundation. The second
error consists of criticism Of Col Carroll for
his neglect 70 burn the bridge az Port Republic.
The excuse Is found in the following extract
from that part OF the official report Of Gen
Shields which refers 70 the operations Of June
9Th aud slh, and which, having been officially
published, has become part Of the permanent
records OF the war. In that report Gen. Shields
states: Col Carroll, leading small body IN ad
vance, found Jackson's army and train on the
opposite side OF the river al Port Republic The
TlVer Was impossible aud the bridge still stand
ing. By some uBacc0uutable miGappreheHsion
he neglected 20 burn il. although he had pos
Session Of il thres-quarters OF an hour Col
Carroll Was hurried by excess OF daring TO
neglect TINS important duty. jackson crossed
his whole army over this bridge, left, as il were
for has use. The destruction of this bridge
would have been the destruction Of Jacks0n's
army"
Under an infrmity Of memory, which occa-
Gionally afflicted this gallant soldier, Gen
Shields had forgotten that on the 4th day of
june, ls62-fOur days before the occurrence OF
the events OF winch the foregoing extract
trests-he had sent 70 Col. Carroll from Column
bia Bridge the dispatch and order below quoted,
which, with Others Of like parport were at the
time fled and copied by the writer hereof, aud
the originals Of which are believed 10 be still
IN the possession Of Gen. Carroll The order Of
She zth MAS as follows:
COLUMBIA BEIDGE June A. 1852
Col. CARROLL. COm'dR Fourth Brigade:
Our friends have driven the enemy 10 New
Aarkei. de can only escape by Slaunton. He las
burned his own bridges. The whole Of your com
maud BE- 10 march 70 join you. Leave q guard and
wagons aud caissOlIh 81 COurad's and on 10 staun-
son. Destroy care railroad DEPOT mud ali facilities
for Eis escape. You must 90 forward at once with
eayslIy and guns 70 save The bridge 81 Port Re
public
tSignedl JAMES SHIELDS,
Con'd'g Div.
Under an infrmity, not Of memory Gen.
Shields retained the abOFe-quoted extract in
his Official report, after his order Of the zth
June was placed before his eyes for the refresh
ment Of bis recollection. III his order Of June
9Th had not been preserved, aud the truth Of
has report bad not been dispTOVed. the career
OF Gen Carroll would have ended at Port Re
public. lts existence caused the nomination
oi Gen. Shields 10 be rejected by the senate
and retired him from military command e
q. GOODRICH, Captain, Ado, Lincoln, Va.