The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-02-14
THE fst MINI.
Who wiz Write the History of the Regiment


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: For some
years l have read your paper, and have always
been much interested in it. and very deeply so
in all pertaining to the history of my old regi-
ment the 1st MINI. But as there are num-
Der of the survivors of the regiment who are
much better posted on its services and who
saw much more hard fighting with the regi-
ment than myself being one of the boys who
volunteered for detached service in the West
ern gunboat fiotilIa,-I have felt that it would
be presumptuous in me to write anything for
your paper; but since reading the experience
o. w. A. Croiut (who is a kind of brevet COM
rade of ours) at the first Bull Run and also
that Of Comrade o. F. Vancourt at Edwards
Ferry and Balls Bluff, where Col. Z. L. Baker
was killed aud his men driven into the PotO-
mac, have had my memory refreshed, so that
/ think know about as much of these battles
as amy Of the few survivors of the old LIST, for |
was there, and although only boy of Is,
took a mans place in the ranks and did
mans duty and knew how and did manipu-
late Springfield musket as rapidly and as
accurately as many of my Older comrades, and
ar some time III the future will try to give my
experience at these places; but before do this
! wish 10 ask some OF my old comrades, through
the columns of your paper, who were with the
regiment through all or most of its 20 battles,
why they do not write its history in full from
the first Bull Run to Mine Run while some of
Us are vet alive that could and would help
them on that which came within our personal
observation, so as to make it as accurate as
possible? / call particularly on that old hero,
Col. ColYile, who fell. shot almost 10 atoms,
while leading the regiment in the charge at
Gettysburg the second day, and who now re-
sides at Duluth, Mimi, a lawyer of ability,
who, If he would take command as he used to
in the old days, would find ali the comrades of
the regiment ready 10 respond TO his call, and
each would contribute his part and experience
TO make il 4 complete history.
Again, call particularly upon Maj. III. d.
OBrien, of East ST. Louis, ILL.,. and Sergt p. III.
Taylor, of Harrisonyiiie Cass Co, Mo-, both Of
my old company tE); both with records of
heroes; both ready writers and wellacquaint-
ed with all the battles and casualties of the
Tegiment-at least up to Gettysburg, where Com
rade o Brien was the third man latter two had
been shot DOWN TO pick up the regimental col
Ors and carry them in advance Of the line until
he was shot and wounded. Also, how would
this read as history: The regiment went into
this battle with 4S9 men. Sixty-eight were
killed, lie wounded, leaving only 272 men and
Comrade Taylor, as Sergeant of Co Il, after the
charge on the second day, found himself the
only officer of the company left, with only
eight men under his command, the company
having lost in killed and wounded, including
Capt Muller, Lieut.. Denarest, and brother of
Coinr2de 1ayior 5, - men, ana all TINS Wlthln
a very few moments, under the direct and per-
sonal order Of Gen. Hancock TO save break in
the Union line, and to prevent Thomas's Regu-
lar battery from falling into the hands of the
enemy.
If the people of Cass County, Mo-, knew as
much of COmrade Patrick ID. Taylor as some of
the old 1st MINI. do, they would feel them
selves honored to have such man a resident
of their County.
Who, then. are better fitted to write this his
tory than these same brave comrades? No
doubt there are other surviving comrades who
can write this history, but l cannot think who
they are. and can only hope that they will re-
spond, and that the work may be done before
all the old boys who have personal knowl-
edge of these things are mustered out. II
am wrong in facts or figures would thank any
oomrade to correct me.-WILLIAM FULLERTON
Co. L, lst Mimi, Central City, Colo.