The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-01-23
WELDON RAILROAD.
New Workers Killed by Our Artillery.

EDITOR NATIONAL tribune: i have been
reading with intense interest the "Story of n
Cannouecr" and particularly that part of it
relating to the campaign OF 1864, in which
many of the actions of Battery b came under
my personal observation The regiment to
which belonged (tbe lI7th n. Y, Col Frank
G. Miller was part of the Second Brigade, of
Wadsworth's Division. Gen James G.. Rice our
brigade commander was killed or MORALLY
wounded in the assault of tho 10th of May so
wildly described Ivy the Canuonecr."
In speaking of the 10Th of May, when the
artillery was put into the breastworks before
daylight. the Caunonccr says: 1.-THE infantry
that was in those worlIs-plrt of the Maryland
Brigade, bcieve-told us that the Johnnics
bad rifle pits in line with the house (Spindler's)
not more than 600 feet away, and That their
main line, with artillery in it, was .
about 800 yards distant" etc.
There are two inaccuracies in this statement:
one is that it was orr brigade that was in that
part Of the works instead of the Marylanders,
and the other is that the enomy's main works
were not SO near as 800 yards. Ii is my recol-
lection that they were 500 or GOO yards off. The
section of Battery i came into the works just
on the right of my company. They were so
near that we could hear the Lieutenant in
strucing the Gunuers, rs described in tho story.
As soon as ii WIS light enough to see the
enemy opened from his rAe.pits, while the
''ttANlg h'Ehll W ilIt dL IiiCli UlAlu NblhH =
nally, after few rounds, the sharpshooting
from the advanced riAe-pits became annoying,
and the Lieutenant ordered his Gunuors TO re-
duCc their charges and see If they could drop q
few caseshot or she'll into those pits. So they
spilled some of the powder on the ground and
cut their fuses TO the shortest time. The very
first shell, from the left gun Of the section, eX-
ploded right in the embankmont of pit, and
the right gun followed suit equally accurate in
the nit Mr. Editor if 81 ga IL M
dig out and skedaddle," il was the Johnnies
not only IN those two pits but from several
moro to the right and loft OF them. That whole
line of advanced pits was silent for the rest OF
the day.
i am anxionsly waiting for the Caunoueer
to get to the Weldon Railroad In the conrsc Of
his story. On this occasiou--I think II was the
DIST of August melancholy affair happened.
Owing TO some trouble farther to the left, where
the Second Corps was our division was ordered
60 abandon the advanced works we had Just
made and TO fall back, it being believed that
the enemy was coming in on our left and rear.
This order did not reach the lI7th n Y. in
consequence of the Aid.dc.Camp falling 10 ride
/ along the line rs he should have done hut de-
liveriug il to the first regiment he came 10 and
ordering the rcgmental officers 10 pass it along,
] can't accurately remember the name of this
Aid, but think il was Bush. We heard that he
was dismissed for his neglect of duty. AT all
events, the other troops got out, leaving the
l47th in tho lurch. The enemy now charged
the works, front aud flank, aud Battery Il aud
another battery. who werc about half mile iu
our rear opened on them with great fury, not
knowing that our regiment was still In posi-
ton. Their cascshot killed poor Scrg't Nc
Graw, of TO. X. gallant soldier and veteran
of many battles, besides wounding others. We
lay Cat on our faces while the shot from our
own batteries shrieked and howled and ex-
ploded over our heads and even right amongst
us, thinking that every minute would be our
last. aud bcwailing the sad fate OF being de-
stroyed by our own friends. As soon as our
Colonel could get word back To the batteries
they ceased long enough TO allow ~ TO with.
draw, which We did in good order. though un.
der a heavy FIRE from the enemy, who were
now close up. or course the batteries were not
TO blame, because they had reasons 10 suppose
that the works were clear ] do not know that
you would care TO speak of sad case like this,
but the facts are as ! have stated. IL has al
ways seemed TO me that dismissal gGs a light
punishment for neglect Of duty Oh the part ni
a staff officer resulting in the killing Of brave
soldiers by the fire of our own artiilcry.-G.
II. DuLToS, Sergeant, Co. ID, 1i7lh n. y, Full
ton n Y