The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-11-13
and with shout walked over the rebels cap

was proper. And If the Chivarous commander
of the Second Brigade had been permitted to
live through the battle, his report would have
undoubtedly revealed what part his brigade
took in the charge.
It is painfully unfortunate that after quar-
ter of century has passed away since the battle,
and many other participants like Col. King,
are numbered with the silent dead, there should
be one of tic chief actors in this grand attack
To break the force of its truth by claiming all
the honor of il for himself and brigade.
Brighton J. b. Turchin. tho gallant com
mandcr of the Third Brigade, whose horse was
shot by a cannon-ball from under him in the
charge labors hard, in his recent valuable his
tory oftthe battle, 10 establish the claim that
his brigade alone made the brilliant charge
And i'm his graphic description of the assault
Comrade Booth conveys the same erroneous
impression without actually saying so.
Now, Gen. Turchiu's assertions aud Com
rade Booths impressions do great injustice TO
two noble regiments of the Second Brigade
who were in the charge
Turchin. however, admits on page loo OF his
book that some other troops besides his own
were in the charge; hut he refers TO them thus
in disparaginE way: If n detachment OF u
few hundred men, among whom were stragglers
of other commands, can be called a brigade
then Gen. Reynolds in the charge had divs-
ion of two brigades; and if not, then there was
only one brigade and n small detachment of
another" This detachment OF few hun
dred men" was the remnant of the Second
Brigade. composed of the 10Th Indiana and
lo5th Ohio regiments, under Col. Robinson, and
they should have the credit of being in the
assault. even though they were "a small de-
tachment Of another brigade 1t should not
have been said of these regiments as on page
l5I of the history referred TO, that it is clear
then that Reynolds so.called Second Brigade
of his division not only was not III the charge,
but was taken by Thomas away in another di-
rection at the beginning OF the movement, and
never saw the enemy attacked by Turchln's
Brigade"
Ii is true the Second Brigade was at the time
Of the assault, a small detachment" for il we
compare the casualties of the two brigades of
the division, we find that Turchin's lrhirdl
Brigade composed of four regiments and n
battery. lost 343 officers and men, which were
less by III than the loss in Kings lSecOnd)
Brigade Of the Same number of regiments and
a battery The Second Brigade lost iSi, of
whom AIS were killed and wounded. The 10th
Ind, of this brigade, lost 1885, among whom
was the brave Capt. William McGinnis, who
fell MORALLY wounded leading his men IN this
very charge, which Gen. Turchin claims 10
have been made only by his own brigade with
a few "stragglers of other commands.
In the light OF the official reports OF the
corps and division commanders of the
troops VINO participates III Ibis .taaduib ANhith
reports herewith sabmit) Gen. Turehin can
not establish his claim. Gen. Thomas. after
describing the reasons for the necessity OF the
movement, says in his report:
" Just al this time / saw the head Of Rey
nolds's column approaching, and calling 30 the
General himself directed him TO form line per-
pendicular 10 the State road, changing the head
Of has column to the left, with his right resting
On that road. and to charge the enemy, who
were then Ia his immediate front. This move
Ineut was made with ihe utmost promptitnde,
and facing 10 the right whilst on the march,
Turchiu threw hts brigade upon the rebel force,
routing them aud driving them In utter con
fusion entirely beyond Baird's LETT. Ia this
splendid advance more than 200 prisoners were
captured aud sent TO the rear. Col. Robinson,
/ commanding tie Second Brigade, Rcynolds's
( Division, followed closely upon Turchin, and
/ posted him on the road leading through the
4 ridge 20 hold the ground whilst the troops Oh
I our right and left passed by"
Ia my judgment Gen. Thomas does not say
! here a word from which an inference may bt
drawn that one brigade alone of Reynolds
/ Division made this splendid advance with
/ the utmost promptitude," unless II be what ht
SAYS Of the front line under Gen. TuFchin
4 The charge was made in two lines By brigades
I with Turclins in the FIRST aud RObins0u'S Ia
! the second line, which can be inferred from
Gen. ThOmass words, when he says: Col
Robinson, commanding the Second Brigade
Reynolds Division, followed closely upon
| Turchin."
When the prisoners were taken, aud Tia,
balance Of the Confederates were swept out o
the road by both brigades, then Gen. Thoma,
! personally directed Col. Robinson To post hi
brigade al the junctuTe Of another road, lead
ing into the Bpssville road, SO as 10 protect thi
iO4d also, whilst the remainder Of the army
| passed by. We can infer this also from thi
. Il. 1. IA
1 posted him .RobInsoB) on the road LEADING
/ through the ridge TO hold the ground, willis
the troops on our right and left passed by
I The Second Brigade was not taken by Ih0aa
away IN another direction at the beginning O
the movement" as Gen. Tnrchin says ii was
for the performance Of this duty, until th'
charge had been successfully made aud tht
| prisoners captured.
In his official report Of this movement Gen
Reynolds says: "The division received al
order 10 initiate a movement towards ROssvilc
Arriving al the ROssgilie road, the command
was met by the corps commander in person
and ] was directed 10 form line perpcndicula
10 the Rossyille road. This done, Gen. ThOma
pointed in the direction OF Rossville aud said
There they are; clear them out The diyi
sion wag faced about, and charge was oFderei
aud executed IN two lines at double-qGicl
through the rebel lines. dispensing them an
capturing more than 200 prisoners under lr
Of infantry in front and artillery in flank"
This Is all that Gen. Reynolds says in hi
report about this movement, aud he sure
does not utter by implication or othcrwis,
} q single sentence from which il may be IN
; ferred that one brigade only Of his divisio
} did this work. lie most clearly says. howeYe
that his division did il ia two lines.
Some time after my attention was called |
Gen. Turcbiu's statement concerning III
charge. 10 make the correctness Of the h0nore
: division commanders official report donbl
sure, ! took the liberty 10 write letter
inquiry TO Gen. Reynolds, in which / state
that, though ! was only boy Of II at ii
time, my Tecollecti0ns Of the event were tn;
) the second briRadc-at least my regiment
] that brigade-was in the charge, aud HE repor
written Immediately after the battle c0nlrme
) my belief ! wanted 10 know now if be sti
s entertained that opinion. In his reply Il
3 General says:
e You are correct in your recollection Of Il
; movement All OF the division that was wit
j me in line, when the movement was order,
: by Gen. Thomas IN person, participated IN q
. charge. Ny report is correct. The briga,
d did participate ia the charge. After the d
= vision had proceeded some distance and hi
!. taken prisoners. which were sent to the Tea
= Gen. Thomas directed the rear brigade To
. halted 10 guard the prisoners, and 10 cover ii
Il road leading into the one by which our fore
IA moved 10 EOssvilie. Gen. Thonas's report
= good authority 40 TO the work Of the diysi'
. there"
u Most assuredIy the report of Gen. Thorn
. is good authority, and it shows, as quoted, iii
II the charge referred to was made By the 4
e, vision, aud not by one brigade only And II
J. letter Of Gen. Reynolds which / have il
rfFf firm Ia 81 yaaAn at tsa ~