The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-04-17

Comrade Chas. /. Lonely, Of Upton, Iowa,
10 q letter to THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE says:
Very many oral and written discussions have
from tine 10 time grown ont OF reminiscent
references 10 tnat, perhaps. most dramatic Dat
Tie u tie war. Cedar Creek. But while have
sometimes leli little like "patllug word ~,
the spirit never really moved me TO do 50 until l
read the Iauu0ueer's exceedingly graphic and
interesting account IA IJIE AATIOSALl kIBJSE.
This moving impulse comes. FIRST from desire
60 express something Of the pleasure derived
from The GauuOHeer's yividIy natural aud vITIie
story including. especially, hIs description OF
the battle Of Cedar Geek aud, second, from a
wish 20 cali attention - one feature Of the sta
tisllcs Of that battle.
AS 70 tie story Of the Cannoncer. not only
does he give with wonderful clearness aud
COMPLETENESS. an idea Of the experience, motives
and feelings Of tEe average volunteer soldier,
and the grand part taken by the battery 10
which be belOueed-and, "a this instance, Of Inc
division and, ia fact, Of the whole sixth corps
bur be also gives All excellent general descrp-
tiOn Of tie battle, and does 50 more fairly aud
Eiih less OF inEidIOus reelection or comparison
Than almost any one OF the numerous accounts
which have come 70 my notice. And stu,
de pite something Tor an apology for the Nine
teeIih Corps perhaps partially On account oi
IT, there is left somewhat Of an unpleasant
taste ia the mouth Of the wet who was a
member Of that organization on Oct IS, 1864.
Pond. iu AIs contribution 10 ScrlbneTs Can
paiaus 0l the livll War Eays that companions
il regard 10 Tie behavior o! dIhereut commands
were never more out 81 place than 81 applied
70 this mornings calamity" The iDGcc and
faiEi.es5 Of THIS vii! appeal - every participant
IN tie events " tie day. That the Eighth
CORPS should practically disappear an organ
iZali0u af-eT the carly onset was Inevitable 10 q
surprise on q sleeping camp 20 complete ihal
haif-drlGsed 80 Eanks crePt out 81 one end o
Sog-teut" Just az the rebel line haEEed
tie other end. Tie Nineteenth Corps, how
ever, had plenty Of time o. have taken posi-
fi0u-L only someone could have tod il
where d stood 70 arms, or at ieas; the Fourth
Brigade af the second Division, which wGs OF th'
extreme JET Of tle pike, ala 80. The arms were
BGB.rqaeuty stacked, and then taken again
Finally marching Ey the leH flank uutll thi
lett regiment yfth Iowa had crossed the pike
IN received q suGdcu yolley which came m0u
from what had been the rear than from th'
front Al the same time the men saw Tia
rebel liHe crossing tHe pike lar behind them
being stu - dark and iOgRy that the eneml
could only be- Distinguished when si.hOuctlet
against ihc eastern sky ia crossing the back
bone Of tie ridge. Falling lack from such
position although done in pursuauce OF ORDER
Wa, ~ matter ~ course, - q nature OF 4 loot
r4ce. Bus IL b. not therefore 70 be iuletre
that Use Nineteenth ceasc4 70 be q factor ii
Tire light, even - an OrgaHlL ation. Not lel
Of tuD men fell into The ranks Of the SiEt
Corps aud fought there through one or more d
The earlier stands made by That magu.Eceu
command. Some Oi course. took occasion Z
join the crowd Of EtraggleTs al the rear Ba
tbe greater part # each aud every regimen
WAS formed behind the ZtA Corps: aud Z
Regiments, briEaqes aud divisions the Ainl
tcenlh Corps returned 10 the contest on I'll
night u The sixth.
Tie Cauu04elg recognizes the true test Of n
when be- 70 oIsc,ualiy disposed Of the ez;rayi
CANT claims on the part ol Tie Cavalry Corr
for when the modest truth is glory enough
by comparing tbc killed aud wounded Ia pr
portion 10 Tie number engaged, with like 81
ures TOT the Sixth Corps.
lCSmEdc Lonely VII please bear ia mir
ilal CO not pretend t0descTl5e anything ia
j did not see. The Nineteenth Corps has
own history and Do. own historians. Its hi
tory was glorious, aud It's historians arc all
- do u Justice. BGe.Ll
DEAE CoNEADE: ] have been very mu,
interested in your story aud ~ far as my 0
scryalion went ! found il about correct Al
las. week when found out that you were wi
Us al CEDAR Greek ] just felt tickled all oyt
for 4 knew you would give US near about Il
square thing on that battle. j think your d
scrBiion Of this battle about as near correct
81 can b. eiYcE bot sou will be apt 10 make 1
fuE by from the Gin aud l9th; but let her III
facts arc facis.-JAs. MCiETYEE, Captain, {
4, I02d Pa. ErasheaT, 80.
Peter Colby. Of Milford, y. IT,, Co. b,
Mas. Cav. says;
The Caunoneer says he does not know W
Is 10 blame that such troops IA the Army
Western Virginia WAS composed Of should be
utterly routed a. the very beginning Of 1
battle Of Cedar Greek. Now, was taken pr
OHer when The sun was about one hour Lia
north oi Tie PIKE, Close 20 our camp. that Of 1
Nineteenth Corps They took ms Just acre
the bridge 10 tie left Of the pike. aud thu
MGre los u nIIsgneEs from lie EiaLth Cnrl