The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-04-03
SECOND BULL RUN.
Ararer 70 u. q. Mhltnker. %. N. "a n. Y. Ca,

SESON II ID ~ LII II - IN.
Answer TO II. G. Whitaker, Go. NJ. Cd n. Y. Cav.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Before pro-
cecding 10 answer some of the inquiries of III.
C. Whitaker, of New Market, Tenn, which APP
peared in your issue Of Jan. . i will intro
dure myself rs having been a Sergeant o.
Hampton's (Pittsburg Pa.N battery of light arf
tillery, and the first enlisted man in that or
ganizaton. i commanded the LETT piece Of the
left section, commanded by Lieut. Nathaniel
Irish, the battery being commanded by Capt.
Robert Ii. Hampton. OF Pittsburg, Pa,
On the forming OF line of battle Aug. 81, 1862,
by Gen. Pope. at Rappahannock Station, Va,
our battery was assigned TO the reserve artil-
lery under Gen. Banks, and remained so until
Aug. 26, when we reported to Col. Schimmel-
pfennig, commanding brigade OF Gen. Schurz's
Division, of Gen. Sigel's Corps. On the morning
of Aug %, 1862 our battery was ordered TO take
position in advance OF the line OF artillery then
stationed on the crest of hill about half mile
northeast of the Railroad Cut. near the Stone
House, on the second Bull Run battlefield.
About half psst o'clock in the afternoon of
Aug 29-the divisions Of Gems. Kearny and
Hooker, Of Gen. McClellan's command, having
arrived on the field and engaged the enemy on
his left-Gen. Milroy. with his brigade, was
holding the rebels at the Railroad Cut, near
the Stone House, aud our battery was ordered
to his support, aud one section, the left Lieut..
lrish'sl, passed through & strip of woods and
up 10 Gen. Milroy's line. and as We were NOV
ing by the left. my piece was ia the lead, Gen.
Milroy pointed out the spot where / should
place my gun. / obeyed the order and COM
menced firing canister at three lines of rebels
just beyond the Railroad Cut, aud after each
shot, In looking under the rising smoke, i OBJ
served that the rebels were running toward MS
and disappearing. aud ! 30 reported TO Lieut..
Irish, who. with Gen. Miiroy, was close on my
left We bad fired six shots, aud were loading
the seventh, when Gen. Milroy and Lieut.. Irish.
having rode far enough in advance TO see into
tho Railroad Cut, and at this moment the rebel
yell was raised and Laws's rebel brigade charged
our left section gthe only two pieces that crossed
the strip of woods. Just then Gen. Miroy
passed close in front of my gun. and gave the
order 10 fall back while at the same instant
Lieut.. Irish came forward, saying. " Fire that
shot and save yourselves"
had taken the precaution to reverse my
Timber and the gun in recoling passed the
trail under the Timber, and the handspike
striking small stump could not. for the mo-
ment, he disengaged. aud the rebels being upon
Us, gave the order Drive on, and all started
10 fall back 70 the other section of our battery
on the other side Of the wood aud nearer the
line OF artillery on the crest of the hill.
At this moment CorpI Hess. of my piece,
jumped on the limbor-chest with his face to the
rear. and in going to my horse passed close
10 him, looked ia his face, and In the next in
slant he was shot in the forehead the wound
being seen by Jacob Kiersh, nay No. Of the
piece, who was passing, carrying the sponge
staff with him. Before the Timber moved the
dead body Of Henry Hess dropped of the chest.
The rebels then came forward and took my gun,
at the trail OF which lay the body Of Corp'l
Hess
This is the piece Of artillery and the gunner
referred 10 by the l4th 5. G.. man, as stated in
COmradc Whitaker's letter in the Jan. num-
Dor Of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE The gun
was not abandoned, MS stated by the Carolinian.
The last shot was fred by my own ORDER
and we left the piece when told TO do so by
our Lieutenant. who received his order from
the gallant Gen. Milroy. After losing my
piece we fell back 10 our right section, and
then took charge Of the right piece of the left
section, the Sergeant i. Il. Todd
having been wounded in the face, and with
three pieces We engaged the advancing rebel
lines, checking their advance and remaining
until receiving orders TO fall back 10 the crest
Of the hill IN the line Of artillery, aud while
falling back the right piece, Of which / had
charge, became disabled aud We dragged it of,
both hind wheels having been lost.
just here i must not forget 10 state that
while our three pieces were holding tho rebel
lines in check, Gen. Kearny, who had wit
messed the matter compiimented us on our
SrRbihE AhAtAtiIEt anu bbitb III oEuETly 10 CDHl-
municate the fact 20 our Lientenants. / will
also state that after we had limbered up and
were retiring 10 the crest Of the hill, Serg't
Samuel ID. Glass, commanding the left piece of
the right section, being in the rear, turned
around and saw the rebel lines advancing and
cOOliy ordered his piece to halt. and, Unlimber-
| ing, dOuble-shgtted his piece with canister and
gave the Johnnies a parting shot, and very
/ effective one too, as he had blank range on
them. j mention the foregoing 10 rebut the
statement Of the Carolinian regarding the
abandonment Of the piece
To verify the foregoing statements ] refer TO
j. Prcssy Fleming. Lieutenant of the right
| section, n0w ia the insurance business on
! Fourth Avenue, Pittsburg, Pa. Orderly sergt
! Robert Paul, 4lst street and A. V. X. H.. Pitts
burg, Pa; George " Marshall, Of Marshall
| Bros, 60 Diamond street, who drove the swing
| team Of my piece, then a boy of Is years, and
/ Samuel ID. Glass. q carpenter aud joiner, of
| Allegheny City. would further say that this
was the only piece lost that day. tSee Gen.
| LOgan's speech in the Fitz-John Porter case in
the u. s. Senate, March Is, 1884, pages 3d. 81
aud Gd) Hoping the foregoing may fall under
the eye OF C0mrade Whitaker. g. BEATTY,
Sergeant, Hampton's Battery, Columbiana, o.