The National tribune., 1890-09-25
AT ESRORO.
Defense of the Regular Brigade in That Actr

A Defense OF tho Regular Brigade In That Action.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRiRUNE Comrade H. Fl.
Fellows in The NATIONAL TRIBUNE Of Aug.
%, claims that his brigade (the 14th Mich, 10th
ILL.,, 10th Mich and 18th N. " was tho first to
charge at Jonesboro, Ga, and captured Gen.
GOvan, including his staff and brigade. Com
rade Fellows refers to an article written by
Maj. Wiseman, Adjutant- General, Second Divis-
ion, Fourteenth Corps, which he claims to be
substantially correct and he says Mai. Wisoman
was criticized by the Regulars. Mai. Wiseman's
sketch of tho ground was no doubt correct,
but his disposition of the troops was certainly
wrong, as he put tho brigade of Regulars back
in tho rear and said the Regulars failed to come
up, and for this he was justly criticized. j hope
that you will allow me to quote the report of
Gen. VIM. Z. Carlin upon this subject. lie says
" My division was probably more than milo
to tho left of Morgan on the morning of Sept. /,
1864. Gen. Thomas and the corps commander
Gen. Davis, woro both with or near tho First
Division. Gen. Thomas finally decided where
to put tho division in action, and instructed
Davis accordingly. He was TO accompany tho
First Division to a house surrounded by woods
and perhaps 400 yards west of the railroad
This brought mo about 600 yards north of tho
position fortified and held by tho enemy, or
rather that part OF their line perpendicular to
the railroad and their main front. In all my
movements that morning my division had been
under fire from battery in the angle formed
by their line-that is, where their line which
faced Morgan and the Army Of the Tennessee
formed right angle with that which faced the
First Division, Fourteenth Corps. The enemy
were still working vigorously with axes, spades
and picks strengthening their breastwOrks.
Their battery at the angle was firing most
spitelulIy, but wildly, ut my troops, where
Thomas also was with his staff. Their little
shells seemed to be harmless, although they
exploded over our heads under our feet under
our hOrscs-evCrywhcre
Finally my division was placed where
Thomas wanted 1t. 1t, or Mt least two brigades
of 1t, were to move south to the west of the
railroad and assault tho enemy's works. Tho
brigade o Regulars, commanded by Lieut. Col.
John X. Edie, was on my right, the brigade
commanded by Col. M. f. Moore was on the
left. For n hundred yards or moro we passed
through underbrush and then came into open
ground. l was near the Regular Brigade.
Coming TO a little stream, perhaps 200 yards
north of the cncmy's works, ordered Col Edie
to assault the enemy spostion and take it. The
battaIons Of tho 18th, 10Th, 10Th and 10th rcgi.
ments advanced steadily and reached the works
and drove tho enemy from them. Tho 18th
Inf. held fast 10 their capture Tho rebels
brought up reniorccments and drove my troops
back aud recovered the works. Then Gen.
Davis sent Col Estes Brigade. of Baird's D-
u.
came with Estes Brigade. placed it in line, rode
at the right flank of the brigade talking kindly
TO the men and encouraging them
All this time the enemy had been pouring
very heavy fire upon my troops, aud especially
at the Regular Brigade and the brigade Of.
Baird's Division. The conduct of Gen. Baird
was truly admirable Though senior to me in
rank, and only directed to send the brigade to
my assistance, he camo with il and led it in
the assault under the hottest fire, which assault
was perfectly successful. We took tho works,
and in conjunction with Morgans Division, Of
the Fourteenth Corps, captured a brigade of
Confederate troops commanded by Brig Gen.
ID. {. Goyan The battery at the anglo was
also captured
This success was due chiefly TO the First and
Second Divisions of tho Fourteenth Corps and
Estes Brigade. of the Third (I}aird's) Division.
OF the same corps, Army OF the Cumberland"
In concluding allow mo 10 say that the Reg
ulars do not claim that other tfoops were not
there, nor do they wish to take one iota of
glory won by others to Themselves but ns Mai
Wiscman says the Regulars failed to como up,
aud Comradc Fellows says Mai. Wisoman is
correct, we are obliged 20 say something in
defense of our record. ] am certain that some
OF my comrades died al the angle, aud many
were there wounded, myself among them,
before the brigade 10 which Comrade Fellows
belonged had entered the open ground in their
front, and had come some distance from that
angle when | passed through their ranks
minus an arm.
The 17th \. Y. was on tho left of the brigade
10 which Comrade Fcllowa belonged This rcgi.
ment was making good sane advancing ON tho
full run when passed through them. i do not
think that Comrade Fellows could have got
there any quicker than this regiment, and tho
Regulars had made their charge long before
they lthe 18th n. Y J rot there.
would call Comrado Fellows's attention to
the fact that his brigade charged one side of
the angle while the Regulars charged tho other
side, the left Of Comrade Fellows's brigade
striking just whore the right of tho Regulars
struck tho angle. According to Capt Irving
A. Buck, Adjntant.Gencrnl OF Gen. Pat Gle
burne's Division. TO which Goyans Brigade
belonged, Goyan's Brigade occupied the ground
between the angle and the railroad, where tho
bTigades Of the First and Third Divisions
charged. IL does not, therefore, seem at all
likely that Comrade Fellows's brigade alone
captured all the prisoners and batteries at that
point-iIENRY CoRDEs, 18th u. s. Inf, Mil.
lersburg Pa.