The National tribune., 1890-12-18
IN THE WILDERNESS.
Another Account Of the Fight at the Angle

Another Account or the Fight az the Angle.
EDTToR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In your issue
Of Sept. % notice a long article by Joseph
Il. Carter. Sd Nd on the twO-days battle in the
Wilderness, particularly on the repulse OF A.
T. Hills and LongstTeet's Corps by the Second
Corps. Any one who does not know the history
of that affair would think that COmrade Carter
and the brigade 10 which he belonged did all
the fighting that was done 90 ropulsc the rebel
charge on May 6, 1864. ] take IL that Carter
must have been on Gen. Grants staff for no
private or regimental officer could have given
the position Of the Second Corps in that tangled
labyrinth. ] was in Gibbons Division, the Sec
ond Corps, Second Brigade and my own bril-
gade WAS enough for me 10 describe the move
ments OF from personal observatory, 10 say
nothing about the rest of the division or corps.
On the night Of the 9th Of May our brigade lay
in the brush a little west of the Brock road,
and just south Of the Plank road. Our pickets
a short distance in our front kept up a contin-
ual racket all night with the rebels who were
only short distance in their front. Early in
the morning Of the 9th we commenced to adj
vance. driving the rebel skirmishe:s in and
taking some prisoners.
The American Conflict" says we advanced
nearly two miles i do not think IL WIS more
than one, but did not measure the distance,
as | had something else 10 do about that time.
We found the enemy in n thicket, and on close
examination by our skirmishers found they
were intrenched. Col. Baxter Of the 72d Pa,
proposed 10 drive them out, and with his Tegi-
meut advanced to the charge. but was met with
a CALLING fire from the rebels in their works
aud driven back As soon as the enemy found
they had repulsed him, they came out of their
works at us in strong force. We commenced
falling back; not in any rush, however, but
firing as we went from behind logs and trees,
the enemy following cautiously alter us, feeling
his way AS IL he thought we were trying 20
draw him into a trap. When We got back TO
the Brock road we found the log breastworks
thrown up by the Pioneer Corps. In these we
stopped. There were no troops in the works,
nor none in the rear Of them in sight when we
came. Our officers said: Boys, We are going
10 stop; every man fall in here" and behind
the works we got about three lines deep. aud
waited Tor Tie rebels TO come. Now, this was
on the Brock road just south Of where it crossed
the Plank road. Oar brigade reached TO the
Plank road, and right here is where the rebels
tried SO hard 10 break through the lines.
As they came down the Plank road in very
strong force, the men that were on the Plank
road could sec them first and commenced tho
firing. The brush was cut away only "A short
distance in front Of where was so we could not
see them until they got close 10 US. When they
came in sight We commenced throwing lead at
them, aud those that could not get up 10 the
w6ks TO shoot, loaded their guns and handed
them TO the men in front. No troops on earth
could stand that fire. aud Southern rebels c0uld
not, and they soon went back. There was
battery OF brass Napoleons just 20 our left aud
rear and when the rchs were the closest they
commenced with canister, throwing il dag
Onally across their front. The rebels did not
get nearer our breastworks than four or five
rods, aud no man in our line had any idea Of
leaving those works or falling back.
After the charge had been Tepulsed in our
front, and during the lull while we were wait
ing for them TO come again, brigade Of troops
filed past IN our rear aud formed second line
10 help us il they should come again, but they
did not come--that dose was enough for them.
Now the charge was made about o'clock,
think. There was only one line Of breast
works on the Brock road where / was, that
saw; il there was a second line il was east OF
the Brock road, aud we did not have aDy
use for IL. The American Conflict SAYS that
+" Burnsides Corps lthe Ninth Corps was
thrown in between Hancock aud Warren
10 give our line the full strength Of our
infantry. Hardly had this been done when
the now united corps OF Hill and Long
street fell furiOusly on our LEFT and left
center, pushing them back aud striking heavily
on Steveuson's Division, Of Bumside's Corps
driving IL back, and rushed through tho gap
Hancock promptly sent Col Carroll with the
Third Brigade Second Division, Second Corps
10 strike the advancing foe lea flank, which was
admirably done, the enemy being driven hack
with heavy loss aud our troops resaining their
former position"
Now. it appears that the Ninth Corps was put
in TO Gil the gap on the right Of .ths Second
Corps aud between that and the Fifth Corps
and instead of helping the Second Corps out, as
COmTade Carter says, CAROLS Brigade, Of the
Second Corps, was sent 10 help them out, and
they did it nobly, too. Comrade Carter says
CAROLS Brigade robbed them OF all their
honor. Well, Glen. Hancock sent them there TO
do IL, aud commended them for what they did.
Now. / did not see Car5oll's Brigade during
the fight, that know Of, and they were in my
division, but know when there Was any hard
fighting 20 do Ia the Second Division they were
ON hand for their STARE Again. Comrado
Carter says that Gen. Longstreel told him If he.
L0Hgstreet, had not got wounded lie would
have driven us across the Ia pidsn.
Well IL we had lain still behind those works
and not fired a shot and let the rebels do all tho
shooting aud bAyoneting perhaps he would
Now, would not have said as much as have
if Comrade Carter had not made such ma
licOus attack on the fighting record Of the
Second Corps. Anyone who knows anything
about that battle knows that If the Second
Corps lad given way that day the battle would
have been lost 10 our side.
Since writing the above ] notice Comrade
MyeThoffs interesting article in reply TO Com
rade Carter. / see by his letter that Carroll s
Brigade must have been TO the right Of US In
the line. ! say line. but we did not know much
about lines in that thicket--J. J. VALLEY,
l52d N. Y.