The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-09-18
MOTIONS FORD, VA.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: have never
found any fault with what was in THE Ma
TIoNAL tribune, as ! take great interest in
reading the different stories of tho doings of
the army from 1861 to 1865. But now | have
got to say something for Gen. Hayss Brigade
as spoken of in your issue of Jan. %, 1890,
under the head of " Between Two Fires"
This brigade was known as Third Brigade,
First Division, Second Corps. The writer
speaks of Gen. Hayss Brigade in January,
1864, crossing Mt Morton's Ford, Va, to find out
what was there in tho shape of al enemy, and
says the brigade was composed Of the 18th N.
j., 1st Del, 10th N. Y. and 14th Conn. In
justice to the men that Composed the brigade
of Gen. Alexander Hays, ana rs | was there
and know something about that days work,
and the close calls we had. will state that
Hays's Brigade consisted of tho 39th N. Y.
(Garibaldi Guards). 1llth N. Y, 125th
N. Y. and 126th NJ Y. They left camp at
Stcvensburg, Va, very carly in Tie morning OF
Feb. g, 1864, AM marched to MOrtOn's Ford, u
distance of about five Virginia miles. At IL
o'clock we arrived Mt the Ford and found "a
river 30 or 40 feet wide and about three or four
feet deep, so we had to take off cartridge
to keep powder dry. On tho other bank, in
rifle pits, we found some live Johnnics. Tho
125th were thrown out as skirmishers, supported
by the other three regiments. We went through
this water rs if on dress parade and those
Johnuies in rife pits kept shooting ut us, and
only cut the OyerCoats of two or three of the
regiment. Those across first opened fire on
them, and captured IL or 10 that were on
picket. We advanced our line of skirmishers
up to the house, and remained there all day,
supported by the other three regiments.
At about o'clock p. m. tho 18th Comp camo
up in limo of battle and passed over us. and
were met by the other side in quite a lively
battle. The 18th Conn. lost several killed and
wounded in very short time. Tho 1ith fell
back and the Third Brigade remained on skir-
mishsline until about IL o'clock, when we all
fell back across the river Il think if we had not
fallen back then, in the morning we would not
have had the opportunity to do SOY without
having man wounded Tho nearest | saw
anyone getting hurt was James Bennett, of Co.
ID, 125th, who was making coffee. He had n
cup of coffee shot out OF his hand asked him
what was the matter, and hc said, " Be Jabers,
they took IL out of me hand in one sweep"
Gen. Hays and his staff left their horses and
went through the river with the l25th. Hays
| took small ak one of my men had, and said
he would have that to cut his way through, and
he carried that ax ali day, and returned it TO
Co ID the next day. Col Crandoi found n
bullet in ono of his boots after tho days work
| also had close call myself; something in tho
| shape of - pound shot so close that 1t made
me think | was out on first base
There were several of the regiment who had
close calls that day. Let me say here to the
| persons hating tho old soldier, what would
| they ask to go through stream of water four
feet deep, 30 or 40 feet wide and leo cold. las
ice was on the banks.l and after crossing, TO
have TO skirmish all day in cold, drizzliug
rain2 think they would know when they
laid the foundation of rhcumatics or some other
alment TO compel them to ask for some small
favor of this Government in the shape of q
pension.-W. ID. TAYLOR, Captain, l25th n. Y,
Troy, n. Y.