The National tribune., 1890-06-26
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What0ur Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
HOW 1T HAPPENED.
Why the CanuoHeer Did Not Mention Crawford
Division Particularly.

FnrToR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Having caro-
fully read the proof-sheets Of Gen. Thomas L.
McCoy's interesting and valuable contribution
Of the current week, desire to respond briefly
TO some or his points.
]. The reason why so little or comparatively
little was said about Craw ford's Division in the
Story of CannOneer, was because i did not
see much of il or know much about its opera
tions in the Appomattox Campaign, except from
reading history aud the aim in the story ms
70 keep rs close 10 the thread of personal OBJ
seryati0n as possible But no one can praise
the quality or extol the achievements of Craw-
ford's Division too much 10 suit me. 1t was
almost without exception made mp of the vet
eran troops which had formerly constituted the
Old First Corps, whose badge always wore
with pride long after il had been merged IN
the Fifth. And though not properly part of
the present discussion, l will say that so far as
my information enables me 10 judge, the battle
which the old First Corps waged the first day
of Gettysburg has never been equalled in the
warlike annals of any race or any age for
stcical yaior, desperate resolution reckless con-
tempt OF wounds OF death 1t the hands OF
superior and exutant foe, and unexampled
stubbornness under punishment such as no
other army corps ever suffered in any one battle
namely, 90 per cent. Of the whole number
engaged.
So you viii see that it could not possibly be
nv purpose 10 ignore or slight these men, of
whom the 9th Wis and the 18th Pa. had sup
ported the old battery In it, supreme fight for
existence at the Railroad Cut, where it bad 40
men. out OF g present for duty, butchered In 20
minutes at quarters so close that its cannonceIs
could distinguish the numbers and letters
the caps of the enemy. Let US hope that these
remarks viii satisfy our dear and brave old
cOmrade, Gen Mccoy. that have not wilfuliy
sighted Crawford's Division. which was the
rightful heir, in March and April, 1865, TO all
this glory Of July, 1865. But the fortune of
war" had long since identified my humble
self with Gritiins Division, TO all intents and
purposes. since June !, 1864. Hence il was that
IN new associations and new acquaintance /
learned new admirations. But Gen. McCoy
and all the other comrades of the old First
Corps must understand that did not thereby
forget the /" old love"
2 did not think that the Fifth Corps left the
trenches March % with so many men effect
i've present" as Gen. Mccoy states. When writ
ing the story. some years ago, did not have
much official data at my command, and did
not revise its text 90 any considerable extent
for publication. Hence most of its statements
Of numbers etc, were from memory Of returns
which may have passed through my hands rs a
clerk at headquarters, or what heard officers
say. or, ia many cases. estimates OF my own.
III published in book form, Of course ali Stats
ticaI matter would be carefully revised and
made accurate. 1t is, however, clearly i'm
pressed on my memory that Gen. Griffin stated
the effective present" Of the corps on the
morning Of April ., when we were about to
move mp the Ford road. at 1920 muskets"
The usual proportion Of officers added would
make about 10000 in ali. The losses from
March % 10 April !, inclusive had been about
1900 Of battle casualties. This would indicate
elimination OF force from other causes TO the
extent Of about 2, 500 men, which / think ex-
cessiye. though there was good deal of strag-
Cling. and a good many Of the recruits were
knocked out" by fatigue aud stress of
weather IN that mud campaign" Perhaps
Gen. Griffin understated his force TO some
extent But this is not important
3. With regard 70 the Confederate force pres
ent, Gen. Mccoy Omiis the brigades Of BushrOd
Johnson's Division, who were certainly there,
under Ransom and Wallace together with
Wha. was left Of Gracie's Brigade after March 81.
4 As 70 the diagram, il did not purpOrt TO
be geographically accurate, but only prOxi-
mate. The dispositions Of the troops were put
down to indicate their relative positions just
before the attack. IN No. XIV Of the sketch
j SAP " CFawford's Division crossed The White
Oak road east Of the enemy's intrenchments
aud kept on in the woods. Griffin following"
Again, Gen. Mccoy says that my diagram in
olcates TOO long line Of march for CTa8fora's
Division. This Is no doubt true. The diagram
shows q wider detOur 70 the north than Cgaw-
ford actually made he says my diagram would
make Crawford march about five miles accord
ing 20 the scale. whereas he did not 20 more
than half that distance, etc. Well. Gen. Nc
Coy is about as much out Of the way ia one
direction IS ] was IN the other, because il is
more than two and onc-half miles in a straight
line from where the divisions were massed ia
BgisseauE field % the point at which Crawford
struck the Ford road. And Gen Mccoy
knows that tie Division took a route much
longer than straight line between those points.
Bot WaTreu's diagram was not Topographic
cally accurate either, as anyone can see BIZ put
ting i on tracing paper and laying it over the
Official War Department map as plated from
sexual surveys by Gen. Michier. In fact mine
is more accurate by this test than either War
ren's or Gen. Horace Porter's, as published in
the Century compilation.
3 ] don't know where got the idea that the
llth and I07th Pa. were consolidated. At all
events i Was clearly an error, and will receive
proper revision.
The battery Of which Gen. Mccoy speaks as
doing such excellent work On March 81 IN the
battle Of the White Oak road was not Stewards.
It was Charley Minks II, Ist n. Y. and there.
a. everywhere, its work was calamity and
efficiently done. Stewards battery. then com
manded temporarily by Lieut. VIM. p. Vose
lnow Captain Of Battery /. I'd U. S. Art, was
on Ayrsss line. il was not at any time en-
gagged Ia line with Crawiords Division in that
campaign. Mink and RaWles I'd, 9TH L. s j
were with Crawford On March 81
Generally speaking ! consider Gen McCoy's
article, judged from the soldiers point Of view,
70 be the most valuable contribution as 10 the
work Of CrGwford's Division that has been
made II was needed, too because all OF the
writers, 80 Ear as ! have seen, either ignore
Crawford'g Division or give IL a very casual
aud insufficient mention.
Speaking q Miuk's battery, wish 10 say
that COmrade Clarence Z. Johnson late Of thai
battery writes from Lyndcnyille, N. Y, I'd
follows;
have read 1.-THE Story Of . Cannoneer~ Will
great Interest and j GBd two mistakes that d.
Charley Ainkis Battery H. Let y. Y. l. Al IN
Justice.
FIrst. Kou say that there was no ARTILLERY engaged
a. Blgc Eorks. Vow we were Ia that fight ~,
losL three men and quite number Of horses use
~ ali tle ammunition ia our IinbeY-cliesfs ;.u,
had 70 send back aud bring up more from ou
caissons AElng IN Ell over 20 rounds from our fou
gems.
Second. You do moi give US our right place ar
your Enap 81 AppOnHit0z al the moment Of ia,
sufrencsr We remained Ia tie position that 20,
have gwen uE uhil just before the Gag Of true
came oct, when Charley Mink got orders, left ia
column where We were halted passed 70 tie Ief
81 The Second Division and the other batteries
crossed an open field with nurses on tie run
aud went la battery on Glambgr!aiu's right au,
just u 81 the sears house aud 81 plain sj.ri,
81 1cfoog's leiti lad our guns loaded, sighted au
primers ID place when The white flag appeared
ard we Werc ordered not 10 fire. Ten seconds "a or
and Charley Miuk's battery would have fired al,
Hast o4Enon-shot Of tie Army Of the Potomac
With reference TO Five Forks. April / wa
night aud COmrade johnson is mistaken W.
be has In mind il the operations Of lis az
tinguished battery Ia the battle Of the WhiteosI
road harch 81, as referred 10 above and NOR
fiGned IA Gen Mel owls .rff.Fa