The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-08-21
UP THE RED RIVER.
How the Nineteenth Corps Fought on this Cam
pRgn. a

PAisu
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Tho letter OF
Comrade A. Vosburgh, Co. K, 10th ILL.,, reat-
ing TO the action of tho Nineteenth Corps Mt
Pleasant Hall, was simply mud-throwing, and
therefore not entitled TO the reply by Comrade
L. NJ. Meade, of Co. +, Hath n. Y. 1t has.
however, elected controversy that needs refer
ence to history 10 settle, in Justice to the troops
engaged. This will prove that not only was a
part Of the Sixteenth Corps on the first limo of
battle, (which Comrade Vosburgh denies,) but
also that they were part of the troops that
broke.
] will cite the following from Admiral Por-
ter's Naval History of the Civil War" which
gives very full account of what both fleet and
army did in the Red River campaign.
Page SOY: THE Federal line of battle was
formed in the following order: First Brigade,
Nineteenth Corps, on the right resting on ra-
vine, the Second Brigade in the center, and the
Third Brigade on the left. The center was
strengthened by brigade of Gen. A. J. Smith
Division, Sixteenth Corps whose main force
acted as reserve. The enemy moved towards
the right flank of the army aud the Second
Brigade withdrew in good order from the CEN
ter 10 support the First. a. J. Smiths Brigade,
in support of the center, moved into the posi-
ton vacated by tho Second Brigade. and an
other of A. J. Smiths Brigades posted to
the extreme left on hill in rear of the main
line. Shortly after ?. m. the enemy attacked
in great strength in two heavy OBJ
lique lines towards the right of the Third
Brigade, Nineteenth Corps which. after de-
termined resistance fell slowly back 10 the
reserves. The enemy then attacked the center
Smiths tSixleeuth Corps Brigade, as shown
before which was also moved back to the re-
serves and the First aud Second Brigadcs, Nine
teeuthCoTps were soon developed in front, right
and rear BY the skiliul manuvering Of Gen.
n. q l..
tanks OF the two brigadcs, now meeting the
enemy, were covered and the Coniederatcs re-
ceived terrible punishment. Already
Tetreatiug he lthc cncmyl was met first by a
vOlley and then a charge. led by Gen. Mower
lof Smiths Sixteenth Corpsl which caused him
TO retreat more rapidly. All Smiths reserves
were ordered by Emory to join in tho attack,
the whole Confederate army was put 20 Fight
and WAS followed by A. J. Smiths Division
until night set in. ."
Page SOS: Gen. Emory's and A. J. Smiths
commands had entire possession of the field,
the enemy having rctreated i6 miles,
The official report of Gen. Emory says:
1.-THE enemy emerged from the woods in all
directions aud in heavy columns, completely
outGankiDg aud overpowcring my left wing,
composed Of the Third Brigade and brigade
OF Gen. Smith, which broke in some confusion.
Ny right stood firm aud repnlsed the enemy
= 9
but for the great interval between il and the
troops 10 the left, leaving the flank entirely
exposed"
Comrade VosburRh's second letter shows that
he was not aware that there was 10 brccch-p pin
in his mud gun. whose back action thus takes
effect on a brigade Of his own corps. But /
have amply shown that neither tho Sixteenth
nor Nineteenth Corps men on that line deserve
such bespattcring. They together bore the
heaviest Of the battle. and the reserves downcd
an already-shakeH enemy.
Commander and troops Of the Sixteenth
Corps were Of the best but there were other
good Generals and other good soldiers There
were two divisions Of them (tbe Sixteenth
Corps on the upper Red River and only one
division of the Nineteenth Corps. Yet this
one division did more fighting there than
Smiths men-perhaps as much as all others.
Ii was this division that, on the preceding day,
gave the enemy the repulse that extricated the
Thirteenth Corps troops and the cavalry from
the disastrous battle AZ Sabine Crossroads and
covered the retreat in an all-nghts march
then with one of Smiths BriRados, as above,
bore the first and heaviest Of the battle at
Pleasant Hill. This division included two from
all the regiments in the war which suffered IN
q single action the loss Of over 90 per cent, one
Of which (the 9Th VT stood seventh, If / re-
member correctly, In the whole army in this
melancholy rank. The other was the 1i4th n.
Y, 20 which COmrade Meade belonged, and
which was bTigaded with my own regiment
J. l. CUTTER, Co. *, 29th Me, Riverside. Cal.