The National tribune., 1890-09-25
Read Better than Pension on page s.
LEASURE'S BRIGADE.

interested in an article written by Capt. Ora
ham, Of the Both Pa, entitled "Rice's Bri-
gade,' and their charge at the Wilderness May
q, 1854. ] cannot permit his unfair charge to
pass unnoticcd, viz, A supporting line in the
rear took 10 their heels with the utmost
slacrity" but do not dispute his statement
about the first line, which he says was guilty
OF the same conduct. 1t is hard TO reconcile
his statements, for he declares that the Sec
ond Brigade" (Which / suppose was that of
! Rice, temporarily commanded by Gen. Hotf-
man, "aiter getting together, was ordered to
take position at the intersection of the Brock
and plank roads. Gen. Hoffman was now in COM
mand, and this before the rebels charged the
works. so they must have been in the first line
and " TOOK 10 their heels" and concluded that
the supporting line" was as badly demoralized
rs they were on that occasion.
shall speak for the supporting line" and
leave IT for the veterans who read THE Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE TO pass judgment on the case,
which was as important to the Army of tho
Potomac as the charge of 0pdycke's Brigade at
Franklin, aud il does not become any of the
Second Corps TO reflect upon LeasGre's Brigade,
of the Ninth Corps which had been sent to
their support on May at the Brock and plank
roads.
The Second Brigade, First Division. Ninth
Corps. consisted of the 2Ist Mass, Sd Md, and
Tooth Pa, better known as the " Roundhcads,"
was commanded 10y Col. Lcasurc, of the latter
regiment. We were seut about daylight from
the extreme right OF the Sixth Corps over to
the left by way of the Brock road 10 report TO
Gen. Hancock, where we formed Rt the juno
tion OF the Brock and plank roads. He ordered
the brigade down to the extreme loft of his
two divisions on the Brock road, where we re-
mained until about , p M, when he ordered Col.
Leasurc 10 take his brigade and sweep the front
OF the Second Corps of any enemy that might
be lurking in the brush. This was done by adj
vanciug TO the front rs far rs possible without
losing sight OF the brea5tworks, and then max
ing wheel to the right We marched along his
entire front until we reached the plank road.
During that march the extreme left of the bri-
gade struck Longstrcci's Corps, which had ex-
posed its flank, forced IL back and took some
prisoners, which were sent TO Gen. Hancock
from whom he learned that LOngstreet had
arrived upon the field of battle, and gave him
time to prepare for the charge that followed
which took the form of placing battery of six
guns in position just in rear of his main line,
which rendered as great service to the cause as
any artillery during the war.
The brigade remained in position on the
plank road for sometime, when il was with
drawn inside the main line and rested from the
fatigue of the march through the woods, which
were on fire and filled with smoke, TO which
was added broiling sun through leafoss trees.
While we lay on the plank road the Pioneers
nSAS Two lBib tliCS ol GDE Npihh, shlll-
cient TO cover the brigade which was to sup
port the main line against the impending at
tack. About 5 o'clock the music began, and
the first line stood mp 10 their work like men
until their works took fire. and then il was too
much for human endurance, and those on the
left were compelled To retreat, which ] suppose
demoralizcd the troops in our front and they
came back like flock of sheep. The Colonel
Of the % Md, having had some experience at
Charlottesville in stopping fugitiyes, ordered
the regiment to fix bayOuets and not allow man
20 pass over our works. This served to turn the
tide away from us, and maintained our organ
izatiOn. while the fugitivcs kept on 10 the rear
aud carried the provost-guard along with them.
Then could see the rebels, with their flag
flying over the first line, aud the 2lst Mass. still
holding the second line as solid as a rock
Then il was that Gen. Lcasurc proved equal
TO the occasion. He ordered his own regiment
TO advance 10 their support aud never shall
forget his words, Men Of the Tooth, go up"
which they did, without laggard among them.
] happened 10 command the right company Of
the ID Nd. Being near him ! said Colonel,
shall we 20 tOo?" He said. Not yet"
About five minutes after he said, ;" Third Md,
go up" The boys Started with yell for the
second line, and gave one volley, when the Col
or-Sergeant Of the Sd Md, Pat Moore mounted
the works and started for the first line, held by
the rebels. took that as the order 10 advance,
and ordered my company 10 charge. which was
taken up by the regiment and We went with
a rush for the rebels, who. seeing our bayOnets
took 10 their heels, and we captured the works
with the help OF the brigade, which followed
our lead. To Col. Leasure for handling his
brigade as he did, aud TO Pat Moore, with his
u. 5. flag, belongs the glory Of that day.
The battery OF the Second Corps also de-
serves great honor, for they alone held the en-
emy in check with the help Of the wall OF fire
made by the burHipu tygrNg mod. tI...,
hug the ground very close in front Of Inc main
line. The thunder Of their guns was splendid
music 70 our ears, and no doubt drew Hancock
from the plank road 10 that locality. for met
him near the Brock road coming from that di-
rection as ] went back to get my hat, which
was lost IN the charge. lie rode up to me and
said, What brigade is thisf" / replied
Second Brigade, First Division, Ninth Corps"
He then said, Men, you have saved the day.
and taking off his hat aud putting spurs TO his
horse he rode along the Brock road cheering
and hurrahiug.
was sent by the Colonel OF the 30 Nd. down
the Brock road toward the left TO ascertain If
the enemy still held any portion Of our works.
j went az far as the position held by our bri-
gade in the morning, and could discover moth
ing All that met my gaze was the remains Of
the burning Works which had not only com
PEELED our men % retreat, but served az a wall
Of FIRE " 10 prevent the advance Of the rebels.
When returned 10 report / found that our
brigade had been relieved and was resting IN
rear OF the main line ! suppose that the
brigade which took our place was that of Car
roll, who got all the credit in Gen. Hancock'g
report, although he sent letter next day to
the Colonel Of the Sd Nd thanking him for
saving his artillery which was the two pcces
on the plank road on our right which had been
abandoned, and no doubt seen by Gen. Han
cock when hc rode past our brigade to the plank
read
Gen. Longstreet has since told me that Han.
cock admitted that the Second Corps had gone
10 pieces on that OCCASION aud LOngstrcct said
that If he had not been wounded that morning
he would have driven us back across the Rapi-
dan, but the loss Of time caused by his wound,
from 10 a. m. 10 p. m, had given Hancock a
chance 70 rally his troops along tho Brock road
and prepare for Lees great effort TO repeat
Chancelorsylle. The Second Corps has moth
ing 10 boast over the Eleventh Corps on that
occasion, for their stampede was as great as that
OF the Eleventh Corps, and it does not become
any member Of that corps 10 reflect upon the
"supporting line" 1t is adding insult 10 in
jury, as we were robbed Of the honor that be-
longed 70 US on that occasiOn.-JosEPH +. CAR
TER, Sd Nd.
Read Better than Pension on page g.
HorAl suasI0n.