The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-06-05
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
BATTERY AT PORT GIBSON.
What Hovey's Division Did TO Help BentOn's Bril-
Eade.

of across Bavuu Pierre for the purpose of clean
ing them. / should like 20 compliment Com
Iade Hobbs but / think he should have done
better, considering he has been on still
hunt for proof extending over the last six
years. All things taken into consideration,
though, his defense may be accepted as above
the average His position is unteuabe how
evCr-almost identical with that OF Gen. Wagner
al Franklin, Tenn. There is one of two things
he can do. go back with Opdycke, or stay and
be run over with Lane and Conrad. As he has
paid bis money he can take his choice, but
whichever one il is he Will wish he had taken
the other.
! want comrades TO take particular notice of
Gen. Cgrr's letter where he speaks of sending
BCntoH's Brigade around 10 the right TO flank
The enemy, and sent word 10 Gen. McClernaud
that he ready TO charge. Compare IL with
Gen. Bentou's letter where he tells us he had
been fighting the enemy in overwhelming
numbers for over two hours and was himself
being lanllc6, and lfad 10 send for help. 1t
makes one smile 10 think that General Of
Cars standing could be induced TO write such
a letter and sign his own name 10 it. He also
tells rs that the enemy did not know Benton
was there at all j imagine j can hear Benton
talking Spanish when lie sees that letter
Then again. who ever saw or heard OF Gen
eTal bringing bis two brigades together like
pair Of shears for the purpose of capturing
Eatery2 But enough Of this. i think l can
prove pN NcD- Benton ictlcF, lSt, lnat at no
time prior 10 the arrival of Hovey's troops was
Gen. Carr in shape TO make a charge; ID that
instead OF Gen. Beuton's having just been sent
around 10 the right for the purpose OF thanking
the enemy las Gen. Carr would have US believed
he had been heavily engaged for over two
hours. consequently the enemy must have
known he was there, Gen. Cars assertion 10
the contrary Notwithstanding; I'd, that il WAS
not Gen. Cars message sent 10 Gen. McCler-
naud that brought Gen. HOyey's troops onto
the ground but Gen. BeutoHs repeated calls
for assistance; 9Th. that the charge was not
aud could not have been made until after
Hoyey's Division came 10 their support. will
prove by other evidence that their Second Bri-
Eade was beyond our left flank, and not in front
OF rs, as Gen. Phelps tries TO make OUT that
tie battery flag was not captuI ed by member
OF their First Brigade, and, lastly, that Gen.
Carr IN his explanation has in reality explained
nothing.
Copy Of Gen. VIM. P. Benton's letter:
Our new line was formed with the sth Ind. Col
David Shunk) the right. the SD III. Col. Lip
pincott, 99th III. Col. Bsily) and 18th Ind (Col.
Washburu), whose left was resting near Mag
noiis Church, aud his Whole regiment in front
81 the enemy battery Now came the tug OF war
% good earnest soon found that the odds were
largely against and that the enemy making
most desperate effort 10 turn our left flank thus
cutting us OF from our support. ] immediately
Dispatched Capt MaTshEl Tor achievements and
do nj IA my power 10 stimulate the TO heroic
least two hours sIHgle-hAnded, the First Brigade
fought three brigadcs 81 the enemy, giving him
yoiey for volley with interest Three tunes did he
form tocharEe u and a. often wa he hurled back
discounted by the welI-dirccted aim OF the brave
lads 81 Illinois and Indiana We had already
driven The enemy over tie hilltop aud through
ravinc for full quarter Of mile never yielding
an inch ourselves Al length the long look ed for
Euccor came. We were ali, officers and men. glad
20 know that II was composed Of part Of tIe vet
eran troops Of the gallant Gen. A. +. Hovey's Dys-
lon and The sequel proved that We were not mis-
taken iH our estimate OF their courage. No sooner
hAd iney come upon the ground-before had fully
completed MY arrangements-than someone, I'M
known 10 me, gave tie order, Cbarge!" which
Was executed with the widest enthusiasm, the
men q my brigade vieing with their friends Of
Hovey's Division az 10 who should first reach the
enemy.
Tie result Of this splendid charge was the COM
plcie rOut OF the enemy, the capture Of two u
FOUNDER bowiizefs. and ~ least flag. This
Wa not tie work exclusively Of Gen. Care Divis
ion nor Gen. HOvey's- u was the joint work Of
both; and, ia my humble Judgment, herein is
glory enough and 70 spare for both divisions.
Extract from ten. Hoyey's report Of battle
Of Port Gibson, made May :, 1868:
In the meantime the brigade under Gen Benton
wac engaged ~ a severe conflict with the enemy
upon our ieft and gallautly resisting almost
vilcimlng numbers About q. II. Aids from Gen.
Mcliernand came rapidly forward with orders,
directing inc, without the least delay. 10 support
Con BeutOn's line. ] Immediately ordered Gen.
A,,IuuIs march the infantry 81 Tie First Brigade
81 line d battle across deep and rugged rayiDe 10
his support All concur in describing the rnvine
being about 80 rods wide, and filed with vines
cane deep guehes, and exceedingly difficult Of pass
age. The enemy, no doubt regarded il as tInpreg-
nabe. As soon ~ the firEt Brigade commenced
moving, ] ordered the Second Brigade Col Slack
commanding 10 march by the rigit flank around
TIE head % TIE faFlue IN support Of forces
RaEed Iu tie center. They reached their proper
position IN line q my division beyond the rayiue
about the same time the left Of The FIRST Brigade
arrived, the right Of the Second Brigade being siilI
engaged lu working through the tangled vines aud
uBoerbrush q the ravlne. A. / rode down the
"A nj Nwg.w a.
met Capt. klauss ist Ind. battery. who had been
CALAMITY fighting the rebel batteries. The field
around Liin and one disabled gun testified to the
Eal gre 81 le cOAnict he al once pointed out tie
position Of the rebel battery, the guns Of which
viii line 81 rebel heads Ia te rear were plainly
visible. Immediately rode down under cover Of
tie brow 81 tile Tagiue the head Of my lsecsndi
Brigade, where Co.'s Slack and Cameron Of the aith
lud- were Standing. I5eut.-COl Raynor Of 18th
ONO WHO had been supporting Capt. KIauss's bat
terry here Joined
Here attempted 70 communicate with Gen
&aginBis. who was ia tie rear 81 lis brigade but
tbe ground Was impassabie for my Aids on horse
back, aud my voice could not be heard on account
q The noise around him. pointed out the rebel
battery brzt 70 Col Cameron, and told him il must
DC taken. Col. Sack claimed tie honor for tbs
command, but j settled the matter by directing
Col Cameron q The 5ltH Ind 10 make The cIsT,c
with Tie DayoHet, aud Tor Col Haynor Of the 5Cih
OHIO 80 support il. j also directed Col. Slack 10
hold his brigade ready - move forward at any iIi-
s.stft- The distance 81 the rebel battery from nay
pyiHt 81 attack could not have exceeded 80 yards
Upon Receiving the order 10 charge, Col Cameron
cD1til4hi1el LIE battalion ~ leap the fence which
Will The 5Cib Ohio. rushed Aiih loud shouts and
b1ed bay Oneis toward the battery. Their advance
Wac incl W1tH grape from tAe rebel battery and a
SLOWER 81 balls 4ICm the rebel lines The fire he
came INTENSE t5c concentrated aud both regiments
- since Actusc4ges, fell 10 the ground whilst the
GGe continued Tor lys0 OF three minutes et.yer a.,
toi1 ssnes. ~ The JuHctuTc RHllOpcd swiftly
Gown aHd gave Tie command Forward :" ~
loud ~ could, aud had lie satisfaction Of seeing
tIe 58h aud Both spring TO their feet aud with ttyO
companies u Tie llil lad. which knew by their
afehs and several other companies from my digis-
loo which could not then distinguish rush for
ward - The charge Again the bright bAyonetg
81 iLe 4@tiilB DIVISION lilsteulg 81 the Gun
Again q wild shout II triumph feycEberated
Through TIE billet Tie enemy sas beaten back
belN cen ~ aEa ~ taken prisoners aud stand
81 coiOfE. iEo lzPOufdeF AoWItzeTs three czissors
aud three slZ-DIU!e teams loaded with afntuuuj-
lion Has t4c reward u tiIis chigalFic action >
OHe iblug D. certain tle honor Of the charge be-
lOHgs o. the Twelfth Division. ] gave the COM
IIaUc, my men obeyed aud made the charge
the enemy, took tic prisoners, aud have the bat
teilak 81 TIE battery, nov IN the possession II the
gallant Col. EaynoT. ALVIN T. HoyEy
Copy Of Col. Raynors letter:
TOLEDO, o., Jan. 8, 1897.
DEAR CoKEEBE: Yours Of the 3Isi forwarded
has just reached me ana not a little SURPRISED "a
lie cSuientE. j had IDEA there could b. any
question about tie capture 81 that Virginia battery
al Magnolia Church, or Port Gibson. Gen Uoreyfs
report u TIE engagement Dr. plain and Gen Carr
General Order, read 20 his division few DAYS ,fer
tie engagement. stated tie fact Of the charge bs
Ing Deen made by Hoveys Division. and AZ 1 Was
al that Time Informed, com pinebted the 5Ctii Ohio
Eud nlgscI personally matter a little unusual
Tor commander 81 q division 10 compliment other
troops iIHu As own. We were aroused al early
daylight by The sound u cauBouadfty Ia g..