The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-08-14
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades All Along the
Line.
No Running at Pleasant Hill.

Pleasant Hill. Bryson was taking his ease on
the 9Th when the Nineteenth was having q hot
time at Sabine Crossroads. At that place the
Second Division was in front. About 4 o'clock
the cavalry began to skirmish, the fight grew
hotter and hotter, and the Second Division was
sent up to support the cavalry. After it was cut
TO pieces the First Division went in and held the
field until 10 o'clock that night, when it was
found that the enemy in front was more than
twice their number SO they fell back during the
night to Pleasant Hill. There the Thirteenth,
Sixteenth and Seventeenth Corps lay in camp.
The Nineteenth Corps formed "A line of battle
across the road where Comrado BrysOD claims
the Hath N Y. lay, and had hardly time to
get tho artillery in position when the rebels
attacked its left and so tho Nineteenth Corps
was tho first attacked that morning. Though
1t had all it could do, the fighting was not so
hard at Pleasant Hill as the day before at tho
Crossroads, aud they did not give way at either
place.
q. J. DeVerter, Co. II, 1st Ind. II. A.. Nine
toenth Corps, Waterman, Ind, says that there
Is no doubt that Comrade BrysOn did moro than
any other man TO put down the rebellion. All
tho men Of the Thirteenth and Nineteenth
Corps who read his article will say, "You did it.
You put down the rebellion. Take the cake"
w. II. Johnson, Lieutenant, Co. /, S7th ILL.,,
Lancaster, Ill., says that no corps had a better
record for faithful and valiant service than the
old Thirteenth. This was evidenced in its
campaigns with Grant and Sherman it never
turned its back TO the enemy when commanded
by a competent General. The writer's brigade
(Slacks, of Hovey's Division,) had five regi-
ments, one from each of the States of Ohio In
diana, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. These
men need no Defense nor can Comrade Bryson
or any other comrado tguthiully say anything
against them,
+. NJ. Mead, Co. f. 114th N. Y, Miller, s. D.,
regarding the statement that COmIade Bryson
met the Nineteenth Corps in disorderly re-
treat Mt Pleasant Hill from Mansfield, says that
the Nineteenth Corps did not get to the battle
of Mansfield until Just before sunset in time TO
repnlse the enemys last assault, and then lay
on the field until 12 o'clock at night, when it
commenced to fall back on Pleasant Hill. There
was no disorderly retreat.
Joseph Fitteres Co. @, I'd Ill. Cav, says his
brigade OF cavalry were east and west of the
road, in rear of the Nineteenth Corps, and saw
the rebels charge on the infantry. lie never
saw more determined fighting than over the
guns against an enemy at leastsix times greater.
This is the first time he ever heard that the
Nineteenth Corps was put to flight.
Only a Handful OF Men.
+. Alderman, Captain, Co. A, 32d Iowa, says
that Col. John Scott is right in saying that the
32d did not surrender at Pleasant Hill, although
he understands Comrade /. A. Packard as say
ing that n handful of Co A were surrounded
and forced to give up The regiment was in
line on the edge of tho timber, and after the
rebel charge tho men fell back about 200 yards,
by order of Lieut.. Col Mix, but Col. Scott
ordered tho writer forward again, so Co. A and
part of Co. L went ahead They held their
advanced position till the last, aud one. third of
them fell. The rebs got behind them and they
had to change front. Some cut their way
through, but Sorg't Doan, with about seven
other men, /. A. Packard among the number
1..1 a. 4 4.
himself lay on that field. wounded, for 81 hours
The regiment moved off to the left and formed
in the second line of battle The reason they
were ordered to hold their position was that
there WAS ditch or washout on the line of Co.
about waist-deep and il could be held against
great odds if the rebs did not get behind them
The ground was so thick with dead bodies
after the fight that one could walk along with
out touching the ground at all.
/. A. Packard, Co. A, sd Iowa, Delphos,
Kan, says that he did not make the statement
that the 32d Iowa surrendered but that the
immediate portion of the line in which he
was surrendered.
A comrade of the Goth Ill., Santa Monica,
CAL, writes that one comrade declares the 18th
u. S. failed and fell back, Capt. Smith could
not rally them, aud the Captain then took
command of the 18th n. Y another says the
18th failed because of the rebel fire, while
another says the 18th was on the left of the
division. The writer thinks all these reports
false, aud the idea is ridiculous that the 18th u
S.. and that their commanding officer left them
while no went off smelling around in the First
Brigade for the 18th n. Y. to lead into the
charge Tho writer knows that the 18th did
not need Smiths assistance, as they were
always equal to the occasion. He also knows
that the 18th Regulars were success, and that
the other four regiments of Morgan's Brigade
were TO the left of the l7th between il aud the
railroad. Every regiment of that brigade was
made up OF veterans; they had passed through
the fire, and the scare was all gone. The first
break in the rebel line was made by this bri-
gade, and in less than 10 minutes Govan's Bril-
gade trebel) began to surrender.
No Doubt About II.
f. A. Thompson, Co. L, 10th KY, Hutchin-
son, Kan, says that the Regulars aud Zouayes
did charge FIRST Rt JonesbOro aud were blOodily
repulsed, what few of them that wore left fall
ing back through the Third Brigade, Third
Division, Fourteenth Corps. Gen. Beard or
dered that brigade 10 charge and just then
Gen. Thomas rode down the line and cried out
=" Boys. | want you to 90 for those works, aud
not stop until you get into them" The men
gave cheer and went up the slope, through
the open field and into the works, capturing
more rebs than were men in the brigade
J. A. Smith, Co. b, 10th u. s., Clear Lake,
Iowa, says ii looks Us IL somo of the comrades
wanted 10 take the laurel3 from the Regulars,
and also he thinks any comrade who does not
credit the 18th N. Y. with taking the battery
must have been i'll the hospital ut the time
James ID. Parsley, Co. X. Odd Mo, Coloma, Mo-,
says the First Brigade, Third Division Four.
teenth Corps was at the side of the reserve the
18th N. Y. when the charge was made across the
open field and into the brush close to the rebel
works, and whom the Colonel of the 18th n Y
was shot his brigade was very near to the two
rebel guns that were firing canister. The bri-
gade lost several killed and wounded, but held
tho rebel works that night
David Hull, Co. X, lst Wis, Third Brigade
First Division Fourteenth Corps, says the
Regular Brigade, of his division. joined the
Third Brigade Immediately upon the right and
the left OF the Third rested on tho railroad
The Regulars fought bravely, but were obliged
to fall back, and the 18th N. Y was thrown
into tho breach, carrying the rebel works. From
the writer's position in line. no could SEQ all
the movements OF the Regulars and of the 18th
N. Y.
X. M. Rodgers, Glenburn, ILL.,, says the Third
Brigade, Second Division, Fourteenth Corps,
was composed of the S5th, seth and 125th ILL.,,
52d Ohio, and 22d Ind, commanded by Col,
Dan. McCook. The brigade was regular"
only so far AS duty was concerned for il regu-
larry got there when there was work on hand.
Comments and Corrections.
]. T. Borgess., Lieutenant, Co. /, 4th Ohio
Cav, Cedron, o., referring to tho article of COL
in the raid from beginning to end. In the
cavalry charge the 4th Ohio Cav. had the right
of tho road, the 18th u. S. the center, directly
in front of tho enemys battery, the 18th Pa
Cav. was on the left, and if he remembers cor
rectly Col. ELI Long, 18th Ohio Cav, commanded