The National tribune., 1890-07-03
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns
ST. MARY's CHURCH.
A Seen by a Private Soldier Of the 10th n. 7.



idan's Cavalry Corps and Hampton's Confeder-
ate cavalry, which in some respects differs from
my recollection Of that hot days work. do
not propose 10 criticize the article, rs j know
there is nothing so fallible as an old soldiers
recollection of battle. The same rule will APP
ply TO myself as / write from memory only.
desire TO say, however, that Comrade Davis
Is mistaken at least so far as saying that the
Second Brigade was not in that engagement,
for they were and seriously so. The lst Me,
9Th and 18th Pa. Cav. (part Of that brigade)
were hotly engaged, and / doubt not lost heav-
lily in killed. wounded and prisoners. In Civ
ing my version of that fight am relatively in
the same position as Comrade Davis and know
but little beyond the part taken by my own reg
iment doth n. y. Cav. }, snd only that part that
came under my personal observation.
If am not mistaken, on the night OF the I'D
OF June 1904 our brigade camped at or near
Baltimore Crossroads, on the road from White
House over to the James River, my squadron,
Cos. L and X doing picket duty at-or near the
crossroads and vicinity; some of the men OF
our picket reserve while coming from house
in the rear with water, in the dusk of the even
ing, being captured by the enemy, who were
in our rear aud inside OF our pickets. Serg't
Morse, Of Co. X, while returning, and within
few rods of the reserve, was met by aJohnny,
who poked carbine within foot of his face,
demanding an unconditional surrender. Morse
not being ready TO comply with his request,
leaned over on his horses neck, out of range OF
the Johnny's firelOck, put spurs TO his steed
with a vicious dig, and soon landed in the re-
serve in a somewhat excited state OF mind.
We soon had 10 reserve, rs every man was
pot-buntiDe Tor a Johnny in the brush, but
without success. However, they were unable
20 take their prisoners with them, they coming
in one by one in the bright light of the morn
ing, minus arms, clothing money, watches, etc,
which they were forced TO contribute TO the
promotion Of the Confederate cause. Few of
our pickets or reserves got any sleep that
night
About 6 a. m. on the morning Of the oath we
pulled out and after some three or four hours
marching IN 4 sontherly direction we turned 20
the right and marched west perhaps a couple
Of miles some Of the boys claiming we had
fanked the Johunies and were going right into
Richmond by the side-door. The regiment was
here halted and turned 70 the left into an open
field. The Johnnies had just left their fires,
which we're still burning, some Of their cooking
utensils being scattered about ID dire confusion.
Cos. +, NJ, @ and ii were dismounted and
sent down into the woods in our front as skir-
u hcTs, while our squadron did mounted skir-
ms duty in the open field. This field WAS
hanked on the left by a dense strip Of woods.
while the left OF our line OF mosnted skirmishers
were close up 10 the woods and we could dis
tIDctly hear the JOhnnies knocking about in
the brush getting ready TO make some OF Us ft
subjects for funeral. Lieut.. Van Tuyl rode
down to our left 70 investigate and see how
many there were Of them, and while peering
into the woods one OF them fired at him a.
pOintblank range, fortunately not hitting him.
We then received peremptOry orders 10 dis
mount and drive them ont, which We did with
cut any loss 70 Us and, so far as could see,
none 70 them.
After clearing this strip Of woods we were
ordered down 20 the front line, and on arriving
arfsr1f q de- afg.1r HuFfl
field were halted and ordered 10 tear down the
rail fence and build temporary breastworks,
which we DAD, they serving as protection from
the bullets Of the enemy as they advanced on our
front through the woods an hour later.
We were on the extreme left Of our line, the
fence spoken Of extending into the woods on
our leIt uaDE, and, 10 use military expression.
cur LEFT flank was in the air, my company
being in the corner Of the field, with woods to
our front, left and left rear. About 3 o'clock
p. u. : spatteriug fire commenced down on the
night and ran along up our line 10 our front,
where could be seen the JOhnuies lodging from
tree 10 tree and advancing upon US. By this
time the rattle Of our carbines and the yells OF
The rebs sc they came for us extended 20 our
right for q quarter Of mile or more. But in
our immediate front they did not get nearer
than I've or six rods Of Us We driving them
back By the fire Of our reyolvers after giving
them al we had in our carbines.
JOhDEies they fell back cut Of the range OF our
Ere, and there was q lull in the firing along
our line, except now and then an occasional
shot from them al some Of our boys who ven
tured out In fToBt 70 inventory the number Of
killed and wounded Of the rebels We spent
about half an hour in this manner adding to
the strength Of our line and discussing the
situation, when Oh our right was heard the
Hi-yi-yi Of the Tebs as they again advanced
upon Hs, and II did seem as though we could
not stop them, they coming up within % feet
o. where We lay behind the raiIs But the
reception they met with being warmer than
they anticipated tour boys being all at homej
they left without as much as saying good by.
During that LITTLE fTacas the writer Of this was
struck by minie-ball ia the left breast and
knocked out Of the fight for some FIVE minutes,
and the query was where il had gone the hole
where il entered being about one inch to the
left Of the buttons over the breast. But there
was 10 time for further investigation. ] still
lived and things were getting liyely-the rebg
were coming again, aud 70 our surprise bayo-
nets were IN cur front, and while we worked
our carbines and reVolgcEs for all there was ia
them, we could not stop their onward course
by carbine got 50 hot that Il went off as
drew the leVer-block mp 70 lis place in the
brecch. On casting my eye along the fence
that extended through the woods 10 our left,
Nas almost paraiyzed TO see about dozen
TeDs on cur left and On our side Of the fence
some four or i've rods away, while as far
Is could see along the fence 10 orr left
ln the woods they were coming over like
20 many sheep. Discbarging my carbine al
random IN the crowd, and yelling 20 our
boys 70 get ont OF this" ! started IN 3
diagonal course back across the clearing at a
pace none Of cur boys equaled, followed by q
shower VI bullets that just made my hair stand
On end. had got back 10 our right and rear
some SIX or eight rods, IN the open field, near q
second growth Of pine trees, when an officer
gallopcd toward nc as il intent on checking the
break in our line, which was now fast giving
away. As be came under the pine tree, All
horse being on & stiff run, a shell from a rel
battery struck the top Of the tree exploded
and down went horse and rider torn 10 piece
by that shell, killing the horse and taking of
the leg Of the officer, who died before they 90
him from the field. de proved TO be Can't
Phillips, LIST Me- Cav. i saw an Orderly car
Tying Capt Pbillips's leg as we left the fieIC
some time sfterWaTd
All along our front the lire was crumblinl
sway, soldiers falling back, assisting theil
wounded comrades 10 place Of safety; officer
and OTderlies dashing hitheT and yon, swearing
cheering striving 70 make the men stand mn
and face that terrible front and flank Gre. Ru
back We went 70 the brow Of the ridge a,
which our artillery was pOsted-four or 81,
pieces, j cannot now tell which. But the wa,
thOse artillery boys fed il 10 the rebs comm.
upon their left eank in the field and woods wa
terrific. The guns were discharged as fast as
man could count double-shotted with canister
Bta range not TO exceed 200 wards In the f. hes