The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-08-14

pickets. In the other regiments of our corps
as well as the Thirteenth, think the custom
was the same.
9TH. He says: awe knew, or thought we
did, at least, that if we had had the right OF
the line we would have gone to Shreveport
with half the loss we would have to suffer in
order to stop the victorious rebels of the day
before"
Such talk rs that is very cheap None OF
us know what the condition of this earth
would be if the moon were made of green
cheese; but one can guess rs well as another,
aud think If the Sixteenth Corps had been
in the place of tho Thirteenth attacked by
four TO one, and the road i'll their rear blocked
by a wagon train, they would have fought
desperately, and, when out of ammunition,
those who could would have escaped with The
loss of their artillery, just as the Thirteenth
Corps did. Probably if Banks's whole army
had been together on the Sth of April, they
would have gone through to Shreveport with
less loss than they suffered as it was but 1000
men cannot whip $4,000 in field fight. no
matter what corps they belong TO. Comrade
Bryson has no good reason for slurring tho
Thirteenth Corps. Such regiments as the Goth
Ohio 10Th KY, nth ILL.,, 23d Wis, and oath
Iowa, with others of equal merit, were not in
tho habit of making unnecessary retreats l
fail to see his motive even, unless he is one of
the class who think their folks arc always
better than other folks The Thirteenth Corps
was at that time all Western troops, from tho
Same States as tho Sixteenth, and had served
honorably in every campaign, and nearly
every battle, in the Mississippi Valley.
9th In his account of his brigade taking
their position the morning of April g. he con-
veys the idea that they passed the disorgani2ed
mob of the Nineteenth Corps, went out to tho
front, and established line of battle,
The fact is, Emory's Division was marching
20, ,,l H. q Ia, oil
order, though rather tired with marching 81
miles and lighting a severe battle in 26 hours.
When tho cavalry attack which he speaks Of
was made, the division was hastily thrown
into line-of-battle, but saw no signs of panic.
Our brigade was placed across the Mansfield
road, just in the edge of n strip of small trees,
two companies from each regiment were sent
out as skirmishers, and the boys took things
easy and ate breakfast. In about half an
hour we were relieved by Shaw's Brigade and
placed in reserve, our regiment the 18th Me-,
being relieved by Comrado Bryson's regiment,
the 9th Iowa.
9th. In his account of the repulse Of the
rebel cavalry at tho commencement of tho
battle, he seems to claim for his regiment most
of the credit of the repulse; but Col. Shaw,
the brigade commander, in his official report
of the battle, gives the credit to the 9th $40.
and 14th Iowa.
9TH. In stating the positions of the troops on
the field, he says: THE First Division, Nine
tcenth Corps, was on the left of their line"
The First Division was the only part of tho
Nineteenth Corps in the battle, the Second
Division having been left at Alexandria and
the remainder holding various posts on the
Mississippi.
9Th. He says: "Thc First Division gave way
in disorder, falling back on the Sixteenth and
Seventeenth Corps, which were In reserve"
Only one brigade of the First Division gave
way, and none of the Seventeenth Corps were
in the battle. Only one division Of the Seven
teenth Corps was in the campaign, and that
was guarding the transports on tho River.
9th. lie says: THE lG5th n. Y. belonged to
the Second Division Nineteenth Corps. being
well to the right Of the main limo of battle"
The l65th n. Y. belonged to the Third Bril-
gadc, First Division, and were near the left Of
the corps.
lie claims for the Sixteenth Corps a lofty
precmincnce in the useful art of foraging,
and in that he may be right; but / noticed
that all through the campaign the 18th and
18th Me- and lG0th n. Y. got their share of the
pigs, poultry, and such truck near the line OF
march, and that, too, in spite Of all the efforts
of "Old Sugarhouse," our Division Provost
Marshal.
Comrade Bryson's article seems on the whole
TO be OF the same windy character as the atmos-
phere on the treeless plains Of the State In
which he lives, but that may be all owing TO
misrccollection. II that is the case. and he is
in the habit of exhibiting so many =" mistakes
OF memory" ! would advise him to study
history instead Of trying to write it-E. T.
LUFKIE, Co. Il, 18th Me, Weld, Me.