The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-10-23
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What0ur Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns
The Charge of carreIrs celebrated brigade.
THE WILDERNESS.

EDrToR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Joseph f.
Carriers 81 Nd wel-written article prompts
me 10 write the following. j cannot deny any
thing be saws, for ] found il about all / could
do 10 keep track of my own regiment. the 18th
Ind. the old regiments composing our brigade
were SO often separated and sent to different
parts oI the field. This is copied from my diary.
and not written from memory.
MAY >, lS64.-Muvod at 5 a. m; take the
roaG 10 Iodd's Tavern through the Wilder
ness When arriving near the inter
section of the CatharPin road with the Brock,
we wrIe informed that the rebels were coming
by tie cavalry, that were falling back we
formed line about the crossing and built works;
at L. IA. the cavalry in front had quite
tussle. IA. which they were worsted at p. m.
q fierce engagement took place in rear; We
move To The rear; after going some distance we
form 10 resist cavalry; we let our cavalry
through and finding we were not going TO be
charged upon moved on the firing becomes
more fierce on our right and rear, and more
extended we march st almost double-quick
for SIX miles; when nearing the Orange plank
road We find log breastworks along the Brock
road HEd the battle raging in front; when
irving at the crossing OF the plank road the
rebels were charging the two pieces Of artillery
Il saw uo troops there to resist them the l4th
Ind. CHARGED head on. followed by the rest of
our command. do not remember whether only
Carol S Brigade or all of the division Glib
bous WAS with u.s. The rebels were turning
the CUTS when we struck them, bu, were inn
mediaieiy driven away and the flush OF their
victory vanished. We form on the right of the
plank from % TO 100 yards in font of the
Brock road. Firing continued on our left heay-
sly uu!li p. m. as well as with Us; our loss con-
siderable. Oar respected and trusted brave di-
vision commander at Gettysburg, Gen. AlyXau-
der iiays. was killed.
May at daylight we moved upon the
enemy aud drove him three-quarters Of a mile;
pressed them so close that a number remained
in the works and surrendered; at 5 n. m. the
18th lad. was ordered 10 sweep along the front
line ou the right OF the road; we moved down
the road beyond the front line, then fled 20 the
right, and about the time the regiment had
become uncovered the Johnnies gave Us a blast
that hurried to the rear of the line; our
brave two hundred did not feel sufficiently
strong 20 cope with the enemy alone in that
isolated position. Thc Ninth Corps soon after
take position IN our rear; we fail back. The
Ninth Corps held the enemy IN check for one
hour. then went 10 pieces. MY information
at the tine NAV have been incorrect, but Ger
tam a. j. ] never witnessed such rOut: the
road was a mass Of men coming 20 the rear;
the commands Of the officers and their plead
ings bad no effect
Tne day looks dark for the Union army: on
they came, pressing home the advantage gained.
II WIS feared that the pauic-siEicken would
c0uiG-e those ia the rear OF the brcastwOrks,
but i did not. They said cheeTingly 10 the
boys. Let 'em come; We viii dose EN-" On
camt Toe enemy with Tubel yell. when within
100 vs~ls they were given y0lley that caused
them % stumble, reel and retire. At II q. N.
Carroll Brigade was moved about three miles
10 The .sit Oi the line; a short aud brisk aTtIi-
leTy eIlGago ment took place. The rebel battery
was su.n made 10 eyacuate the position. At !
r. I'd. ne were moved back TO the Crossroads
aud fa-ia-tl ia rear Of the front line ou right
far.r- ..Ff isrFer4 fFh Ind
j DO rat remember it, We lay there until
?. IA, Wscn the rebels made desperate effort
- take tie Crossroads and pierce cur line.
The auEi. noise, crashing and commands Of the
coEaiH2 iiost was more fearful than hurricane
On az Saey come, nearing the dreadful break
erz- y lien within 10 yards they rushed and
yeiies. and when within 100 yards. then came
the ark Of battle. Great God A." was the
eZeia .aatioa Of many, holding their breath.
On. o. toiled the desperate REFS through
the Storm Of minie-balis- A hell earth.
Both sides lighting Ike demons. The both
Ind Is Da the left of the road. right resting on
the crrss- Brave boys are they" They are
singing Rally round t5e Tag, boys, rally once
again while lighting desperately. The rcgi-
1nent go their left Is giving way. Carroll com
TnaBdzs Attention Let face Forward -
D0ui.eguick March, When opposite the
break lac commands, +" By the right flank -
MaTel charge bayUnets." aud with yell we
CHARGED. carrying the breakers with rs and
forcing the rebels, who were for a moment
greatly elaicd, back over the works. The
whitening FIRE we gave them caused many TO
lie Gown until their forces had retired, when
they gaze themselves up.
DO Tie boys vino were there remem-
Der the cheers They were soul inspiring.
Gen. Grant sends bis compliments to our bri-
gzde, which makes Us fee good.
GsiaTade Carter is evidently lab0ring under
ms axe when be charges that CAROLS Bri-
EaGc received the praise for the work done by
LeEsgFe's Brigade. The breastwOrks were not
On Ere Al he crossing Of tic plank aud Brooks
roads, where CAROLS Brigade made their
memorable charge.
part Of CAROLS Brigade may have been
in the Sight where the breastW0ris were GA
IRE, fa'lc or more from the plank road cross
ing 80 the left.
Carter says that the thunder o. their guns
Was - cudid music, aud no doubt drew Gen.
HaDcJrk from the plank road to that locality.
his Eonic certainly indicate that Leasure's
Brig did not make the charge at the plank
road crossing, for which CAROLS Brigade was
comp imeuted by Gen. Grant aud Gen Han
cock. Nor did they retake the two guns at
the crossing on the afternoon Of the 5ih where
or charge Was made the evening Of the
9Th. u not mistaken, Gen. Leisures Brigade
was nearly 70 miles 10 the left from that point
and where road coming from the unfinished
Taiiroai CROSSES the Brock road.
CaFrOls Brigade does no claim that they
saved ihe army from defeat az the Wilderness
bet d. claim that they re-estAblished a broken
line Gen. LeasHEes Brigade may have done
thls where they were and as other brigades
possibly dad at other parts Of the line
JoIHraae CsrteT's comparison Of the Second
Corp work with that Of the Eleventh CORPS
81 Ca@lceilOrsyiile is unjust He does not
seem - remember that the Second Corus
woEsted A. T. Hills Corps badly, aud retired
only a. did the Ninth C0rps) when that deg-
peEate onslaught by the fresh troops Of the
Marshal Aey Of the Confederate army long
street made
1il-. again, does the comparison seem lust
Wben the Second Corps, after gaining their
breasi works, repBised heroically Longstreet's
fierce aud stubborn attempts 10 drive them 2
COnIsdes. lets be fair. We admit I,eigure's
Brigade did cOmBcndable work az the Wilder
ness aad do insist that the old Second Corps
Is aIasys, stood Up Eobly for Old Glory ia the
Milcer.iess against tie most numerous force
and b. eBeiny's best General. Would like q
hear .rouI tie 4th aud 9Th Ohio and 7th Vs. Va
hhg a9nt you WRITE bOys2 Where there Is s.
nuci Intelligence = much Of interest should
be deEel0ped.-CHAELEs H. MYEKHOFF, l4tl
Ind, Evansville Ind.
Read Better than a Pension on page z.
LINCOLN AT CITY POINT.
Hos the President ,,ss Fseoyf.a O., pcte..t,,,