The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-03-12
Read Better than Pension on page 5.
IN THE WILDERNESS.


lhe Balhe ~ Tie Brock and Flank Roads.
EDITOR NATI0NAL TRIBUNE: Concerning
the battle IN the Wilderness on the 9th Of Nav,
1864, can give 40 information as 10 tie part
taken by the briRadcs Of Loasure and Carroll.
but j can perhaps throw a little light on the
controversy concerning Ricc's Brigade
Cen. NsdswOrth was killed about 10 a. m In
an attack on the enemy's works on the Plank
road, about a mile west OF the Brock road
The entire command was thrown into confus-
ION, the Second Corps thrown back, and por-
ton OF the Ninth Corps compelled TO retire.
Owing 10 the nature Of the ground and the
dense thicket ia which the action occurred, il
was impossible 20 preserve lines ] had gotten
together few men OF the brigade, which force
Gen. Owens assigned 10 part Of a line he was
establishing. Not decning il proper 10 remain
there, ] withdrew the men TO another posltion.
where ] found the fragments Of three regi-
mcnts MAJ Bard, Of the 9jth n Y, being
the ranking officer j suggested 20 him 10 take
command until j could find Gen Holman
and the rest Of the brigade At the same time
Gen. Owens accompanied by the Colonel Of
the 72d Pa, came along and spoke to me very
sharply about leaving the position 10 which he
had assigned my regiment" ! told him /
had no regiment. TO this be replied that these
troops would remain la this line under tho
command OF the Colonel Of tho I'D Pa"
was not willing that any portion Of our
brigade should b. detailed for duty by an Off
Ger u the Second Corps aud started Ina search
Of Gen. Holman. ] had gone but q short dis
lance when ] saw Col. Mcclure, Of Gen. War
Fens stan, % whom j related all that had
occurred. lie replied You are not under
Gen. Owens" aud instructed me 20 wait a
short time. Ho soon returned and said Tell
MAJ Bard IL is Gen. Narren's order that he
report with hIs detachment 20 Col. Holman.
al the Intersection OF the Brock and Plank
roads Maj. Bard accordingly withdrew.
ON our way VIC picked up good many men
belonging 10 different regiments in the brigade.
so that when we reached the eros roads. about
4 or 100 O'Clock p. M, We made a very re-
spectacle addition 10 tho brigade. much Ia
Gen. Hoimann's delight. who thought we were
captured. We lay Immediately IN rear Of the
works north Of the Orange aud Fredcricks.
burg Plank road commonly known as The
Orange Plank r0ad until about 4 o'clock p.
m, when the enemy made an attack on the
/ line. Tho left Of The Second Corps was not fan
south Of the Plank road. When the enemy
/ charged the works the tTUOps on the south
/ gave way, but the troops north of the Plank
/ road held thor position. When the Confederate
/ troops took possession Of the works they kent
their regimouta c0lOrs in the dPe Of the timber
/ but one OF the guides mounted the breast works
! with his flag and was killed This was proba.
/ bly, TIE Color bearer alluded % by Capt. Ora.
] man, bcn. AlAhcuNh was on tic Plank road
/ just 10 the lc't Of Iloimann's Tor Ricc's) Bri.
\ gudo and ordered HIM 10 charge the works
] This was executed by loft oblique. aud The
enemy, not being supported, was driven out
1 aud made no subsequent effort 10 obtain pos.
session 81 that part Ol the line. Rice's Brigade
/ held these works until the next day, and the
! following night marched 30 SpottsylVauia
This is all there E OF the matter. / have moi
consulted LOSING" or "Swinton about ID
but have told simply what came under ma
4 own observation.
As 10 Leasure's and CarroPs Brgadcs I did
not see them. No doubt they were doing theil
duty molly wherever they were, but they haJ
4 40 more 10 do with the capture Of the works al
the crossroads, May g, lsGl, than they had will
/ the battle OF Waterloo. The honor" has beer
! claimed by tho Second Fifth aud Ninth Corps
and ] suppose some claimant will soon appeal
from the Sixth The honor belongs 10 the Sec
0nd Brigade, Wadsworth's Division, Fiji
COrps-D. J. DICHsoE, Captain aud ABIDE
Camp 10 Gen. Holman, Marshall, Mo.