The National tribune., 1891-11-19
COLD HARBOR.
A New Hampshire Comrads Gives His Account OF
that Bloody Battle.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: / hardly
think the " CanuOneer does the Second Corps
justice in his account Of the action at Cold Har-
Dor. / had the honor to belong to the 9th y.
H.. First Brigade First Division, Second
Corps; Col. Hapgood being in command OF the
regiment Gen. Nelson 4. Miles in command
Of the brigade, Gen. Barlow commanding the
division. We had the right of the brigade. aud
formed nj a. m, or thereabOuts, az the foot OF
a considerable rise, our right not connecting
with troops on our right by quite an interval.
Just I'm front, 10 our right, was quite body Of
heavy pine timber
The near approach al $50 O. m. saw us az at
tention; and at the elimination Of that hour we
went IN. Mounting the rise we made right
hali wheel, and away we went for them, 4OO
yards away. We ran over their pickets and
received the fire Of the main line at about the
same time, when about half way to the works.
My recollection Is that we received but one
round OF canister from a battery on our lett,
aud lost our first men at that time, and that
the battery was taken or passed before another
shot was fred.
In making the right half wheel OF the double
quick the left wing Of the regiment was some
what confused owing 10 the men taking the
short cut. as we used 20 call IT, 50 our line was
more than single line when we struck the
works. Being fie-closer Of the color COM
pany, ] found myself when near the works by
the side OF the Colonel 20 whom | made the
remark that the rest OF the brigade had halted
aud lain down. His answer was that we were
going ON, which we did, taking the works with
out hiring "A shot, as per orders. and some
prisoners. lu going over the works | saw that
my company was getting over by the left flank.
ran to the right aud jumped over landing
among a dozen or so Of the enemy. / called 10
Serc.t Ramsay to take them 70 the rear.
While getting them out with their equip
ments, etc. the regiment had gone on aud |
saw them firing on d second lire Of works from
around house aud some other buildings
Looking 70 the right / saw battery and the
wounded only going 10 the rear, aud looking
down 10 the left, saw advancing by the Plank
Road just inside the front line, a regiment, the
front files Of which were firing. / did my best
10 dccimaio them by planting one shot into the
head OF the column, and dropped into a traverse
10 load. Having loaded / raised TO fire and Sc
lected an officer who was swinging bis sword
aud yelling, but who was partly protected by
the body OF a crooked apple tree. Aiming ut
the larger part Of his person fired, and dropped
hack to load. While doing so the regiment
came back with a rush: they had discovered by
IRE from the rear left that they were being cut
OF, owing 10 the balance Of the brigade not
coming mp and taking the works. And back
we went, being assisted by the battery on the
let, which had been manned again.
do not remember what our loss was in this
action, but remember we lost quite a number
OF officers and men, and am Of the opinion that
II Tic lett OF the brigade had taken the works
on our left we could have held them, although
we had no support Of any kind. What troops
were 70 our right DO not know what were TO
our left am ignorant Of but certainly saw
none. At the right Of the point where we
struck tho works there was quite an angle in
them, they bearing away ia an ObIique direc-
ton. AT the left they ran in nearly "a straight
line for FIVE or six hundred yards and into the
timber Of swamp / never heard any reason
given for the unusual action Of the brigade, as
they were always on hand aud were called one
Of the best we had. IL was composed at that
time, 10 the best Of nv recollection, OF the Glst
aud Saith y. y, 2i N. III. II. A., slst Pa, and
9TH y. H., who had just Joined the brigade
few days before near Hanover Courthouse, this
being our first action since Gettysburg
should be pleased 70 have the Cannoneer"
tell me who were on our TANKS aud who were
Ia our front aud what our loss was ! know
we lost some IN prisoners, as some Of the hoys
had crawlcd under the house and were firing
from behind the brick piers on which 10 stood
aud did not get ont in time 10 escape being cut
OF by the enemy coming mp on our lett rear
Ii this meets the eve Of the officer or any Of
his comrades who were leading that line
would like 10 hear from them, aud hope / did
not hit him. though at the time ] would not
have taken his place Tor a farm. Boys how
near correct have got this2 Lot us have some
light on this actions. VI. T., Sergeant. Co. G.,
9th y. H., 3JI Illinois street, Chicago, III.