The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-08-06
THE WILDERNESS.
Another Account Of What Took Place at the Flank
Road

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: / am CONVEX
SAINT with the history Of the war Of the rebel
lion and constant reader Of war literature,
and in all have never seen any mention made
Of the Ninth Corps, or any part Of IL, having
fought battle in the Wilderness on the 9th
day Of May, 1864; but nevertheless itdid Fight
a short but, in my opinion, a very decisive one
on about o'clock Of that day, in which my
self and some 80 men aud few commissioned
officers took an active part.
When the last charge was made by the Fifth
Corps, about 3 o'clock in the afternoon of the
9th, upon the enemys line aud was repulscd
aud fell back IL was my lot, among those above
mentioned, 10 fall back more 10 the left than
the rest Of our command, and in 50 doing We
camo upon line of works thrown up during
the day by the Ninth Corps, aud manned by
the same. Said works were at the left and
rear Of the Fifth Corps and ran diagonally
across the Plank road, upon which Gen. Wads-
worth was killed in the forenoon. Inside Of
the works on the Plank road was section OF
a battery, two brass pieces, and the dense young
timber back Of the works for considerable space
was Topped outward, with branches trimmed
and sharpencd, making il nearly impregnablc.
When we got there, not knowing the where
abouts Of our command, We concluded 10 report
and stop there for the time heiug. and we were
placed behind the works three lines of battle
deeH, the two rear lines loading while the front
line did the firing, passing back the empty gun
and receiving ono loaded. When IN this POSI-
tion we had but a short time TO wait when the
Johnnies set up that peculiar cheer or yell with
which at that time we were all so familiar aud
made a swing Of their right toward our left,
and on they came Before approaching the
works they had TO right-oblique and cross the
Plank road some distance from the works.
screened from view by the density of the woods
but in full view on the Plank road. Then the
battery opened on them with grape and cannis-
ter, which had the effect 10 madden them, and
they came on with renewed energy. When
they emerged from cover i'm front Of US we gave
shem a continual rain of lead, yet on they
came. The battery would load and run the
pieces out, turn and rake them up and down
their lines at rate OF about two guns 4 min
ute, and yet they came on, meeting death at
every step, and at one point planted their colors
upon our works. Finally it was more than
they could endure 10 face the bayOnets at the
works, and with one last defiant cheer or wall
they turned and fed from whence they came
all Of them that were left alive as great many
dead and wounded were left on the field.
participated in all the battles that my regi-
ment took part in from the Wilderness TO
Petersburg, aud / verify believe that this was
the sharpest fight that / was i'm, according to
the time il lasted, which was not more than %
or 30 minutes, and am OF opinion that il was
what saved Us from being flanked aud driven
out Of the Wilderness in disorder and back 10
Washington. Indeed, il looked as If that would
be the case for awhile.
Hope you will not consign this 10 your waste
basket. for ] would like TO hear through The
NATIONAL TRIBUNE from some other partici-
pants Of the battle i'm regard TO it.-B. NJ.
BARNES, Co. j. 9TH Wis, Wautoma, Wis.