The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-11-12

A Comrade Thinks ne Either was Traitor or a
Peer GFneTAl.


EDITOR NATIoNAL TRIBUNE: Reading the
Loyal Mouniaineers," 10y Lieut. Col. Theodore
+. Lang, reminds me OF a conversation heard
between Gen. James Shields and Gen. Me-
D0Rell al Front Royal. We arrived at Front
Royal on Saturday night Don't remember
dates.l On Sunday morning we were drawn
mp IN line Of battle. Gen. Mcdowell sat OF his
horse in tho road aud was standing alongside
Of him. when Gen. Shields rode up 10 Gen. Nc
Dowell u rccoilcet that Gen. Shields had his
right arm IN 4 sling aud said: " Gen. Mellow
ell what are you going 10 do heTet' Gen. SIC
DOwell said that he was waiting for Jackson.
Gen. Shields told him that Jackson was retreat
ing as fast as lie could, and If he Gen. Me
DowelD would 20 70 Cross Keys no eould head
jackson oil. Mcdowell said " You eau go If
you want TO, but ! will stay here and wait for
Jackson Shields then said TO him: " Then
you will stay here until doomsday; will take
my men aud 20 to Cross KeyS" Then is when
he went TO the relief of Gen. Fremont.
believe that ii we had traitor in the Union
army, Mcdowell was one. At the Slaughter
Mountain fight with Jackson Mcdowell put in
less than One-third Of his force and did not
send them relief until they were all cut TO
pieces, and then took in the relief at dark. My
regiment WAS brought in on an Obiique line
with a piece Of woods, aud the rcbs opened a
battery IN the edge of the woods on line with
our regiment. They fired three shots and
would have swept our whole line ii 1t had not
been for Capt. Hall, 2d Me. battery. He
opened on that battery and / never heard such
rapid firing as he did He tore the batterymen
and horses all 10 pieces-nOt one escaped and
some Of Capt. Halls men said afterward that
Gen. Mcdowell rode up to Capt. Hall and or
dercd him TO silence his battery which he re-
fused to do. Next morning Jackson sent IN n
lag OF truce asking for - hours 10 bury his
dead. Mcdowell granted it 10 him, and the
men all knew that Jackson wanted a chance to
get away, aud Mcdowell let him 60 and we
had to bury his dead.
Now, ] have question TO ask that has
always puzzled me. On what was called POpe's
retreat our brigade was reaT-guard, aud after
passing through Warrenton we received orders
from Gen. Pope % 90 to ThOroughfare Gap
aud hold LOngstreet back for six hours saying
IL we did that he Pope would have Jackson and
the whole OF his army captured. We got there
early IN the morning Just rs his al vance-guaTd
came into the gap, and we drove them back
and held them until dark but instead OF Gen.
Pope capturing Jackson, he (Jacksou) bad men
10 spare 70 send back in our rear aud drive us
out and let Longstreet through
We marched al night aud next morning
until about ii o'clock in getting around % tho
Bull Run battlefield We had been without
rations, aud !, with some others, without a
shoe 10 our feet on the whole of that retreat
from RaecoOu Ford 90 Bull Run. When We
arrived there they issued rations 70 Us, bat be-
fore we had a chance to get a square meal we
were ordered O. fill a gap in the left center Of
the line Of battle. There was small knoll
in front OF US, and as the rehs were advancing
in line Of battle toward Us, Gen. Tower ordered
Us Ia lie down behind the knoll 20 protect rs
while loading. Gen. Mcdowell came riding
down on top Of this knoll aud wanted 10 know
what IN - we were doing there, aud asked
who was IN command. Gen. Tower arose from
the left OF the liue and said that he was. Then
Gen. Mcdowell ordered US up on the knoll,
and turned and rode along on top Of the knoll
in front OF the Tebs' advancing line OF battle,
and they not over % yards OF, and not a shot
was fired az him.
Now, can anyone tell me why the Teb5 did
not fire Al him? lie wore a very peculiar hat
il looked like half Of globe / think that il
was wire frame about twice a large as lis
head. with bladder stretched over IL; and you
could tell him as far As you could see him by
that hat
! would like to say Of Capt Hall, Cd Ne.
battery, that don't think there was a Drawer
man or better gunner in the whole army
than lie WAS. i am certain that hc saved our
whole regiment AZ Slaughter Mountain. /
should like to know If he is still living, and
should like 10 have bis address.-lIAEEY Hun
TEEsoyr right general guide, asth Pa, Aceo-
tink, Va.