The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-06-04
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Oily, YOURS, J.. CUTLER.
From copy furnished the writer by Lieut.-Col
Ina

ltrom copy furnished the writer by Lieut-Col.
lHmhdin, 1906
1908 SPRUCE ST, pHHAnELPHIA, Arpil 4, lsO6.
BENJ. !, Loss NC. Esq.
DEAR SIR; The credit q the expulsion
OF the enemy from oar works on the Brock road
ON the afternoon Of May is6I, has very generally
been given Go Gen. Col CAROLS Brigade, 81 the
second Comps, instead of to the command Of Gen.
lGoiD liuimUuu. 60 which ] think b Is due, Col.
Carroll was ordered to Hdvance, but there being
some delay, Gen Rice, Who commanded that poT-
ton Of the line ordered Col Hufmaun 10 charge
with the remnant OF tie Fourth Division, fliih
Corps, laDi officers md menu Col. ltoiWhhhs
command charged, drove the enemy from the
works, which they had secured aud po--essed lein
before Col CAROLS Brigade moved forward. !
was az that time Assistant AdIutant- General TO
Gen Rice, aud as such carried the order TO Gen
Holman and accompanied the troops ln the move
ment. Gen. Rice told me that evening that lac had
seen Gems. Hancock aud Brncy, II am not mis-.
taken and they had assured him that Justice should
be done the men of the Fourth Division, Fifth
Corps. do not expect. nor ask, that you should
take my individual statement in itself important,
but do respectfully ask YOU 10 give the matter
thorough Investigation before handing IL down 10
Very respectfully, yours,
J. HARRISON LAMRDrN,
Brevet Lieutenant Colonel aud Assistant Adjutant-
General, lhird Division, Fifth Corps.
In the Fall Of 1872 when the newspaper re-
port of the affair had been copied into so many
permanent publications as 10 leave no doubt
but that the official reports Of the Second Corps
were silent upon the aid received on that occa-
ni'h iibM lht RUN corps, Ahu access 10 Nho
official reports being denied by the War De
partment the writer addressed a letter 10 Gen.
Hancock aud requested an acknowledgment
Of the service. The General was unable TO
recall the circumstance, and having shown the
letter TO his Chief of Staff who was with him
At the time. he replied that he saw no troops
save those Of Gen. Carroll in the works at the
moment when the enemy was repulsed. And
upon the letter being shown 90 Gen. Carroll,
he pnIiaf fkuf ia gut iVaAf "A
the breastworks when lie advanced against the
enemy, and IL any were there they were scat
tered individuals, not companies or regi-
ments.
Upon receipt Of this the writer addressed
circular letter to those who were in command
OF the several parts Of his command on the Oc-
casion, requesting their rccollectiOns Of what
then transpired. The replies, or SO much Of
them as were pertinent, were then submitted
70 Gen. Hancock in letter under date Nov.
is, 1872 together with the remark that his
Chiei Of staff must have mistaken the troops
Of the writer for Gen. Carrol's Brigade.
As regards the remarks Of Gen. Carroll, as
quoted from the letter Of Gen. Hancock 10 the
writer under date Feb. 10, 1873, so far as he
states that he saw no troops in the breastworks,
that cannot, Of course, be gainsad, but his fur
Their statement, that " il any were there they
were scattered individuals not companies or
regiments is a very grave error. Has troops
did not move as early as those OF the writer,
and they went further to the left before they
turned toward the works, which they reached
at point about $50 yards to the left Of those
OF the writer, and by that time the troops Of
the writer had cleared their front Of the en-
envy. and this extended from a short distance,
say 30 yards, from the intersection 10 the left
for about $50 yards, and included The point Uherc
The enemy had planted their cOlOrS upon the r0rts,
and large number Of the officers and men,
carrying their cOors with them. had sprung
over the works into the "slashing" In front
10 pursue the enemy, the others cheering aud
waving their colOTs forming thus q spectacle
that would have attracted the attention Of
most officers within the distance named es-
peclally II mounted AZ Gen. c. was al the time,
Tor there was no brush ia the immediate rear
Of the works 10 obscure the view. Whether
the negative evidence in the case shall out
weigh the positive evidence submitted that the
troops Of the writer were there, and rocaptured
the works az the place named, Il a matter for
your readers 10 determine for themselves.
They are asked 10 note the dates Of the letters;
that two bear date OF 1866 the others 1872.
ALBANY, Sept. q, 1872
NY DEAR GTHERhL: These are the cir
cumstauces AS remember them. . During
tie latter part Of the afternoon NAV g. "a the
enemy suddenly attacked ia the face Of the second
Corps, aud succeeded ln entering their works
when, ne ] understand II, Gen. Rice offered as
]
person. Gen. Bimcy being also present. aud
ordered you 20 take "A detachment from a number
Of different regiments and move rapidly obqucly
60 the left This order was spititedy carried out
by you, aud resulted iu not only checking what
promised 20 be- very disastrous affair for the sec
ond Corps, but also IN driving the enemy out Of
our works again aud causing them 10 retreat in
great confusion aud with heavy loss. ] remember
very distinctly hearing Gen. Rice say that Cen
iancock N",nnl"rlg promised TO see that fuil
credit should be given tie IifJh Corps, aud
pecAliy our brigade, or that part 81 IL under your
immediate command Ia the movement. This
however was not fulfilled the press reports never
1 ElludiHg 10 tie OppoItuue support given tie SEQ.
ond Corps by the Ffh. .
Very sincerely. A McC BUSH
Ado. 81 Gen. Rice. HiteTwRrd Captain, g5th ~ Y
To Gen }. W. HoIHAFE Philadelphia. Pa.
VIRGIL, CoRuAsD COUNTY, y. Y. Oct % 1872.
by DEAR GENERAL: Yours Of the 18th j. At
4 hand aud lu regard % tie events II May G. 1884
my FeCOllrCtiOus are az follows: IN falling back
after Gen. Nsdsworth WAS killed, Tie division was
very much broken up portions Of il being with
! Gen. Cutler Gen. Rice, and yourself Alter being
4 formed pa rear 81 Iart ~ the Second Corps the
enemy nttar. ed and captured the works somewhat
] 20 the lcit II where we lay, We were told that
Gen. Hancock wished us 10 rccspture them We
did 10 under your lead aud direction, passing Gen
Hancock aud htHG, and moving somewhat "a lie
] lcii 81 we advanced ln double quick. After the
firing had ceused the officer 81 the brigade which
bad been driven ont Offered 10 relieve Us but YOU
declined aud we remained lu the works we lad
recaptured until about dark. was the senior
IN tie 10th n. y, Fnd in TINT action the regiment
/ numbered hbout 20 men aud one color. think
4 four OF I've Of my men were wounded Ia that en-
4 RRRcmcHt, but none killed. Hoping this may aid
/ TO DO Justice 20 yourself aud our old brigade
lremein, very truly, you're, : NJ. BYEAs,
Chptaln, 10Th n. Y.
Gen. }. ". HoFNAEs, Philadelphia Pa
CUHwEssvLLE, CLEARFrErD Co. PA
Gen. J. ". HorMAEN.
DEAR SIR have just received your letter "a
Gen Stone, dated sept ~ in reference 10 tic part
our brigade aud regiment lsgth) took in retail inc
the part 81 Gen. Haucocls line Of works d irrciIy
10 the left ~ the plank road and where crossed Nv
another Toud, t4e name 81 which do not RENE M
Der. Gen. Hancock had a battery or a section IL
/ artillery posted az The crossroads aud saw tie
General there himself This was late la The n Ter
noon Of May G. 1864. Alter the rcpulse of our d.
vision, about noon that day, gathered up what
/ troops could belonging 10 our brigade aud had
them lying about 80 yards 10 the rear Of the line
Of work-. our lett GA the plank road. Capt Wilson
~ Gen. iHucuCk's staff there to see me md
haid the General wished 10 know what trogts :, J,
were. told him where we belonged and thai ,,,,
were pHft - tie old First Corps had Ia NV com.
mand, 81 he l2lst fre men; li2d three officers ~
meni 1885, I'VE Officers ~ men; i4Jth, Fix officers
l5b moui l5J,h, siK officers 80 men with the color.
81 Tie five regiments You asted nc al ne iiJle M
pldrtpOH and ti6 nbOue "a cum. A few minutes
Hfcr we had orders 10 charge t4e enemy out Of IA.
works captured from the second Corps which we
did, moving up al "a dOube-quirk 4 LOST Can't
Scii, 81 TIE l3uth regiment shot through the head
Capt. Nicely ~ the ltylh captured from a rebel
| oHlccr a sword hud belt at the time which had
belonged 10 Col. Roberts Of the IsGth Pa killed al
Gettysburg and las sword taken aud re captured
NJ this time was sent 10 Col. Hoberlss family al
Beaver, Pa.
We did not remain long IN the line Of works m er
taking them, being ordeTed'to the rear 1 think by
Gen. Ward, Of tie Second Corps aud the troops
1 placed in that had been driven otl bv thc eDe,,,y
I nal gHHr Faa al. al. a. -