The National tribune., 1891-09-17
FAIRFIELD AGAIN.



EnI-oE NATIoSAL TrlBUNE: VIII You
kindly allow me 90 make a correction. or can
collation. rather. Oi ms ha-Iy sketch OF the cav
airy engagement near Fairfield, Pa, July s.
1882
soon after my agiicloap7oarcl IN the columns
&c ynur paper % became suliaCt 90 q number of
criticisms, varying iu character aud tone from
gguilamauly and courteous 10 unnecessarily
hostile. Seine came by letter. others through the
columns OF your paper. This put mr 90 think
iug and IgW.udt! WC Of fhe a3agC that 20
err is human anl that ! might possibly be
mistaken. IwaH'y-.i-lt years is q long time
90 kcer those painful events fresh in our
memory; besides the un!.iCudly character of
my reception in the vicinity Of Gettysburg was
not wei calculated to favor that tranquility Of
mind which - absolutely necessary for exact
memuriziug purposes ! therefore wrote TO
distinguished gentleman residing in BeTryyiilc,
VA, who is engaged 40 present IN writing
history 81 my Old brigade. informed him Of
my controversy, 9u3 requested him 90 forward
mr, so his earliest convenience. an official state
meut 90 The disputed engagement lie readily
complied with ms request, also forwarded me
an official statement OF the cavalry engagement
70 Fuubfowu. which occurred Just four days
later, and added that ! had undoubtedly
GOT ths two engagements CuufonUdrt. ] at
once saw Wy error, Hut believing In the axiom
that an uGcus1 cont, sspd is half rcdgcsScd," !
9.adlvayaIl myself of this opportunity TO apollo
riZ 20 al parties who felt aggrievcd; 10 each
and every member of the brave 9th 4. = Cav;
90 the rank Gle of the Gtl Va. Cav. not emitting
the painfully yolgmiupus T. H. Vaughn.
did mot Share the fortune Of my regiment
at Fairfield. owing 90 the fact that NY company
or squadron was detached IN the early morning
OF the day previous hence the full 9Th Va. was
not engaged.
IT., reports in my possession are Substantially
the same as copied u yuur paper OF Aug. g.
save one Important omission. Says my his
torilu IN his version OF tho aIIir: g Ia tho
lglt &C Fairfield the ~. Va. WAS badly re-
pulsed, owing 10 tie fact that they charged
down a IsEC on one side OF which, over the
fence, were di5mouaicl men who poured a
deadly yniigT into their column. When the
1,n !r.i back tag 9th was ordered up, and with
the advance at their column gap was made IA
The fence. and party sent to drive oil the men
iu the field who were delivering the Ranking
FIRE. This Trccautien was -a.utary. The 9th
now charged under the same circum-
stances as the 7th-aud succeeded in routing
and dsying pell-mell the 9Th 4. S. Cav"
IoH win observe tic 9Th had 4 very impor-
tuut advantage over the eth when the respective
charges were made. The brayost mounted
troops that eyer flashed sahcr i'm sunlight are
exceedingly chagy u attacking ou unknown
number 90 GIsm0uHrnl men, especially when
tloy arc -ccrg,cd behind fences or anything
that affords immunity from cavalry charge,
Every brave man who has been engaged ~ the
mounted arm Of the -crvicc will testify TO the
truth Of this statement.
now submit Goa. J0ue5's report OF the en-.
gagameut 40 Iuukt0wn, which occurred just
-four days after the affair 20 Fairfield;
" TIE evening uf tile 9TH the 9th Z. S. Cav,
making rrCpuua. sfaura near FuuktDwn, Pa,
fcIi no with the 9Th va. Cav, which awaited
30 c.l oi the opportunity OF settling ola scores.
~shTT- were freely used, aud soon Go blood =
headed persons were marched 90 the rear. The
day az Fairfield E noHly aud fully avenged
TINS report ] know % be coogcd. There
were not GO bloody heads. lut there were a few
bio 3y heads among the Gi prisoners.
One might infer from this that the 9Th L. :.
Cav. tool, q contract 90 iOail the fighting ucccs-
sary 10 be done by that arm OF the service dur
ing that cImuiEU, and if so, they would uu-
dOuhtcdly have fluff el the terms Of the agree
muUt &c their men would have held out. just
four days after their fearful loss at Fairfield
tic brave survivors, undaUuicd, were on deck
again. IL was indeed a strange coincidence
that the same two regiments met so soon after
and reversed fortunes,
Truly these brave defenders Of our National
flag deserve q monument Raise 10 high; let
its dome De the lr-t structure in rs vicinity O.
kiss ,Hg rays of tho morning sun. But the
memory of their yai0r and sacrifices will out
/ last marble OF bronze; DO will live while they
+ eruuhie into decay it should live while tLC
f stars shine.
90, uo, Mr.. Vaughn I would not knowingly
I OF willingly pluck a single laurel from yOul
regiment, although you have iaL0red with NOR,
/ zeal than prudence DO trying 10 cast a stain
+ upon tie yelacity Of the brave aud lamcutel
/ Col. Marshall. 4 record of those little victories
1 is I'D we have left, aud l. speaking for myself
alone feel no pride over that Neither was
f. DO California q; the time OF that uuwarrIuted
/ invasion. as you indirectly alcgc. ! would
have been in more honorable business If 10 har
. been sD. But these deep sca's aud the pain
! igl memory of uuucGes 5Irii y--laiu friends and
. kindred tell me different story.
our enemies did Us aud our poor, misguided
. slavc-Ttden country . lasting benefit wher
they closed Us ont 40 AppomsttoX The i'm
partial historian viii undoubtedly say ",
+ starved and fought with a reckless persistence,
aud bravery, hut Ia seems 10 me now in ms
mature years that IS nothing less than q 10
Ggciiyu On cur intelligence. Evidently ",
fought with a courage worthy Of bette
causc.-JOHS III. COvSELI- Second Lieutenant
Co. ID, 7th va. Cav, Celcville, Cal.