The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-08-27
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades All Along the
Line.
MsrIellnn AZ Rirhmnnd.

Mcclellan a; Richmond.
Louis II. Miller. baltimore, Nd. has en-
joyed reading the articles on McCiel.au.5 |
fight on Chickahomiuy and Malvern Hill. /
He has been surprised that none of the com
rade5 have referred o. the fact that Rich /.
mond was taken by Mcclellan. but not oc-
cupied, for want of TeiuioTcCmcuts or through I
ignorance Of the state Of Affairs i'm Richmond.
The writer was In Richmond several months
later, and was told BY the engineer in charge Of
construction Of Notifications that the city was
practically evacuated, the archives removed,
and the most surprised OF all were the rebel
Generals when they saw that Mcclellan did
not follow up his victory and occupy the city.
The different streets were shown the writer nc
"The Rockets" where shot and shell from Nc
Clellan's artillery had fallen. and he has no
doubt there were plenty o people there in July,
1852 who can verify this statement. HlaI!ccS
dispatch 10 Mcclellan Of July 80. l-62, informs
him that Richmond is deserted. Miller was
McCIeIIanite, when il was Little Mac the great
Union General, but when later in Chicago he
saw that the delegates TO his convention were
Sons Of Liberty, Butternuts, or CoPperhead',
and were apparently enjoying the attempt 20
release the prisoners i'm Camp Douglas and burn
the city, no felt that Mac was in bad company
for loyal man, so voted for Lincoln and
Johnson.
The Regular Brigade.
Augustus Faul, Old Guard Post, %, 30 Poto-
mac street. Dayton, o., notices that COmrade
Swick, Co. g. "a battalion, 18th Regulars, says
that Grant had command Of the troops at
Chickamauga. The writer would like % know,
If he had, where was ROsecran5 at that time,
and why was he removed from command OF the
army and held responsible for our losses, II
Grant had the command? Grant did the best
nc could. no doubt, except the first day, at
Shiloh: but noble Pap Thomas got ahead OF all
our Generals al Chickamauga. COmrade 9wick
also says that after Chickamauga the Goth ONO
was attached 20 the Regular Brigade, but the
writer thinks that Inc is of in regard to that
statement. Swiek says Lieut-Col. .. Sheppard,
Of the 18th Regulars, had command OF the
Regular Brigade for a time; and this IS a mis-
take for he was never long enough with the
brigade at any time to take command. AZ
Stone River they lost Little Sill, fine soldier,
well liked by all and next they hal that
gOOd-lOOking, long legged and saudy-whiskered
Gen. Granger, but whether they ever had Gen.
Baird is not very clear TO the writer. Col.
Stonghton was a brave officer, and lost leg in
front Of Kenesaw while on duty in the front
line. The writer was q member Of Go. Il, lst
battalion, 18th Regulars, and left Newport
Barracks in the Fall Of 1861, under the COM
mand Of Maj. King, who was made Brigadier
a few months after the Stone River picnic, and
he thinks he IS supposed to know little about
the Regular Brigade.
No Blue and Gray for Him.
F. f. Smith, Liberty Corner, Pa, regrets the
tendency on the part Of public men to laud the
achievements Of the men who wore the gray.
In the desire to blot out the past they would
not only have TO forgive the part they took IN
the struggle to disrupt the Government, but so
far forget the insults they heaped on our Nag az
% couple their names with those who died that
the Nation might live. Is it fitting that they
a. 9. \ - t.. -. a.
were red with the blood Of our slain, should
occupy place in our memory and affections
second only to those who left the farm and fire.
side az our country's call to uphold the princi-
pies set forth in the Constitution, and endure
the hardships Of war to rescue tine emblem Of
freedom from the hands OF traitors? No true
hearted son Of the North can look with feel
ings other than aversion On the Confederate
soldier, living or dead, even after the lapse Of
a quarter of a century. Though most Of those
who fought 10 destroy the Union have long
since passed away, the principle they upheld Is
alive to-day, and will continue to live a3 long
rs there are found ia the North meu who Will
stand in the pulpit and on the TO.tTum and say,
They were honest in their views and fought
for what they considered We're their rights.
While we remember those who wore the blue
let US not forget those who wore the gray. Let
Us weave a wreath of laurel for the one and Of
roses for the other" Such sentiments are not
Olly an insult 10 the soldiers, bat treason TO the
Nation, and should be rebukeI.
Buford's Cavalry at Gettysburg.
Morgan Hughes, Co. f, 5th III. Cav. Aurora,
H., says that Comrade Trip, of the 9Th Wis,
in a recent issue states that the Iron Brigade
opened the battle of Gettysburg. The writer
is positive that Buford's Cavalry Division were
the FIRST TO engage tho rebels on July l. This
division arrived at Gettysburg June 80, the
r. -, loo. IL q
on the outskirts Of tho village, standing 20
| horse all night, with the exception Of one or
/ two companies, including the writer's COM
pany, which was sent out on the CashtOwn
| road on yiiet. The writer was at the reserve
/ post about a. IN. July /, and was aroused by
I Lieut.. Jones, mounted and went TO the videt,
/ aad from an elevation they first discovered the
\ rebels There was no firing along the entire
/ line or thew could have heard 1t. Lieut.. Jones
\ took 4 carbiue from one of the boys and fred
| at an officer on horseback, which he is sure was
/ the first gun fred az Gettysburg After this
/ there was plenty Of firing but according "a
i C0mradc Trips own statement they bad just
| started from Emmitsburg when he heard
/ firing in their advance. According to al ac-
/ counts the First Corps did not arrive at Gettys-
/ burg until III a. IL. From this it will be seen
/ that Bufords cavalry had been fighting Lees
advance long before the Iron Brigade reached
| the field The survivors OF BufDrds cavalry
were reinforced by the plucky old Iron Bril-
| gade WhO more than covered themselves with
glory. But the OpeHingOf the battle Of Gettys-
burg belongs to the 5th III. Cav.
The Nen Of Coulter's Regiment.
w. d. Eldrcd, Co. b. 18th Pa, Bigleryille
Pa says that Comrade Folk, in his article on
Dick CouIter's lighting regiment, failed TO men
ton Capt. William Shauks, who WAS killed al
Thoroughfare Gap. He was bravo officer
and his company had eight killed and ii
wounded in that action. The writer would
like to know Why Comraao Folk called il
I Fighting Dick Coulters regiment; for, while II
is true that Coulter was rs brave q man as ever
wore shOuldeT-strap5, there were many more a.
brave as he. The men OF the regiment used q
swear at him for calling them 10 the front on
all occasions, but they tOrgave him and al
hOnOred him, and no always stood by the reg
ment. There was a great difference IN mel
during time of action, for the writer has sceI
some laugh and some pray; he himself becam,
so excited that he hardly knew what he Wa
doing, but he always remembered the lttI'
prayer his mother had taught him. lie saw
Dick Coulter catch a man on his knees pray
ing at the battle OF the Wilderness, and saw
him hit the man with the broad OF his saber
telling him 10 get up in line - quick, for il
was no time for praying now and 10 brought {
smile to the old boys faces to see this fellow
get into line. The writer would like to hcal
from Conrad Reed, of Lock Haven, for he car
ried him of the field after he had been strUcl
and one leg taken clear OF and a terrible hesL
wound made IN the other.
A Suggestion.
| Morris Husband suggests that in 1892