The National tribune., 1891-07-30
FIGHTING THEM OVER
WhatOur Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
MARYE,S HIGHTS.

been requested 20 write my recollection OF inc
charge made by the 6lst Pa on Maiyes hlghts
Va MAY B 1863 and j will state my reason Tor
not doing SO sooner Id is because i have been
credited with being the first Union soldier m
side the rebel work on that cveniiul sunday
morning by chose Of my comrades who were
eyewitness OF the facts But many SO called
historians have written it otherwise, and FOR
that reason ] hesitate TO say anything on paper
or otherwise, knowing well il will call out
spirited controversy from comrades who par
ticipated iu the charge. However, comrades,
nut your implements OF war in order. and bring
along plenty of reserve ammunition, for am
now well fortified, and know that wall receive
reiuforecmcnis IL need them.
viii give you my recollection OF the move
ments of the 6lst Pa. from the time that II
halted at the lower edge Of Fredericksburg be-
fore daylight on the morning OF May 3, 1868,
until ] was wounded, which took place after
we had captured the fort TO the right OF the
Plank road aud about 100 yards In It's rear.
Daylight found as occupying a road leading
up TO the town, known rs the Bowling Green
road We were massed on a low piece OF ground,
with q railroad grade in our front, to screen rs
from the rebels view as we'll as from their artil-
lery. -Four members of my company were sent
mp ON the railroad grade as lookout to watch
the moycmciits of thc rebels Il being one OF the
four aud TO try our hand at sharpshooting.
have nO doubt some COmrade will read this that
will remember how we woke a rebel battery 10
our right front that tried to shell rs out One
shell biz so close 10 Matthew Shaw that he WAS
almost buried with dirt, but the sharp report
OF his rifle soon convinced as that he was all
right. A noble soldier was Matt Shaw. lie
fell IN the Wilderness, and fills an unknown
Erave.l Ihls Cauuonadug brought stevens s
9th Me. battery into action IN the suburbs OF
the town, and the rebel battery soon went 10
sleep again.
While we occupied this position the cd n
Y. aud 1924 Pa. made a ieint on the main
works They came back with their bristlcs all
on end, aud said hard words about being
given 40 support. We the lookouis were
called iu, and the regiment moved up into the
town with the rest of the Light Division.
We lay in a street for some little Time.
when Col. Bunham, who then commanded
the Light Division OF which we were a part,
rode up 10 Col Spear and conyersed with
him ln low tone. j could notice that some
thing important was about TO take place, be-
cause Col. Spear took hold OF the hit OF his
sword with his right hand and drew 81 partly
out and never released i'd while they con-
versed. Durham saluted, Spear returned the
salute, turned 10 the regiment aud ordered us TO
pile up everything we carried but our guns.
cartridge boxes and canteens; even our haver-
sacks were LETT In the street The Adiutaut
instructed our line officers 10 see that the caps
were removed from our loaded guns. Did il
need an order read to explain what was ex-
pected Of the 6lstf ] will say no right here,
for every man IN that little battalion knew we
were 90 be the van IN that desperate charge;
We were the engine that was sent into the cut
with "a mighty rush. aud the engineer was Col.
Spear, and when he got the signal TO co pulled
her wide opcn Yes comrade, he stuck by his
engine 10 the last; he did more, be died at his
post OF duty. Was that engine wrecked? j
say no again, Tor il went through the cut; It
accomplished what il went out to do.
One writer says that Spears column was
Hat
the heavy iring"; while another Gen. D01blo-
day says Col. Johns was The hero Of this fight,
aud be tries TO create the impression that be-
cause Col. Johns was West Pointer the thing
was accomplished under his guidance.
noticed communication from the pen Of
comrade Of Co. ID OF my own regiment. giving
Gen. shacr the post OF honor aud describing
the charge as he saw 10. j will not quarrel
with Co. ID, for they were stayers, but j will
write as ] remember the situation.
The 6lst Gled out Of the town in column Of
Tours leit "a front. belonged 10 Co. B, which
occupied the left Of the regiment. Capt Red
eubacl being sick, First Lieut. Kaemer was IN
command OF the company Joe Hun was Or
derlkr Sergeant. j, being small Of stature was
on the left OF the company. So, YOU see, COM
rades, was not very far from Col. Spear, aud
could hear any order that was given by the
Colonel from the time we left the shelter of
the buildings until he was killed. lie was
Killed within DO feet OF me- We had passed
the brick building at the foot Of the hill be-
fore be was killed. Neither did we receive
the IRE Of the rebels until the head OF the
column had reached this point, except from the
hharpsho0tcrs stationed outside their works
The hTst yulley 81 muskctry wc received came
from the stone wall or from that direction; for
those who were wounded were ali shot In the
LETT side az ths vOiley, which was aimed nj the
head OF the column, aud Killed my Second
Lieutenant Blossl and wounded my First Lieu
tenant 'kaemerJ; also the Orderly Sergeant
Joe Huh. tOrpl Shoemaker and COrBl Belt
were mortaiiy wounded. The artillery In our
front opened fire, but their missiles went over
our heads, and seemed 10 be directed al the
bridge over which the support was coming.
Will state that the FIRST shelter we reached
was tac Plank road cut a. the top OF the hin,
and from that point j saw the gallant 9Th Nc.
30 over the stone wal up The hill into the main
works on That part Of the line. Dave Kimball.
Scrg't II. A. Brown, OF Co * a Corporal Of Co.
li, and several Others of the 6lst jumped on
topo the works Dave Kimball was shot dead
just as wc entered the works and one Of Co. A
was killed DOB the cut. The rebel artillervmen
were limbcrlHg up the only remaining gun,
aud we demanded Its surrender, which was
complied with on the part Of the men,
lighi here took place one OF those instances
which were frequently met with during the
latter part o. The war, when an important 20.
sitiOn WAS wIcuched from the enemy al a fear
ln command 81 this section OF tho battery we
bad just taken, rode up 10 the horses attached
20 thc gun-carIlage and struck them with his
sword Empty guns were a poor thing 10
capture such q soldier with, SO he escaped
lsaw some rebels miyine al The brick house
iu rear Of the fort They opened fire on Us.
and i was while advancing on them that ]
was wounded, and ] returned 10 the fort with
the help 0f my gun Tor a crutcb. aud found the
cannon .n The hands ol Lieutenant Of the SD
Ia, VINO bad mounted a driver on the battery
horses end was about 10 move ID 10 the rear.
was assisted onto the caisson Of the gun aud
was carried 10 the field hospital IN that way.
While passing out Of the works Gems Shalcr
Newton and sgaR0iCk rode into the works
All removed their hats as they passed US. We
gave tncm three cheers.
Now comrades you can Judge who was irst
over the works ] want you 20 speak out II
have made "a mlsstatcmeut.-ALEX. THOMPSON
90. A. Olst Pa. Jewell, Iowa.
". ~. =. Nallacf's Division al shiloh.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: IL seems as
tonshlng that amy soldier who was al Shilol
can have SO little knowledge Of that fight rs /,
not know on the ufeserce Of fine diysiou a