The National tribune., 1892-08-04

French assumed command of the corps and
the troops formerly under his command
Joined aud were organized as the Third
Division. The composition of this division
was as follows:
Brig.-Gen. Washington l.. Elliott COM
handing. First Brigade-Brig. Gen. Will
liam II. Morris-14th \. J.; 9th y. Y. III. A.,
151st N. Y; 10th Vt. Second Brigade
Col. j. Warren Keifer-6th Md; 110th Ohio
with detachments of the 116th and 123d
Ohio), 122d Ohio; 13S.h Pa. Third Bri-
gade-Col. Benjamin F. Smith-i06th n. Y,
126th Ohio, 9th Pa. two companies), S7th
Pa. -four companies). The 4th Me-, 10th
Mass, 10Th n. Y. and Keystone PA Light
batteries also Joined and were assigned to
the Artillery Brigade. Maj.-Gen. Hum
phreys having been assigned to duty as
ChiefofStaff of the Army of the Potomac,
he was succeeded in command of the Second
Division by Brig. Gen. Henry Prince.
Maj Gen. William III. French, the new
commander of the corps, was q graduate of
the United States Military Academy; ap-
pointed Second Lieutenant LIST Art. July /,
1887; served in the Florida war, and also in
the war against Mexico At the outbreak
of the rebellion he was on duty in Texas at
Fort Duncan, which post he abandoned, and
with his rescued command reinforced Forts
Jefferson and Tay lor, Fla. He was appointed
Brigadier- General Of Volunteers Sept. %,
1861, and served with the Army of the Po-
tomac through the Peninsular, Maryland,
Fredericksburg, and Charlottesville cam
paigns. On the 29th of November, 1862, he
was promoted Major General and at the
beginning of the Gettysburg campaign was
placed in command of the Harper's Ferry
District He remained in command of the
Third Corps until it was discontinued in
March, 1864 He died at Washington City
on the Goth of May, 1881.
On the 18th Of July the Third Corps
marched from Gettysburg, and in the move
ments toward and in the vicinity of Will
Transport were held in reserve. In the pas
sage of the Potomac and in the marches
preceding the entrance of Manassas Gap, it
was in the advance On the 22d the First
Division, in conjunction with the calvary
under Gen. Buford, took possession of the
gap.
On the 23d of July the First and Second
Divisions were engaged in action at Wap-
ping flights, Va. In this action the Excel
sior Brigade was prominently engaged. 1t
had been selected to penetrate a ravine in
front and cut the enemys line and drive
them away. The brigade at once moved
forward, rushed upon the enemy with the
bayonet, and drove him back in confusion,
with loss of 18 killed and 56 wounded.
Brig Gen. Spinola, who led and commanded
the brigade, was twice wounded. The total
loss Of the corps in this affair was 81 killed
and "a wounded. The corps now resumed
it's march to Warrenton, Va, reaching a
point about four miles south of that place
on the 26th of July where it went into camp,
remaining there until September, when 1t
moved with the army to Culpeper.
In October, Gen. Elliott having been
ordered to the Army of the Cumberland,
Gen. Joseph B. Carr was assigned to the
command of the Third Division. The
corps was engaged in several skirmishes
and actions during the Bristol campaign
(Oct. 9-22), losing one officer and ak men
killed, four officers and 65 men wounded,
and three officers and $50 men captured or
missing; total, 500.
In the advance of the Union forces to the
line of the Rappahannock, Nov. 7f6, 1863.
the First Division was engaged in action ut
Kellys Ford, losing ak killed and 50
wounded.
During the Mine Run campaign the Third
Corps encountered the enemy on the 9TH Of
when within four miles Of
Robertson's Tavern, and a spirited engage
ment ensued, lasting till o'clock in the
evening. The total loss of the Third Corps in
this campaign was 10 officers and lis men
killed, % officers and 719 men wounded, and
FIVE officers and 66 men captured or missing,
aggregating 934, or more than one-half of
the loss of the whole army.
Gen. Meade not deeming 1t prudent to
attack the enemy in his position at Mine
Run, withdrew his troops and recrossed the
Rapidan, the Third Corps crossing at Gull
pepper Ford on the Goth of December, reach
ing camp at Brandy Station in the afternoon.
It's camp was subsequently moved to the
farm Of a Mr.. Rixey, about two and half
miles from Culpeper, where in remained until
it was broken up by the transfer of the
troops to the Second and Third Corps.
The order disseminating the Third and
First Corps aroused feeling of intense in
dignation. Those who had shared its hard
ships and glories, and felt just pride in
the honor and distinction it had won, were
saddened that its existence should be 80
abruptly, and, as they believed, unnecessa-
rily terminated. But it was determined at
the WarDepartment that the order should
be enforced, and all remOnstrances and ap-
peals for it's revocation were of no avail;
the only concessions made being to allow
the men to retain the diamond-shaped flan-
mel badges on their caps. The regiments
were assigned to other corps, but never re-
linquished their pride and affection for their
old corps and its commanders The First
and Second Divisions became part of the
Second Corps, and under the command of
Gems. Birney and Mott, respectively, became
the Third and Fourth Divisions of that
corps. The Third Division, under command
of Gen. Ricketts,, was transferred to the
Sixth Corps, and became the Third Division
of that corps.