The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-07-28

IN 1t.
All agree that the works on the Brock road
were captured by the enemy-that is, all the
works extending to the left from a point just
south of the Plank road and the question is
how and by whom were they retaken? From
Gen Hancock S report we learn that the result
of the fighting out toward Parker's Store during
the forenoon of the 9th of May was such that
he thought it advisable to withdraw the troops
and reform them in the works along the Brock
road-the "orginal line of battle" Leasure's
Brigade had not been engaged with the troops
in the front, and was now near Hancock's left,
under Gibbon Orders were sent to Leasure to
move across the front of Motifs and Birney' s
Divisions at right angles to the works, his right
"about 100 PAGES from our breastworks."
This was the exhaustive march " alluded to
by Comrade Carter in his last. Maj. Mitchell
says he carried the order to Leasure to make
the movement that the right was kept within
the prescribed distance of the breastworks, the
left refused. and that the line marched across
the Plank road without serious opposition"
Comrade Carter. however, says the left regi-
ment drove back Longstreets Corps.
This is the only mention made of Leasure's
Brigade during the operations at that point. 1t
does not follow that they did not remain III
that vicinity. They certainly did all that was
required of them, but that they did any hard
fighting cannot be true, and that they rendered
any such service on that eventful day as either
CAROLS or Rices Brigade is manifestly absurd.
On consulting the revised tables of losses in
the Wilderness we find that nine regiments of
Carrolfs Brigade lost an aggregate of $50 men.
Out of five regiments Rice lost 672 while the
loss of Leasures Brigade was 90. The loss of
the Sd Nd. was three killed and nine wounded.
This does not indicate very severe fighting on
the part of Lcasure's Brigade and the Sd Nd.
seems to have been "in it i" less than any other
regiment of the division.
The part taken by CAROLS Brigade and that
of Gen. Rice has been duly set forth by Gen.
Hoffman,. Rice's was the first to reach the
enemy at the point where their flag had been
planted on the works, and it was unjust and
ungenerous in Hancock to refuse acknowledge
ment of its gallant service.
Carroll says the 9Th Ohio, 18th Ind, and 9TH
Va. were sent back to the right of the Plank
road under command of Col. Coons, of the 18th
Ind. and 1.-THE rest of the brigade formed on
the Brock road, north of the Plank road. This
accounts for Comrade Myerhof's frank
statement" that the 18th Ind. was not in Car
rolls rush."
Carroll reports that by Gen. Birney's orders
he regained the breastworks in double quick
at the point of the bayonet" His attack is To-
Gated vaguely :" to the left of the Plank road"
and he mentions no other troops. None of the
regimental commanders under Carroll mention
the rush and the bayonet" business.
The 18th Conn. must have been there but
neither Col. Ellis nor Capt. Broatch say any
thing about the incident.
With reference to Rce's Brigade, Gen. Cut
Ter says "a charge led by Col. Holman drove
the enemy from line of our works, which the
enemy had captured"
Capt. Cowdery Assistant Adjutant-G General,
says: 'The remainder of the division under
Rice fell back to the intrenchments on the
Brock road and late in the afternoon were sue
ccssfui in repeling an attack ofthe enemy, who
charged up to the works"
Col Hoffman, says in his report "At $50
.. m. the enemy again came forward on the
left of the Plank road, and succeeded in forcing
a portion of our troops back from the line of
works that had been erected on the west side
of the Brock road by the Second Corps.
"Gen. Hancock, through Gen. Rice, directed
COL Holman to remove his brigade to the
support of the troops at the works. The bril-
gade was moved out by the right flank, and
when the head of the column arrived at the
goint of the works where they had been vacated
by our troops the brigade was formed in line
Of battle, the men firing as fast as they came
into line.
ain the course of 10 minutes the enemy was
driven from the works into the woods from
which he had emerged. Several hundred men
sprang over the works and desired to follow up
the enemy. Col Hoffman, felt it his duty to
recall them, as he was uniformed whether
they would be supported or not.
Z" He then reported his action to Gen. Han
cock. who approved of it,"
At p. M. Rice's Brigade was relieved and
lay in the rear line until a. m. on the 7th,
when it was again moved into the front line,
and erected works about three-quarters Of a
mile to the left On the Brock road. AT p. m. it
moved to the Lacey House, and at 10 that night
it marched for Spottsylvania.
Reports from the official records could be
multiplied, but it is quite unnecessary. In view
of the above it is very funny to hear Comrade
Carter remark with such gravity and earnest
ness: "Rice was not in it'll"
Rice lost more men than Stevenson's entire
division, and captured five of the ten flags
taken by the Fifth Corps. They were in it,"
j. d. RICHARDSON Marble Hill, Mo.