The National tribune., 1892-06-23

made regarding losses in action. Officers have
claimed losses for their regiments which are
sadly at variance with the records which they
certified as correct at the close Of the war
muster-out rolls which they made out them
selves, and on which they accounted for each
man of their command. If any veteran is sur
prised at the figures given here, and feels dis
posed to question their accuracy, let him first
carefully examine the muster-out rolls OF his
regiment 1t will not be necessary to exag-
gerate the result. To the thoughtful the truth
will be sensational enough. The correct hg-
ures are amply heroic, aud are unsurpassed In
the annals of war;"
I may say here that just prior to the final
discharge Of comrades at the end of the war
there was ample time given for making out
muster-out rolls. blanket rolls" the boys
called them, owing to their length, on which
appeared names Of those present at discharge.
tho killed in action, wounded, and where
wounded; died of disease, in prison or else
where: the discharged for disability during
life of the command; making complete data
by company commanders in those respects.
Such procedure was followed in the Army of
the Potomac. These fual rolls tell the story,
not now to be refuted.
In references to Comrade Lee In your paper
he is called Colonel" and the inference is fair
that he commanded his regiment, at least at
the close of the war; in which case the above
quotation from Fox's book directly applies
and the inference from his last article also is
that he was in charge Of his company in the
charge at Jackson.
By natural course in command having any
sort of discipline, gradations In rank, together
with tho responsibility, fall successfully from
higher to lower, accordingly with death and
disabilities; that is to say, if there is no First
Sergeant in q company to make ont q casualty
list after battle, such duty falls to another
non.-com.; commissioned officer, if any
be left, taking vital interest In an official duty
so palpably plain TO have such list correctly
made following the great test of battle. or
course there were slight wounds or abrasions
among both officers and men omitted In the re-
ports Of casualties. To be liberal with Comrade
Lee. counted in the "148 missing" of his bril-
gade at Jackson, as por Fox's book, as wounded
or killed of one regiment in the brigade tthe
Sd Iowa), thinking new that that concession
covers fully the omission in count as stated by
the comrade, and all he names or imagines as
the uncounted hit of his brigade Oh that des-
perate charge.
losses on other charges made in the war should
be I" estimated in the same ratio; notably, for
instance the charges of the LIST MINI. at Get
tysburg the LIST Ne. III. A. at Petersburg. in
which latter regiment@wero that day, June IL,
1864, "about 400 muskets,n or the same num-
Der as was in Comrade Leo's brigade at jack
son, and the loss is reported 1852 in killed and
wounded" (See Page 125, Col. Fox's work. J
No missing are here named or reported.
On the whole, I think Col. Lee will have to
leave the 400 men +" ofahis 645 at jackson un-
scathed by shot or shell; yet if it will comfort
the comrade any, will echeerfuly admit that l
was not in SO hot a place dnring my service as
from the reasonable accounts Jackson was !;
that is, do not SO estimate" and always have
thanked Goo" in getting through with lesser
experiences in these crucial tests of soldier,
although at times was not unmarked by the
searching missiles of onrenemy.-R. 8. LITTLE.
FIELD, of Massachusetts,. Bandon, Ore.