The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-08-04

! had arrived on the scene. Then, it is not sup
possible that if the Sd Wis. had been immedi
ately on the left of the I'd Mass. they would
have taken regiment from the rear (as they
did the 9th Ind, causing great delay. when
help was so badly needed If Comrade Hink-
ley will look at the map in Gen. Ruger's official
report published in the Rebellion Records, he
will see that one giment of our brigade IS In
tho rear. As every other regiment is accounted
for this must be the Sd Wis. Many other facts
could be stated to show that the position of the
Sd Wis in the rear, but the foregoing. l
think, will suffice. So this is error No. l for
Conirade Hinkley.
Comrade Huxley describes the advance of
the I'd Mass. rs follows: 1.-The writer saw
them (the Cd Mass getting over their slight
breastworks and going across the meadow, not
by the left flank, but directly TO the
front. As they approached the edge of the
woods on the opposite side they obliqued to
the left" etc.
For the 2d to have advanced across the
meadow in the manner described would have
been physical impossblity The regiment
would have been exposed to the fire of line
three and one-half times its own length, and
| when it reached the woods would have been
surrounded and annihilated. / maintain that
the Cd moved to the left in the woods before
reaching the meadow, not after it reached the
meadow. 1t is tho easiest thing in the world
to be mistaken in matters of this kind unless
one exercises the greatest care Let me Illus
trate: Comrade Hinkley's description of the
part his regiment took in the battle of Antietam
| was published short time ago. l find this
statement therein: 1--WE had gone into action
| that morning with II officers and about 20
enlisted men" COL Ruger's official report con-
tains this estimate: "The total number carried
into action was, officers and men, about 34O.
/ will now describe the picture as 1t exists IN
my mind to-day, and as it has remained ever
since the day of the battle.
The Cd Mass. moved forward over its works,
and from where | stood was lost to view in the
woods side of the meadow. Shortly after
the Cd started tho 9th Ind. was ordered to
ab0ut-fa face. change front, and move forward.
All this time, mind you, the Cd is moving on
the double-quick toward its objective point
We went over tho eds works and on through
the woods into the center of the meadow.
While near the center Of the meadow, look
ing to the front, Maj. Colgrove, on his horse
in the rear, attracted my attention. He was
yelling and pointing with his sword to the
left and looking in that direction. About $50
yards from our left / saw body of troops,
whose line appeared to be at right angles with
ours, moving on that part Of the enemy's posi-
ton. l did not know at the time that this
body was the I'd Mass; in fact, did not know
what had become of the 3D. supposed it had
gone directly across the field and had been
driven back.
1.-THE I'd had gone directly across the meadow
it would have had plenty of time to be driven
back before the 9th entered the meadow.
When the I'd started it was about 80 yards in
advance OF the extreme right OF the 9TH. 1t
| had time to move fully 100 yards before the
9th commenced to change front. When the
9th was in the center of the meadow both its
! tanks were out in the air. The troops nearest
the 9Th was that body about $50 yards to the
/ left, moviag on the angle of the rebel works.
This body was the I'd Mass. Why, if the Cd
Mass had gone directly to the front, as
claimed, it would have been about 300 yards in
dvamce of the 9th. When anyone says the
| Cd Mass. reached the position whore saw it
| by going directly across the meadow l know
| the statement is erroneous.
| have not drawn on my imagination for soli
| fairy detail in this entire statement l have
| talked with many cool, level headed men In
| our regiment, including Capt. Bloss, who super
intended the burial of the dead of both regi-
nients and find my recollection is confirmed
| in every essential detail.
Comrade Hinkley further says: No regi
! ment in the army could have done more than
| they 1.-THE 27th) did" We grateful for this
| expression of his esteem. 1t shows the author
| to be fair minded and impartial. And this being
| true, it is exasperating to see the 9th written
| about in an unfair, censorious manner
| The whole affair may be summarized as fol-
lows:
/. The 9th Ind. and Cd Mass did not enter
the meadow in line together but fought under
| entirely different conditions.
2 That the Cd Mass. started for its objective
point long before the 9th started.
g. That the call upon the 9th to enter the
fight was an aftertbought, rendered necessary
| by great emergency.
In conclusion again affirm, without fear of
successful contradiction, that the description
of this affair in the report of the Adjutant-
| General of Massachusetts is act of cold
blooded, deliberate Observation-Disclosures
| r. RANKIN, Co. A, 9th Ind, Washington, ID.
c.