The National tribune., 1892-05-19
Whose command,

Many asked the question, "Whose command
| and how many ?"1a ~
Ipresume this was Fitz John Porters Divi
| sion How different would have been the re.
snlt had they double-enicked to the assistance
of our left, and what ample time they had tc
do so, the final charge of the enemy on oui
left not being made until about o'clock p. m,
and they had been less than two miles away
| for three hours. (, But they came not, and
| thousands had to suffer untold agony upon the
| battlefield without care or protection. l saw
| thousands going to the rear the noxt day. those
! who were least hurt, and on the fourth day
| was one Of those detailed to accompany Gen.
| Pope's Army Surgeon with flag of truce, after
| the body of Gen. Isaac Stevens, who met death
| at Chantilly, and in passing along the turnpike
from Fairfax to Centeryille saw hundreds OF
| wounded making their way toward Alexandria
| and Washington, some of them SO weak from
loss of blood and want of food that they could
60 but a little way at time. And that morn
ing 300 of our ambulances had gone inside the
rebel lines to the battlefield for what2 Why,
for wounded men, many who need not have
been left to misery and finally death because
somebody was traitor, and who deserved to
have been shot, or, more, to suffer the full meas
ure of what these poor, wounded, destitute and
brave men had We halted and ministered to
the needs of many.
While going out found friend and former
and with several others was resting at the big
spring just east of Centerville, to whom the
Surgeon gave some sandwiches and little
brandy, of which he had broughta supply ex-
pressly for this purpose. The escort was not
allowed to enter beyond the inner rebel picket
of the infantry reserve, although we had first
met their outposts at Fairfax Courthouse. We
remained here about two hours before the Sur
geon returned; entered into conversation with
the Sergeant Of the Guard and all those on the
reserve. They were confident they were going
to finally succeed in establishing the Confeder-
ate States of America and boosted that three
of their men were as good as five of Us. They
were loud in praise of Gems. Mcclellan and
Mcdowell; thought the former by far the best
General we had but not a patching to Lee.
When the Surgeon returned with the body
OF Gen. Stevens we started on our return to
Gen. Pope's Headquarters. On reaching the
spring we found tho comrades had passed on,
but we soon overlook them; but before doing
SO we came to an ambulance and one set o!
harness, and remembering that as we were
passing out We had seen another, which was
not far away, that had been left in the same
way, we took the harness, and comrade
and myself on reaching the second ambulance
hitched our horses to it, and brought in my
friend and comrade, the latter dying soon
after reaching the hospital at Washington, of
lockjaw. My friend lived to return home, and
/ have seen him once or twice since the war,
he having lost arm to remember Bull Run
the second. If alive to-day, and this should
meet his eye, would be pleased to hear from
him, or any other of my late comrades.-CHAs.
b. THOMAS Co. F. and Regimental Commits
Sergeant 9TH N. Y. Cav, Fernwood, Ill.