The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-12-22

Setting the Matter Right.

setting the Matter Right.
]. b. Potter, Olivet. Ark, writes In your
issue of Nov. "a Corp'l Hutchinson takes me
to task for an error in my former article /
stated that the SD Pa. was in the Fifth Corps
from first to last, etc. l made that statement
to prove an alibi to the charge of Hutchinson
that the SD Pa. Was in the Sixth Corps at
Marye's Nights during the battle of ChsnceI-
louisville. | did not suppose anyone would think
! meant we were in the Fifth Corps before there
was any Fifth Corps. or not in the Sixth Corps
previous to the organization of the Fifth. No
denies that the s3d Pa. was in the Third Corps,
under Heintzelman, for short time; but Por-
ter's Division was detached from the Third
Corps in April, having been with Heintzelman
only 80 days. It was not in the Third Corps
when it was transferred from Yorktown up to
West Point; nor was it placed under Porter
with Sykes's Regulars at White House, for the
reason that il had never been out from under
Porter since it was organized as q division, in
October, 1861. In short, Porter's Division was
the embryo Fifth Corps at Yorktown, to
which was added Sykes's Regulars to make q
more complete organization, at White House, in
May, 1862"
Spanish Fort.
W. F. Henry. Kansas City. No., writes:
"Joun Fl. Kater. Co. E, 105th ILL.,, in his COM
munication in the issue of the 18th, makes
some mistakes lin regard to the assault on
Spanish Fort. At the siege and capture, Col.
J. S. Geddes, Of 9Th Iowa, was commander of
the Third Brigade. Third Division, Sixteenth
Corps. The brigade was composed of the 9Th
Iowa, 8lst H., 108th Ill.,, and 124th ILL.,, and
occupied the right Of our line, the extreme
right being held by the 106th ILL.,, and its right
resting on Minnette Bay. The 108th ILL.,. 'un-
der Col. Chas. Turner, constructed a very in
genious breastwork of gabions behind which
our men could approach very close to the ene-
m va left On 18th of ApriI Col Tnrnor
reported to Col. Geddes that he thought it then
practicable to effect a Judgment in the Fort
from behind the works which his men had con-
structed, and wanted permission to make the
assault Col. Geddes thought the plan feasible,
and with the concurrence of Gen. Z. A. Carr,
commanding the division, arranged for the
attack to be made at dusk on the evening of
the 9Th, Col. Geddes naturally wished to honor
his own regiment the 9Th Iowa, and assigned
that regiment to take the advance, to be fol-
lowed by the 10Sth Ill. The 124th Ill. occupied
the right of our brigade, and were directed to
keep up a very vigorous fire, as were also the
61st III. The attack was successfully made as
planned. The 9Th Iowa was the first in the
Fort, with the 1O3th following as closely "a
possible, and with the Sth Iowa charging the
enemy behind his works, resulting in the cap
ture of the Fort. The filth Ill. was in the
Second Brigade. Second Division, Sixteenth
Corps at the time and did not get into the Fort
until twas practically captured by Col. Goddess
Brigade. l was at that time Captain, Co. B,
108th ILL.,. and A. A. A. Gen., Third Brigade,
Third Division. Sixteenth Corps"
What a Colored Man Saw at Cedar Creek.
Henry Thomas. an intelligent colored man
of Washington, was a cook for Capt. Dudley, of
Humphreys Mississippi Brigade, and was at
the battle of Cedar Creek. He recently re-
lated to the Editor of Fighting Them
Over" some of the occurrences which took
place in Early's army after Sheridan ar
rived on the field. Thomas says the rout was
complete, and he was running away as hard as
the rebel soldiers, when he found himself in
with Gen. Early and his staff, who
were along with some 1900 prisoners which
had been taken that morning. The prisoners
were not getting along as rapidly as Early
thought they ought to- and everybody from
the General down were badly scared. He
kept telling the guards to make the prisoners
move up faster, saying: off they don't get
along, prick them with your bayonets, -
them, prick them good" When they got to the
cut at Fishers Hill. the Union cavalry were
pressing close on the retreating rebels, and
Early dismounted and tried to rally his men.
He would call out: Rally men: for Gods
sake, rally. For your conntry's sake, if not
mine, make a stand" The men were too
thoroughly frightened to heed their General,
and some of them told him he might rally as
much as he wanted to, but they would lie -
If they were going to rally. He finally Or
dered that every man who attempted to pass
should be shot and Thomas says he saw sew
eral rebel soldiers killed who refused TO stop.
Gen. Early at last saw it was OF no use, and he
and his staff mounted, and Early said to them: |
" Every man take care Of himself" and put |
spurs to his horse and went to the head of the |
army. Thomas says if our cavalry |
could only have known the condition of the |
mob which opposed them, they could easily |
have liberated our prisoners as but few men |
Else to fear. Thomas joined the Army of the /
Potomac as q cook st the capture of Petersburg, |
ind went North with New York regiment.
Missionary Ridge.
E. D. Lloyd. 55th Ohio JohnstowD, Pa, hav.
ng seen various claims as to who reached the |
OPP of Missionary Ridge first, would like to
rave some of the Twentieth Corps fellows tell
What they know, and what old Pap Thomas
aid as they went by him.
Who Can Aid Herr
Mrs Jennie Mcdonnell, Kennedy. N. T.,
SKIS If some Christian soldiers family In tina
state of New York ia willing TO adopt al eight
'ear-old boy. She would help to clothe him il
my one adopts him.
Information Wanted and Given.
D. II. Getchell, 1920 Tacoma avenue, Tacoma,
WASH, says that he has been reading The Ma
'IoNAL TRIBUNE for some time. but he has
lever seen anything from the I'd Me. Cav. He
vas member of Co. C of that regiment, and
alter was transferred to the band. He would
ike to know why the members of the band
nd company do not write.
Give the Youngsters a Show.
F. C. Robinson, Co. K, 18th Me-, Blaine Me-,
bjects to the recent statement hat all the hard
york in the war was done by men between the
ges of 20 and 40. From personal observation
he writer knows that about as much real work
vas done by young fellows Is and 10 years old
8 by older men. very large percentage Of
he army consisted of men under 90.
Scattering.
7. D. McGillieuddy, Co. K, 50th H., Warren,
o., tells all the veterans to come to Warren |
'Ounty, Pa, where lsud can be secured that
will yield 80 bushels to the acre at less than
alf its cost to improve it. 1t is good soldier
'ounty. There are nine Posts there.
William Russell. Nemaha City, Neb, regrets
hat he never sees anything from the 5th Iowa
av. in the paper. 1t had good record. Alto
ether there were los enlisted men in his COM
any fC), and only 16 were mustered out at the
nd who were in the regiment when it went
ut.
r. Benser, Co. d, SD Pa, Winsids, Neb, was
18th Mcclellan on the Peninsula and Grant in
,e Wilderness, and was discharged with his
egiment in Pittsburg in 1864. He left Allie
any City in 1872 for the West. since which
me he has not seen comrade of his regi-
TENT. He would like to have some of them
rite personal letters to him.
Mrs. Anna HarrelI HidaIpo Ill. wants some