The National tribune., 1893-09-07
PICKET SHOTS
From Alert Comrades All Along the
10 OA
Line.
The Affair at Orange Courthouse.

4,
Watson, 1st Mich. Cav, in which he gives 8
very good description of the cavalry Skin
mish at Orange Courthouse, Aug. 2, 1862.
As he speaks of one company of the 9Th n
Y. in spirit of aspersioh, the article in
question seems TO require more than a pass.
ing notice from the 5th N. Y, from the fact
that it is believed by the writer to be
untrue, in so far as relates to the 5th n. Y.
and the alleged refusal of q company OF
| Irishmen TO make q charge when ordered.
Now, the records tell us that this
accommodating force consisted of the LIST
| Vt, 1st Mich, and 9Th n. Y. Cav, and
our friend gives good and, as he be-
lieves, a truthful statement of the move
ments of Gen. Crawford, his escort and
the 1st Mich. Cav. up to the point where the
firing commenced on the advance-guard. AS
| the Captain seems not to have noticed pre-
vious movements in the advance, / will
quote in substance from the Historic Rec
cords. The 5th n. Y, being in the advance
on entering the suburbs of the town, threw
out two companies as a fanking party to
the left of the road toward the Gordonsville
road, and one platoon of Co. to the right.
The balance of Co. E was the advance-guard
of the main column. The writer was one
of the latter.
when we came to the junction of the
Gordonsvile road the rebels opened fire on
us from the woods. We had not yet turned
the corner and returned the fire, shooting
directly across the vacant lot on the corner
There was no running back or any move
ments to the rear, even after our ammuni-
ton was exhausted, until the column broke
to the rear in confusion, without as it APP
peared then, sufficient cause. But if they
were assaied in flank as stated by Watson,
they had some excuse, if not to their credit.
Subsequent events made the movement
to our advantage, as it drew the enemy
down into the narrow street just as our
thanking party struck them in flank and
rear with terrific force at and around the
depot of the Orange & Alexandria Railroad,
and forced them to retire in disorder in the
direction of Gordonsville, leaving his dead
and badly wounded in our hands and so
prisoners, the 5th n. Y. Cav. closely pur-
suing.n
Another View.
George w Toms, Orderly Sergeant, Co. K,
9Th N. Y. Cav, writes: ave marched into
Orange Courthouse and halted near the cor
ner of the street. There was no sign of
living person. After standing in column a
few minutes body of the enemy came out
in our front and fired few volleys. Gen.
Crawford, who was at the head, turned his
horse around, pulled his hat down over his
eyes, and with his staff started for the rear
No word of command was given by any Off
Ger in command, as claimed by Comrade
Watson. A few shots were returned, when
the regiment retreated from the place. In
the meantime two companies of tie 9Th
n. Y. Cav. and part Of the 1st Vt. had made
a circuit of the place and charged in the
rear of the enemy, capturing 80 prisoners
and killing and wounding quite number.
The disgraceful part of this affair would not
have happened if Gen. Crawford had done
his duty. There was not q cavalry regiment
in the service which had better record than
the 9Th n. Y. Cav"
Why Don't They Write?
Joseph Smith, Co. G, 7th U. S., Box 344,
Wayne, Mich, asks why the old soldiers and
sailors of the Regular Army and Navy do
not write oftener. They ought 10 have lots
of good stories to tell, and he hopes his sug-
gestiOn that they let the comrades hear from
them through this paper will be acted upon.
Homes for Settlers.
Fl. 3. Booth 9th Iowa, Canning, s. D.,
writes: Il am one Of the number of COM
rades who saw the notice written by Mai.
Pyne, of this place, calling attention to this
part of the country as good place to secure
Government land. l came out about one
year ago, during the harvest excursions, and
looked the country Tor the Winnebago reser-
vati0n) over, made my declaratOry filing On
a fine 100 acres, returned to Iowa, and in
March last, with my family, came on here.
/ find the country up to this time all it was
to be by the Major / will not
take the space to at this time give de-
tail of its advantages but will say in short
that it is a fine stock country, and that all
kinds of grain is grown quite successfully.
The crop this season is cut short On account
of the extensive drouth, but this part is not
any worse off than many places farther
east"
comrade, whose address is Box Sc, Clear
water, Kan, writes: "Will some comrade in
western Oregon or Washington inform me
where can buy from so to 100 acres of good
farm land? Please state full particulars"
Charlottesville.
Thomas w. Baird, Co. II, 5th Conn, 5125
Wentworth avenue, Chicago, Ill.,, writes:
" Another word about Charlottesville. Had
Gen. Rockers orders been faithfully carried
out by Gen. Carl Shr,z I'll would have been |
- hunkie-dorie," but Gail was kicker from |
awayba In,1848 ne tried and did make |
a feeble kick, and was forced to seek shelter |
in free America. The only rest Carl had |
from this kicking propensity of his was |
when lie was Secretary of the interior. |
was won before q gun was |
fired, DR.. Hamlin to the contrary nOtwith-
standing The Eleventh Corps was COM
posed of the same material as other corps.
Carl was hoodoO, and DR.. Hamlin can't
save him."
Another 81 Claim"
A. L. Jones, Co. c, 18th KY, Panther, KY,
writes: claim that the 17th Ky. was the
first Federal regiment that entered Corinth
ut the time it was evacuated by the rebels
under Beauregard We were on picket all
night, and without being relieved were Or
Tered forward at daylight, and of course
we're in advance. / remember that the OBJ
,tacles we had to climb and get over were
terrible, but after q while we reached and
passed the breastworks, having met with
Dut slight opposition, and we did not stop I'M
ill we reached Corinth, when we were halted
by Gen. Nelson in person. He rode up and
old onr Colonel John Fl. McHenry) to stop,
aud Nelson then placed his old regiment
hat he had formerly commanded in advance
If US, thereby endeayoring after the real
LANCER had passed to give all the honor 10
ais old regiment. Mind you, we were in
advance when there was danger, and after
passing them the honor should have been
conferred upon the 18th KY; but Nelson,
Who disliked our Colonel, stopped him. The