The National tribune., 1893-04-06
CARROLL'S BRIGADE.
An Ohio Comrade' Tells Again How They
Succored the Eleventh Corps.

NOTICE in your issue Of Nov. "a. 1892,
that Lieut.. Peek, of the 18th Conn. has
l. something to say about CAROLS Brigade,
what it did and what it didn't do. at
Gettysburg; besides pitching into Serg't Owen.
of the 18th Ind, also First Lieut.. w. III. Thurs
ton, of Rickctts's Battery tFl. 1st Pa. l.. A. We
will see what official documents say regarding
the matter, which were published in The Ma
TIoNAJ TRIBUNE at the time.
In the AtlGatic Monthly for July, 1876, Gen.
Howard tried to convey the false impression
that he did not ask for any aid, and Carroll
Brigade was sent to him without solicitation.
and thdn only assisted in restoring his line.
Gen. II bward has been from the first unwilling
to admis that there was any break in his line
on the evening of July 2, or that his infantry
failed I'd support his batteries whether the 18th
Conn. il RniUug them or not can't say; but
Gen. Howard failed. in his report made within
the neyf; few days, to give Gen. Carroll, then
COLONEL commanding, and his brigade the
credit Of saving his line.
The Pact is three regiments of CarrolPs
Brigadd-4th Ohio. 14th Ind, and 7th w. Va
recaptut ed two of his batteries re-established
his limb, and helped to hold same that night
and alllof the following day; because some of
his (Iloward'sl infantry had fallen back to find
a better position and he was unable to bring
them to the front until the evening Of July 3,
when the battle was over.
LOU cail Hnn III the army nhL ISuCy JOuItut vi
March IL, 1864, commun ications from our
Adutant, and also Gen. Gibbou. In the Wash
ington Daily Chronicle of April 5. 1864, Gen.
Howard acknowledged that he had sighted
Col. Carroll aud his brigade.
Now if the 4th Ohio drops down in tho grass
in the of Lieut.. Peck's 18th Conn, why
did Gen. Howard make the Acknowledgements
that he did?
The facts of the case are these: The Eleventh
earns hraLe nd nnr fld bri Ia therA in
time to save our lines and their scalps. as they
always did. They were never known to finch,
and when there was any fighting going on they
wanted to he in it.
Capt j. r. Huntington who commanded q
brigade of artillery at Gettysburg, says: 81
commanded brigade of artillery which was
posted on Cemetery Hill, and have personal
knowledge OF what was done by Col. Carroll
and his brigade" He further says that Col.
Carroll called to me soon as he arrived on
the hill, having, as he said, 10 precise orders,
and asked ME where the enemy We're; and the
prompt and gallant action Of Col. Carroll saved
the hill that Thursday evening. The enemy
were in one of the batteries of my commando
Ricketts's Of and 81 Pa. rt..-aud that portion
of the Eleventh Corps which should have sup
ported it were too busy redeeming themselves
to attend to that duty"
Now, if the 18th Conn. were in that portion
of the Eleventh Corps, they must have been
too busy to know much about what was going
on, and it looks like thin talk iosay CarrolPs
Brigade or the 4ti OHIO was lying back in
the grass, for it would not have been healthy
to have done so. According to Lieut.. Peck S
theory, and what he says. the monuments
of the 18th Ohio and 14th Ind. had better be re-
moved from Cemetery Hill and put where
they lay in the grass. But if what he says is
right, history and the records are wrong.
/ think it is about time that comrades should
cease trying to make out that no one did any
thing but themselves. and any soldier that
served three years during the war did
enough for his country, and it makes no
difference to what part of the army he belonged.
/ have been watching The NATIONAL TKiB-
UNE to see if any of my regiment would an
swer some of these fellows, but suppose they
are ali too busy trying to makea living. They
were kept busy in tho service all the time and
had no time to write. THE NATIONAL TRrB-
UNE is the best medium aud friend of the SOL
der published in the world.-WM. T. DART,
Co. G. 9TH Ohio, MeKeesport, Pa.