The National tribune., 1893-04-27
SYKES'S REGULARS.
They Certainly Did Fighting At and Near
the Henry House.


~OMRADE Tbos. T. Cooney, in your
6 issue of Feb 9, replies to an article
~ written by ID. NJ Perry, appearing in
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE Dec. ], 1872,
from which he quotes as follows: AT the see
ond battle of Manassas, on the evening of Aug.
80, 1862, the tide of rebel advance was rolled
back from tho Henry House Hill by the solid
front of Sykes's Regulars"
Comrade Co0ney says: al think Sykes's
Regulars were not there that evening"" and
then goes OIL to state his reasons. There is no
doubt whatever that Graham's Light Battery
X, lst Z. s. Art, to which Cemrade Cooney be-
louged, was there. and his graphic description
of what was done on that part of the line is no
doubt correct.
1 here subjoin official report to Gen. Phil
Kearny of Capt. w. III. Graham, Ist Art,
dated at Centreville Sept. /, 1862:
GENERAL: / have the honor to report that
my battery occupied position OH our extreme
left, supported by three regiments of Gen.
Reno's Brigade, on the evening of the Goth
ultimo. ! here fought large force of the
enemy's artillery, infantry, and cavalry, and
held the position until o'clock at night, when
/ was ordered to Withdraw and take up the
line of march to this point by Gen. Gibbon,
commanding the rear guard of the army" etc.
Now, as to Sykcs's Regulars being on Henry
House Hill, will merely insert extracts from
official reports, and those interested i'll this
matter can form their own differences, From
Gen. SySes's report: " / suggested to Gen.
Porter that my troops should occupy the
plateau of the Henry aud Robinson Houses. be-
yOnd YOung's Run, and endeavor To hold it
against the oncOmiDg foe. Naturally it was
the strongest position on the field. He acqui-
esced in my suggestion, etc. After short in
terval, riding rapidly towards the plateau, /
learned from my Adjutsnt that some general
officers had sent Chapman's Brigade into action
IN, fhae xtpa loft and hat rnl1f wac
held by other troops" ETC.
From report Of Lieut.,CoL VIM. Chapman,
commanding Second Brigade of Regulars ::
AT the timo OF leaving our second
position the enemy was massing heavy columns
on our left for flank attack My brigade
was ordered by Gems. Pope, Mcdowell and
others 10 advance to our proper front; then
towards the left of the position occupied by tire
Federal forces. My arrival was most oppor-
tune; not a regiment or brigade of the immense
reserve held on thai field were in effective
proximity to repel the advaiice of the enemy at
the point of their appfoaeh,0 etc.
Then Col. Chapman continues in a general
description of the placing his regiments and
of the hard fight they maintained, and says ::
1.-The firing continued three quarters of an
hour with material decrease on the part of
the enemy. One effect of our fire was notable,
the enemy was checked. A New York battery
posted on hill towards the right and rear of
my brigade limbered TO the rear and left its
position at the very moment when it conid
have done excellent service. The
commanding officer may have received orders
TO leave; If so. they came at AL unfortunate
moment. The enemy finding himself
checked here. dispatched force farther to the
left, with section OF artillery threatening gu r
rear The New York regiment of volunteers on
the left Of our line soon retired thus leaving our
flank exposed Another volunteer regiment
left our right after being engaged but a few
minutes. When the First Brigade moved up
within view / ordered the brigade TO fall back.
$ The First Brigade advanced towards
the right of the position left by Us. My bril-
gade fell back some 600 yards to Bull Run Hill
on the side towards Centrevile"
From report of Lieut.-Col. X. c. Buchanan,
commanding First Brigade of Regulars: 8
From this point | was ordered across the
turnpike to position on the plateau between
the Henry and Robinson Houses. where the
brigade was depOyed i'll line of battle, with its
right resting OH the Henry House. About u.
III. was ordered to take the batt.lions of the
18th and l4th u. 5. to wood to left and
front, to support Meade's Brigade, then severely
pressed by the enemy, ard almost Immediately
after placing these troops in position / OBJ
served that the Sd and 18th had also been or
dered up Immediately commenced
to gain ground to my left, SO AS TO meet his (the
enemy'sl movements, and held him in check
for nearly an hour"
Extract from letter written to Gen. Mcdowell,
at his request by Col. Buchanan in reference to
Gen. Miiroy's report: s. did not lnss one inch
of ground after | got my brigade together,
which did Immediately by moving this latter
portion to the left, but held the enemy ut bay
for an hour, aud instead Of being forced back !
maintained my position until ordered to fall
back to the position from whence we started.
Had the enemy forced me back in the sense OF
Gen. Milroy's report, he would have obtained
possession not only of the turnpike but of the
Stone Bridge, and what would have been the
result? You arc we'll aware our defeat would
| have been disastrous"
Sykess Division YVES composed of the follow
ing: Sd, 4th, 18th, 1st and I'd battalions of The
| 14th 1st, I'd, 9th, 10th, 1lth, 18th U. S. Inf
| 9th AMI 10th n. Y; Batteries | and x. 9th U.
s. Art.-ALFRED DAVENPORT, Sergeant. 9Th n.
Y. Third Brigade, Sykcs's Division, 218 West
| Thirty eighth street, New York City.
All that is necessary to get genuine watch
| that will keep accurate time, is to send US
I'll nf nuIy i've yearly suhScr herg Our