The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-09-28

THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE
rear. Deployins one wing as skirmshers and FORM
ing the, other in line. advanced, capturing the
battery (nine peces), 81 prisoners, and about 40
stand of arms. A list OF prisoners is hereby for
wardcd. am happy 10 state that met with no
casualties. and cannot speak in too high terms Of
the bravery. gallantry, and endurance displayed
by every officer and man of my regiment.
w. L. MCafILLEN,
Colonel Commanding.
Second. Abstract of Gen. Buckland's Re-
port, found in War Records, same volume,
page 1852:
Col. Mcsfillen, with the 95tb Ohio was
ordered TO connoiter the enemy's position OH the
right. where he found the enemy's rifle-pits unoc
cuped aud thereupoD marched into the city. and
TO the rear of the enemy's batteries, taking them
by surprise. COL McMil!en captured nine guns
one Captain, three First Lieutenants, two Second
Lieutenants and 46 enlisted men. The 95th Ohio
had the honor of being the arst to enter the Capital
OF Mississippi.
r. P. BUcKLAND,
Brigader General commanding First Brigade,
Third Division, Fifteenth Corps.
Third. Report of Brig. Gen. j. M. Tuttle
found in same volume, page 759
We drove the enemy before us until
the artillery from the works around Jackson
opened ii brisk fire on US. After accommodating
the position for short time, by direction OF Gen.
Sherman the 95th Ohio was sent to reconnoiter 10
the rlRhl, ana entered Inc enemy y WORKS AT IL
point where the railroad enters the town, and after
waiting for Gen. Sieel's advance to come up 10 the
same point they advanced TO the rear of the guns
that were playing upon and captured 10 of them,
together with all the gunners, about $50 in num-
Der, we then marched into the town r without
Brigadier-General commanding.
Fourth. Abstract of report of Gen. Sher-
man, found in same volume page 1853:
As we emerged from the woods. TO
front and to the left as far as we could see, APP
peared line of intrenchments, and the enemy
kept up n pretty brisk fire with artillery from the
points that enfiladed our road In order to ascer-
tain the nature of the auks of this line OF intrench
ment / directed Capt. Piizman, Acting Engineer,
to take regiment of the reserve namely, the 95th
Ohio. and make detour TO the right to see what
there. While he gone Seels Division
closed up. About o'clock y. IN. Cept. Pitzman
returned reporting that he had found the enemy's
Entertainments abandoned at the point where they
crossed the railroad and he had left the 95th Ohio
there in possession. i at once ordered Gen. Steel
to lead his whole division into Jackson by that
route and soon as heard the cheers Of his men,
Tu'tle's Division was ordered in by the main
road. w. Il. SHERMAN,
Major-General Commanding.
These official reports settle conclusively
what regiment was first into Jackson by the
Raymond road, and they certainly award
that honor, slight though it may be, to the
95th Ohio, and not to the 9Th Wis. No
doubt the 9Th Wis. would have done as well
if ordered, but such was not its good for
tune.
Comrade Miles, therefore, was mistaken
when he describes the scene beginning:
And now upon the open field sweeps that
invincible line," etc.
There seems to be no hint of this remark
able onset in the official reports, nor does
Col. Robbins, of the 9Th Wis, make any re-
port at all, probably because he deemed the
part taken by his regiment to be devoid of
interest.
Another inaecuracy of Comrade Miles is
his statement that the Live Eagle Brigade,
being in advance, lost in killed and wounded
between 30 and 40 men,"
The official loss of the Second Brigade in
this action is: 47th H., killed one, wounded
three, total four; 5th Mimi, none; 18th Mo,
wounded six, missing three, total nine; 9Th
Wis, none; total casualties, Second Brigade,
13. Col Cromwell, 47th H., reported as
killed, was murdered by guerrIllas May IS.
The loss of the brigade on May IA was
therefore exactly IL, and not 80 to 40, and
none from 9Th Wis.
1t also does appear to a reader of history
that Comrade Miles is incorrect in claiming
that the colors of the 9Th Wis were the first
colors planted on the Capitol at
Jackson. Col. Alexander who commanded
the 59th Ind, and was in the battle ON the
Clinton road, where the real fighting took
place, says, in his report printed in War
Records, Vol. "a, page 772:
. AT this point Capt. L. y. Martin rode up and
asked for the colors Of the 59h ! ordered them
given TO him, when he placed colors the dome
Df the Capitol. where they remained in charge of
my color-guard They were the first and only |
colors planted on the Capitol at Jackson.
JESSE i. ALEXANDER Colonel 59th Ind.
The only report from what Comrade Miles |
calls the Live Eagle Brigade" to be found
in the War Records concerning this action, |
is from Col. Hubbard, 9Th Mimi. (See oath |
Vol. Records, page 1861:
. The fight continued more than an hour but |
was confined principally TO artillery the infantry |
occupying position OF shelter. About D. m. the |
order Forward" was given. All supposing that |
We were about 10 assault The enemy's works in
'front.'. with bsyonets fixed and exutant shouts the
line moved forward at run. 1t Was dis |
covered that the enemy had evacuated and that |
he charge would be bloodless one. The enemy |
naa made precipitate exit from the town, leaving
all his artillery TO fall an easy capture into |
hands.
L. F. HUBBARD, Colonel Commanding.
This report describes what the 9Th Mimi. |
lid as part Of the Second Brigade, and it
alludes to no other service that the brigade |
rendered. The whole brigade did just what |
The 9th MINI did-that is, waited till the
18th Ohio broke into the works. captured |
,he artillery in front Of the Fifteenth Corps,
md then the "Live Eagle Brigade" with |
he rest of the army, rushed into Jackson
without firing gun or capturing a rebel or
'ebel cannon.
This is the whole truth of the matter as
shown officially, and this article is written
olely TO do justice TO the 95th Ohio.-H B.
rURRILL, Co. K, I'D Ohio, Cincinnati, o.
AT NCELLORSVIL