The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-11-02
THE ARSENAL.

uary, 1862, perhaps due to the circumstance
that its Colonel, Wm. B. Greene, was rather
iDcapacitated by reason of years for active
field service; in connection, too, with the cir
cumstance that Washington City WAS so inn
portant, politically, as the Capital, that it was
deemed best its 6efenses should be manned
by troops permanently trained to the anna
ment and ranges of the heavy ordnance of
Notifications, which deduction applies TO
many regiments cOmpris ng tie garrison
that subsequently, in the field, under Meade
and Grant, met with extremely heavy Losses
These were: 1st Me, killed and MORALLY
wounded, 423; ID Conp., 254; ID n. Y. PA !;
18th n. Y. POI; Sin y. Y, 36l; 9th N Y,
204; 14th \. Y. 226; 1st Mass, 241; or
total Of 2 2l4 officers and men killed in eight
regiments Of the Washington garrison-the
Wilderness to Apponattox-nO to mention
losses in other regiments of the same arm,
forming this garrison, whose casualties while
serving as infantry were less marked.
So the heavies got out of the "soft
snap" long endured, and, historically con-
sidered, became a RECON- ,zel, forceiul factor
in prosecution of the war to a successful
termination; in sacrifices equalling few Of
the infantry commands and surprising the
mass In that branch OF the service.
In his narrative Comrade SpoffOrd did not
give the full detailed account of our con-
nection with the campaign of Gen. Pope,
though possibly the best from his point Of
view.
To begin with, respecting his company (M),
he says: Some OF them had seen service in
the militia and in the three-months' service of
the war" Mcde.tly he omits stating hat per-
sonslly he was a member Of the gallant 9th
Mass, that made the notable move through
= Baltimore April 19, '61; so was of the first
armed body of men that greeted the then
saddenipg eyes of Lincoln at Washington,
the very first response TO his call for $4,000
volunteers, giving assurance to the Presi-
dent that the country meant to back him.
SpOfOrd WAS this early in the struggle,
xnd probably was the Sergeant under whom
the company fell in, under the general
supervision Of the Colonel" at joining the
regiment by Co. II in March, 1862.
The undersigned. at time of our slight
participation in Popes memorable cam
paigu, was Regmental Commissary-Ser-
geant At nightfsll of the day of the en-
counter with Fiz Lees cavalry, somewhere
beyond Fairfax Courthouse, he was directed
by Col. Greene 10 proceed at once to Alex
andria ana get ratiops, the Colonel handing
set Of signed vouchers for authority and
fer transportation Of the supplies.
The Sc eaBt had ridden all day, so the
QuaTteTmEster furnished him a fresh horse
that at the ferts Was noted Tor holding back
at start, 0Et was a pusher for speed after
starting
The Qnsrtermaster's camp was in an angle
formed b. junction Of the Leesburg with
the Alexandria pike, and 10 get the horse
pointed the Qc2r:ermssier-Sergean led the
animal shofl distance in the darkness onto
the Leeshurg pike, where the Commssary-
Sergeant, rexod At the horses balkiness,
gave him The spar, when long distance
was quickly covered. Giving some attention
10 the road, the Sergeant was surprised at
act crossing certain bridges of the days
march To the left, of the road some dis
lance, be passed the campfres Of some force,
Gther the enemy's our ours.
1t last, from house ahead he saw Ian
ssrn fash and felt positively relieved in the
consciousness that he was about to be