The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-03-16

What does the commander of the 9th N. c. say ?
aud this regiment was as far inside our line as
any. See Maj. Tates Report Official Records.
Series 1, VOL %, page 1856: after struggle such
as this war has furnished no parallel, as North
Carolinians of the 9th regiment and IL Louis
ianans of Hays Brigade actually scaled the
wall and planted the colors OF these two regl-
ments on the guns. The enemy stood with a
tenacity never before displayed by them"
Now no one has had the cheek to claim that
Carrolls Brigade had reached the vicinity at
that time. This desperate stand, then, was made
by the Eleventh Corps. Again, it seems to me
that at the time Of the battle some credit was
given to the 35d Mass. for the repulse of that
desperate charge; in fact. they have the best of
authority for claiming that their oblique fire
poured into the flank of the enemy was one of
the main causes of his repulse; and speaking of
the SD Mass. brings us to another brigade of the
Eleventh Corps, Second Brigade, Second Divis-
ion. commanded by Orland Smith, consisting
of the SD Mass, 55Uh and I'D Ohio, and 136th
NY. This brigade has history second to
none. These were the gallant heroes of whom
Gen. George II. Thomas said. Their bayonet
charge up a steep and difficult hill, completely
routing the enemy from his harricades, will
rank among the distinguished feats of arms of
this war;; and Pap Thomas was not given to
tafy singing.
The fact is that when Carroll's Brigade ar
rived the struggle was practically over. The
line of the Eleventh Corps was broken. But
so was the line of the Second Corps next day at
the angle, and other troops were thrown in
in each case to help the mon at the threatened
point and why there should be any more hue
aud cry made over Carrolls Brigade being sent
to help Ames out than there is over the fact
that the First Corps and other troops had to be
sent in to help the Second Corps out on the
third day. am at a loss to understand. As to
the Baltimore pike being full of Eleventh Corps
straggers Gen. Doubleday says that Gen. Webb
had to post a line of men behind his line of
battle to drive back or shoot stragglers So it
appears that the Second Corps had EN- too.
But why continue? The evidence is almost
endless that the traducers Of the Eleventh
Corps are without facts to support their malig-
nant falsehoods, and this latest attack is made
by one who is fast gaining reputation for
reckless statements.
The originators OF these malicious stories
should bear in mind that they always over
shoot their mark, and their statements are like
the bushman's boomerang: they return from
whence they came, and I'M ure no one so much
as the one who starts them.
had promised myself to never again notice
any of the invidious remarks made against the
old corps But as I stood recently on the ground
made sacred by the blood of some of my old
comrades, and where my own flesh was made
to feel the power of rebel lead, there arose 10
my mind the question, Is it not my duty to de-
fend the memory of those who gave their lives
here that their country might live in the full
enjoyment of liberty among all its citizens?
l have waited in vain SO far for some more
able writer to take up the facts of history and
present them in the defense Of the much
abused corps. Let us tell the stories of our
marches and battles, the incidents of our biv-
ouacs and raids. but let him who attempts to
gain cheap potoriety by traducing the memory
of his late comrades suffer the just verdict of
being unworthy to be called confrade. Yours
for one country, one flag, one President, one
Presidential term, and the truth at all times
c. w. MCKAY Fergus Falls, Mimi.