The National tribune., 1893-11-23

of the war, for the purpose of correcting
errors and making true history?
/ am somewhat surprised at the incon-
sistency of our comrades III. B. Turrill and
III. w. Phelps as private soldiers in the
ranks quoting and citing official reports as
the ultimatum Of war history. should like
TO remind them that while the officer was
able individually from his position in COM
mand to see more of what transpired than
the private soldier in the ranks, yet in our
free country, and especially in the war of the
rebellion, the volunteer soldier possessed an
individuality endowed with reason and in
teligence, being not merely q machine, and
what he saw with his own eyes he knew
just as we'll as though it had been presented
to his senses by the word of an officer;
though / will admit that some officers did
not seem to recognize the fact, as evinced by
an incident which occurs to the writer's
memory.
Once upon a time ! remarked to our
Surgeon that did not think ! needed any
medicine, if | could get little wholesome
food. was informed that we were not paid
for thinking, and that l would have to take
a double dose for my presumption. lie
gave the double dose of dolby paste, and
very closely watched the operation of taking
IT. But still he was deceived, and next
morning when, In answer to his inquiry, he
was informed that it did not have very
serious effect, he seemed somewhat puzzled,
and probably began to suspect that The pri-
vate had a little opinion Of his own, after all.
But as the private soldier had no share in
the official reports of operations during the
war, he has no show for fair play if he cannot
make his report and have it admitted as evil
dence in his favor now, so long after he has
done his full share to bring the contest to
successful termination.
] desire to inform Comrsde Phelps that
am writing a narrative of incidents of the
late war which came under my personal OBJ
seryation from the standpoint Of q private
soldier in the ranks at the front from first
to last during that four years of terrible
struggle for the life of the Nation and the
integrity of free Government, and that
j very much regret to have to say that !
find some of the official reports, as we'll as
unofficial histories of incidents which came
under our notice, not correct in many details.
And in such cases shall narrate those Incl
dents from my point OF observation, and avail
myself of the benefit of other evidence as
well as official records, to bear out my state
ments, Comrade Phelps's decision to the
contrary notwithstanding. The officer made
the record, but the private fought the bat
tie, and his side also ought to be repre-
sented in the history of the war. And ! am
somewhat disappointed in our comrades
Turrill and Phelps in their opposition to
this principle, and in their championship of
official reports, without even pretense on
their part that our statements are incorrect
from their own knowledge.
] will state from my own knowledge of
the positions of their regiments tthe I'D and |
95ih Ohio inthe capture of Jackson that |
Comrade TuTril was in the rear of our
Live Eagle Brigade, and personally knew |
nothing about what regiments captured ba;- |
teries or raised their flags over the State |
house; and that if Comrade Phelps was with |
his regiment when it captured that nine |
g6n battery and SO prisoners, according TO |
Col. w. l.. McWilliams's report, he knows |
that he found the 9Th Wis. between him |
and the guns, and i'll possession of them when |
be got there; that those batteries of 10 guns |
and over $50 prisoners had already sur |
rendered to Fighting Joe's "Invincible"
Second Live Eagle Brigade.
AS TO the claim that the 95th Ohio was |
the first regiment inside the rebel works at |
Jackson, that We do not dispute. They en- |
tered the works on the sonth side of The !
city, where they were evacuated. But we |
cannot consent 10 connne ourselves 10 OIL |
ciai records. If / had the officer who made |
the report in court / might be able to cor
rect the errors Of his direct deposition by |
But as / have not that |
l shall pray the court to admit |
the evidence of the private soldier as credi- |
bic witness. l have numerous letters from |
in confirmation of my statements |
from theirpersonal knowledge besides unoffi- |
cial records of officers Of the regiment made |
at the time, which l shall use in my work |
but / do not deem their publication called |
for where our disputants do not even pre-
tend to question my statements from their
own knowledge of the facts, but only cite |
official records, which VIC question, and |
show the inconsistency of as far as they are |
in conflict with my statements, in my first |
of my case,-S G. MILES, Co. |
E, 9Th Wis, Stesonville, Wis.