The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-11-29
A FATAL GAP.
Why the Second Division, Ninth Corps,
Failed at Peebles's Farm.

Why the Second Division, Ninth Corps
Failed at PeebIes's Farm.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Will you
allow member of the Second Division
Ninth Corps, to have a say concerning the
controversy started by member of the First
| Division as to what was or was not done in
the engagement of Sept 80, 1864, at Poplar
Spring Church?
The advance was made late in the after
noon about o'clock, and before any hing
definite was accomplished by the Second
Division the enemy had fanked the charging
column and occupied the ground between it
and any support, and the failing light some
what interfered with a possible favorable out
come of The attack upon the enemy's lines.
Had the supporting column, however, been
up within proper distance to engage the
enemy the flank and rear, there is no
doubt that the Second Division would have
carried the enemy's intrenchments in their
| front.
| A. this time, as near as / recall, the Sec
ond Division was composed of the 36h and
| 5Sth Mass, 7ih K. l., 51,t n. Y, (which
latter regiment furnished two Major Gen.
erals,) 45th and 4S,h Pa, 9Th, 9Th, and 18th
| n H., 3lst and 32d Me- and 18th Vt, and
was commanded by Gen. Potter, a brother
i
The Second Division, whi forming for
the charge, were informed that the First
Division were to be it's support. The tried
and true Old Second Division, knowing that
The Fret Division contained sterling regi-
ments-the 4th and 10Th Z. S. the Round
heads" of Pennsylvania 200 b), 21st. 35th,
9th, and 59h Mass; a Maine and MasSa-
chusetts battery, and the Provisional Bri-
gade" (the 18th Pa. H. A. J, and 14th n. Y. Fl.
A, all OF whom had won laurels under Car
ruth and LeasuTe, and who had followed
Stevenson to his death at Spottsylvania, felt
assured that its efforts OH this occasion would
be ably supported.
OF the Sd Md. the writer hereof has no
recollection. lit was with he old First Diyis-
ion on Sep. 30, Comrade Carter clearly shows,
Doiwiihs anding his multiplicity of words,
that he was mot in 1.-THE fight. He
says that they were "one-balf mile to the
rear"; truly, long distance for support
ing column; and this cOrroborates what has
always been maintained by the Second Divis-
ion, that its support Through no fault of
theirs, perhaps was not within proper dis
lance. AS evidence of his, had they been
closer to the Second Division, the enemy Ia
division of A. 7. HIPS Corps, who thanked
them, would have found the First Division
or harassing the Second Division when
upon the point of charging the rebel works,
and when every thing else seemed favorable
for the success of the charge.
As further evidence that the supporting
column was not within good distance, |
know portion of the Second Division
changed front to the rear and engaged the
enemy for many minutes. Where during
this time was the supporting column? AS
evldance further that the Second Division
made strenuous efforts to repel the enemy
onlts TANKS and rear, the writer has dis
tinct recollection of the as h Pa, First
Brigade, Second Division, being formed in
hollow square by its intrepid commander,
Lieut-Col. Henry Peasants This forma-
ton. any soldier knows, takes time especi-
ally when under CALLING fire from all sides,
such as the Second Division endured and il
shows the confidence of the commander in his
men, as well as the confidence of the men in
their commander
This formation was to the left of house.
in an open space between the house and the
broom corn field farther to the left 1t will
be remembered by those who participated
in the engagement that the windows OF this
house commanded a ew of the rebel lines
which was the objective point of the charg-
most OF the prisoners taken by the enemy
were captured, because many of our men
nocked thereto by reason OF its commanding
eminence and eligible position from which
to punish the enemy.
The formation of the 48th Pa. was broken
by the OverpoweriDg numbers of the enemy,
and the greater portion of the 4Sth moved
TO the left Obliquely through the cOrnfield |
thence by narrow path through the swamp
bordering the field, and reformed with its
brigade, which was still in advance of the |
FIRST Division. This was after o'clock. |
perhaps 8 o'clock, and dark.
Now, If the cOmrade of the Sd Md. and |
his regiment had been sufficiently advanced |
they would have had something more to |
occupy their attention, and he would not |
now find fault with fighting division
with an enemy, front, flank, and |
rear. Had our envious comrade of the Sd |
Md. been IN the position of the comrades |
whom he attempts to criticise, he would |
know that ii is easier 10 find fault than it is |
to do what he thinks others did not do. He |
should not forget the enemy was in position |
between the Second Division and its support, |
and was also under fire from the enemy in |
it, front.
The disorder referred to by the Sd Md. |
was 0ccasiOned somewhat by the effort re-
quired TO break through the surrounding
enemy, as well as from a surprise by the
enemy on flank and rear, and a surprise at
not receiving the necessary and expected
support. The first firing in our rear was
thought to be from the green troops in the
First Division; bat a glance showed the
true state OF affairs. AT this time the
Second Division was moving forward in line
to the attack on the rebel works, and were
in sight of them.
desire to impress upon Comrade Carter
that the Second Division do not say any,
thing about why the Fifth and Ninth Corps
did not effect junction, and thereby pre-
vent the fatal gap through which the enemy
ran his thanking division, and which was
the true cause of the failure to carry The
works in our front. Neither does the Sec
ond Division say that it was the fault of the
First Division that they were not in closer
proximity to. the enemy when they were
engaging the Second Division in the rear
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