The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-05-10
received the fire of the 9th if they had
c i

not fallen back.
But notwithstanding the appalling
situation, which was enough to demoral-
ize any regiment, and being somewhat
hampered by number of inexperienced
recruits, who, let it be said to their credit,
did nobly under the circumstances (not
fully realizing the state of affairs as did
the older ones in the service), not an
able man in the 9th left the ranks, and
the regiment stood as firm as stone
wall.
In fact, they had SO much pride in
their organization, and were so we'll disci-
plined, and had such confidence in each
other, that they did not require any
officers to urge them on. In fact, three
fourths of the officers present in this
action had risen from the ranks, and it
is within bounds to say that in each COM
pany there were numbers of the old
members serving in the ranks who were
fully competent to manuyer company,
if necessary, in any situation it might be
placed.
About this time Serg't Andrew B.
Allison, formerly soldier of the British
army and of the Crimea war, who bore
the United States flag, received ball
through his wrist, and gave up the flag
to one Of the Color Corporals, but i'm
mediately took it back again and fell,
shot through the heart, the colors
FALLING WITH HIM.
They were Immediately raised again,
and how many took them during the
seven minutes that the regiment stood
alone to be slaughtered, and before they
were brought off the field, will never be
known. Lucien B. Swain, of Co. K,
was the brave hero who bore them away,
holding them on high, but was wounded
in the attempt, and went to the hospital,
where he remained until mustered out
The flag came to the regiment the
next day. Around the colors nearly
all were cut down. 1t looked like a
slaughter pen. Four of the color-guard
besides Allison were lying dead, two
others of the eight were wounded, and
the color company (K) was almost
wiped out. The men kept closing up
toward them, trying to fill up the gaps,
but it was in vain. They were swept
down as if mown by scythe. Serg't
Francis Spelman, of Co. G, who carried
the regimental flag, was bleeding at
every pore, yet, regardless of pain or his
own life, still clung to his flag.
All along the line the fire was MUIR
derous. The enemy were on the front
and fanks, and were pouring in terri
bic crossfire on the men, and were en-
deavoring to surround and take prisoners
the remnant Of the regiment. Capt
Winslow, in command of the regiment,
who was acting nobly, fell with his
horse, which had
RECEIVED SEVEN WOUNDS
but fortunately the brave Winslow was
spared. (Capt. Winslow rose to be the
fourth Colonel of the 9th, but was NOR
tally wounded in command of the 9TH
veterans at Bethesda Church, but stayed |
In command of his regiment until the
engagement was over) Capt. Lewis, of |
Co. ID, acting as field officer, who few
moments before had been begged by his
men, to dismount, fell from bis horse,
dead, while one foot was still in the
stirrup and his body was being dragged
over the field. Lieut.. Wright, of the
same company, its only remaining
officer, had received his mortal wound.
Adj't Fred Sovereign and Capt. Hager,
of Co. Z, and its only remaining officer,
were both dead. Lieut.. Martin, of Co.
G, and its only officer, was wounded in
the leg, but scorned to leave his COM
mand. Lieut.. Raymond, of Co. II,
wounded, and with Capt Mcconnell,
the remaining officer, soon to become
prisoners. Capt. Boyd, of Co. A, wound
ed and soon to become prisoner. Lieut..
Keyser, the remaining officer of the COM
pany, and detailed to Co. b, its only
officer, wounded, and left the field. Capt.
Montgomery, of Co. /, also soon to be-
come prisoner, and Lieut.. Hoffman,
the remaining officer of the company,
suffering from three wounds. /
The foregoing includes, with Col. War
rem and one other, all the officers who
were present with the regiment. Col.
Warren, still mounted,
STOOD BY THE REGIMENT
which he had cherished with so much
care, and was not the man to forsake his
men in the hour of peril, although he
would have been justified in doing SO, as
he was only exposing his life to no pur-
pose before as murderous fire as ever
fell to the lot of soldiers to endure. 1t
was not in his power to aid them, and
he was forced to look on and see the
flower of his regiment swept away.
Nearly all of the recruits who had |
just joined had fallen, and the remainder
broke out to the rear. Some of the nom
commissioned officers at first attempted
to shove them in again, until Serg't
Forbes sang out, " Let them gol Let
them gol" and the men were receiving
a deadly fire from an unseen enemy
on their left and rear at close quarters,
as well as on their front, into their faces,
from Hoods brave but ragged, bare