The National tribune., 1894-07-26

field whose honor he so gallantly ur
held.
"Previous to this a brigade of volun
teers (Slocum's Division), under Col. j
j. Bartlett, consisting of the 18th anC
9th n. Y, 9th Me-, Goth Pa, anC
Kingsbury's battery Che was killed a
Colonel Of the 18th Conn. at Antietam
Joined my command. Under my direc
ton Col Bartlett posted the regiment!
of his brigade, with great daring, ii
front of and around McGehee's house
and firmly maintained himself until the
center of Perter's army was pierced, the
troops in his front driven in, his
LEFT FLANK EXPOSED,
and his position no longer tenable
Kingsbury's u. S. battery unlimbered
on the crest of the ridge, near and to
the right of McGehee's house, and
maintained It's stand with great obsti-
macy and effect until the enemy were
upon it and the infantry supports forced
from the field.
" In the earl y part of the action | was
compelled to separate the sections of
Capt Edwards's battery Cd U. s.. but
in their assigned positions they were ad-
mirably served, and moving from the
center to the front and center to the left
were more exposed than any other guns
in the division. One of these section" !"
Ttwo guns, Lieut.. Hayden's, the same
that moved down near our right first
part Of engagement "near McGehee's
house, held its ground until the final
attack of the enemy, when, having all
Its chiefs of pieces killed or wounded
and its horses disabled, it was impossible
to bring it of, and it fell trophy to the
foe"
1t seems, from Confederate reports,
that these two guns, with Kingsbury's
six, had been keeping the Confederates
back. They were situated on the center
Of the right of Sykes's Division. Jack
son had been thwarted thus far from
forcing the extreme right, the position
being naturally well adapted for defense,
by the fire of Weeds and Tidball's bat
teries and by the determined stand and
tact and manuyers of the Sd and 4th
US.
He now turned his attention to drive
off or capture Kingsbury's and Hayden's
guns Two North Carolina regiments,
supported by other troops, charged on
them Kingsbury limbered up in time
to escape, but Lieut.. Hayden's two guns
were taken by the Doth n. c., at loss
in the charge of 20 killed and 202
wounded, among them their Colonel and
Lieutenant-Colonel. This loss was in
fieted by some of the Regulars
The guns were held for about 10
minutes, during which time jackson was
enabled to get up some troops nearer
the right flank of this position. The
two batteries ON the extreme right still
held on. At this juncture Bartlett's
fine brigade (four regiments advanced
to the front, and the two guns were
recaptured by the 10Th n Y, and the |
enemy (Ewell's troops were driven
back and again held at bay; this was
after 6 p m.
Gen. Winder now pressed toward with |
IL regiments of different brigades-the |
Hampton Legion, 1st Nd, 18th Ala,
SD Va, 3Sth Ga, and the I'd, 9Th, 33d, |
9th, and 4th Va, with the Irish Bat
talioG-and attacked.
Gen. Sykes continues: Bartlett's |
troops now fell back to the foot of the |
hill" And his report shows that he |
withdrew his regiments one at time, |
commencing with the right, and then |
the one to the left of it; and says that |
he was fianked on the left and held his |
other two regiments faced to meet them,
and that his brigade fired the last shots |
and held the ground until after dark.
The Goth Pa (his extreme left claim
to have
FIRED THE LAST SHOT.
Gen. Sykes continues (see my account |
further on), and says: Bartlett's troops
now fell back to the foot of the hill. |
The Sd, 18th, and 14th u. S. held the
rebels at bay until the troops had passed.
Weeds and TidbalPs batteries, with the |
4th L. S, still kept their original posi- |
ton on the old Cold Harbor road.
"The skillful handling of these guns
during the battle prevented the enemy
from turning my right flank, on which |
he made three distinct attacks, forced |
him 20 develop his own attack on the
center and left of iny line, and, with |
the assistance of the 4th u. s., cleared
the way fer themselves to retire to our |
new Eendezvous This much for the |
right Of my line"
The contest on the front Of Sykes's |
Division toward night was very obsti-
nate and desperate, and jackson put in
everything he had, determined to pound
them back. The Confederate reports of
divisQn. brigade and regimental COM
mafdersf all show this, and their losses
in officers and men were fearful, as they
weraithe attacking party, and the ground
vely favorable for defense. If line of
breastworks had been thrown up, from
right to left, during the night, the posi-
ton could have been held. But we did
not have the necessary tools, and Gen.
Porter saws in his report that bis requisi-