The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-10-04
POPLAR SPRING CHURCH
A Discussion of the Part Taken by the Sec
ond Brigade, Second Division, Ninth
Corps.

Discussion of the Part Taken by the Sec
ond Brigade, Second Division, Ninth
Corps.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: VIII you
kindly allow me space for comments on the
Poplar Spring Church affair? In your issue
of Aug. 2 is an article by II. G. Hotter, Co.
d, 45th Pa, in which he states that he has
forgotten the comrades name whom he de-
sres to correct He probably has reference
to the article that appeared March %, by
Joseph f. Carter, of the Sd Md.
/ was present at the affair, my regiment
being in the Second Brigade, Second Divis-
ion, Ninth Corps, and consequently feel
somewhat interested in the record of that
command Comrade Carter says in his ar
ticle that his command remained in reserve,
awaiting orders, while the fighting was 60
ing on in 'front.' and then continues: Very
soon we heard that familiar old rebel yell,
Ki-yii Ki-yi and soon saw the Second
Division going back, completely broken up.
/ want to say right here that what /
write is solely from memory, and my recol-
lecous are that when the Second Brigade
went in we descended long hill, crossed
wide ravine, and advanced few rods to the
edge of the woods. Here we met the
enemy, and a short but sharp conflict en-
sued And did we not hold our position
until our brigade commander (Gen. Griffin
rode well to the front and ordered US back
And was not his horse struck by mimic
ball, and did he not have some difficulty in
getting him under control? Or is all this
imagination intensified by that ominous
rebel yell? (which, by the way, we had
heard before.
Again, my recollections are that we had
no support in our rear nearer than II should
think half mile, with the exception Of two
or three guns from some battery that came
out on the side hill and opened fire on the
rebel advance as we fell back.
Comrade Carter again says: Z" At the same
time we were ordered to keep up some Of
the ighting300 regiments that Col. Fox
mentions who were in our front, and mani
tested an inclination to drift to the rear So
with looking after my own men and play
ing provost to the others, we had our hands
full"
submit that someone high in authority
should have been cashiered, to compel those
officers and men to hold position requiring
such herculean efforts and perseverance,
while the Second Division were simply
fighting the enemy in their front.
The regiment to which | belonged (3lst
Me- entered the campaign of 1864 with
$50 officers andmen, coming under fire for
the first time May 6. From that time to
Sept 80 it was ever in its place, seldom on
reserve or provost. AS we'll as | can remem-
Der the regiment mustered Sept. 80, 1864,
three officers and 81 men. We lost in that
affair, think, five killed, Is wounded, and
Is taken prisoners, leaving SO men, who
were under command of a Sergeant until
about the 21st of October l presume that
the other regiments in the brigade and di-
vision were in a similar condition in regard
to numbers, showing beyond question that
they were there for business, and did their
whole duty.
If Comrade Carter will look at the record
of the Second Division he will find them
we'll to the front June II, and again on July
80, and still again on April 2, 1865.
Will not some field officer who was in
position to know all the particulars of the
Poplar Spring Church affair write and give
US straightforward account of the whole
affair, and confer an everlasting favor on the
survivors of the old Second Division P
FRANK L. MERRILL, Co. ], 31st Me-, Gardi-
ner, Me.