The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-03-15

9
panies of the regiment. Everything wa
quiet, except
OCCASIONAL SHOTS
exchanged between the skirmishers, til
about l o'clock, when a strong attack was
made on our left by infantry concealed il
the woods and upon the skirmishers In front
by body of cavalry.
OF the skirmish-line one was killed, sew
eral wounded, and six or eight taken prison
ers The balance fell back to the main forces
This affair lasted from Is to 90 minutes,
when the enemy withdrew.
Col. Devens, fearing flank movement,
decided 10 fall back to the bluff, which was
done i'm good order, as there was no enemy
to make it otherwise.
On approaching the bluff we were met by
Gen. Baker, who directed Col. Devens TO
form on the right of the line he proposed to
occupy.
In nv first letter stated that the 18th
Mass. held this position throughout the
afternoon, and until ordered by Col. Cogs-
well to lead in the movement to Edwards
Ferry. And / again assert it as the truth,
and it can be proved by any number of re-
liable witnesses.
Comrade Sullivan says: "This is far from
being the truth. Both the 18th Mass. and
Col. Bakers own regiment, the list Pa,
were driven back by the enemy to the sum-
nit of the bluff"
1 have already stated under what circum-
stances the 18th Mass. came back to the
bluff / claim to know nothing about the
movements of the 71st Pa, but I think 1t
was news to that gallant regiment to learn
they were
DRIVEN BACK
to the bluff with the 18th Mass.
Now, in support of my statement of the
movement to Edwards Ferry, find in Gen.
Cbas p Stones official report as follows:
"At about p. m. Col. Baker, pierced by a
number Of bullets, fell at the front of his
command Col Lee then took command,
and prepared to commence throwing his
forces 10 the rear but Col. Cogswell, of the
Tammauy regiment, being found to be senior
in rank, assumed the command, and ordered
disposition TO be made Immediately for
marching to the left, and cutting a way
through tO,Edward's Ferry"
Col. Devens, in his official report, says:
at soon appeared that Col. Cogswel was
entitled to the command, who expressed his
determination to cut our way to Edwards
Ferry, and ordered me, as a preliminary
movement, to form the 18th regiment in
line toward the left. The regiment accord
ingly moved across from the right to the left
of the original line. Two or three companies
of the Tammany New York; regiment, just
then arrived, formed also on its left. While
endeavoring to make the necessary disposi-
ton to retreat,
CONFUSION WAS CREATED
by the appearance of an officer of the enc
mys force in front of the Tammany regi-
ment, who called on them to charge on the
enemy, who were now in strong force along
the woods occupied formerly by the 18th
Mass. during the former portion of the ac-
tion. The detachment of the Tammany
regiment, probably mistaking this for an
order from their own officer, rushed forward
70 the charge, and the 18th Mass, supposing
that an order had been given for the ad-
vance of the whole line, rushed with eager
ness, but was promptly recalled by their
officer, who had received no such order.
"The detachment of the Tammany regi-
ment was received with shower of bullets |
and suffered severely. In the disturbance |
caused by their repulse the line was broken, |
but was promptly reformed. After this |
however, although several volleys were given |
and returned. and the troops fought vigor-
ously, il seemed impossible to preserve the |
order necessary for combined military |
movement, and Col. Cogswell reluctantly |
gave the order to retreat TO the river bank" |
IN SUPPORT OF THE TRUTH
Of the above statement, l will say the |
officer who rode out in front of our lines, as |
mentioned by Col. Devens, was E. T. White,
and was living in Leesburg in 1886 when
the 18th Mass. Regimental Association yisits |
ed that place He stated that he shouted, |
"Come on, bOys!" and the Yankees rushed |
toward him and received terrible fire.
O. Comrade Sullivan then gives long &C
SOOnN Vi hAak AOAs NpScNCll dbu ljG 3Hl ~. /
y. did, and Of what Col. Devens and the 18th |
Mass- did not do, saying, finally: "Thus it |
will be seen that, while Col. COgswell and |
Col. Lee were gallantly fighting the enemy, |
the 18th Mass and its commanding officer |
were making the best of their way across /
the Potomac River TO Harrison Island out of |
harms way"
There is not particle Of truth in this |
statement. The comrade probably thinks
because the 18th Mass. did not accompany |
them In their unfortunate charge at the call |
Of the rebel officer, that they left the field; !
when, in fact, they kept their position in |
line, and it was not until after this charge |
that Col Cogswe1 ordered the retreat TO the !
river.
j again quote from the official report of |
Col Deyens: The troops descended the |
bluff and reached the bank of the river,
where there is narrow plateau between the
river and the ascent Of the bluff, both the
plateau and bluff being
HEAVILY WOODED.
"As descended upon this plateau, in COM
pany with Col. Cogswell, ! saw the large
boat upon which we depended as the means
Of crossing, swamped by the number of men
rushing nnon IL