The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-08-30
A POOR CASE OF MELTING.
Shalers Brigade, and It's Behavior Under
desperate Circumstances.

Desperate Circumstances.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In an
article, June u, On the battle of the Wilder
ness and portion of the Spottsylvania fight
by Comrade Francis Godfrey, Co. E, 126th
Ohio, he states that while they were in
trenching Gen. Shaler's Brigade came up
and formed on their right. This is fact.
1t is also fact that Gen. Shaler's Brigade
was on the extreme right flank of our lines
at the Wilderness fight. He says that Gen.
Seymour and Gen. Shaler were unequal to
the emergency. / know nothing about Gen.
SeymOur's generalship. AS / understood it
Gen. Shaler's Brigade was detached and re-
ported to Gen. Seymour for orders. In my
opinion Gen. Shaler placed his brigade just
where-he was ordered to place it, and will
say that when Gen. Shaler could not handle
brigade of troops on the battlefield or
elsewhere, no General in that army could.
This will be vouched for by any of the SOL
diers under him from the Summer of 1861,
and during the many hard battles fought
under him.
Cordrey also states this brigade melted
away in that fight. 1t is fact that many
brave soldier lost his life in that fight /;
their loss in killed and wounded was heavy;
a good many died in rebel prisons. Gems.
Seymour and Shaler both were captured in
that fight. Gen. Shaler could have got
away, but he brayely stayed with his COM
mand and Was captured.
Our company TX, 1st u. s. Chasseurs) was
on the extreme right flank of that army
there. Our company was deployed as q
strong skirmsh-lIne, facing the enemy's
troops that fiaDked our army that afternoon.
They did not run, but held their ground,
loading and firing until three lines-of-battle
of the Confederates passed over them, and
they were supposed to be either dead or
prisoners; but the next morning found most
of the living in line-of-battle and facing the
enemy.
That day before our army was fanked
there we saw rebel scout to our right and
rear making for their lines. A soldier by
the name of Gilbert Rock (now dead and
myself started out TO capture him. He saw
us, and got away from us in the brush.
But We did find the enemy massing their
troops on our flank in what appeared TO be
partially-cleared field.
We lost no time in reporting this fact, but
it would have been impossible TO change our
line-Of-battle before they were upon us.
Comrade Godfrey says Gen. Gordon regretted
he ever crossed arms with their gallant bri-
gade, but he does not say what their brigade
would have done had they been placed
where Gen. Shalers Brigade was in that
| fight.
We feel proud of the record as a soldier of
our old Colonel, Gen. Shaler. think Com
rade Godfrey should be more careful while
writing up the noble work done by his own
| regiment, not to criticise too sharply other
| troops, az he doubtless does not realize their
situation at that time
will say, regarding our brigade, it was a
! poor case of melting at that fight. At the
next fight. at Spottsylvsnia, while most OF
both armies were asleep, this brigade cap
tured whole outer-line of the enemy,
nearly whole brigade, and held their posi-
tiOn the next morning under heavy cross
fire, suffering heavy loss until ordered to
retire. Two of my old bunkmates lost their
lives there.
This brigade then did hard fighting al
Cold Harbor; Petersburg; helped TO destroy
the Weldon Railroad; got to Washington
just in time to help repel Gen. Early's
troops and save our National Capital; was
at Smokers Gap, Charlestown, Winchester
Cedar Creek, and at the surrender of Gen.
Lees army at Appomattox.
/ feel, and i think justly, proud of this
brigade. comprising the Odd and 31st Pa,
LIST L. l., 122d n. Y, and 1st U. S. Chasseurs
for the hard fighting done and valor dis