The National tribune., 1894-06-21
CORRECTING COL. OATES.

I2bth Onlo Fort wayne, ina.
CORRECTING COL. OATES.
Apropos His Statements Regarding Port
Republic.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In the
Congressional Record of Dec. z, 1893, on page
69, the remarks OF Mr.. Oates are published,
in which he says that he was under the
command of StOnewall Jackson in June,
1862, aud attempts to give brief outline of
the campaign that closed with the battle Of
Port Republic in which Shields's forces were
beaten.
In speaking of the battle of Port Republic,
which occurred on the 9th day of June, 1862,
the Colonel uses the following language:
by means of that bridge Jackson was
enabled 10 get his forces across INTO the
Valley just in time to turn the result of the
conflict When / first beheld it there was
no obstruction; our forces were being driven
by those of Shields; terrible conflict was
going on by Federal brigade, said to be
composed of Irishmen, to the left at the foot
of the hill where the celebrated Ringgold
battery (which had been used in Mexico)
was playing upon our troops, and guarded
by this brigade.
"Our first brigade that assaulted them
was broken aud driven back. The guns
were used with terrible effect across the
plain to the river, staying orr men by hun
dreds at every discharge. 1t was there that
| witnessed the formation of Dick Taylors
Brigade OF Louisianans, and saw the charge
that they made. He captured the guns, but
they were recaptured and captured again,
back and forth, three times, and one of the
severest hand-to- hand conflicts of the war
took place there 1t was only by the bri-
gade to which | belonged advancing and
firing on the line Immediately to Taylor's
left that the Federal force was broken, and
the battery retaken the last time.
"That was the turning-point of the con-
f1ict, and Shields was wounded and forced
to retire. No man in the FEDERAL army ever
commanded better or fought more valiantly
than Gen. Shields did at the battle of Port
Republic.
a happen to know about the relative
strength of the forces. According to the re-
ports, Shields had but Il, 600 men, and Jack
son had 1900"
No exception is taken TO the statement Of
Col. Oates so far as his participation 10 this
battle is concerned, but the injustice COM
planned of is that of pitting - 900 of Jack
sons army against II 900 of Shields's. 1t is
a recorded fact of history that Gen Shields
of the rebellion. He assumed command of
division at Paw Paw Tunnel, Va, in the
Spring of 1862, composed of IL regiments of
infantry, part Of one regiment OF cavalry,
and six batteries of light artillery. The
strength of the entire command never, at
any time while Gen. Shields commanded it,
exceeded 5000 men for duty.
In the engagement referred to, at Port
Republic, but two brigades of Shields's army
participated. The names of the regiments
are here given, so as 10 take out of the ques-
ton all doubt. The brigade commanded by
Gen. S. s. Carroll was composed of the S4th
and 10th Pa, the 1st w. Va, and the 7th
Ind. The other brigade commanded by
Gen. l.. y. Tyler, was composed of the 9Th,
18th, 18th, and Goth Ohio, detachment of
about two companies OF the 1st w. Va. Cav;
also Light Batteries II and L. LIST Ohio Art,
and Co. Z of the 4th U. S. l.. A.
On page 688 of Series /, Volume IL, Part
] Of the Records of the Rebellion, will be
found a report of this engagement and cas-
ualties that occurred to our troops, each
command being named The total loss to
the Union troops was lob: officers killed,
5; men killed, 81; officers wounded, 81;
men wounded, 372; officers missing or capt
ured, "a; men, 534
The total strength of ShieIds's command
in this engagement, according to Gen.
Shieldss own report, did not exceed $500
men. This would be an average per regi-
ment of little over 300 men for duty,
which was perhaps in excess of the number,
from the fact that the regiments of this COM
mand had been on continuous march for fl We
days. The ranks therefore, were greatly
depleted from exhaustion, sickness and other
causes.
If Gen. Shields is entitled to any eulogy
from the lips of d Confederate commander who
participated in this same battle ii is that the
truth OF what Gen. Shields said concerning
that field, and its disastrous results should
not be changed or garbled by the eulOgst, so
as to add dlscredit TO the name or fame of the
dead General Or the troops he commanded.
Col. Oates positively asserts: u happen TO
know about the relative strength OF the forces
According to the reports Shields had 10000
men, Jackson 1900"
] am perfectly willing, as a member of
Shields's army, TO allow Col. Oates to report
| the number engaged on the Confederate side,
whether it be more or less than those of the
| command of Shields; but the statement of
| Gen. Shields and the verified fact by many
of those who survived, can be produced TO
corroborate the report of the War Depart
ment that 2, 500 would he the outside OF those
| engaged in Shields's command
One other statement OF Col. Oates may be
called in question. In referring to the terrific
conflict participated in by a Federal brigade,
Col Oates says it was said to be composed
of Irishmen. This is a mistake. There was
no brigade of Irish troops under the COM
mand of Gen. Shields The 10th Pa, which
was part OF the command, had large pro-
portion of Irishmen in its ranks, but they
were not notable either for discipline or for
their fighting qualities. The,troops that dis
tinguished themselves in the action referred
to in this incident were the 7th Ind, the
list Loyal Va, and the Saith Pa.
1t is but just to say that Gen. Shields was
not in person on the field OF Port Republic,
and had nothing whatever to do with the