The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-11-08
NOT A FIGHTING REGIMENT
But Nevertheless the Sd Md. Found Much
Work Cut Out for 1t.

But Nevertheless the Sd Md. Found Much
Work Cut Out for 1t.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: 1t appears
| tina. ms article Oh the battle of Poplar
! Spring Church has aroused the ire of MEM
bers OF the Second DIVISION, Ninth Corps;
Tor We have heard from both bT gades, the
| First and Second. Comrade Hotter has
rushed 10 The trent in behalf of the First
Br gude, and Comrade Merrill, of the 3lst
| Me- on the part of the Second Brigade, both
of hom declare that the Second Division
was not thrown into confusion on that oc-
casiOn, but both acknowledge that they
were compelled to retire, according to Com
Iade Merrill, 80 the place " here that battery
was pos ed, about half mi IN the rear.
Comrade Hotter, OF the 10 h Pa, explains
| the retreat of the First Brigade on the
theory that the Sixth Corps (FIfth) did
not form a Junction with the Ninth Corps,
and The JoADnies saw this and came In Oh
their flank aud then say, g" the Colonel
lost bis horse and everything else he had"
creating the impression that the comrade
bemoaned the loss of the horse, like Lincoln
is said 10 have done that OF Gen. Sprague at
Bull Run. When someone reported that
the General and his horse had been captured,
he exclaimed, I" am sorry for the horse. j
can replace The General, but not the horse"
He also SAYS Of the rebel flank movement,
that is the reason the regiments of the
First Brigade lost so many men," Surely
his testimony gives some ground for my
statement that the Second Division was
forced to retire In disorder from their adj
vanc.d position, as old soldiers know that
the rebels were not back ward in coming
forward" when they happened TO get in on
eli in,
doubling up that particular end of our line
of-baitie
Without waiting to hear from Comrade
Wentz of the 18th ~ Y. II. A, who could
not tell where The 81 Md was posted, but
recollects well the defeat of the Second Di-
vision, am glad to learn from Comrade Hol-
ter the true version Of the affair at Poplar
Spring Church, as it is somewhat different
to The story we heard of the cause of the
defeat He refers to the Both Mass. for an
explanation. / think that must be the
regiment which contained the German con-
tingent imported to fill the quota of that
State, although we thought they were put
into the 35ih Mass, who were blamed for
the stampede at Poplar Spring Church. as
the Germans were blamed for the defeat at
Charlottesville, when they were exposed to
fink attack by Jackson.
recoliect having gone over TO that regi-
ment to look at the new arrival of Prussian
soldiers when they were posted in our works
after he battle of Weldon Railroad We
heard that they were loud in boasts about
the way they fought in Europe, and laughed
at the breastworks which had become
feature of the great campaign OF Grant and
Lee from the time we crossed the Rapidan
until we reached Petersburg; but they
were soon satisfied when the rebels struck
them at Poplar Spring Church, for the way
they fed over that open field TO the rear OF
our position in that little copse of brush
was enough to make one smile, if we had
not been too much engaged in keeping up
some three or four Of Col. Fox's fighting 300
reg ments in our front. Comrade Merrill,
of the 31st Me-, says that some one high in
authority should have been csshiered for
compelling those officers and men to hold
such pos ton requiring such herculean
efforts and perseverance, while the Second
Division was simply fighting the enemy in
their front
Surely his own statements that the Sec
ond Brigade had 10 fall back upon that bat
terry, which was about half mile" in their
rear, proved the wisdom Of the corps COM
msnder in having something in reserve to
check the enemy, and open on the rebel adj
I
| wise in having a brigade III support of his
! front line that contained four Of the fighting
300 regimcnts-,he 57th Mass, 59th Mass,
IA n. Y. II. A., aud the Tooth Pa, under
such veteran commander as Gen. n. B.
/ McI.augblan.
| j am under obligation TO Comrade Mer-
Tlll for his testimony concerning the retreat
/ Of the Second Brigade at Poplar Spring
! Church, which completes the record that the
/ Second Division was thrown into confusion
on that occasion and Was forced 10 retreat.
/ rot even the Second Brigade being able TO
| check the enemy, who were having picnic
at the expense of the First Brigade, until
| they struck snag in that little copsc Of
| brush where the Third Brigade First Divis-
| ion, lay concealed.
IL appears that we were not so badly
/ needed by the Second Brigade as we were at
/ the battle Of Spottsylvania, for the comrade
/ informs rs that they held their ground un-
/ til . Gen. Griffin rode well TO the front and
ordered us back" aud then asks the aues-
ton, Was not Lis horse struck by mimic
I ball?D
II appears that the General saved his
! horse, and we will not have TO lament his
/ loss or waste any sympathy on that animal
/ at the expense Of his rider / think too
much OF Gen. Griffin to intimate that he
WAS OF less importance than his horse. /
/ believe the testimony of the officers and
men of the I'd Md, who belonged to his bril-
gade, which was highly complimentary TO
his personal courage and his ability as a
brigade commander.
The comTade may think it strange that
! the Sd Nd, which is not classed among
Col. FOx's fighting 300 regiments" should
be sent 10 tine support of The Second Brigade
at Spo';sylvania; but il is fact all the
same, and that at the special request of the
Division Commander, Gen. Porter, even
though he had the rsdoubtable 31st Ne. at
! bis disposal.
/ i should like the comrade to refresh his
I memory, and let US know where The 3Ist Me-
WAS on the morning Of May -. when the
grand assault was made by Gen Hancock at
the Bloody Angle. Was bis regiment on the
right or left OF Gen. Grifin's Brigade that
morning? Where were they on the 18th of
mayp So that we can compare records IA
lighting regiments JOSEPH F. CARTER,
Sd Md, Dorsey's, Nd.
DIR. Peters Blood Vitalizer is