The National tribune., 1894-03-22
POPLAR SPRING CHURCH.
A Marylander Tells why He Is Grateful to
Col. n. Il. Mclaughlin.

Col. n. b. Mclaughlin.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: I was very
much pleased in reading the account of the
battle OF Charlottesville, to see by COM
Tades report the soldiery manner in which
Col. n. b. Mclaughlin handled the LIST Mass,
and the effect the movement had upon his
mind, making him forget the stampede
which was going on towards the rear.
take great pleasure in recording similar
affair in his front at Poplar Spring Church, in
which he received his promotion to Brevet
Brigadier-General. He came out again as
Colonel of the 57tb Mass, and joined us
after the battle of Weldon Railroad, and as
senior officer took command of the Third
Brigade, First Division, Ninth Corps.
At the battle of Poplar Spring Church the
brigade was ordered to support the advance
of the Second Division, Ninth Corps, and
Col. Mclaughlin massed the brigade III col
umn of regiments and took up a position in
a thick brush or copse of wood that had been
recently cut down, and the underbrush had
grown up. Here we remained in reserve
awaiting orders, while the fight was progress
ing in our front. Very soon we heard that
familiar old rebel yell, Ki-yi Ki-yi! and soon
we saw the Second Division going back COM
pletely broken up. .-e
rear line and on the outside of the brush,
where we could get full view of the stam-
pede, the bad effects of which / was afraid
would demoralize lot Of recruits who had
just joined our regiment and had never
smelt powder before. Most of these were
drafted men and substitutes, who outnum-
bered the veterans of my company almost
two to one. We never had any time to drill
them in battalion movements
/ was in dilemma, fearing that we might
be called upon to execute some difficult
manuver in deploying the brigade under
fire, which might throw them into con-
fusion. At the same time we were ordered
to keep up some of the fighting 300 reg-
ments" that Col. Fox mentions, who
were in our front, and manifested an in
clinatiOn to drift to the rear; so, with look
ing after my own men and playing
provost TO the I" 300 fellows" we had our
hands full but old Napoleon Bonaparte
Mclaughlin, bless his memory, got us
out of it in a beautiful manner, and earned
a great deal more than the empty title of
Brevet- General, for he gave the command to
deplOy by the Fright flank on rear battalion"
and of course we stood fast until the other
regiments had uncovered our front, then we
also moved by that flank until we got clear
of the brush when he gave the command,
BY the left flank, Double-quick, March
Charge bayonets," which brought us face to
face with the rebels, who were about 200
yards away.
Then the boys went for them with rush
that caused them to face-about before we
got close enough to cross bayonets with
them.
What made me grateful to him was the
moral effect that it had on my new men,
who proved to be good soldiers afterward
not requiring me to look after them to keep
them up to their work. Besides, it enabled
me to get the laugh on my brother officers,
who had ridiculed the appearance of my
new men when we drew lots for them, some
of them comparing them to FalstaG's militia.
We had drawn lots for them, and most of
my men were countrymen, whose clothes
did not fit them, while the other officers
secured lot Of city substitutes, who were
up in their toilets and had their clothes adj
justed to their handsome forms.
But / told the Colonel, who led in the rail-
lery, that was very well satisfied with my
portion, and if could but pull them through
the first fight, and hold them in line until
they recovered the nervous shock " that
affects most men in their first battle, /
would be satisfied, and would not exchange
them for all the city bummers that they
could find.
The event justified my expectations, and
for which l have always felt thankful to
Gen. N. b. Mclaughlin, who proved worthy
of the name that his father bestowed upon
him, and was one of the Regular Army
soldiers that proved himself patriot, and
deserving of better recognition than was
bestowed upon him; but he did not have
any political influence to back him up and
push him forward.-JosEPH +. GARTER,
Sd Md, Dorsey's, Md.