New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-17

GENERAL. c. IT, r. COILS
down upon the Union troops in the Valley OF the
Shenandoah. Coils who then ranked as captain
volunteered to reconnore and find out the real
facts. Accompanied by two mounted cavalrymen. ne
started for Front Royal in the night, and. hndng
the enemy sent the back to Banks by his
two cavalrymen, remaining alone ten miles from
Banks. secreted beside the road upon which the
enemy moving After ascerJaining their num-
bers he galloped back to camp and found the Union
Army already in full retreat, for Jacksons plan
10 get between 1t and the Potomac
Colonel James W. Albert. Of the United States
Typographical Engineers who was upon the stan
OF General Banks. writing Of this incident. says;
How we'll recollect the Of Coils at daylight
Saturday morning after his perilous duty through
out this night of darkness. gloom and anxiety.
bringing the report that the attack no raid,
but army in full force with artillery, baggage
wagons and trains. We finally succeeded In rejoin-
ing the army. and brought off in safety the
battery with thlrty-eight wagons OF the commissary
train and other valuable materials. and returned
them 10 the army at Willamsport. Nd"
PRAISE FROM GENERAL BANKS
The courage and devotion Of this small body OF
resoue men caused Jackson to pause In his pur-
suit OF Banks for an hour and forty-fve minutes.
thus giving the Union general opportunity to
reach the Potomac River and cross his army to
the Maryland side. When Coils found his COM
mand completely cut off ne marched III 10 Berkeley
Springs. crossed the Potomac at Sir Johns Run.
and took the canal towpath TO Willamsport Md.
Shortly after arriving there he received letter
from General Banks. commencing the conduct OF
his company and it's officers and expressing warm
approval OF his course. You were said
Banks charged with important duties. and per-
formed them in such manner as to command the
unqualified approval OF all
Upon the recommendation OF General Banks Mr..
Stanton. Secretary OF War, requested Governor
Andrew q. Curtin to direct Captain Coils TO in
his command TO n regiment. This authority
was promptly conferred by Governor Curtin in
highly complimentary letter TO Coils. recruit
ing office opened In Philadelphia on July |.
1852. and In a brief time Captain Coils raised
and differed nine additional companies. with which
he again Joined the Army - the Potomac In Au-
gust. The regiment was assigned TO Robinsons
brigade Of Birney's division OF the Third Corps.
and ordered 10 the defences at Washington for
drIll and discipline. Its first engagement at
Fredericksburg Va, on December 49, 1862. where 1t
arrived upon the field OF battle at that critical
moment when General Meade with the Pennsyl-
vania reserves had been driven back. after a most
gallant and prolonged struggle against great odds
and were being pursued up TO the very mouths OF
Randolphs and Livingstons batteries. which had
by General Birney TO cover their retreat.
Collis's Zouaves attired In the full uniform OF
the French Zouaves. including fez and white tur-
BAN rushed to the front double quick. with a
inc OF battle nearly thousand strong. The
struggle short sharp and decisive. The
enemy fell back in confusion under terrible fire
from the Zouaves. TWO batteries OF six guns each
were saved. and the Glst Georgia Regiment and
its brigade commander were taken prisoners.
A MEDAL FROM CONGRESS-
For his conduct upon this occasion General.
then Colonel Coils received the Congress Medal
OF Honor bearing the inscription: The Congress.
to Colonel Charles II. r Coils, llith Pennsylvania
Volunteers for distinguished bravery at the Battle
OF Fredericksburg. Va. December 49, 1882. the
service for which the medal was granted being set
out upon the record In the War Department.
Immediately after the battle commentators were
published from acknowledgements John c. Robin
son. Birney and Stoneman. who declared that Col
ls's deserved to he ranked equal TO any OF
the veteran regiments
on January 90 1865. upon the occasion OF the
muddy march" OF General Burnside. called
because the army was ovcrtaken by raiustorm
which lasted days. and left the Army OF
the Potomac literally stuck IL the mud. the Coils
Zouaves were selected to man the pontoon boats
and swing them across the River Rappahannock
at Banks's Ford in face Of the enemy Fortunately
for them. however, they did not avail themselves
OF this post OF honor. in consequence OF the
weather" the whole movement abandoned.
But I'm the early spring they
called upon to show the metal that in them.
At Charlottesville. May g. 1862 they formed
which for hours held the advanced position while
Hooker Withdrawing the army to the en-
trenchmcnts In of the Chancellor House.
or 700 men in Cols's regiment who OH the dawn
Of that memorable day assaulted and held the
breastworks defended by Trmbles division OF the
enemy. eleven officers and 1872 men killed or
severely wounded and thiryeight. supposed TO
be wounded. captured by the enemy
ASKING FOR COILS AS THEIR LEADER.
After the battle General Graham having been
promoted to the command OF the division OF Gen.
eral Whpple. who had been killed. the field ofn-
OF the brigade addressed letter to the corps
commander requesting Colonel Collis's assignment
to command the brigade In recognition OF mis- u.s.
tinguished services on the Sd inst" Coils. how
ever succumbed TO an attack OF typhoiu Ie'er'
brought by overexertion and exposure ana was
carried to his home in Philadelphia on stretcher.
where he remained at the point OF death FOR several
weeks. and thus was prevented from being with
his regiment now reduced to $50 men. at Gettys-
burg where in the peach orchard, IL lost ninety
nine OF its members killed and wounded. Upon
rejoinIng II In August he was presented win
handsome sword. bearing the inscription pre-
sented to Colonel c. II. T. Coils by the non-com-
missioned officers and privates OF the ll4th
(Zouaves) Pennsylvania Volunteers. In testimony
OF his distinguished bravery at the pattIe or Chan-
cellorsville May 3, 1853"
BY virtue OF his rank Coils became commander
OF the brigade. General Graham being prisoner
of war and ne led the brigade in all subsequent
campaigns. until the reorganization OF the army
In the spring of 1864. The brigade composed
entirely OF Pennsylvania regiments. the 57th. 63d.
6sth l05th. Hath and Hist.
In October, 1863 upon the retreat of the Army Of
the Potomac from Cupeper TO Centreville. Colonel
Coils again distinguished himself. His brigade