The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-03-21
BATTLE OF PIEDMONT.
What the 14th Pa. Cav. Did In that Engage
meut.

what the l4tn IA Cav. DlO In tnat LnSaSc-
ment.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In q re-
cent issue / notice communication con-
corning the battle Of Piedmont, by a member
of the Saith Mass. OOmrade Pilkington's
account, to the best Of my recollect on, Is
in most respects correct. Still there are q
few points which / would like to add 10 his
narrative; and / believe he is wrong In at
tributing the death Of Gen. Jones to the
Saith. aa
During the two days preceding this en-
gagement my regiment, the 14th Pa. Cav,
then numbering only about $50 men, under
the command of Capt. Duncan, had been in
advance of the army, and almost continu-
ously engaged in running fight with the
enemy's horsemen. For this reason, on the
morning of the battle, Capt. Duncan had
been ordered to remain in the rear, that he
might rest his men and horses, and at the
same time act as rear-guard.
1t could not have been later than o'clock
when an Orderly came galloping back with
orders from Gen. Hunter for Duncan to re-
port at the front. A New York regiment,
which had been in the van, had been worsted
in an encounter with the rebel skirmishers.
We formed for saber charge, and Gen.
''-~N
still talking whom the New York troops
were pushed through our line. 1t was get
ting pretty warm about that time.
GO, General, thatu dol" shouted
Duncan.
"All right" said Hunter; ego ahead"
And we went. We drove the Johnnies
before us across the fields for nearly two
miles to their main line-of-battle. In that
time we killed and wounded about SO of
them, and took $50 prisoners.
When this artillery opened on us we de-
ployed as skirmisbers, and so awaited until
the main body of troops came up, when we
were again ordered to the rear.
From our horses we watched what Com
rade Pilkington calls the first charge, in
which the rebels were driven behind their
breastworks. But when the lines were re-
formed before the second charge we were
dismounied, and my impression is that we
were placed on the left of the Gath Mass.
COmrade Pilkington is right in saying
that they were ON the left of the line; and
can easily see how he would overlook our
small regiment Of dismounted cavalry
When the second charge was made Gen.
Jones seemed 10 he making desperate effort
to rally his troops against our end OF the
line. He had doubtless noticed that we had
no bayoncts, and for that reason had selected
our regiment as the weak point in the at
lacking line.
As Capt. Duncan jumped upon the works
he ordered his men to draw their pistols. 1t
was about this time that Jones was killed.
l did not see him fall but very shortly after
ward did see him stretched out dead and
it was my impression at the time, and that
of several others, that the missile which had
shattered his temple must have been a pis-
tol-ball. If we were right, and feel sure
were, there can be little doubt that Jones
met his death at the hands of the 14th.
/ distinctly remember the braDd-new
wooden canteens Comrade Pilkington de-
scribes as being found on the bodies of the
dead Johnnics. He says that some of them
contained whisky. wThat was not all. Some
of them contained gun-powder and whisky
"a diabolical mixture, calculated to con-
vert a man into fend.'
After the fight we had many laugh at
the expense of Gen. Stahl, member of
Hunters staff. Staal was supposed to be in
charge of the dismounted cavalry, butso
how, in the confusion oftbattle he lost sight
of US. Just as we reached the works he
rode along, shouting: We're is mine cav
airy? We're is mine cavalryp" We hadn't
time to be amused just then, but some
fellow gave him the desired information:
Here, you - old Dutch fooli"
l wonder if the. comrade was present
when the Johnny made the speech in the
bull-pen, to which he refers in his article
1t was in the evening, after the fight, and
all the prisoners were looking rather blue
with the exception of one. He mounted q
stump that was inside the pen, and pro-
ceeded to address his fellows. l just recol-
lect this much of his speech:
Next week the Richmond papers will
come out, and we will have gained another
glorious victory in the Valley But the
Yank he occupies the ground, like he always
does JOHN FELT, Co. K, 18th Pa. Cav,
Indiana, Pa.