The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-12-05

7. F. Mccoy, Lewiston, Pa, writes: In
the issue Of Nov. Ia is an article, Their
Last Campaign" by s. A. Clark, Co. F, 1st
vt. Cav, Willow Lakes, S. D. Comrade
| Clark does not seem to be truly posted in
reference to the very important battle Of
| Five Forks ut least so far "a Gen. Warren
and the Fifth Corps are concerned Notice
the two paragraphs beginning, respectively,
Celebrity OF action was now every thing and
| In the meantime the enemy had fallen back
to Five Forks
Answering them, I will say that Gen.
Sheridan had a very good general knowledge
of the enemy's position, but did not have an
exact knowledge, for as soon as the infantry
| advanced Gen. Warren, as well as Gen.
| Ayres, whose division was nearest 10 the
enemy, discovered that the formation of the
Fifth Corps, by direction of Sheridan, was
| too far to the right. This resulted in expos
ing Ayres left flank to the fire of the enemy,
which caused some confusion in the begin
ming of the action. However, it was quickly
remedied by Warren changing the direction
of Griffin's Division and bringing it up to
the support of Ayres. and he was thus
abed to turn the enemy's left, and soon
made victory certain.
"Then comes the long-since- exploded
three divisions into position. The corps
had been massed all the forenoon, after re-
porting to Sheridan in the early morning,
and after receiving the order, between 1 and
2 o'clock in the afternoon, had two and
half miles to march, the road swimming
with mud and INSTRUCTED by Sheridan's
wagons and led horses.
Gen. Crawford's Division was in the adj
vance, and Baxter's Brigade, to which my
regiment (the 10th Pa.) belonged, and in
this march led the brigade, and have vivid
personal recollections of the movement, and
that no unnecessary delay was experienced
In that laborious and difficult advance to the
battle-ground. This fact has been estab-
lished more than 80 years ago, and is fully
upon the record, clearly established by the
testimony, now before me, of Gen. Bank
head of the staff, who communicated the
order, and Gems Griffin, Ayres, and Craw-
ford, commanding the divisions of the Fifth
Corps.
"Comrade Clark's greatest mistake and
consequent injustice to the memory of Gen.
Warren is in stating that Sheridan removed
him from the command of his corps while
the division was in course Of formation be-
fore the battle, and that Gen. Griffin was in
command of the corps during the engage
ment.
g l may truly and confidently assert that
ills never occurred. Such abatement contra
diets Sheridan's official report of the battle in
reference to the matter. Gen. Griffin, as his
official report shows he was, was in command
of his own division, and Gen. Warren, care
fully and with the greatest military skill,
prepared his three divisions for one of the
most interesting and important battles of
the war, and when everything was complete
gave the order for the advance. He led the
last charge made"
The Body of Johnston.
Luther B. Hunt, Co. K, 45th H., writes
In the issue of Oct 81 is letter from
Joseph A. Brady in regard to the finding
of the body of Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston.
had charge of a burial party. As the
bodies were brought in we looked them over,
and if we could tell to what regiment they
belonged they were sent there.
I'VE dug two long trenches; in one we
put the COnfederates, in the other the I'M
known Union. The searching-party came
in, bringing on stretcher body. They
said it must be some high officer, az he had
on silk underwear, and his uniform was
trimmed with gold lace This had all been
stripped off before it got to us by different
ones.
81 had the remains placed on canvas,
back of the Headquarters tent. A negro |
cook came along, and he said it was the body |
of Gen. Johnston. He said he had cooked |
for him before the war. We sent for all |
officers whom we thought might know him,
but arrived at no conclusion.
During the day Bushrod Johnson was |
found on the field, wounded. He was taken |
prisoner at Fort Donelsop, and was out on |
parole. He had come down to see Sidney, |
and was taking no part in the fight. He |
was riding out to the front when Int.
"The ambulance in which he was borne |
was driven up, and he looked at the body. |
He could not satisfy himself and asked to
have the body raised to sitting posture. I |
well remember his look when he said: That
is Sidney He then told us that the General
was killed about 10 o'clock Sunday morn
ing. He asked to have the remains sent
through the lines to his friends. The reason
the body was left on the field, the rebel
officers did not want their army to know he
was killed, as they feared it would dis
hearten the men,"
Was Allison Lost9
VIM Walker, Robinson, Colo, writes: SIN
the issue of Oct Is is an article by Albion
e. Brown on the fate of Lieut. Kidder. AS
the comrade did not give his pos,office adj
dress, would like to ask him, through your
paper, if Frank Allison, Co. NJ, ID U. 5. Cav,
was one of the fated members of the Kidder
expedition, or if Brown knows what became
Of Allison as he was a schoolmate of mine,
and he has record in the volunteer service
hat should be cleared up"