The National tribune., 1895-05-16

fight Gen. Garrard's Division camp was
only about q mile from the last position
where the Wilder Brigade and Minty's re-
pulsed Wheeler; and will anyone believe
that Gen. Kenner Garrard, distinguished
Porrr. officer, remained in his camp with
his Third Br,un,s.se -Leng's-while such an
important fight was going on one mlie-or
even three miles-from him?
OF course not. Gen. Garrard was then on
the ground, and commanded. Col. Minty
merely commanded his own brigade; and
although he says in his articles in one place.
al ordered" and in another, " requested !"
Col. Miller "to retire his brigade" to the
new position, he had nothing whatever to
do with it. But the way Col. Minty fights
the Chicago Board of Trade Battery in this
action is a caution.
Describing the last attack in the issue of
March i, 1894, he says: The six guns were
loaded with canister. ! told Lieut.. Robin
son, when / gave the order to fire, to do so
by volleys. The men in front still advanced
regularly, steadily, and silently. THESE
were the Johnnies.) Suddenly all doubts
as to the personality of this force was placed
at rest. A sheet of flame shot out and q
Storm of lead passed over our heads. Stimuli
taneously with the fire came the rebel yell,
and almost before said, Now, Mr.. Robin
son, give it TO EN- the vOllsy from the six
PARROTS made the welkin ring Volley
after yolley pounded into the enemy's ranks,
and this, supplemented by the fire of the
Spencers, was more than the men In front
of us could stand and this is more than 1
can stand-Doyle they brsks and quickly
disappeared in the darkness of the night"
Now, the Board of Trade Battery had six
guns, but there was only section with each
brigade; and if you read ahead of what l
have quoted, in Col. Minty's article of March
/, 1894. you will find that Lieut.. Griffins
section OF two guns was attached to Col.
Minty's Brigade; for, does not Col. Minty
picture Griffin's two guns alone opposed to
the advance of lannon's Tennessee Brigade?
and does he not figure himself like unite
Gen. Taylor al Buena Vista? He rode over
to the guns with his two Orderlies to support
them. Taylor said: ga little more grape,
Capt. Bragg" NIinty said: "Give them
canister, Mr.. Griffin"
Then he sends Lieut.. Griffin back over
MONDAY Creek, when he decided. as he
says, TO fall back, anddirected him to report
to Gen. Garrard. to whom he was to give my
compliments, and request him to have the
battery placed in position on the high bank
near the west end of the bridge, and if the
General was not in camp to instruct Lieut.
Robinson to place his battery in the posi-
ton indicated at once" And then "
crossed the bridge and joined the battery"
ETC., his brigade and the Wilders being on
the opposite side about to engage the
enemy, and then the farce with Lieut..
Robinson took place.
While Gen. Garrard remained in camp
one mile away, according 10 Minty, he
claimed to command, because he was with
the troops fighting and Gen. Garrard was
not. But how the deuce could Minty COM
mand when he was on the other side OF the
creek, away from his command, leaving Col.
Miller with the Wilder Brigade 10 take care
of the rebels, aided by portion of Minty's
own brigade. who had not gone with their
commander to support the battery? Gen.
GaIrard was in command at MONDAY, and
when he found that the Wilder Brigade had
checked the rebel advance, he directed 1T to
fall back and form line Mt the creek, as he
did Minty's small brigade also, and he
placed the Board of Trade Battery in posi-
tion on the ridge in their rear across the
creek las shown in Col. Minty's map, while
he held Longs Brigade in camp in readiness
to move to the assistance of their comrades
if necessary.
Gems. Sherman, Howard and all authori-
ties give to Gen. Garrard the credit Of the
fight, and Coils. Minty, Miller and other sub
ordnates are not mentioned in their re-
ports. Now, does not every soldier of Sher-
mans army know that had Gen. Garrard
been guilty Of neglect of duty, as Gen.
Minty would have US think, would not
Uncle William" have his scalp in a min
ute. and would it not have been criminal
neglect of duty for Gen. Garrard to have
remained in camp within a mile of the
point where Wheeler with large force of
his rebel cavalry was trying to force Gar
rard's position; for, as Garrard's Division
covered the left of Shermans army, had
Wheeler driven it back he would have inn
periled the supply depots at Big Shanty and
Allentown on the railroad by getting on
Sherman's left rear, and would have caused
considerable commotiOn by cutting his COM
municatioDs.
Gen. Garrard could not afford to sit in
camp and smoke his Havana while such
serious work was going on close 10 him, and
he did not, and history gives him credit for
the fight and his able and mastery protec-
ton of Sherman's left flank down TO At
lanta, for his able manuvers on the right
flank of the army previously and for his
quick and decisive movements throughout
the campaign.-W. L. DOYLE, Adjutant
18th Ind, Stevensburg Va.
KSBURG.