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

centrevle Riding at the head Of his column
with Generals French and BIrney at his side. his
skrmishers became suddenly engaged WIN 'ne
enemy at Auburn Coils quickly formed inc VI
battle on each side of the road ana charseo ."e
enemy with a rush, driving him away IN CONFUSION
and cutting his forces In two. The attacklnS parry
proved to be Fitz-Hugh Lees command OF S'u~''s
cavalry.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION GIVEN.
In recognition Of his services upon this occasion
Major General Birney Issued the ioho"'"s se"
eral order on the field:
"e HeadqSart s Birneys Divisions.
Third Corps, October II. isS s;.
The commanding me ds,y s ondnct
the Officers and men for their admirsnae , s due
during the late movement EsPeolIa s cf for its gal
snt 5ne in a' rspusns the ene%ys head
Of the column at Auburn and to Colone nnss,oos
his skill and prompttude in making the osp''''0"'
On the 9th Of November of the same year, IN
the Mine Run campaign. Collis's brigade again re-
ceived the first shock Of battle. and drove the enemy
from its position by impetuous charge Here
Coils had horse shot under him, was nimseh
slightly wounded and almost captured whiis
posting his picket line in the night time For hls
services on this day Major-General William n.
French recommended his promotion to brigader'
general and his division commander. General BIZ
ney. shortly afterward made the same request sat
ing: The brigade has always behaved under Gen.
and deserves general officer to command 1t. pro.
NOTED for services in II would be neid s oy Colonel
received this deserved promotion. IN N. List Of
general Officers. and he received only the breyst
rank Of brigadier general but was assigned 70 duy
independent brigade held for special service at the
headquarters OF Generals Grant and Meade con M
INF his @, xs he IN from
the Wilderness to Petersburg rsnds re- s Eyts
service repulsng another attack OF General 1
Hugh Lees cavalry, this time made upon Generals
Grant and Meade while on the marcn.
GENERAL PORTER TELLS THE STohf'
General Horace Porter has thus graphically DO
scrbed this incident: Immediately after the pa'''s
of Spottsylvania May. 1864. at the time when was
serving on the staff OF General Grant. our army
moved by the left flank its advance to the Nortn
Ann River. On the march the Second Corps ied tho
headquarters OF Grant and Meade followed Lowed anS
headquarters were a squadron of cavalry and
regiments Of nii1ry under the command
Gunneys Station at the crossing OF the Matiapony
a''n humber Of miles apart with nothing in the gap
between them but Generals Grant ana Meaee th Ter
h heaSauarters wagon train Firing had been heard
in the front. When We reached the station L was
across the river in the possession OF the enemy and
promptly and with the true instincts n Of r sS,
through the deep water below the bridge and hi.
s s carried anoIs the Bridge He not
with carrying the position and saying the nsiags;
eusaRns the retreains enemy until relieved by
troops Of the Fifth Corps and ordered TO return 70
Headquarters. Upon his arrival he was comp!-
mented By both General Grant and General Meade
for the handsome manner in which he had BE-
hayed'
LEADING THE CHARGE IN PERSON.
At the terrific battle OF Petersburg. on April /
1866 which was the first of the days fighting
which crushed Lees army. a portion Of the Ninth
Corps having been driven back from the works
which they had so CALAMITY stormed and captured.
General Coils who had been ordered 10 the spot py
Gran 70 al
rushed to their relief. leading the l4th Pennsyvana
Volunteers and 61st Massachusetts, In person, re-
taking ali the lost ground and advancing 10 an inner
line OF works This not accomplished without
serious loss OF life. Three OF the officers OF nis
own little regiment had been killed In the ASSAULT
FOR his conduct upon this occasion he was breveted
a ajor-general at the request OF LieutenantGcn'
eral Grant. ., 49,. -.
In June 1866. his regiment returned home ana
was mustered out OF service General Coils at once
resumed the practice OF law.