The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-03-21
MONTEREY PASS.
A Claim that the 9th Mich. Led the Charge
There.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In your
issue of Jan. 3, a letter from Gen. Capehart
with regard to the fight in Monterey Pass,
at midnight, July 4, 1868, appears. Other
comrades and / take a decided issue with
his version, and with the report of Maj
Chas Z. Capehart regarding the part taken
by him and his regiment, the 1st w. Va.
/ do not in any way depreciate the good
qualities of the 1st w. Va. or it's gallant
commander, Col. n. p Richmond, who was
prince among soldiers. Neither do dis
parage Co. c, LIST Ohio Cav. But mine was
the first regiment in that fight from start to
finish.
But the 9Th Mich. was the only regiment
| in that division armed with the Spencer
rife, which had so effeciually stopped Stu
| arts legious at Littlestown and Gettysburg,
| fought the enemy away from the bridge,
| crossed over it, when our horses were brought
| up and We were mounted.
Gen. Fitzpatrick gave the order to Capt
Eli K. Simonds (now living in my village)
to draw saber and follow him. 1t was a
case of now, and not an instant of time TO
| lose. He had no time to look for field
officer. The order was given 10 the regi-
ment and at once obeyed. We struck the
train at the junction of the roads, turned to
the left, crowding very many of the wagons
| off and down that precipitous mountain
side, received a volley from our own men in
the rear supposiDg us to be the enemy IA
we reached the turn in the road, that broke
one mans leg in our column. Pennington
came at or near the junction, sending shots
| along the road on which the train had come,
effectually blocking the rear. The charge
| or chase was continued down the mountain
road until we arrived at a small hamlet at
| the base, where we reached the head of the
| train.
As we crossed small stream, the second
volley from our own men was fired into US,
killing horse. We commenced parking
| the train, and had at least 30 wagons and
ambulances rounded up before any other
troops put in an appearance, and before day
began TO show in the east.
When the first troops came up they ex-
pressed great surprise that they were not in
the advance, and one company "a, think
was guarding more than 600 soldiers in gray
before any supper came up. All the light
we had from the start to finish was from
the artillery and small-arms on the top of
the mountain, and the fash of muskets by
the train guards as we overlook them down
the road, until Smithburg was reached, when
small fire was made 10 park the wagons.
Inc result was, 4OU horses and mules, 2OD
wagons, and about 800 prisoners. A few
wagons and ambulances, together with the
horses, were turned over to the United
States Quartermaster; and, as Capt. Simonds
was eaiing breakfast at Smithburg Gen.
Fitzpatrick said to him:
Captain, as you led the charge on that
train, you take your company and set them
On fire."
And any version that leaves the 9Th Mich.
ont as the regiment that led that midnight
charge from start 10 finish, whether from
the records of the War Department as re-
ported by Maj. Charles Z. Capehart, or from
any other source, kindly tell the author he
is talking through his hat. "-ED S. HAST
IEGs, Worthwhile, Mich.