The National tribune., 1895-01-03
DAVENPORT REPLIES.
A Discussion of the Loss of Hayden's Gun

A Discussion of the Loss of Hayden's Guns.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In your
issue of Dec 90 is an article by w. F. VIE
land, Chief Bugler Batteries l. and NJ, Sd
q. s. Art, headed Did Not Lose Them"
1t relates to section two Parrot gunsl
under the charge Of Lieut.. Hayden; the lull
battery was under command of Capt. John
Edwards at Gaines's Mill
Comrade Wieand has quoted from nv
article of July II, Zone of the Seven Days.
/ made, us l thought, a very careful study
of the heroic part taken by this battery and
1T is 10 me surprising that in such iull re-
port of the actions al MechanicsviIle Gaines's
Mill and Malvern Hill, in which this efficient
battery lost, as per official report of Capt.
Edwards, 81 officers and enlisted men killed
wounded and missing, besides some "a horses
that the commander of the battery, after do
ing such noble work and writing his report
eight days after the engagement at Gaines's
Mil, dated at Harrison's Landing, July 5,
1862. should not know whether he was short
two guns, and further states in full how, as
far as he was concerned, and could learn from
the confused accounts, the mishaps occurred.
In conc uding his report he says:
=" have TO report my commentator with
regard TO the officers, and also state that the
greater part of the enlisted men fought nobIy.
l would mention First Serg't App, who took
charge of the caissons, and Privates Smith,
Mofitt, Mallinger, Burke, Emmett, Reed,
and others who proved themselves good SOL
diersn
Gen. Chas. s. WinGer. of Jacksou's COM
mand. who led this charge, with his own
brigade and regiments Of other commands
III in ALL, states that Col. William S. III.
Baylor, 9Th Va. delivered to him two Par
rott guns. This was near the McGehee
House. Again, Bugler Wieland is wrong as
to the Irish Brigade. They did not do any
fighting at Gaines's Mill, if their official re-
ports are correct, but occupied the edge of
the field at dark and during the succeeding
night. They were not within one-auarter
of mile, at least, of McGehee's; they were,
however, nearer the other two sections of
Edwards's battery, which were respectively,
or had been, some 500 and 1900 yards TO the
left of Hayden's guns which were captured
to the front of McGehee's House. The bril-
gade that fought about MEG ehee's, besides the
Regulars, was Bartletts -four regiments), of
Slocum's Division, Sixth Corps.
IL strikes me that if the two guns had
been rescued second time, as narrated by
Buglcr Wieland, Capt Edwards would have
been only too glad to mention the fact and
give credit TO whom due. Comrade Wieland
might have mistaken the drawing off of
Lieutenant BrOwnson's two guns, some 500
yards to the left of Hayden's, which were
gotten off by very close shave; Capt. Ed
wards being there in person, and then went
to the right only TO find Hayden's guns lost,
and the ground in rear of McGehee's in pos
session of the enemy.
do not wish to get into discussion on
this matter, but would respectfully refer all
those interested 10 the report OF Capt. Ed
wards, Series l., Vol. XII, Part 2, PIP. 355-S;
Col. Baylor's 18th Va.) report, p. 579; Gen.
Chas I. Winder's, p. 500, and many others
IN this volume.
j was 10th to say these two guns were
captured, but for the truth of history, after
studying the various reports and from my
own experience on that field, could not do
otherwise: and Comrade Wieland must
make out stronger case before he can con-
trovert official reports, especially that of his
commanding officer of the battery, Capt.
John Edwards.-A. DAVENPORT, 9th n Y,
New York City.