The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-07-30
THAT MYSTERIOUS SOUND.

I'd Mich, Deerfield, Mich.
THAT MYSTERIOUS SOUND.
Mai. Shaffer Criticizes the Story of J. j. Nc
Fall About the Scare at spottsylvania.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Under
the caption of "A Night of Terror" in a
recent issue, j. J. Mccall tells a story of a
mysterious sound that threw his regiment,
the 9th n. Y. H. A., into panic at Spottsyl-
vania. He says: "Our regiment was used
as infantry, armed with Springhelds, and
brigaded with regiment of Germans, who
went as substitutes from New York City.
They were the widest lot of fellows / ever
saw, and to keep them quiet was an impos-
sbility."
The German regiment referred to was
brigaded with the 9Th about that time, and
after the batteries were distributed to the
different corps were known as the Artillery
Brigade. | was Captain of Co. + in the
regiment in May, 1864, and though the Ger
man element largely predominated IN the
regiment yet all were not Germans. My
company and Co M, Capt. Dickey, were not
German companies, and Americans were
distributed through all the companies. In
the matter of their alleged enlistment as
substitutes" the statement is a mistake.
/ had 213 men on my company roll at that
time, and not a solitary substitute.
We broke camp On the afternoon of the Sd
of May, north OF Brandy Station, o. & A. r.
r., and crossed the railroad to the south
side, where we encamped for the night On
the morning of the 4th, having taken eight
days rations and 100 rounds of ammunition,
we fell in line about eight a. n. and took upour
march toward the rebel Capital. We crossed
the Rapidan and went into camp about mid
night on the old Charlottesville battle
ground, 80 miles south of Brandy Station
and Just foTnnst" the Wilderness.
The next morning we moved up about
two miles and joined the 9Th, which we
| found in an open field ust to the rear of the
| Wilderness battle-ground. The smoke Of the
| battle rose above the trees, and the roar of
volleys of musketry could be distinctly
| heard not more than a mile to our front,
where the Second Corps were doing some
| hard fighting. This was on the 9Th of May.
Now, see what John J. McFall says:
Broke camp May IA this is probably
typographical error, and should be 4th !,
guarded train, 600 wagons, 100 miles, two
days and nights; one short stop"
AS before indicated, the German regiment
was not in it, The 9th had the whole circus
to itself and must have credit for it. He
says, 1--WE were at once called into action. !"
AS | have stated, we found the 9Th lying in
camp on the morning of the 5th, about one
mile to the rear of the line-Oi-battle, where
we joined it, Stragglers coming out of the
| woods, hatiess, guniess, Withholding, and
terror-stricken, proclaimed the utter destruc-
ton and humiliation of our army and the
hopelessness of our cause.
We remained in this camp all the after
noon and night. About a. III. of the 9th the
officers call rang out from the brigade bu-
gler and we assembled near Brigade Head
quarters, when Col. kitchiDg, Of the 9th,
commanding the brigade, informed us that
our infantry brethren had been pretty
roughly handled the day before, and needed
our assistance; that we should be prepared
to move at a. NJ.
Up to this time we had had no corps cons
nections. At the hour designated we moved
off to the right and reported to Gen. Warren,
commanding Fifth Corps, and were by him
ordered into action. This was about a. IN.
of the 9th of May, 1864. SO it will be seen
that instead Of going right into action at
least "a hours had interviewed after arrival
of the 9th regiment There was no fire, ex-
cept of musketry, On our part OF the line,
f though / believe there was off to the left
and the 9th may have encountered it, though
, have never before heard of it.
The comrade tells us that after two days
hard fighting the enemy fell back"
thought at the time, and indeed it is still
very wildly impressed upon my mind, that
| we fell back just out Of the woods the same
2 day and went behind our rifle pits, where we
remained all night and all the next day
t until about A p. IN. We had repulsed an
attack of the enemy, who came out of the
L., ,,,l, ,l,n,s III
, yells, attempted to break through our line
; but suddenly changed their minds and re-
: turned (some of them), while others appeared
e to suddenly grow very tired and lay down
), to rest, silent the grave. We withdrew
Z, from the rifie-pits and prepared for a night
q march TO SpOttsylyania, which we accom-
plished, and just at early dawn we went
t | into camp near an old church, where we re-
: manned until dusk We suddenly packed
1 our traps and moved by the left into tn,
s woods on the double-quick for the front
where John J. got SO badly scared. We
: were at this time in the rile-pits in the from
f line. Night dark and gloomy, had spread he
:, curtain over us, while the heavy timber ant
d the thick, dense underground served to in
n tensfy the gloom. All was still and quiet
n the army was wrapped in slumber, wher
suddenly from out of the stiffness and TIL,
L dark ness came the alarm. And now he says
: I'VE were suddenly awakened by the mos
J, frightful sound that ever penetrated human
I ears. Almost every man was on his feet il
O the twinkling of an eye, and some opened
l. fire toward the enemys line"
f Well, should say they did. 1t sounded
d very much like it. The steady, unbrokel
n roll of musketry that came to our ears from
8 the lines Of the 6th clearly indicated that a
n many as two or three of their number mus
have opened fire toward the enemy" JohI
e j. happened to be among the few too scarce
l. to get on their feet. had all | could d.
is just then to keep my heart inside; but
did show some bravery by poking the muZ
% zle of my musket through crack in tn
/ breastworks and blazing away at our owl