The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-11-12

As understand it, that charge on the
evening of July 9, around through the mead
ows, over the wall, scattering the Eleventh
Corps and breasting the hill, only to spend
its strength and, like wave, receding back
to its beginning again, was made, not by
Hays's Brigade Of LOuisianians alone, but
Hoke's Brigade of North CafoIinians; these
latter were not only in the assault, but act
ualiy bore the brunt Of the battle.
Why it is that most military writers, APP
parently unconsciously, honor the Virginians,
Louisianians, etc, at the expense OF the Tar
Heels and other fighting Southerners is
something cannot comprehend; but 1T is
matter of history that the 9th N. c. got far
ther and lost more men in that fight than
any two regiments did in Hayss Brigade.
The official report of the 9Th. 21st and
57th n. c., of Hoke's Brigade, is 345, while
Hays's regiments, the 5th, 9th, It'll, 9Th and
9th La, lost 49, The history of these two
brigades are so closely interviewer that where
one stands the other is generally found lined
up alongside
Hays had probably about 1900 men at
Gettysburg, and if he suffered loss of 313
his brigade was not wiped out by any means.
They were a tough lot of citizens, at any rate,
and a hard crowd to kill off.
I was told by reliable reb that on the
morning of July l, as they were marching
toward Gettysburg, and hearing the boom
ing of Carriers guns and the rattle Of Black
fords rifles, their officers had great trouble
to restrain them from breaking ranks and
going for the Yanks sngle-handed. In my
opinion they got their stomachful of fight be-
fore they vamo0sed the hills Of Gettysburg.
We find them carried along on he rolls of
the Army of Northern Virginia through the
rest of the year 1863 ga, and even to the
last of the great conflict, precisely as they
were at Gettysburg.
The nearest that Hays's men, as an organi-
cation, came to humiliation was Nov. Z,
1868, at Rappahannock Station, when Eli
makers and Upton's Brigades, Sixth
Corps, tackled them, and literally took them
into camp. / have walked along Bloody
Lane at Gettysburg, and wondered how the
men of the Eleventh Carps, ensconced be-
hind that stone wall at the base of the hill,
ever did allow the Johnnies to run over
them and rout them from SO good posi-
ton, but when / know that the men who
wore the Roman cross did like favor to the
graybacks of Hays and Hoke, realize that
soldiers can be surprised and defeated when
placed under like conditions.
At RappannCck Ellmaker's Brigade 18th
y.
Uptons Brigade 18th Me-, 121st N. Y, and
95th and Goth Pa. charged to and over the
works defended by Hays and Hoke and
Green's battery, capturing the position and
defenders with one grand scoop.
Hays says his brigade had between 800
and 900 men engaged here, and lost 7O2
Hoke reports his loss at 1927, while the most
of the cannOneers skedaddled, leaving their
four guns in the hands Of the charging
h-boys who wore the blue, and planted
Old Glory on the rebel ramparts. gallant
deed, CALAMITY done. ALI honor to the old
Sixth Corps!
At Nine Run, month later, the frag-
ments of these inextinguishables were gath
cred together as one organization, COM
maaded by Col. VIM. Monaghan, and are re-
ported as losing % men in that battle.
II we examine the records still farther we
will find that Hays's Brigade participated
right along in all the battles Of the division,
| and only ceased its organization when it
folded its flags at Appomattox.
| l have heard this story Of the destruction
| OF the so-called "Tige RS " at Gettysburg SO
often that it is about time to call a halt.
am OF the opinion that the battlefield guides
| at Gettysburg are largely responsible for
this fabrication. They try TO earn their
| money and entertain their visitors by the
narrowing story OF 10000 dead men living on
| the bloody field, while the buzzards and
crows came in vast focks to enjoy the feast.
| These guides will kill off few thousand
| soldiers most any time to interest their
listening auditors; but let the "Tiger "story,
with the worm-eaten old army biscuit. rest.
! JOHN d. VAUTIER, 731 Federal street,
| Philadelphia.