The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-07-16

sent into our ranks from the rear with
fatal effect.
Shortly after this a squadron of our
own men in command of First Lieu
tenant came upon the ground. He ex-
pressed surprise when told we had pre-
ceded them by half-hour, rs he had
been told his command had the advance.
| We had nearly 80 wagons then corralled
and it was beginning to be light. Of
prisoners we at that time had gathered
600.
We began this fight at midnight, and
faithfully worked until daylight We
corralled 200 wagons in all, 400 horses
and mules, and 1900 prisoners. Maj.
Charles Z. Capehart claims the honor of
this charge and capture for his regi-
ment The first officer not belonging
to Michigan's 9th Cav to come upon the
ground was First Lieutenant who bad
the features of one belonging to A, 9th
Mich, and who became Major before
the close of the war. In the month of
October, 1868, it came in my way to
meet the Major who claimed this, and
he said perhaps there might be mis-
take, but he had made the report to the
War Department accordingly. Now,
this was ours, and we propose to stand
for it.
But once in the history of all our
work did we ever get credit for anything
we did not earn. AT Culpeper, Sept.
Is, 1868, Gen. Custer took the I'd NY.
(Harris's Light, charged battery, and
took a gun that we had the honor Of
capturing. 1t was simply mistake, as
Custer led the charge, and he was our
brigade commander. But how about
Hagerstown, where Lieut.-Col. Gould
was wounded; Raccoon Ford, Yellow
Tavern, Meadow Bridge. Hawes's Shop?
Did we ever get our own for any of
these2
From Smithburg we fought our way
to Carrtown, Hagerstown, down almost
to Boonesboro, and then across to Will
Transport, then back to Boonesboro,
where we had
A FEARFUL ENCOUNTER
on the Sth, with Col. Alger wounded.
Lieut. Col. Gould assumed command,
and led in the assault at Hagerstown on
the 18th, where he was wounded as we
were charging into the town, and Maj.
L. S. Trowbridge finished the work
begun by Col. Gould, and led us at
Williamsport and Falling Water on the
18th.
We recrossed the Potomac on the
18th, and proceeded to Smokers Gap
and did some quarreling with the flank
ers of Lees army. On the Dist we
fought at Ashby's Gap; on the 24th at
Newby's Crossroads, in front of Thorn
tons Gap, through which Longstreets
and Hills infantry, together with Stu
ants cavalry, had already come, and
were in excellent shape to send us back.
Here we were entirely surrounded,
and but for the forethought of line
officer looking over the ground as we
made the advance we should have been
completely destroyed. A colored man
came to Capt. Simonds, and upon being
asked if there was road by which we
could get out, said: "Only through that
gully" The hint was at once taken,
and our own, as we'll as the 9th, regi-
ment ran the gantlet, with part of
Pennington's battery. A very good
reason for Capt Simonds being in COM
mand was that Col. Gray, of the 9th,
turned the command over to him, and
as he was the senior officer, Maj. Trow-
bridge being i'll, he tried faithfully to
keep his place; but | can see him now,
as he lay beside the road while we passed
up to the fight.
At dusk, after very exciting and
perilous day, we came back and en-
camped at Amissville, where the whole
division were gathered.
GEN. LoNGsTREKr SAYS
of this fight that he was opposed by
10000 troops, while the fact remains
that the 9th and 9Th Cav, numbering
less than 1000, alone exchanged shots
with his and Hills Corps.
The Second Division, under Gen.
Gregg, prince Of officers, relieved the
Third Division, and on the 31st we
marched to Warrenton junction and
encamped. Here for nearly two months
we had our Headquarters; and, as all
field officers were absent, line officer
had command, and we were subjected to
all the petty annoyances and arrogance
Of a youngster with his first pair Of red
topped boots.
From Warrenton Junction two expe-
ditions were sent out, composed Of picked
men; one TO Falmouth and one to Port
Conway, when and where Lieut.. p. S.
Liggett was killed. We started south
ward from the line of the o. & a. Rail-
road, and brought up at HARDWOOD
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