The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-01
The Real Story of
A Great Battle.
General w. w. III. Davis Graphically Describes
The Bloody Engagement at Fair Oaks.


cred by General w. w. II. Davis, of
Historical society upon the battle of
Fair Oaks will be read with interest in
this locality because Of the fact that
Governor Hartranft's Fifty-second
regiment (recruted from Luzerne,
what Is now Lackawanna, and wyom-
ing cOunties) was In the same battle
and served In the same division with
General Davis One Hundred and
Fourth. The address in point was not
history, but a chapter merely of per-
sonal recollectiOns. General Davis said !:
There was a heavy storm the night be-
fore the battle and the flash of light
ming. crash of thunder and pouring rain
seemed like war OF the elements pro-
phetic of the terrible conflict of the mgr
row. The country was flooded Saturday
was clear and sultry. and the forenoon un-
usually quiet. In camp the men were
lolling In the shade About 10 o'clock AN
aide of General Joe Johnston passed
through my camp prisoner from the
picket line. and about IL, three shells
from the enemy's lines fell within our
camps. but we thought nothing of IL at the
front. In the meantime. however, sus-
ptcions were aroused: the troops were
forming and the artillery horses har-
messed HoH
Our headquarters mess had just fin
ished dinner and were discussing the cam
paisn In front of our cabin, when an aide
OF Casey dashed up with an ofder to have
the regiment under arms 'immedia tcly.
1t was In line In a few minutes. This was
little after L. We did not sxpect a bat
tls. thinking 1t an ordinary alayJp. shortly
after ! received an order to ,Inarch the
regiment nearer the williamsburg <oad 10
support a battery. This was but n short
distance, and We formed on the battery's
right In a piece of timber Weswere next
oydered to advance 200 yards into "A clear
ing, where the line was quickl klYsreformed
apd dressed as on parade. We.could see
nothing OF the enemy. There was timber
In front and nearly all aroaisdoiE At this
time my own regiment was the 6nnly force
at the front on this part ofEhe s6eld, and
was the first to receive the sh9Sk of the
enemy.
It is the general mpressioffs tfiht armies
go out to fight decked In all the ''pomp
parade and'c1rcumstance of glort0Is war"
as We see II represented In ptQtures. but 1t
Is far from the truth. Men need not be
DRESSED in finery to be killed, and they
seem to realize it. for they generally
divest themselves of every uselSss article.
They freduently go to the aiaab without
their coats, and sometimes with their
sleeves rolled up My regiment wore
trousers and blue blouses, and. carried
Austrian rifles that would kill at thou
sand yards A reliable gun, plenty of am
mnnition and a stout heart are the most
needful equipments. A battle Is no dress
parade affair.
Tho Enemy sighted. a.
Soon after forming our line in the clear
ing, the enemy was seen in the edge of
the timber in front. and began coming
out in great numbers, firing as they ad-
vanced Bullets began to fall in our ranks,
coming with whizzing, kissing sound,
increasing every moment The regiment
stood In line, and had not fired a. shot.
The men were restive. Thinking tho time
to open fire had come. ordered them to
load, followed by Ready" Aim At
this moment Sergeant Major Wallazz.
former pupil of "Stonewall' Jackson.
came running up and said. Let me say
fire?' ] assented: he gave the word, and
400 bullets were discharged into the masses
of the enemy in our front. within point
blank range. This was the first volley.
and gave notice throughout the army the
battle had begun 1t must be borne In
mind that while these preminaries We're
going on my regiment stood alone. with
out any support.
Other troops We're soon in position, and
the action became general both sides load
ing and firing as rapidly as possible. My
men began to fall. killed and wounded;
the former lying where they fell. many of
the latter walking and others being car
ried Off the field. The fire grew hotter and
hotter. but the men stood up to their
bloody work as cheerfuly as on dress
parade. They were cool and there was no
fiinching. They stood In an old clear-up
furrow, and there the cartridge papers
lay by the basket full. During the hottest
of the firing one of my men, a strapping
big fellow, called out to me. DO you see
that, colonel, they have put bullet
through my canteen and the water IL
running out" He was told to attend to
his work and not mind it. Our right rest
ed on the timber. and seeing a movement
OF the enemy to flank us in that direction
Companies A and b, Captain Rogers and
Lieutenant Kephart. were pushed into the
woods to prevent 1t. N, %l
A Charge with Fixed BayG1tAts.
K We had now been under fire rs6re than
an hour: our line had been we'll. Inain-
tanned, but many men had faNtpA The
. enemy was pressing us In front and.on the
Hank and threatened. the battery We were
supporting At this crisis the f1ieh were
ordered to fix bayonets and Charge. They
sprang forward, with a tremendous yelf
about 100 yards across a piece Of ground
covered with low bushes, one-half the
regiment jumping over worm fence, the
color-bearers planting the flags In the
soft ground, and laying down by Them.
This was on the enemy's side of the fence.
Fire was reopened and the enemy, checked
for a short time. 1t was fool-hardy. but
had the desired effect. Seeing we must re-
linauish our ground unless reinforced,
an officer was sent to General Casey, with
the request that he send us u regiment.
The officer passed twice between the fire
of the two armies and returned uHhurt.
This gallant deed was done by Lieutenant
Ashenfelter. About this time a large
white flag, with a black square I'm the
middle appeared in the enemy's ranks.
Some of our men, thinking II a flag Of
truce what should be done. and were told
to fire at II as rapidly as possible. a vol
ley brought down the bearers. but-ft was
Immediately seized and raised by another.
Soon after they raised another nag.
white cross with stars on a blue field.
Many of their men had white muslin tied
round their hats. :"
The regiment had been in action nearly
three hours, and nearly one-third of the
men had fallen; the promised reinforce
ment not arriving. we could hold our
ground no longer. There was no order to
retire; the men were literally pushed back
by the superior force of the enemy. lndi-
vidual soldiers on the other side came
near enough to strike my men with their
muskets. Theregiment retired slowly and
sullenly. neither officers nor men run
ming. When 1t retired the enemy was
pressing 1t in front and on both TANKS.
and. In few minutes, our retreat would
have been cut on He was already shoot
&ng down our battery horses some dis
kance In the rear of our line Of battle. The
guns had been previously hauled off and
saved. Many of our men. after emptying
their own cartridge boxes. got a fresh
supply from the boxes Of their de6pl and
wounded companions lying around< them.
SThe rifles were discharged so often the
barrels burned their hands, and. the
{~rooyes were so furred I saw sofne OF my
.men place the ramrod against a tree to
FORCE the cartridge home. ~
An Instsn nee OF Galiantry. %