The National tribune., 1897-11-11

prsed. The camp of the Eighth Corps was
undoubtedly surprised; Gen. Wright was
surprised; the whole army was surprised, TO
the extent that it was not expecting an
attack
1t is true that the camp Of the Nineteenth
Corps was pundered, but il was because the
men were marched out to the front 10 fight,
and when they were fianked and compelled
TO retreat they were obliged to abandon
their camp. Had they looked after their
camp, which they had plenty of time 10 do
instead of marching out to meet the enemy,
they would have lost nothing, hut it would
have been sorry day for the Sixth Corps
and the cavalry.
On the evening Of Oct. 18 the Second
Brigade, Second Division, Nineteenth Corps,
received orders to be ready at day break on
the morning of the 10Th to move out on a
reconnaissance. The Fourth Brigade, camp p
ed Immediately behind the Second Brigade,
had received orders to be in line under arms
at on the morning of the 18th, and to move
Immediately into the breastworks occupied
BY the Second Brigade as soon as it marched
out
The Second Brigade troops had eaten their
breakfasts, and were in line awaiting orders
report OF Col. Molineux) at the time the
Fourth Brigade had stood in line under
arms more than 80 minutes when the first
shot was heard in front OF the Eighth Corps.
These two brigades were ready to move
at once. Had Gen. Wright quickly compTe-
hended the nature of the attack we might
have been moved 20 minutes earlier than
we were. | we'll remember the uneasiness
of our Colonel as he waited for orders.
Our brigade was ordered by the left flank
over the pike, and formed line whose right
rested on or near the pike, and extended in
an easterly direction toward the camp OF
Crooks Second Division, so as to meet Ker-
shaw's forces, which had fallen upon the
First Division of the Eighth Corps TIVE
regiments of the Second Brigade were sent
to support the batteries located at and near
the pike.
Gen. McMillen, commanding the First
Division, Nineteenth Corps, in his report
says that he ordered out his Second Brigade
to the left OF Grover Second DivisioD), and
that it fought there until 1T lost nearly one
third of its numbers, and only Tetreated
when overwhelmed and ffanSed. He also
says that his First Brigade held the hill az
long as possible. The remaining portions OF
the Nineteenth defended the breastworks
against the column advancing by the pike
road from Hupp's Hill.
The Nineteenth Corps had therefore 70
meet first the fire of the victorious Kershaw
after he routed the First Division OF the
Eighth Corps, including the artillery there
captured second, the attack from the in
fantry column and artillery advancing by
the pike road, and lastly the troops of Gen.
Gordon, a lvancing parallel to the pike and
at right angles with our breastworks.
The day was just breaking az Gen. Gordon
advanced and overwhelmed the left flank,
doubling it down and forcing it back, but
the fog was so dense that it was difficult to
distinguish between the rebel flag and our
own when they were within few hundred
feet of u.s.
was wounded near the pike and far in
advance of the Nineteenth Corps camps, and
many others were wounded out on that ad-
vance line; quite crowd OF them were
gathered at the point where fell and re-
manned during the day, as the rebels were
kept busy attending to their own wOunded
and gave us little attention.
With the Sixth Corps and cavalry the
conditions were very different. The Sixth
Corps was camped to our right and rear, and
nearly the entire cavalry force of the army
was encamped still farther TO she right and
| rear.
In coming direct to the pike they struck
it from one to two miles back of the point
/ of attack. They had plenty Of time to form
| their lines and meet the enemy face to fact
| coming from one direction instead OF three
and not npon their flank.
The Sixth Corps fought nobly. 1t die
! just as well as the Nineteenth would have
! done under the same conditions, but not {
! whit better. Neither could the Sixth have
! done better than the Nineteenth under tn,
| same circumstances.
The Nineteenth stemmed for some time
| the terrible tide, under the most adverse
! circumstances, under a CALLING infantry fire
| from three directions, in addition to the con
centrated fire of all of Early's artillery from
the pike road and that of the captured
Eighth Corps artillery, until flesh and BLOOD
could not endure it and until retreat wa
almost cut off.
Besides the foregoing, if history speak
correctly the Nineteenth did It's share o
| fighting after the lines were reformed nea
Mlddletown. Getty's Division occupied :
very important point in the line and fough
hero; caliy. 1t did just rs we'll as our divis
| ion (Grovers) could have done at the sam'
place and under the same conditions, but n,
! better
/ am willing that everyone should hav'
his proper need of praise, but let's stop thi
attempt to snatch laurels from the brOws o
Others equally deserving.-T. Il. BLANCH
ARD, Pierre, S. d.