The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-11-18
FIGHTING. REGIMENTS"
Comrade Walton Contends That Some Were
More Ready than Others.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: j notice
a remark by Comrade, j. w. Homer, 69th
Ohio, in your issue of Oct %, concerning
" fighting regiments" Wherein / think the
comrads makes his assertion too broad
when he says There was difference in
the fighting qualities Of the Union soldiers
by organized regiments"
l could give details Of cases to prove that
the comrade should modify his statement,
either by inserting .&.s rule" or so far
as my observations reached" j" etc. However,
l will not name any spec1 1c regiments, as l
do not desire to hurt any0ne's feelings, but
/ will mention an actual occurrence that
came under my own observation, in order to
illustrate my meaning when assert that all
organized regiments were not equal in fight
ing qualities
During The progress OF certain battle
one gun of a battery was brought into such
a position that it could not be hastily re-
moved III the event of q dash by the enemy,
and the regiment whose duty it was to sup
port the battery was placed slightly TO the
rear, and little to tbs right of the gun.
Here there happened to he stone fence,
behind which the regiment-naturally and
very properly-took shelter from the shot
and she'll of the enemy, during the duel be-
tween the gun and rebel battery of three
guns.
This duel lasted two hours and during it
the regiment to which the writer belonged
was compelled 10 thug The EARTH" without
protection from the iron hail, and in q more
dangerous place than the other regiment
occupied, even if there had been no stone
wall to protect them. They were near the
brow OF the hill, wnile we were some three
or four rods farther down and in their rear.
Finally, after the artillery firing had
sIackened, or entirely ceased, an order was
given for the supporting regiment to charge
and capture the rebel battery. This / have
always thought they could have accom-
plished, if The order had been promptly
obeyed But although the rsgimental COM
mander-a MAJ ajor-commandsd, begged and
threatened by turns, not a man would even
rise TO his feet
The Adjutant of our regiment, which had
been skirnishing and fighting all the day
up to the commencement of the artillery
duel. seeing that the other regiment did not
intend to make the charge ordered ran
back TO the division commander and asked
Tor an order for our regiment TO make the
charge and for the other regiment to fall in
our rear.
OF course, the order was gladly given and
promptly Obeyed by our regiment. But the
other one would not 80 much as get up to
get in our rear, hut allowed us to run over
them while they hugged the stone fence.
While all this delay was occurring on our
side Of the field the rebels formed and
charged our battery We met them within IL
few rods of our starting point, drove them
back to another stone fence, and finally de-
feated them, after losing quite number OF
men. 1T,
have omitted the name and number of
the other regiment and even the name of
battle, az do not wish, to be personal but
should any of the otherlreginent recall the
circumstances and take me to task | shall
bs able, II it bec9mss necessary, to give
data ID