The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-06-24
ON THE QUAKER RoHD.
A Batteryman's "Reminiscences of q Fierce
Contest.


Contest.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: / have
never seen correct account of the Quaker
Road fight in Virginia in March, 1865. 1t
was not big fight, but desperate and fierce
while it lasted. In November, 1864, our
battery ID, 5th u. S. Art), Griffin's, was at
Fort Wadsworth. on the Weldon Railroad,
together with Harris 18th n. Y. battery.
Griffin took a great pride in his battery, and
l will say he was one of the finest artillery
men in the service. We boys were almost
all volunteers from the regiments IN the
Fifth Corps. The time Of good many OF
the men was out, and they were ordered to
their regiments for discharge. There were
IL or IA of us that had six or seven months
to serve yet, and were ordered to report to
Battery B, 4th U. s. Art, at Fort Duchesne,
further south on the railroad.
Tom Broderick, our First Sergeant, was
but 10 years old when / joined the battery
in 1862 When we reported to Battery b,
Hank Sherman, Springfield, and were
ordered to Sergeant Pat Falls, on the fourth
gun.
After . raid south on the Weldon Rail-
road we went into quarters for the Winter.
Serg't Pat Falls got his discharge, and Serg't
Jas. Maher took his place.
On the afternoon of March %, 1865, we
received orders to move. About noon next
day we went into park near stream in an
open field. To our right and front was
pine woods. There were four batteries to-
gether-B 4th U. s.; d, 5th q. s.; Mink's
LIST N. Y, and d, 1st N. Y. About O'Clock
Battery B was ordered to the front. Every
thing was very still. We crossed the creek
and got ON q dirt road. All around US was
heavy timber. We went three miles to
clearing on the right OF the road. About
the center of the clearing, next to the road,
was a story-and-a- half frame building, and
back of this three or four log huts. We
could see our lines-of-battle at the edge of
the timber. To the left of the road in our
front was big pile Of sawdust, near what
| remained of a sawmill.
We took position back of the house and
between the log huts. The battery was now
commanded by Lieuts. Mitchell and Yose.
We were here perhaps Is minutes, when the
sharp crack of the skirmishers' rifles came
to our ears. We could now hear the we'll
| known rebel yell. We got orders to Timber
| to the rear; went back on trot, and came
into position at the edge of the timber in the
clearing. We got orders to shell the woods
| in our front. When we were falling back
to change our position the regiment that
! was in line-of- battle across the road and be-
| hind the sawdust pile at the front came
down the road pell-mell, every one for HIM
| self
They formed behind the left piece. A
Lieutenant came after them down the road
and cried: Boys, let US save the battery"
They did; for if they had not run away
when they did our battery would have been
captured. When the Lieutenant got up TO
his men he stood by our gun (4) and gave
them great overhauling. He said: "This
is the first time a regiment of the corps ever
ran"
The rebels were coming through the gap
that this regiment had left in the line. AS
soon as this officer saw them he turned to
the men and said: Boys, you can 20. /
am going back to the house and save the
battery" He started all alone. We were
giving them canister now.
Alittle drummer boy sounded the long roll,
and ran to he front all alone after the officer.
Tears were streaming down his cheeks. As
soon as that drum sounded the men of the
regiment gave the widest yell ever heard
and started for the buildings.
They had to race with the rebels. We
had but two little brigades of the First Di-
vision near, while a whole division of john
MES were in front. Griffin came up the
road in our rear and, riding back of the
guns, shouted: "Give 'em canister! Let
'em 20, boys; no sponging!"
Griffin sent all his Aids and staff to the
rear, but his little mounted Orderly would
not 90. It was Buell., "The Cannoneer."
The rebels drove our men back on the bat
terry; they reformed behind it. The enemy
could not get possession of the building in
our front, for the regiment that had run
away had it. Reinforcements struck the
enemy on both TANKS. The clearing was
full of the dead and wounded. The rebels
were hurled back.
I should like to know who the drummer
boy, and who the observation-disclosures
SCOTT, Auburn, N. Y.