The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-11-10
PENNSYLVANIA
RESERVES
Continued from first page.)


! was wooded ridge, and q narrow open space
| from 50 to 70 yards wide lay between then
and the enemy. Across this the Reserve;
poured their bullets with such effect that tht
rebels could advance no farther, but they
held stubbornly to the ground and answered
shot with shot, while their artillery still
pounded away on the right flank with shell
After this had continued some time
Mlnk's Battery opened from the ridge and
| fred rapidly with canister. Whatever you
may read about this fight, whoever did well
| or i'll. set it down as fact that when Mink's
Battery opened fire the Pennsylvania Veteran
Reserves e., Col. Pattees commaHd-wert
| in front of them. facing the enemy, theiI
right within four rods of where it was in the
morning their left merely swung around a
quarter of circle. Here they stayed till
this part of the days work was over. They
were in close contact with the rebels all
through and did not consider themselves
whipped at any time.
Gen. Gwyn says in his report: Great
credit is due Brevet Col Joseph b. Pattee fol
the able manner in which he fought his COM
mand on the skirmish-line, without any sup
port or connection with the right or left.
The designs of the enemy to turn back our
fanks were effectually frustrated
by the determined manner in which his men
disputed their advance" =
During the night of the 3lst the Reserves
marched with the Second Division to the
vicinity of Dinwiddie Courthouse. They
counter-marched some distance and took a
road west to J. NJ. Brookss, near the road
from Dinwiddie to Five Forks. Here the
division waited from early morning till about
2 p. m.
The Reserves were thrown out toward the
north or northeast as skirmishers, but moth
ing came of it, as the enemy had retired TO
Five Forks during the night. The First
and Third Divisions reached this vicinity
early in the morning and massed north of the
Second.
At p. m. Cen Sheridan gave the order
for the corps to be brought forward and
formed for the attack. The Second Division,
on the left of the Third, was formed near the
Methodist Church; the Third Brigade on the
right, the Second on the left, the first i'll re-
serve close behind the Others. OF the Third
Brigade, the 4th Del, Capt. w. II. McCleary,
was on the left; next was the Sd Del, Capt.
J. II. Cade; then the 19lst Pa, Capt. Perez
l.. Norton, and the 157th Pa, Maj. L. I.
Tiers. This whole line was under command
of Lieut. Col J. b. Pattee, of the 190th Pa.
The 190lh Pa. was deployed as skirmishers,
under Capt. r. NJ. Birkman. The 2l0th Pa.
Lieut.. Col E. l.. Whitman, formed the second
line of the brigade, their right reaching to
| the road leading north past the church, and a
! little south of the church.
At a p N. the formations were completed
and the attack began. The skirmishers
moved out of the fringe Of woods in which
they had formed, and Immediately came
under fire from rebel skirmishers along the
White Oak road. At first they moved for
: ward at brisk walk; but as the rebel fire
grew hotter they dashed forward with
shout, and charged for the timber and rough
ground from which the fire came.
The enemy gave way before them, and fee
at first north and then west, though con
stantly resisting This brought most of tn
skirmishers north of the return of TIN
rebel works, across the Sidnor farm The
kept extending TO the right and advancin
as they followed the rebels, and this causes
them to execute a left wheel, which natural,
resulted from the position OF the opposin
force.
The close Of the fight found part of then
west of the Ford road facing south, in from
OF the Third Division, and part east Of tina
road. Here they encountered Mayo's Bri
gade, and withstoOd it with little direct as
sistance, although part Of the Third Division
was close behind them. The rebels stood u
to the work gallantly for time, and at clos
range poured in such fire that it looked a
if they would annihilate their antagonists
but the contest was not so unequal as j
seemed. The Spencer rifle in the hands o
the Reserves proved itself destructiv
weapon, and the men in gray paid dearly 70
their valor. Soon the officers attempted t,
get the brigade out by a left face.
| A BROKEN BRIGADE.
Now was presented curious and interest
ing phenomena. At one moment was ex
tended through the woods line-of- battle,
brigade-an organization dominated by tha
something called discipline-a splendi,
fighting machine, tempered and tested in TIN
flame Of the fiercest battles of modern times
the next moment discipline vanished, tn
line went to pieces as if each one of its unit
had suddenly acquired some force whcl
| u. S. Soldier