The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-02-10
GUNS At cHANcEhLORSVILLE.
Authoritative Statements OF Gen. Mulhol-
land and Corp1 Lebroke.

lanu ana Corpl LeDrGke.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: | am al
ways deeply interested in Picket Shots, and
/ read the item of George p Stiles. Co. G, 9th
y. J., III relation to the guns at ChaDcellors
Vile. / was really surprised Mt the claim
made. was present at the Chancellor House
during the fight and q part of the regiment
to which was attached carried the wounded
from the burning building Knowing that
Gen. st. Clair A. MulhOIand, 10th Pa,
now at Philadelphia, was an active partici-
pant in that affair, / wrote him letter in
closing the clipping mentioned, and asked
him for any positive information he could
give me on the subject in controversy.
inclese his letter in reply to mine, and
other papers Gen. Mulholland s letter reads:
at is strange that ever since the close of
the war regiment after regiment has claimed
the honor OF saving this battery of which you
speak. The battery was the 9TH Me-, COM
nianded by Capt Leppine, who was mortaIly
wounded early in the action. l personally
assisted in sending him TO the rear.
81 inclose IN extract from my official re-
port, and | also inciose a letter written by
CJrp'l Lebgoke one of the two members of
the battery who remained with the guns until
the last. j procured a Congress medal of
jitiiOt iol i<s-DitAC EiiOitiy ditci tuG UdttlC
You will see by his letter that the smoke of
the fight had hardly cleared away until others,
not those to wiiam the honor belonged began
to put in their claims hence Lebroke's letter
Gen HaDeocl, in his official report of the
battle states that the guns were hauled of
by my regiment and men of the 14Oth Pa,
etc.
You are right in regard to the men of
your regiment saving the wounded from the
burning Chancellor House. / was an eye
witness to that gallant act.
There were no other troops left in the
vicinity Of the burning building when left
with the gans Of tie battery. Capt Garrett
N0wlen (>illed at beams Stationj and my
self were the last to leave. and not until the
last gun of the battery had started down the
read, and there was not a Union man, except
The dead and wounded, remained after Us.
The Coniederaiss were in fall possession
Of the ground OF which the battery had been
standing within two. minutes from the time. :"
Following is the extract of report
HEADQUARTERS 116rH VA,
CAMP NEAR FALMOUTH, VA, May 7, 1868.
10 Capt NJ w VIII
A. A. G., Irish Brigade.
SIR: ] have the honor to submit the follow
ing report Of the opefstisns of my command
at the battle OF Chancel louisville
Early on the morning Of May
3 the firing began again. My regiment was
under arms and calmly awaited the J. oment
when the Irish Brigade would once more add
new laurels to its already historic name, and
new luster to It's time-worn and honored fags.
Sh. rtly after o'clock the order came The
brigade moved to point near the Chancel-
lorsyille House, where it was formed in line
BY Gen. Meagher, with my regiment on the
left, which rested at the edge of tie woods,
near the Charlottesville House During the
movement shells fell among rs in great num-
bcrs, killing and woundiug many in the sew
eral regiments of the brigade.
Shortly after our line was formed the 9TH
Ne. battery, commanded by Capt I.eppine,
came dashing up the road, and went into
position On the left of my regiment and
opened fire upon the enemy, dense masses of
whose infantry were plainly visbl. Capt.
Leppne had no sooner CONNIE need firing than
three or four Of the enemy's batteries concen-
trated their fire upon his guns, and with fear
ful effect, killing and wounding the nlen and
horses with great rapidlty.
IN half IN hoar from the time the battery
had gone into action every gun. with one ex-
ception, had b en- silenced, and but two men
of the battery remained with that gun. At
this moment Mai. Scott, of Gen. Hancock's s
staff, requested me to save tn deserted guns,
as they were now III imminent danger OF
falling into the hands of the enemy. ] de-
tailed a sufficient number of III to haul the
guns off the field, which they did under a
heavy fire, and in the most gallant manner.
-Four OF the guns wer thus saved, and by my
command, and another was taken off by some
men of the li0th Pa, assisted by the men OF
my regiment The man who remained with
the guns Of the battery when all others were
gonc was Corp'l James II. Lebrolle. He is a
most gallant ,ldier, and worthy of all praise.
Respectfully,
Sr. CLAIR A. MULHoLLAND,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding
Following is the communication of Corp'l
Lebroke, published III Philadelphia paper
HEADQUARTERS 5TH Me. BATTERY, !
CAMP NEAR WHITE OAK CHURCH, VA, :
May 81, 1868
Who brought off the guns of the 5th Me.
battery?
As this question has caused much discus