The National tribune., 1899-02-09
DEFENDING THE SD OHIO.
What Various Regimeats Did at Fort
Robinott.


ice; no better than hundreds, but the appar-
|entassumption of Lieut. McNeal that the 1th
Mo. "did the work " at Fort Robinett, Oct.
4, 1862, is far from being borne out by the
facts, much less his charge that the Add and
6;sd Ohio did not do theirs.
The position of the 18th Mo. during the
earlier part of the battle on the 4th was not
such as to give its members good view of
probably is due some of McNeal's errors.
Battery kobinett crowned q ridge sloping
in all directions from it. The line-of-battie
following the crest Of the ridge was the limit
Of view to the 18th No., which was in the
rear and on the slope behind it. The 18th
Mo- got view OF that part OF the field of
action only as they came forward, at the
climax OF the battle, in the so-called charge.
Their position. sheltered on the ono side
by Robinett and by the slope of the hill,
gave them protection, whilst the regiments
upon the line suffered from the bullets of the
enemy. The 18th Mo. took no part in the first
repulse of the enemy, and up to the closing OF
the final assault had suffered but little, ex-
cepting in their engagement on Oct. 3. and
in the two companies on the skirmish-line
with Col Mower on Oct. 4.
Now, being q member Of the SD Ohio,
and having always thought the regiment did
pretty we'll at Corinth, will you permit me
TO state how the aition at Robinett appeared
to me from my point Of observation
Fort Williams was upon an elevation on
one side of the Memphis & Charleston Rail-
road; Battery Robinelt upon another lower
elevation ON the other side; the AID Ohio, with
it's left on the railroad, covering the open
space between it and Robinett and extend
ing to the left Of the s63d Ohio, which, with
two companies refused so as to cover the
Chewalla road to the ditch Of Robinett, had
the Others extended down tho road toward
Corinth.
The 9th Ohio was on the right Of the 63d.
with their lett slightly advanced beyond the
right of the 6}d, owing to the conformation
of the ground, and on the right Of the 27th,
and in extension of their line, and not behind
them, was the Both Ohio.
The 1lth Mo-, as originally placed, was
nearly in line with the. AID Ohio, but was
afterward faced to the right, bringing it as a
base to the angle formed by the 6:sd Ohio
1t was in this position when it made its adj
vance to the front line.
heard Gen. Fuller express his conviction
that no single line could hold its position
against an assault in column, pressed home.
when in such an exposed position as was the
63d Ohio aud that it was with this idea he
had placed the 18th Mo- where they were.
When, following the earlier repulses, the
last advance Of the enemy was made, Phifer's
and Moore's Brigades, with Cabells support
imp, the ODD and Add had already lost heavily.
This final assault was in such numbers and
so determinedly made on front and flank, up
the open roadway, that the few men remain
ing of the left and center Of the 63d and right
of the 43d were thrown into confusion.
There were few left to form line, and Gen.
Stanley rushed forward TO encourage them,
taking his position not in the rear, "a Nc.
Neal states but on the front and amongst
them, a conspicuous parsonage in his uniform.
Gen. Stanley was never content to be in the
rear of a line during an emergency.
With two out OF three Of the left wing cut
down and all but one officer capt. Brown,
Co. b, 7th), Col Spragne ordered the left and
center to fall back to- reform and to make an
opening for the Il th Mo. to come on the line
No doubt some of these men passed the 18th
Mo-, but most of those doing so were wounded
men. Some OF them passed down the road
and formed on my men in the right wing
having called upon them to do so, and when
the 18th Mo. came up they Joined the left OF
my command, and not the 9th Ohio.
AS the lth came up, Gen. Stanley. with
some of our men yet around him, was clap
ping his hands and saying go in, boys;
they are running Go in; 20 in - He evil
IDENTIFY saw that the enemy was already
breaking and when hearing this order-the
only order for a charge | heard-we all
rushed forward, the enemy breaking in our
front.
Gen. Fuller was almost directly in our
rear when he gave the order to cease firing,
and when we stopped to reform line-men
of our regiment continually joining us-I
WAS asked by Maj. Spaulding to retire the
line somewhat, that his regiment might have
an oblique fire to the left in the event Of an
other advance by the enemy. We had nearly
a hundred men in line at the time.
McNeal says none of the ODD Ohio were in
the melee about Robinett. Some of them
were, but most of thoseieft alive and unhurt
were with the 9th on the right, having a
F" melee" of their OWL When Gould, of
the 27th sized the flag mentioned mot near
Robinett, but some hundred yards from it),
Alex Harper. Co. A, SM Ohio. was also try
ing to get it. Alex. wasta small man, and
Gould beat him in the1rusli.
AS a matter of fact, the enemy were al
iC"uy oicdkiuS dS TIC r4tu MO- came LOT.
ward. The impetus and contact Of the fresh
force finished the work. Any soldier who
has either made chargeQf helped repel one
can conceive what an impression a new, fresh
force would make striking charging force
when, after being twice lab elled, it was for
third time hard pnnishefiin its advance
Gen. Fuller's report ARID Maj. Spaulding,s,
and that of Rosecransa ,BAsssd npon them, did
injustice to the 63d Ohio in failing to mention
their part in the final charge. Fuller and
Spaulding afterwards made correction Of their
mistake or omission, in letters and addresses.
Maj. Weber, of the 18th Mo-, says in his
report of the battle: When We advanced,
the 63d and 9th Ohio were prompt in as
sisting u.s.
Capt Geo. II. Williams, whose position at
Fort Williams gave him an exceptionally
good point OF observation, says: In the
meantime, the 18th Mo. lin reserve) changed
front, and aided by the Add and 63d Ohio,
with the 9th Ohio on the right, stormed up
10 the right and left Of the battery (Robi-
nettj, driving the enemy before theIn''
And above all, Gen. Stanley says: "The
two exposed regiments l43d and 63d Ohio)
fell into temporary disorder. but running
amongst them myself, and bravely seconded
BY their officers, they were soon rallied and