The National tribune., 1900-03-08
B.

Second Corps, and am proud of it, chiefly,
perhaps, because | belonged to IT; II was
"our corps" Had ] belonged to any of the
other corps 10 doubt would assert That fac'
with equal pride.
A BRIEF SKETCH.
The Second Corps, like most of the
others, was organized with three divisions
of three brigades each, but the Third Di-
vision, commanded by Gen. Louis Blenker,
was detached soon after organization and
never rcjoined the corps. The Second Corps
fought the Peninsular campaign with but
two divisions. Another CThird) Division
was formed later, commanded by W. ii.
French.
OF the original officers many of them
became men of note before the war ended,
and deserve 4 word here.
E. v Sumner was the first commander
of the Second Corps, and at once won tho
respect and confidence of the men. We are
sure that the blood of every old soldier who
served under him pulses quicker through
his veins at the mention OF his name, even
after the lapse of more than a third OF 4
century. The Bull of the Woods" as we
used TO call him. was one of the fighting
Generals; a trained soldier, patriot. and
hero, who did his level best" all the time.
We honor his memory.
]. B. Richardson commanded the First
o. o. Howard, T. +. Meagher and ". II.
French. OF these officers Richardson died
gallantly at Antictam when there was a
brilliant future before him; Howard lost an
arm at Fair Oaks, and later won fame as n
division, corps and army commander, and
still lives; Mcaghcr, the noted commander
of the famous Irish Brigade, WAS drowned
from a steamer on the Missouri River after
the war; Gen. French. who won high honors
as the commander Of the Third Division, is
also dead.
THE SECOND DIVISION.
The Second Division was commanded
by John Sedgwick, another noble, loyal,
brilliant fighting man." who won an cnvi-
able reputation in command Of the division
and later added much 10 ii as the leader OF
the grand old Sixth Corps. He, too, died
that the Nation might live" in the Wilder
ness in 1864. The brigade commanders of
the Second Division in the Spring OF 'G2
were: First Brigade, W. 4. German: Second
Brigade, Burns; Third Brigade. n. j. r.
Dana. OF these, Dana, think, is still
living, and holds some office in the War
Department at Washington, and German
died some years after the war. OF Burns ]
cannot seem to recall anything after the
fight at Savage Station, where he was
wounded in the face. think. Both German
and Dana had been Coionels Of the 1st Mimi
and later became Major-Gcnerals. Each
had seen service previous to the war; Cor
man Ill Mexico, and Dana in the Regular
Army. They were both excellent regi-
mental commanders, though built on
different plans" and left their impressions
on the regiment. German fostered a strong
regimental and State pride, and gave us a
good opinion Of ourselves. Dana made
trained soldiers of us, and prepared us 10
gam the good opinion of others.
GOOD MEN, GOOD OFFICERS.
The regiments from which the Second
Division Of the Second Corps was organized
We're assembled on the Maryland side of the
Potomac, above Washington, in the Fall
and early Winter of 1861. They were at
first under Chas. =. Stone. This General
gotinto difficulties, growing out OF the Ball s
Bluff affair, perhaps; his loyalty was ques-
toned, he was relieved of his command
arrested. and confined in Fort Lafayette. if
i am not mistaken. II he was ever tried
cannot recall the result, but think he never
Joined our army again. He was for a long
tme IN the Egyptian service; was Chief
OF Staff, and resigned about The time OF
the Arab Pasha outbreak. He died u few
years ago.
If | try to call the roll of the regiments
originally in the Second Division, Second
Corps, / might fail 10 give them correctly.
L will attempt it, however, and | am sure
some ready coHrade will correct any error
/ may make.
AS my meHoIy serves me- lne flrSt Brl-
gade was composed of the 18th Mass, Bath
n: Y, SD \. Y, 2d \. Y. S. NJ. and 1st
MINI. 1t was commanded by ig.-Gen.
W. A. German.
The Second Brigade was known as the
philadelphia Brigade" II was COM
posed of the 69th Pa, list Pa, 1st Cal,
72d Pa. and 106th Pa, and commanded
by Gen. Burns.
The Third Brigade comprised the 9TH
Mich, 42d n. Y, 18th Mass, and 2Oth
Mass. 1t was commanded by that accom-