The National tribune., 1901-03-21
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What the Veterans Have TO Say
About Their Campaigns.
A REBEL TRAP.
How the 44th N Y. Eluded It-rMonkeyshines
for Titled Foreigners.

W. u. AuNUlS anu IluIltN III yOul
issues of Nov. s, Jan. 10 and Feb. =
amused at the earneStness with which
COmrade Harley takes exceptions to state
ments of Comrade Adams, statements that
the comrade had not made; amused also
at the cagerneSs with which COmrade
Adams hastens TO explain, in order to
prevent any controversy over his Two
Years VS.. Two Hours" communication,
about which it would seem to me there
can be no dispute.
1t recks little to the old comrades of
the 44th y. Y. how quickly or how com
pleteIy all thought of that action was
driven from the mind and memory OF
other soldiers of the army by the subse-
quent colossal events following each other
during the remainder of those anxious
years OF civil strife. Hanover Courthouse.
| opine, will continue to have more inter
est to them than any other battle of the
war. 1t was here they first experienced
the blighting, whitening curse of the inc
pact of war-here received their baptism
of fire, burned into them by rebel bullets.
Here, too, was captured by the brigade Of
which they We're part the first guns
taken in battle by the Army of the Po-
tOmac authority, Maj.-Gen. Butterticld).
Among other incidents worthy Of note Oc
curing on May ~ it may be mentioned
that the regiment lost ~ of its members
killed on the field, the number correspond
ing to the day of the month on which the
battle was fought. After the fight it was
found that 43 bullets had passed through
its flag and one through the flagstaff,
making ~, the regimental number.
We'll do | remember that May morn
ing in 1862, with what alacrity the boys
of the old regiment fell into line as the
bugle sounded the familiar "Dan-Dan-
Dan utterfield-Butterfield;" every one
OF them eager, earnest, buoyant filled with
irrepreSsible enthusiasm, never doubling
their ability to accomplish whatever
might be required of them. 1t was be-
lieved in the ranks that the object of the
expedition was to open communication
with the army of Mcdowell, then at or
near Fredericksburg, Va.
MOrell's column found the enemy in
small force at Hanover, who, however,
offered little opposition, retreating and be-
ing followed by Morell. These tactics of
the rebels seem TO have been preconcerted
and part Of program to capture our
supply train.
Before reaching Hanover Courthouse
the 44th was detailed as extra guard to
assist in protecting the wagon-train, as il
was feared the enemy might attempt its
capture. The sequel proved the wisdom
of this action.
The railroad from Richmond ran
through Hanover, and the, enemy had
loaded Branch's Brigade of, i think, six
opportunity, when MorelPs troops should
have followed the decoy far enough to
make the venture safe, to run these troops
down near the Hanover road, interpose
them between Morell and his wagon train,
capture it, and either destrGt it or run it
into Richmond. These cars, 18th Branch's
brigade on board, were run wn to q cut
near the Hanover road, ana the soldiers
upon debarking from the train We're or
dered to unsling knapsacks. Z
Meantime the 44th n. Y. was marching
along this road with guns at right-shoul-
der shift, route step, and was passing
a wooded ravine on the left of the road
with no fence between the road and woods
They were fired upon by rebel skirmish-
ers in the ravine. Instantly the regiment
dropped in the middle of the road, not
waiting for the order to lie down. | re-
member trying to keep something in my
throat from choking ME, at the same time
lying on my back, hastily loading my
Springfield, and, safe to say, not going
through the regulation nine-time move
ment in loading.
We were ordered back into the field
opposite the ravine and formed in line of
battle. Lieut.-Col. Rice took a part of The
regiment along the road to n field at the
end of the ravine, and deployed skirmish
ers with the order to drive the rebels out
of the ravine." The skirmishers lad
them when over to our right rear, in what
L supposed to be the southeast corner of
the field, and through an opening in the
woods, was seen a regiment advancing
in line Of battle flying the stars and bars,
followed in a short time by another line
Of gray.
Our Bugler sounded the recall for skir-
mishers. We double-quicked back into
the road formed on the left of our regi-
ment, and the fight was on. For two
hours the unequal contest was maintained
by the 25th \. Y, 44th n. Y, and, as /
remember, two or four companies of the
I'd Me-, and a section of artillery. Though
hard pressed, these troops stubbornly held
their ground, repulsing every attack.
At this time cheering was heard in the
direction of the opening in the woods
through which Branch's forces had first
appeared. With anxious hearts we di
rected our gaze in that direction, expect
ing that reinforcements for the Confed-
crates had arrived. To our glad surprise
we recognized the Stars and Stripes proud
ly floating above our twin regiment, the
SD Pa.
Wildly cheering, they came dashing TO-
ward us. We We're Immediately ordered
to fix bayonets and charge, and the pris-
Oners caught in the triangle formed by
these two lines of battle were among those
referred to by Comrade Adams as being
captured by the Third Brigade.
The jig was up, the circus over the
band had ceased to play. The orchestra
had fired its last note. The audience dis
missed to seek their homes, the broken
regiments of Branch's Brigade We're
heartily seeking the protection Of their
Notifications around Richmond, and the
battle of Hanover Courthouse had passed
into history.
One statement made by Comrade Har-
ley / think, is open to criticism. He says:
Our brigade was composed of the 62d
Pa, 18th n. Y, 4th Mich. and 9th Mass,
all Irish boys, and in the use of
the bayonet unrivaled." The 44th
n. Y. has always confessed to n
powerful weakness in that line. 1t
will be remembered by many, even at
this late day, that some time previous 10
the civil war Ellsworth's Zouaves had be-
come celebrated for their proficiency in
military drill and in the manual of arms;
so expert indeed did they become that
they Travelled extensively through the coun-
try, giving public exhibitions i'll drill and
bayonet exercise, and were everywhere
enthusiastically received. Upon the death
of the gallant Ellsworth by the cowardly
shot of the assassin Jackson at Alexandria,
Va, early in the season of 81. the young
Lieutenant, S. w. Stryker, who was one
of the famous Ellsworth Zouaves and af
terwards Colonel of the 4ithi n. Y, was
placed in command Of the men detailed to
| escort the remains OF the hero back to his
home in the North.
The tragic death of this promising
young commander aroused great indigna
ton throughout the North, especially in