The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-08-01

of Miners Hill, about five miles distant
The roundabout way which we took IL
marching there consumed Il deal of time
and caused Il late arrival. We halted neal
the house of one Basil Hall, stacked arms
and, resting waited for orders to pitch
tents. We had waited about an hour,
when the sharp roll of muskCtry rang out
on the night air. and the cries of falling
men Saluted us from the direction of our
right. and about 800 yards distant. An
other and another roll of muSketry pro
claimed the meeting of opposing forces.
Col. Cass gave the command, Fall in,
ladS,' The line officers took up the cry,
Fall in, lads. and lively" With the
calm precision of veteran troops the men
took their places behind their guns; and,
when the next command. Take arms, was
given. one could scarce hear the rattle OF
their weapons The cries of wounded men
disturbed the stiffness of the night. and
told us that considerable havoc had been
made 10y the firing we had heard. The
regiment stood patiently awaiting orders,
a picket being thrown out on the front
and TANKS. In Il short time the officer OF
the picket came in with the terrible in
teiligence that our troops had been firing
into each other: that n force of cavalry
from the front had, upon meeting the reSi-
mCnt of Col. Baker californian miStOOk
his command for rebels. and fired upon
them. Col. Bakers regiment had imme-
diatey returned the fire. The left of Col.
Bakers brigade had now come up, and
installing the right for rebels, made the
same terrible blunder as the cavalry; they
Immediately leveled their pieces and dis
charged terrific volley that stretched
many Il gallant Californian upon the
grass. -Four batteries of artillery
were posted short distance off
Californian Brigade; and God help
the poor fellows if the fuse had been snap
ped on the cannon, for terrible would have
been the havoc committed. However.
luckily. they were made aware of the
blunder. In an instant the pieces had
changed position: in an instant every rifle
was lowered. and men kneelins beside the
comrade they had just shot. dropping wa
ter upon his parChed and dying lips, and
shedding tears of rage and sorrow. 1t
was Il terrible and affecting scene.
The cause of this unfortunate affair has
never been satisfactorily explained; but
Gen. Smith, then commanding that bri
gade, we think, could not but feel that the
onus of that nights work rests heavily on
his shoulders.
The official account given of this extra
ordinary mistake. we feel safe in stating,
did not correspond with the facts as they
actually occurred. The names of killed
and wounded amounted to many more
than were officially reported. and border
ed somewhere upon "a killed and
wounded. The recollection of that fatal
night awakens feeling of sympathy and
regret
Such was our solemn introduction to
our camp at Miners Hill. where we re-
manned. doing picket duty and Il variety of
labor incidental to Il soldiers life in camp.
Here we will relate an anecdote charac-
teristic Of Col. Cass, in connection with
the unfortunate rcncOntre above referred
TO. The position of the artillery on that
occasion was such that if the 9th had ad-
vanccd, they must have received the same
politencss shown the Caiifornians In
Complmenting Col. CaSs upon the cool
ness Of the regiment in that fearful and
trying emergency, Gen. MOrell asked him
what he would have done if the battery
had opened fire upon him. "Doner' ex-
claimed the Colonel, with a flash of his
penetrating eye; Il would have charged
the battery, and by Heaven I'd have
taken it toO!'' Those who knew Col. Cass,
and the regiment, felt the full force of his
remark: and we think, that in the panic
which then existed, he would have taken
it even if defended by brigade.
IN CAMP AT MINERS HILL.
To record many of the events that oc-
Cured at Miners Hill would only be a
repetition of former scenes already de-
tailed. Christmas was celebrated there
with an eclat highly crcdltable to those
concerned. profusiOn of luxuries was
sent to the regiment from Washington
the camp was splendidly decorated with
IVY, eyergreens, and arches inclosing ap-
prOpriate mottos and compliments to dis
tinguished Generals of the army.
Gen. FitZ-John Porter had been invited
but was unable to attend In the punning
language of the lamented Madigan
While we deplored the absence of .Por-
ter, we were happily supplied with more
ale; the witty reference being to Gen.
MOrcl, who honored the regiment with
his presence, accompanied by his staff.
The JOviality of these Christmas festiyi-
ties will doubtless be long remembered.
Among the guests present on that memoir
sble night We're Col. Woodbury. .4th Mich,
Sad Col. Black, of the cd Pa.-the
quests Of Col. Cass and his officers These
three COlOnels, all of the same brigade,
afterwards died in battle, or from wounds
received on the Peninsula. No ADLER com
nanders were in any brigade in the Army
Of the Potomac
These festivities were honOred by the
gratifying presence OF several ladies',
which greatly enhanced and increased the
enjoyment Of the festive season.
On Jan. %, Lieut.-Col Peard died. He
was promoted on the discharge Of Lieut.
Col. Rowell. who had resigned some time
previously ana was a good officer, and
highly esteemed by the regiment.
Early on the morning of March 10 we
struck tents; and while speaking Of tents.
we may relate an incident connected with
Them which occurred here. Soon after
our arrival at Miners Hill. our regiment
received that kind of small tents called
''poncho, and now in general use in the
army. The men at that time had wedge
tents. When the ''ponchus'> were brought
one Of them was put up, near the large
tents Of the officers, for the men to ex-
anime. Truly II was Il Notwithstanding
little affair; the men would look at il.
walk round il. look through from one end
10 the other, then look AT the large and
c0mm0dious tents they then occupied;
then they would sadly shake their heads.
heayc deep sigh, and walk mcditativcly
away. The? could not imagine how a
man was 10 lie inside Of il; when they got
used TO them they found that the same
tents would hold three, end sometimes
four, on a pinch.
Onr line of march lay over roads dccpIv
cut up by the artillery and wagon trains
Very muddy, and very tired. we reached
Fairfax Court House, Va. distance Of
II miles, the men on this march CARRYING
Their knapsackS. etc, heavily laden
Here we aSccrtaned, from the cavalry
that Manassas had been evacuated. We
remained here some days, awaiting orders
ana on the 10Th we marched towards
Alexandria. 1t raincd fearfully. and near
ly all the day we were marching knee
deep IN water and mud, and We're glad Ia
halt after travelling more than II miles
IIfGlIU1 NJ nj. 1