The National tribune., 1901-03-14
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE WASHINGTON c. THURSDAY

win credit the 100, more or less, to the 9th
Mass. The 4th Mich. was on the reserve
and not present or in action. How, or
from whom, did he get his erroneous in
formation? Furthermore, Col. Cass, of the
9th Mass, makes claim to no particular
number, save that several small squads
passed through his charging column. We
also find not to exceed 800 credited to the
whole force engaged under Porter in the
action of the 9th, and divided as follows:
Buttcrfeld's whole Third Brigade, 225;
turned over to the First Division by Col.
Warren, 175; Second Brigade (Col. Cass),
100, and to Gen. Martindale's First Brig
ade, 100 from various reports. Therefore,
it appears quite evident that the comrade
of the 18th n. Y, and Morley, of the 18th
Mich, are confused by the accessions
which we received on the 2sth and 18th.
We also find the total loss of troops, of all
arms, on the Federal side, in killed,
wounded and prisoners, to be 355, and the
average loss of all the infantry regiments,
except the 25th and 44th n. Y, to he FIVE;
the loss of the two last-named regiments
We're, 10Th n. Y, 15S; 44th n. Y, So.
To enlIghten Comrade Morley l Will give
the loss of the 9th Mass, as it appears:
One man killed, IL wounded and one miss
ing. Total, 13.
have listened to the reading of papers
on that battle, where writer portrayed the
troops marching in perfect lines, facing a
binding storm of lead and iron, immense
gaps cut through their ranks, instantly
closed, only to be reOpened again and
again. The writer was there, with his
command, and witnessed repetition of
our splendid brigade drills and sham bat
ties ut Halls Hill, Va, in the Fall of 1861,
except that at Hanover our cartridges
were deadly and our enemy real. But
saw no such slaughter. L do remember
that many of us, in violation of the rules of
good military discipline, stopped down and
grabbed handfuls of the delicious strawber-
ries at our feet, and deyoured them, leaves
and all. And probably this was what those
writers, at considerable distance in the
rear, mistook for the terrible havoc men
TONED. was only month or two past
my 11th-year mark, but was just as obser-
want as older heads, and am no egotist. 1t
is this everlasting clamOr of some individ-
ual man, or regiment of them, to absorb
the glory of whole army that makes
bOtch of history.
However, it was our first battle, and we
were elated over OurSyictory. Gen. Porter
had tested our endurance, courage and
lighting powers, and was well pleased with
the test, although the preponderance of
numbers was on our side. The First Divi-
Sion was made for heavier work. We were
told going to battle that superior numbers
would oppose our advance, but we went
there to fight it just the same, although it
proved to be quite the reverse. The Fed
eral force of all arms was about LOCO.
while that of the Confederate about 5000,
the latter force under the command of
Gen. l.. OBJ. Branch, consisting of his own
brigade, composed of the 7th, 18th, 2Sth,
33d and 37th N. c., with the 45th Ga. and
18th N. O., the 4th Va. Cav. and one
squadron of some other command, and
Latham's Battery. As some of those regi-
ments had 800, have estimated his force
as above.
Gen. Branch was a brave and efficient
officer. Although his cause and ours was
Mt war, We must give him due credit for
handling his men, under the circumstances,
as well as could be expected of any com
mander. He was fanked on every side.
and the wonder was that he saved so many
men to fight Gen. Mccall shortly after of
Mechanicsville. Mcdowell not having ar
rived on the 29th, Gen. Porter marched us
back to our hastily-abandoned camp
around Gaines Mills, ard set up drilling
again for series of other battles of vastly
more importance and bloody md disastrous
In their nature.-T. II. LAcEIE, 467 Vine
wood avenue, Detroit, Mich.