The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-01-03
THE FIGHTING LINE.
Veteran Of Stone River Tells How His Regi-
ment Did Not Break

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In re-
gard to Johnson's Division being UMPIRE
pared and being driven from the field at
Stone River, as stated by Capt Henry
A. Castle, in your issue OF Oct. % /
would like to say few words in defense
Of that division, or of one regiment that
l personally know was prepared and was
on the field all day and never broke its
regimental line.
We lay in line in the cedars about 20
rods from the skirmish-line all night in
the cold, without fires, and were not al
lowed to speak above whisper or to 20
to sleep. We naturally supposed there
must be Johnnies somewhere around, so
kept quiet as possible, for fear we might
get ourselves into trouble.
Just before daylight / was sent out on
the skirmish-line with olners of my COM
pany. will tell what L saw and heard
The bugle sounded the waterfall, so
supposed there was battery near to our
right. Our outposts We're at the edge OF
the cedars, an open field in front.
Soon after the bugle call the Johnnies
came out of the woods opposite. This
vas just at peep Of day. We could hard
~ distinguish them at first, but soon saw
that they were alive ard determined on
mischief. They were in close column, bat
| talon front, and a number of lines deep
marching by their left oblique directly
toward where the bugle had sounded
We opened fire, but they ignored our
craftsmanship and moved along about
their business. We fell back on the regi
ment. They had moved to the right We
/ took their trail and overlook them in an
open space Of the cedars. We saw there
a rebel battery, galloping up onto a rise
of ground.
Some officer ordered our Lieutenant
Colonel to charge and capture the bat
terry before they got unlimbered. He or
dered us to charge, which We did in tru,
Yankee fashion. When we got about hal
| way we came TO a lane with rail fence.
on both sides. The battery was all ready
and they threw a whole lot OF tin can.
on the ground in front of us, and the,
broke open and scattered cast-iron ball!
and knocked the fences all down, so W,
could come over without climbing. Yer.
accommodating! We had changed on
minds about wanting that battery, ant
we were not supported.
| The Lieutenant Colonel, Housem, re
ceived his death wound and died the SAM
day. The Color Sergeant was killed. Th
flagstaff was broken. Many men wer,
falling all around and no feld-officer wa
there to give the command to go forwar,
or retreat. Finally the Captain of Co.
picked up the flag and said: Boys, W,
have got to get out Of here, or we will
We gladly fell back out of range, willis
the little iron balls were playing al
around our lower extremities.
After getting out of range we halted
reformed our line and loaded our guns
The Adjutant was the only field Office
with us at this time. He now assume,
command and kept the regiment in line
firing and falling back, until our ammuni
ton was exhausted. Then we retired nea
the railroad filed up our cartridge boxe
and moved forward again, formed n lin
with other troops, and made with them
grand charge that turned the oncomin
line of Johnnies. 1t was in this charg
that one Of my messmates, John Mace
was torn in two by fragment of shell
He was as good soldier as ever fired
musket, and q widows only son. Afte
this charge we reformed our lines.
Thus ended my experience on Dec 81
! 1852, and / am proud to say rthat on
regiment did not break their line on tina
day, regardless of what critics say.
know we had all we could attend to and
little more besides ! do not know WI
is to blame for the blunder Gf there wa
one), nor do / doubt that every regimen
, did faithfully the duty assigned to Il
whether it belonged to Sheridan's or John
sons Division.
/ would like to have some of Johnson
, Division give their experience IN the RICH
wing at Stone River. thinS it better I
write our own story than to write abou
, what others have written.-O. b. Corr
, Co. D, 18th Pa, Omro, Wis.