The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-08-15

| won in the desperate and determined ef
forts to capture and recover 1t. After
holding the battery for short time q
fresh brigade of the enemy, advancing
upon his flank, made a vigorous and well
conducted attack upon him, accompanied
| by a CALLING fire of canister from piece
suddenly brought into position at a dis
lance of about $50 yards. Under thi;
combined attack Taylor fell back to the
skirt of the wood, near which the cap
tured battery was stationed, and from
that point continued his fire upon the ad
vaIcirg enemy, who succeeded in recap
turing the guns. The enemy, now occu'
pied with Taylor, halted his advance to
the front. Winder made a renewed ef,
fort to rally his command. and with re-
Inducements and a part Of Pogue's bat
terry again opened upon the enemy, who
were moving against Taylor's flank, ap-
parently to surround him in the woods.
Chew's battery now reported and did
good service. Soon after guns from the
batteries of BrGckenbrough, Courtney and
Rains were brought forward. Col. Scott,
having rallied his command, went to the
support of Taylor, who having also re-
ceived reinforcements, pushed forward,
and assisted by the well directed fire of
our artillery, forced the enemy to fall
back"
THE SANGUINARY WHEATFIELD.
Much Of the ground fought over was in
the fields of wheat nearly ready to har-
vest, and the 9th and 9Th Ohio were in
the center. These regiments swept down
upon Winder, broke him up, snatched the
gun cut of Pogue's battery (the 9Th Chic
man who vaulted into the saddle and with
all the antics of 4 boy upon a hobby
horse took the piece to the rear, was
given medal of honor, turned upon the
9th and 5Sth Va. on the left flank, and
knocked them to pieces. When Taylor's
attack upon our guns in the cOal-pits, well
back to oar left ard rear, was made, we
knew if the Goth Ohio, in support there,
should give way, We would soon be en-
route to Richmond as prisoners of war.
Therefore We about-faced and on a run
with all the speed of which we we're capa-
BILE ran back until we came abreast of
Taylor's command at our guns, then wheel
ed and rushed the enemy to the rear,
goodly number of them falling into our
hands in dead, wounded and prisoners.
1t had by this time become apparent to
all that we were so greatly outnumbered
success was impossible; therefore, after
one more dash to check the. advancing
hosts, we broke away in retreat, leaving
behind the guns Taylor fought for, be-
cause, while in possession, his men had
been ordered to kill the horses. But for
this foresight we would not have left a
gun behind. Jackson had intended to get
back to Fremont by 10 a. H., but Che
said) finding the resistance more obsti-
nate than l anticipated, orders were sent
to Trimble to join the main body" Trim
bic said: Receiving from Gen. Jackson
two messages in quick succession to
hasten to the battlefield where we had
engaged Gen. ShieIds's army, / marched
rapidly to obey this order, crossed the
bridge and burned it" On the evening
of June 8, while Fremont was partially
engaged at Cross Keys, he received a Wes-
sage from Shields, informing him of the
arrival of a part of his force at Port
Republic, but instead of forcing the battle
then on, he readjusted his line and went
into bivouac for the night. During the
night Jackson withdrew nearly all his
force, excepting Trimble's Brigade, from
FremOnt's front, and moved down upon
our two brigades before 8 a. M. Of June
., 1862, while Fremont did not move M
til 1870 a. m, and apparently did not
know the enemy had withdrawn until he
saw the smoke from the burning bridge
at Port Republic, five miles away, after
10 o'clock.
This simple statement of facts is all the
criticism | have to offer upon the conduct
of this greatly-oyerestimated incompetent.
With man of even ordinary sense and
capacity in command of our forces at
Cross Keys, with the information Ere
mont had, that command would have been
off at daylight and about the time when
Tyler's and CAROLS boys were over-run-
ming and knocking Jackson's famous
troops about in those lovely wheatiields
in the Valley of the historic Shenandoah;
loyal guns would have blown Jackson out
of position, as they did later on, when
Fremont came up, after we had fallen
back, defeated, diSOrganizeG, Disguised
and almost IN state of mutIny over the
glaring Incompetence Of our commanders.
Our line of battle, extending from the
hills on our left to the river on our right,
nearly a mile in length, occupied the at
tentiOn of our entire force, and having no
reserves, whenever one point was strength
ened it was at the expense of another,
and this constant shifting told greatly on
the troops; yet, although confronted and
largely oUtnHmbered by the acknowledged
champion fighters of their day, our little
command for four hours held them in
steady, persistent battle, and made rec
ord for gallant fighting in the open not
eXcelled in any contest of that war. Jack
son said he found the resistance more
obstinate than he anticipated" Shields
said, Our men fought like devils" Tyler
said: The 18th Ohio was sent forward to
to support Huntington's Battery. These
regiments moved forward and engaged the
enemy in a style that commanded the adj
miratiOn Of every bebolder." He also said:
Col. Candy met the enemy with his regi-
ment with great GOODNESS, his men fight
ing with commendabIe bravery. The 18th
and 9TH Ohio were soon supporting him,
driving the enemy from their position and
retaking the battery" while Il gallant boy
in gray, with one leg, liz later years said
We were Western men whose fOTefathers
moved from Virginia, and ''fOemen worthy
of their steel"
With all this in mind, who can imagine
or describe my feelings when, after the
lapse of more than 80 years. | again stood
upon the ground where Taylor fought for
our guns and looked down upon the same
historic fields tHow covered with wheat, as
they were in June, 1862, and in memory
saw the troops in position and heard the
din of battle? Only the old comrades OF
like experience can imagine what | felt
and saw, and none can describe it.
After most enjoyable visit with Mr.
John Lewis, his wife and sster-the lat
ter Mrs. Dr. Gibbs, whose husband, now
deceased, was for years n Medical Ex-
aminer in the Pension OfIice-our team
was brought out, and with note of com
mcndation from Mr.. Lewis TO his friend,
Mr.. Jarman, of ElSton, some II miles
home.
(To be continued.)
Queer Pension Rejection.
CWarren Qll) Sentinel-Leader)
Late last year Commander Cullen, as
attorney, fled in the Pension Department