Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1904-02-20
The Battle of Hanover.

A controversy is raging in the east
ern press as to the relative importance
of the so-called battle of Hanover. H
c. Potter, whose version of the affair
started the ball rolling and called
forth criticism, writes the Philadel-
phia Ledger as follows:
Permit me to reply to my critics in
reference to that affair at Hanover,
June 80, 1863. They have fallen into
the common error of relying too much
on official reports. Most of these were
made several months after and are
most dramatic. Stuart'S report is most
f1attering to himself. l make the fol-
lowing statement in defense of my
regiment, which behaved nobly, and
If any one in it was stampeded it was
myself, and 1 would do the same thing
over again similarly situated.
The division left Littlestown about
8 o'clock a. m. in the following order:
Fitzpatrick, with his staff and body
guard, First Ohio; Custer, with the
First, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Michi-
gan; then the artillery; then Farms
worth (Richmond did not command
a brigade them, with the First Yer
mont, First West Virginia and Fifth
New York. Behind them came the
ambulance, wagons, horses and pack
mules, and last of all the Eighteenth
Pennsylvania Cavalry
My regiment was the last to leave,
and L did not leave there until 10 a.
m. When starting, Lieutenant Colonel
William P Brinton, in command, or
dered me to pick my men and re-
main about a mile in the rear. 1 took
about twenty men, each from L and NJ
companies. At this time l carried
carbine. We proceeded, making in
Quiry of every one if any "Johnnies"
had been seen, but none had been.
After going a few miles 1 was Joined
by Capt. Freeland, of my regiment.
He rode with US for a while, and he
and the men he had with him left,
taking a road to the right. Most of
us that day wore our cape overcoats.
AS we neared Hanover, a little after
IL o'clock, we came to stream
across the road (no BRIDGE, where
we watered our horses While wat
ering a farmer came from a house
close by, calling to me, The rebs
have taken my horses and cows!"
went with him to his barn, where he
showed me the empty stalls and point
ed out in the distance a small body
of troops, who had with them one of
those old-fashioned Conestoga wag-
ons. These troops had on blue coats
and L thought it was Freeland. told
the farmer 1 would have his stock re-
turned to him and left. not being salts
fed in my mind. l sent CorpOralS
Street and Dannenhower to see who
they were. They came back saying it
was Freeland. We went on, these
troops getting closer and their num-
bers increasing. 1 was suspicious. as
their guidon was very red l loaded
my piece and ordered the men to
load. When about a mile from the
town the road they went on turned
sharply into the one we were on,
and about sixty of them came out
directly in front of US. They called
on us not to shoot, but surrender, say
ing, We've just captured some of
you'ns," and they would not shoot.
had been quietly talking to the men,
and told them when 1 gave the order
to fire and charge When we got very
close to them we fired (this was the
first shot fred. they scattered and
we went through them. 1t did not
take long for them to recover and
come after As we ran toward the |
town a bend in the road brought into
view the rear of my regiment dis |
mounted
Hearing the firing in their rear they |
were mounting their horses and some |
of them Joined us in driving them |
back. 1t was here l was Joined by |
Adjutant Gall q first called him Lee), |
of the Fifth New York. He rode with |
me at the head of the first set of |
Tours He did not get far when he |
fell from his horse We were again |
driven back, and this time the whole |
regiment joined in and we drove them |
to a standstill- 1t was here up a |
lane. with a high. stiff post and rail |
fence on each side, the cutting and |
was done, and for few in |
the very front ii was fist fight. 1t I
was here Gen Custer came dashing |
up in the field behind us. shouting |
Drive them," but for a short time
neither side would give way Custer /
went back for more troops, but before
they arrived the enemy dropped Il
shell (the first fired) in our midst.
when we gave way and fell back to
the edge of the town, when the Fifth |
New York came tn our a. sistance-