The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1907-05-23
THE 18TH N. Y.
Guarding the Cracker Lins>1Dsath Of
Gen. CoYcoPaH.

doDs C0HCof00s
Editor National Tribune, I was very
much interested In your article on the
10th N. Y, which came pretty near
T. 165th N. Y. and took part In all the
battles mentioned in your article. The
brigade to which my regiment belonged
after leaving New York went to New
port News, Va, and from there was
sent to Suffolk, where we took part in
the siege of that place. I rememb Der
well the battle of Deserted House.
took part. We drove the rebel forces
back and across the Black Water River
Our next engagement was the siege OF
Suffolk, after which we were removed
to Norfolk and lay there for q short
time. We were then ordered to Wash
lngton, but I do not think the brigade
performed garrison duty at that place
as you said they did in your article.
There were rumors that we were to be
sent to New York City to help put down
the riot there, but We marched across
the Long Bridge and camped on the
nights for one day and were then sent
to Fairfax Station. or the Orange &
Alexandria Railroad. In the Fall of
1863 and Spring of 1864 we were
Railroad, with the Pennsylvania Buck
tails. to guard that road, which was
sending supplies to the Army of the
Potomac. My company lay between
Union Mills and what was called the
Poor Farm or Poor House. 1 remem-
Der Co. l of our regiment lay at the
Poor Farm and Co. F about a mile
nearer Union Mills. One rainy, dark
night the rebel General Stewart, with
5000 cavalry, came along the so-called
Fredericksburg road and struck Co. /
at the Poor House. 1t was raining very
hard and the company was about to go
to bed when they heard a shot fired by
the sentry on the railroad crossing
The men in the stockaded tents, which
protected them from the bullets now
WhiZZing through the air, grabbed what
clothing they could lay their hands on
and with guns and cartridge boxes went
down behind some logs, and gave the
rebels warm reception. On each side
OF the road We're two large rocks, and
the space between them was so narrow
that only platoon was able to come
IN. There was small stream of water be-
fore reaching the railroad crossing and
When the rebel platoon would come I'D
the boys would fire from behind the
logs. The rebels would then retreat
and that would give our boys time to
load again. Many saddles were emptied
In this way, but at last our boys were
outhanked. The rebels then burned all
the tents and clothing and marched on
to Fairfax Court House, but before they
reached there were met by a force of
Union cavalry, also battery, which
grove them back over Bull Run. The
next day Gen. Corcoran, who was COM
manding the Union forces at this time,
visited us and told us that whatever
clothing and other belongings we had
lost would be restored to us by. the
Government. 1t was in returning from
this visit that Gen. Corcoran was killed.
He was riding Gen. Meagher's horse
and was thrown from it, mis- head strill-
ing rock, from which blow he died
IN few hours. In the Spring of 1864
we were ordered to join the Army of
the Potomac and became the Second
Second Division of the Sec
ond Corps. taking part in the battle of
Spotsylvania Court House May IS. We
also took part in the battle of Cold
Harbor in June, 1864, where 1 was Sc
rerely wounded. / think at this battle
Gen. Taylor commanded the brigade.
On this occasion we were Joined with
the Sth N. Y. H. A.-Charles Wilson,
Co. F, 155th N. Y, Chicago, Ill.