The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-06-25
Stories Emineny Worth Telling of Experiences and Adventures
in the Great National Struggle

ton they had occupied in front, kept
| on running, and did not stop until they
had crossed the river.
Now let us take up his charges
against Gen. Wagner. After telling
in detail of the Generals Iameness
from his horse having fallen with him.
and of his tWagner) lying on the
ground resting near the Carter house
land of his conyersing with him, he
tells how Wagner, when informed that
the enemy We're forming in front OF
the two exposed brigades, sent back
an order to fight them; and little
later when another staff officer came to
inform him of the threatened attack,
Wagner again repeated his order TO
fight From this circumstantial evil
dence he is sure that Wagner Numbered
and disobeyed in refusing to order the
two brigades withdrawn behind our
main lines.
Well. if there was no other evidence,
this might be considered sufficient; but
there is other and contrary evidence,
and from a better witness-better. be-
cause he was in a better position to
know the facts to which he testified.
Col. Joseph Conrad, 18th Mo-, was
out in front commanding one of the
exposed brigades, and he says he re-
ceived Wagner's order to withdraw his
command if threatened with a heavy
force likely to overpower him. (See
official report in volume already quoted.
page 2t0.) In our courts of law, where
two Witnesses of equal credibility con-
flict in their testimony, the rule is to
credit the ore who was in the best posi-
ton to know the facts, and to discredit
the other. Applying this very fair and
common-sense rule in this case, we
find Capt. Schofield's evidence I'M
worthy of consideration, when contra
dicted by Col. Conrad. Capt Scho-
field doubtless thought he was right,
but Col. Conrad knew whereof he
spoke.
tons of Capt Schofield repeated to
Gen. Cox, that caused the latter in his
account of the battle of Franklin TO
censure Wagner as he did. I believe
this, because Gen. Cox in a foot note
says that an officer (name not given)
heard Gen. Wagner say that he intend
ed to stand and fight.
1t should not be considered strange
that Capt. Schofield did not know all
of inferior ranks end belonged to an
other division and another corps, and
Wagner was under no obligations to
take him into his confidence.
The BriEades Remained in the Fight.
Now as to Capt. Schofield's charge
that the two brigads when driven in
kept on running: He tells of a plucky
Sergeant who stopped to fight, and
about 20 others stopped with him.
and went into our reserve line; perhaps
others stopped with him: but the great
mass went thru the town and crossed
the river"
If this statement is true. Gen. Stan
ley, commanding the corps, was mis-
fa hn
helped Opdycke's Brigade to regain
that portion of our line that had fallen
into the enemy's hands in consequence
of the stampede of a portion of the
Corps. Gen. Wagner
was also mistaken if Capt Schofeld is |
correct. for he says they rallied, and
only retreated at midnight, by the
crossed the bridge on the way to Nash |
vile.
Co.'s. Conrad and Lane. commanding !
the two brigades, were likewise mis-
taken, for both say their men rallied |
and went Batr't6stirs works and fought
until the battle wae. eyer.
All the regipental commanders agree
that their men rallied and fought to |
the finish. capturing over goo. prisoners
and three battle flags. besides eight
other flags captured by them, but taken |
from them by officers of the Twenty |
third Corps. and turned in by them as
their trophies. (See the official reports |
Of the officers above referred to in the |
volume already quoted.)
There is abundant evidence that
part Of me Twenty-third Corps SIAM
peded from the works when the men
Of the two brigades came streaming
to the rear, closely pressed by the
charging Confederates. That some
stragglers from the two brigades as
well as some from the stampeded por-
ton of the Twenty-third Corps. ran
and crossed ltiae river is most likely; |
but that the great mass of the two
brigades did so is an absurdity too
great to be believed in the light Of the |
above overwhelming testimony.