The National tribune., 1908-01-16

l. American citizen soldier amongst the
soldiers of all Nations.
| In the article in question I note
paragraph headed "Col. Davis Cuts his
Way Out" and sets forth that, 'The TWO
iDayises rode at the head of the column,
and guided by some Maryland soldiers,
natives to that region, some 1900 cav
talry crossed the Potomac by the pontoon
bridge constantly in the
presence of. the Confederatesl >
struck across Maryland for Greencastle
. - during the night, came upon
one of Longstreet's ammunition trains
of so or 60 wagons, which he captured.
The train was guarded by some
500 Confederates, who were all captured.
= Some of the infantry Colonels
besought Miles for permission to follow
! the cavalry but he obstinately refused.
The infantry, If properly directed, need
not have gone more than four or five
miles to reach Franklin's forces of the
Sixth Corps in Pleasant Valley"
Thus you have briefly recited one of
the most gallant exploits that transpired
during the war of the rebellion. The
very audacity of the movement was in
comprehensive by the Confederates.
The apparently inaccessible mountain
walls thru which this cavalry column
passed, then occupied by an oyerwhelm-
i ing force of the enemy. who, by proper
.
should have made the exploit impracti-
cable and impossible, demonstrated that
to the American citizen soldier no feat,
however apparently impracticable, is
deemed impossible.
All honor to the gallant Davises and
the gallant Col. Voss, who was ordered
to assume command of the cavalry col
umn; all honor to the gallant cavalry
| men, one and all, who had the heroic
courage to make the attempt, happily
successful. Nevertheless, a greater
moiety of credit is due to. that gallant
body of Maryland cavalry known during
the war, and now in history and song,
as "Cole's Cavalry" than the simple
announcement, Guided by some Mary
land soldiers, natives to that region"
and We are confident that in your Iaud-
able efforts to do justice to all of the
soldiers of the Republic, you will gladly
| lay before your readers all of the facts
| in the premises that are properly
brought to your attention.
| / beg attention, therefore, in behalf
| of that gallant body of men known as
| Coles Cavalry" to the following Off
cial order, which can be found in the
History of Maryland Volunteers, Civil
War, 1SG1-5, page 65S:
Headquarters, Harper's Ferry. Va,
| Sept. IA, 1862.
Special Order. No. 12O
| Il. The cavalry force at this post ex-
cept detached Orderlies, will make i'm
mediate preparations to leave here at s
o'clock tonight, without baggage wag-
ons, ambulances or led horses, crossing
the pontoon and taking the Sharpsburg
road
80. The senior officer. Col Voss, will
assume command of the whole, which
will form in the following order: The
right at the Quartermaster,s Office; the
| left up Shenandoah street, without noise
or loud command, viz, Coles Cavalry
| 18th Ill. Cav, Sth n. Y. Cav, r. I. Cav ,
1st Md. Cav. No other instructions can
be given to the commander for his guild
ance than to force his way thru the
lenemy's lines to our army
| "(Signed) H. C. Reynolds,
| Lieutenant and A. A. General
by order of Col. Miles,
AS a matter of fact, Coles Cavalry did
head the column, and without their in
innate knowledge of the topography of
the country the result of this gallant
feat would have been problematical;
and. as you also state In your article
the feasibility of the infantry following
in the wake. viz, The infantry if prop
erly directed need not have gone more
than four or five miles to reach the
4 Sixth Corps" The cavalry column was
properly directed" under the guidance
of Coles Cavalry. and is there any valid
reason why that fact should not be
known and properly credited? As a
matter of fact, Coles Cavalry informed
Col Miles that they would not be sur
rendered" and protested against the
surrender of Harper's Ferry. Its gal