The National tribune., 1909-10-28
COUCH AND HOOKER.
The 7th Vt. and seth n. Y. at Salem
HightS

Editor National Tribune: am much
pleased with your description of Hook
ers campaign across the Rappahan-
mock, and more especially Sedgwick's
movement in that battle and descrip-
ton of the assault upon Marye's Hights.
1 read with deep interest the work of
the 9th Me. and their capture of seven
cannon, when the Washington artillery
of New Orleans had only six in it's bat
terry, of which the 9Th Mass. took two,
and as was in that charge and helped
pull one piece down under the hill,
where we met Gen. Sedgwick coming
up, who lifted his hat to us and thanked
Us for our gallantry, 1 feel as if the fol-
lowing may be of interest to your read
ers. The 9Th Me. was good regiment,
and there were others who did their
full duty in that brilliant assault. The
following is from Gen. Newton, who
commanded the division:
Headquarters Third Division. Sixth
Corps, Office of Adjutant- General,
May Is, 1868.
ITO His Excelleney. John A. Andrew,
Governor of Massachusetts,.
'Sir: Permit me to call your atten-
ton to the excellent conduct of the
Massachusetts, regiments under my COM
mand during the late operations of the
Sixth Cops. The 7th Mass. stormed
the nights of Fredericksburg in column
without firing a shot and suffered Sc
verely. To Lieut.-COl. F. p. Harlow,
who commanded the regiment after the
wounding of Col. Johns, l mainly at
tribute this fortunate result. Col. Har-
low proved himself hero. As this was
a charge not exceeded in brilliancy and
daring by any operation of the war, the
7th Mass. ought to receive adequate
praise. The 10th and 37th, altho under
fire in Fredericksburg on the morning
80 %l,nt, yNrfn nj
vices in the afternoon and the following
day at Salem Hights. Their GOODNESS
under fire and admirable discipline
merit the warmest acknowledgements.
The 10th was under command of Maj.
Parker during the most important
period of their operations, Col. Fl. L.
Eustis having command of the brigade.
The conduct of all these regiments at
such critical juncture has been an am
pie return for all care bestowed by Your
Excellency and the State upon their or
ganization and discipline. / have the
honor to be your obedient servant,
John Newton, Major
It was the 7th Mass. and 36th n. Y.
who broke thru the key-point and cap
tured the cannon in the redoubt that
flanked and enfiladed the right of the
light brigade column. and made it pos
sible for them to succeed. Now, in re-
ton in the battle of Charlottesville.
Gen. Couch with his own lips informed
me that Gen. Hooker was totally abb
stemiOus for two months before the
battle of Charlottesville, and in his
opinion it would have been better if he
had indulged himself In his usual stim-
ulant, for as soon as he got in the face
of the enemy he was utterly 'indecis-
i've" In relation to Gen. Crouch him.
self, as understood him to say. he did
take command. or held it for two or
three hours. and was preparing to con-
centrate all available artillery to annihi-
late Jackson's Corps, when Hooker re-
covered and assumed command. Did
not Reynolds and Meade say: Now
Couch is in command. we will have a
chance to go in and do some fighting.
Which was spoiled by Hooker's partially
recovering his senses. And from Hook
er's recovery came the utter defeat of
his army. Gen. Couch himself told me
he could have destroyed Jackson's
Corps il he had retained command.-N.
o. Hutchinson. M. D.. Orderly at
COUGHS Headquarters, North Arlington.
Mass,