The National tribune., 1909-07-08
BURNING OF CHANCELLOR HOUSE.
The 10th Pa. Saved Part of the Guns
of LeiIine'S Battery.

ltfc HUN Ia. saved 1dTi oi tht YUM
of LeiDine'S Battery.
Editor National Tribune In refer
erice to communication in recent is
sue of The National Tribune by Robert
G. Smith, Lieutenant, Co. A, I'd Del,
concerning the burning of the Chancel-
lor House, May 5, 1863, / will just say
that / have nothing to retract from any
former statement. All i ask and desire
is justice and the truth of the transac-
tions which occurred around the Chan
cellor House, May 3, 1868.
Ii began to look to me that the 140th
Pa. was not there when l read about
those appalling transactions which are
alleged to have happened there just at
those critical moments, and directly on
the tIound occupied by the 140th Pa.
in full force at that time. Gen. Zook
was there, Col. r. p. Roberts was there,
and don't try to make me believe that
I was not there. / regret to state that
Gen looks report was lost, strayed or
stolen. and marked in reports Not
found Gen. Hancock's report says
that the Irish Brigade was stationed
along the plank road with Pettitts Bat
terry to the left, and part of a brass
battery to the right of road and the
140th Pa. was stationed in rear of the
Chancellor House, in support of Lee
pines Battery. Maj. Mu.holland says
pines Battery. The Major is mistaken,
as the plank road was some distance in
the rear of the Chancellor House, and
the 140th Pa lay directly in rear of
said house, and our right of line came
within short distance of Lepine's Bat
terry, and there was considerable space
of forest between Lepine's Battery and
the plank road. The plank road is the
furthest to rear of all lines there 'front.'
ing west
Rebel general reports say that Lee
selected a position and ordered three
guns, one howitzer and two rifle guns
from Capt. Jordan's battery, and they
are the guns that operated against Le-
pines five light guns instead of "a, as
the Major says. And 1 wish to state
here that my impression is and always
has been that that there was not any
battery along our lines that came to
the assistance of Lepine's Battery in his
struggles. They just let him go down.
The 14Gth Pa was ordered by Gen.
Zook to take the wounded from the
burning house and the guns from the
field. The enemy was forming in line
In front of where their battery was
located in line along the open space
that ran along in front of the Chancel-
lor House for some distance to the right
and left. The enemy had ceased firing.
as they only fired about two shots after
lHc dttS IldQ Td1iltu 10 tle guns
and had begun to draw them back. The
enemy's infantry began to- advance
across the open space towards the
Chancellor House, which was on fire
at that time, and began to fire on the
comrades who were drawing the guns
towards the plank road. The rebels
came around the house in force and
would have gotten those guns. The
comrades rallied to the right of the
house and drove them back There was
considerable musket firing on both
sides. Finally, the rebels fell back,
ceased firing, and the guns of Lepine's
Battery were safe and on their way TO
the rear. If the 140th Pa. had not been
there, the rebels would have gotten
those guns without shot fired in their
defense. If there were any other
troops there at that time or to help
draw back those guns, it was later on.
j am sure there were no other troops
there to help defeat the rebels in their
efforts to capture those guns.
In regard to the wounded in the
Chancellor House, my impressions are
fhsre were very few to carry out. The
house was located between the lines
ind roads. 1t would not seem reason
fble that it could be used for hospital
Ep to this time there were very few
Sounded comrades in the 140th Pa, as
The. enemy's artillery fire all passed
pyer in rear of our lines. as they lay
llong near the house and passed over
the plank road and over the road to
1he United States Ford, and in front of
the Irish Brigade along the plank road.
Comrade Maj. Mulholiand's appalling
,cenes, as he describes them, never did
bccur there. Just at that critical time,
half of each company of the 140th Pa.
baliied to the house, and / did not see
any wounded brought out. and / was
always under the impression there were
none TO bring out.
If Lieut.. Smith, Co. A. I'd Del, came
Dyer and helped, as he says, how about
that battery of Capt. Pettitts that he
Was supporting at the left of the Chan
eellor House at that critical time, and
the rebels advancing all along the line
IN front2 The Major says he was or
tered to save those guns which had
been abandoned by Lepine's Battery
1nd left in danger of being captured
py the enemy. There We're no guns
abandoned. only by the gunners who fell
10 the rear. The i4Oth Pa. had al
feady saved those guns from the enemy
and was tugging them back towards the
rear. All firing had ceased. The Ma
ior says he sent three guns UP the road,
BY detail of his regiment, 116th Pa,
and two were taken up the road by an
pther regiment. which makes five, and
] know that one gun was brought from
fsle extreme front Ds my cpIHpduy anu
taken up the road. The Major claims
the honor of saving those guns at the
extreme rear Of lines engaged. / have
no doubt but that the Irish Brigade
helped TO draw those guns back TO the
rear, which was their duty.
The rebel reports say they captured
three of those guns and seven caissons.
Well, we all know that Is not true.
There was one more gun carried back
than there was in Lepine's Battery.
21 - TRIBUNE -. IN -.
Well. failed to tarry and hear the
hurry-ups, and passed TO the rear, hav-
Ing been slightly wounded, as / related
before. ] passed to the rear. crossed
the plank road to the left, and then
10 the United States Ford road, and
followed that till / came to where we
had left our knapsacks in line of Gen
Cooks Third Brigade, after the regi-
fnent arrived and took new line.
Roll call was ordered. Co. d, two
fatally wounded and several severely
wounded. 80 in all who had responded
in the appalling act of saving Lepine's
guns.
have said all I have to say of this
occurrence. relate IL just as a / saw
1T, and believe and know il to be true.
Give honor where honor belongs.-John
Kelley, Corporal, Co. ID, 140th Pa, zoo
Mechanic street, Cumberland Md
CREDIT BELONGS TO THE FIRST
BRIGADE.