New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-20

| The strategy was perfect. The First Brigade
was drawn away from the main army several
| miles away from Hanover Four Corners where
| General Bliss decided 10 make his final stand
| Colonel Appleton. with his 18th Regiment was
/ sent 10 fight the final fight. At 1890 o'clock
| Colonel Appleton came on the enemy he won't
| forth 10 fay The first body Of troops was the
/ Sth Regiment, that has borne the brtInt Of the
| Blues fighting during the whole OF the war
Colonel Appleton ordered his scouts 10 recon
noitre tho enemy and find out his strength and
position The invaluable 10Th Cavalry respond
ed. and came back the gallon 10 inform,
Colonel Appleton that the time had come for
the master stroke.
IMPOSING ARRAY OF TROOPS
As the colonel ordered the advance. I'D Broad
way the main street Of that town came the
rushing regiments OF infantry. together with two
companies OF New York artillery. In the brigade
selected 10 serve under Colonel Appleton w.re
the 9Th New York. the 14th New York and the
20 New York. With the three batteries OF New
York and one OF Connecticut artillery. II was
an imposing arraN Of troops The battle RACED
with wanton disregard for theoretical life col
onel Appleton called his men for supreme
effort and nobly they responded With a dash
ing charge, the troops fought almost hand 10
hand with the Blues and by the use ~ the
driven back. Their flank was turned and n
heller SHELTER rush Of retreat showed the de-
moralization OF the flower % Massachusetts.
volunteers
While the infantry and artillery were hurlnS
death and defeat into the ranks Of the sth the
cavalry was sent post haste To open the road
70 Boston. Acting in conjunction and by united
EFFORTS. the two bodies OF troops operated with
success Washington street at Hanover was soon
I'm possession II the Reds. and then came the
whistle for the cessation Of hghting
General Bliss said that he had followed a fxed
plan from Monday night 10 reach Boston He
said that his movements around the lake region
south Of Middleboro made with the idea
that IT would be impracticable for him to at
tempt to move north and meet General Pew's
forces in the vicinity Of Bridgewater and Mid
dleboro where the two towns connect
when / learned that General Pew had de-
stroyed the bridges over the Taunton River at
points which were not fordable and, believing
that General Pew had massed considerable
force that end of his line knew at once that
there was but ono thing for me 10 do That was
20 try To reach Hanover Four Corners with my
solid army. 7 knew that by quick movements
and forced marches could keep my left flank
extraordinarily well protected by the lakes and
swamps all the way mp. Consequently. IT was
an easy matter for 10 throw out my cavalry
and hattalions Of infantry 10 safeguard my
columns
81 gathered from the war map Of the country
all the way up here that IL would he a race be
tween my forces and those of General Pew. n
I could get 10 Hanover Four Corners first and
throw the head of my column little beyond
the town. the only thing that General Pew could
do would he 10 make great detour TO the west
10 cut me off.
hoI Ir{rro 1T
near Stetson Pond. The enemy appeared there
in force and I realized that I would have
throw the best part Of brigade up the line
10 hold the Blues in check until / could get my
main body out Of the way the road TO this
point The Blues very strong. but my
main line was not molested until l reached this
point As to the decision of the umpires regard
ing the outcome Of the battle / know nothing.
and do not care to comment.
THE Blues had a much more different and
difficult problem than l. because there were sew
eral places where we might have landed and
from which could have taken different routes
on land. They had TO wait to ascertain what
move / was making after had landed at some
place which they previously knew nothing about
LAS IL stood at l o'clock. If the umpires had
said that IL draw 1 should have fallen
back into Boston. / occupied the main highway
from Hanover Four Corners to Boston, and had
more than a brigade already the way. AS
the fighting ended position had been some
defensive, in one sense"