The National tribune., 1910-04-28
BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS.

Comrades Reminded of That Stirring
Time Draw Some Interesting Pen
Pictures o. the Fight in the Tangle-
wood. sn ~
The wilderness Campaign" by John
McElroy, now running in The National
Tribune, continues to remind comrades
of the parts they and their regiments
in the dismal Virginia wildwood. Here
are few of the "reminiscences:
Saw Gen. Wadsworth Killed.
Maj. Earl NJ. Rogers, viroqua, Wis,
writsss; it1ss:ss,,,or.,.. n,r;s,o, ,o,,,,,. On
May s in the Fifth Corps, and in the
late afternoon reformed In the Lacy
Field, with Baxter's Brigade of Robin
sons Division added to his own divi-
sion. Hancock was fighting hard on
the Plank road, with his right flank
extended a short distance over the road.
Gen. Wadsworth was directed by War
rem to march against the Confederate
left flank, then fighting Hancock. Wads-
worth did not go far into the dense
woods until he met a heavy skirmish
line protecting the Confederate flank.
The skirmishers yielded quickly, and
reported the approach of a force on
their flank.
Gen. Roy Stone commanded splen-
did Pennsylvania brigade, composed of
the 14sth, 149th, 150th and 151st, 1
think. Stone was drunk and noisy and
the Wilderness was intensely dark un-
der the thickness of the forest, tho in
an occasional opening could be seen
the stars bright and twinkling Unable
to keep the alignments owing to dark
ness, and before reaching the Confeder-
ate flank or connecting with Hancock's
right, as Wadsworth expected, he halt
ed for the night. / was directed to find
Gen. Stone, and request him to report
to Gen. WadswOrth. Stone did not obey,
and the second in succession was not to
be fOund-had gone to the rear sick
G), without notifying Gen. Wadsworth,
leaving his brigade without one field
officer.
"At midnight Wadsworth sent an Aid
back to Warren, notifying him that the
density of the woods and darkness pre-
vented further advance and requested
orders. The Aid returned with instruc-
tons to moVe forward at 4:3O, and re-
port to Hancock. Capt. Monteith was
sent to the ammunition train to bring
up cartridges He reached the train,
awoke Serg't Watrous, who had mules
parked, and they made their way to the
line at the hour to move. 1t was but a
short march. where connection was
made with Hancock. The Confederate
left flank being exposed, they withdrew
during the night to a distance that re-
ieved their flank
Gen. Hancock moved his troops to
the left, with his right on the Plank
road, and directed Gen. Wadsworth to
make a change of front, with left on the
Plank road. and in line with the Second
Corps. In executing this change of
front Wadsworth's line became discon-
nected, forming gaps, owing to the
density of the Wilderness. perfect
division alignment or even brigade con-
nection seemed impossible. A forward
was made, when the Con-
federate line fell back. The fighting
was hard. Limbs and small trees fell
from musket firing, which added more
confusion to the battle. The difficulty
of mounted officer ridingiin the woods
led Gen. Wadsworth to rein to the ditch
On the right side of the Plank road
where his horse was shot. The General
a led horse. kept in the ditch,
and only went a few yards when the
second horse was killed. Mounting a
third horse, he was cautioned of the
hanger, and reincd few feet to the
right of the Plank road in the thick
we'll with Hancock's command.
There was a lull; then the Confed-
rates pushed hard and fought fiercely
zen. Wadsworth had received troops
rom the Ninth Corps Word came to
to look out for his left. as the
Second Corps was going away. The
'onfederates. with Il rebel yell, We're
passing off left when he tried to wheel
me troops q think. the 9Th WIS. and
nth Mass.) to the left, when he was
lose onto an Alabama brigade, which
charged and overlapped Wadsworth's
light
THE Union line went back in much
confusion. Gen. Wadsworth did not
'ein his horse to the rear for an in
away trying to save the line. and when
he General did rein his horse 20 the
ear every man was making in that di-
'ection. His last view was his retreat
ng division Many times have thought
If that moment. 1t flashed thru my
mind, Two cannot live; one must goi'
when a ball went thru the Generals
brain and splashed my coat. Then my
lorse fell.
"The Confederates could not have
been more than 80 feet, tho Schapp
places it at so feet The General fell
IN his back. He had an outside pocket.
n which he carried his watch, which |
'eached to take, but rife balls and un-
pleasant yellS halted me. ] ran back a
short distance, where ] found the Cen
rails horse with the rein caught on a
mag. / vaulted into the saddle. and
vas soon with the 9Th Wis, of which
rol. Davies speaks in his 9Th Wis and
stein, 10Th Ind, in his Army of the Po-
II then rode to Gen. Warren at the
Lacy House, notified him of Wads-
yorth's death, which is reported in the
Rebellion Reports of the Wilderness,
md for which service / was brevetted
captain, and later at Petersburg as
for gallant and meritori-
,us service.
Gen. Cutler then took Wadsworth's
Division. and Col. Bragg, of the 9Th
Wis, was assigned to the Pennsylvania
Brigade, with me as his Aid. The Penn
;ylvanians fought nobly. The 5th Pa.
was splendid body of troops, but ow
ng to the loss of field officers and the
Unfortunate going TO the rear of Gen.
Stone We're not able to perform their
luty on the 5th. Gen. Bragg still lives
1T Fon du Lac, Wis.,
Starting the Flank Movement.
James F. Zerbe, Co. G, 93d Pa. (Sixth |
corps), Lebanon, Pa, writes:
I'm The National Tribune of Feb. 8, |
lnder the heading Gen. Grant and Cen |
Meade appears an inquiry from Com
ade Emerson as to who planned and |
Xecuted the campaigns against Gen. |
lee. Allow me to relate an incident |
hat happened at the battle of the Will
lerness which may throw quite diff
erent light on the above subject than |
he explanation given.
while the battle was raging the |
Iercest and the tide seemingly turning |