The National tribune., 1910-01-06
KISfBALL'S BRIGADE.
Conspicuous Gsllantry at Antietam,
Fredericksburg, etc.-Named the
"GibraItar Brigade, by Gen. French.

Editor National Tribune: A recent
communication published in your paper
from owen 7. Wright. of Co. ID, 18th
Ind. which is true in all respects, re-
calls to my mind that 1 sent you Il
communication on the same subject
over a year ago. but it was misplaced.
AS quite a number of the 14th Ind.
comrades have asked me why / did not
answer the communication of Mai.
Dwyer. l have concluded to send you
the substance of the communication
heretofore sent and you can exercise
your own judgment as to whether the
survivors of Kimball's Brigade should
be thus vindicated.
In the issue of March 10, 1908, is a
statement by Capt and Brevet Maj. John
Dwyer, of the SD n. Y, in which the
gallant Major is very much mistaken.
He says in giving an account of Meagh-
er's Brigade at Fredericksburg:
"Frenchs men were in line,- PROSTATE,
across the field. Meagher swept ahead,
leaving Kimbalrs regiments far in the
rear
speak of Maj. Dwyer as gallant be-
cause he belonged to a gallant reei-
ment and could not have attained the
rank he did in that regiment without
being a gallant soldier But sometimes
gallant soldiers are mistaken. and such
la thing might easily occur in the ex-
CllcHeHt OF q great battle.
l saw Meagher's Brigade make its
magnificent charge at the Bloody Lane
at Antietam. IL was on the immediate
left Of Kimball's Brigade. At Bristow
Station KimbalPs Brigade, then under
command of Col S. S. Carroll, later a
-HaJor-General, was on the same line
with the famous Irish Brigade.
The 18th Ind. was on the left of the
brigade at Fredericksburg, and there
tore was the last of the brigade to cross
the millrace The regiment was on
the fore front of the battle line from
the hrst charge until some time after
French's Diyision-was ordered off the
fleid, and no regiment went beyond its
advance line. In going over that cam
non-swept field the color bearer was
kllled and each detail of the color guard
was elther Killed or severely wounded
after their ammunition was exhausted
and other troops came un ON fine ad-
vance line the l4th Ind. was withdrawn
about 20 feet, and remained there until
after O'Clock p. M, some time after
me division had been ordered off the
ileld. The writer remained on the
'front.' line until every man of the 18th
ihd. was sent to the rear, and did not
leave the front until some time after
Hancock's Division came up.
The original brigade, known as KIM
baiPs Brigade, was composed of the
4th and Sth Ohio. 9TH w. Va. and 14th
lhd- AT times other regiments were
temporarily attached to the brigade
The brigade was complimented for jts
gallantry at the first engagement at
! winchester IN March, 1852 At Antie-
tam 1t lost more than half its number
IN killed asd wounded in front of
Bloody Lane. and was named the Glib
raltar Brigade" by Gen. French on ac-
count of its stand at that battle.
1t followed the fortunes of the Second
Corps under Col. Carroll, and was COM
plimented for gallantry at Chancellors-
Vile, Gettysburg, Morton's Ford, the
Wilderness and Spotsylvania Court
House, where it fought at the Bloody
Angle. Its last battle was at Cold Har-
Dor, after which the old regiment went
out on account of expiration of term of
service.
Never before have 1 seen a statement
that any troops left any of these regi-
ments far in the rear" The Sth Ohio.
Ith w. Va. and 14th Ind. are included
in Fox's History, 800 Fighting Regi-