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The National tribune., 1910-09-22
CHAPTER XXXVI.
Beginning of a sad Chapter.

Had Gen. Burnside been left in COM
plete control of the matter as should
have been the case, the Mine would
have possibly had a very much better
ending. Gen. Meade passed from dis
trust and ridicule of the project to ac-
tive intermeddling. Book theories in
tervened, as they were too often to do,
and disastrously, in the management
of the army The books taught that
for charging a breach in the enemy 5
works special troops, specially drilled,
We're necessary. They said that after
men had been for some time shelter
ing themselves behind works they were
untitled to charge with boldnesS.
American troops have repeatedly shown
that this is not true as to them. Only
q few months before the Army of the
Cumberland, which had been for weeks
lodging bullet and shell behind its
works at Chattanooga, had astonished
the world by its charge up the side of
Missionary Ridge. The splendid old
Ninth Corps could have been relied
upon confidently to do the same. A few
months later it did this actually, with
the Sixth Corps, in the final crushing
of the enemy's lines around Petersburg.
The books said that in Europe the
heavy grenadiers had always formed
The National tribune., 1910-09-22
Down I'm Texas.

The Ladies of the G. A. r. in San
Antonio. Tex, have been doing an ex-
celIent work. They celebrated the sec
ond anniversary of the organization of
Gen. David s. Stanley Circle. 3, a short
tire ago when fine musical program
was rendered. A pretty exhibition flag
drill was given under the charge of
Mrs e. +. Mills. Assistant Patriotic
Instructor. The drill was executed by
II little girls, who formed the letters
G. S. c. and G.. A. r., standing for the
Post and Circle. and they also formed
a flag, after which they sang the Lone
star Flag of Texas The day hap
pened to be the birthday of the Presi-
dent, Mrs. Kate Scharfenberg. who pre-
sided. At the conclusion of the pro-
gram. Mrs. Emma Norris. Past Presi-
dent of the Circle. presented the Presi-
dent with token of love and esteem
from the members Of the Circle. A
banquet was served, to which the guests
we're led by Commander Whitaker and
Mrs. 'Scharfenberg. Toasts were given
by members of f. o. c. Ord Post. 3,
who were the guests Of honor. Mrs.
Sarah f. Miller, Press Correspondent,
San Antonio, Tex.
The National tribune., 1910-09-22

storming parties, and were drilled and
reserved for such work. The American
army was light infantry, rilemen, in
tended for very different service.
There were four divisions in the
Ninth Corps-three white and one col
ored. Gen. Burnside said that the three
white divisions had been so constantly
on the firing line and suffered such
heavy losses in officers and men that
he preferred to have the colored divi-
sion lead the assault. In his testimony
before the Committee on the Conduct
of the War he said:
Il in considerable conversation,
urged upon Gen. Meade the necessity
for placing Gen. Ferrero's Division in
the advance. ] stated to him that the
three white divisions had been on the
advance line and under fire from the
moment of the establishment of the
line, on the 18th or 18th of June, until
that time; that they were very much
wearied, had contracted a habit of COW
ering themselves by every method with
in their reach. and that ] was satisfied
they were not in condition to make
anything like as much of dash upon
the enemy's line as Gen. Ferrero's Di-
vision. which had not been under any
considerable fire from the time of his
arrival at this place to that moment.
i told him / considered my troops to be
az good as they ever were, with the
exception of this weariness and the
habit, which had almost become
second nature, of protecting themselves
from the fire of the enemy. In fact,
upon this subject was very, very ur-
gent.
Il will here present 10 the court
rome of the reasons for forming this
opinion, which reasons were presented
TO Gen. Meade. Take an intermediate
date, say. the 10th of July. and there
were for duty 1929 muskets in the
three old divisions of the Ninth Corps,
which occupied the line. From the goth
of June, which was after the fight at
this place, to the day before the fight
on the goth day of July, these divisions
lost as follows: Killed, u officers, 23l
men; wounded, a. officers, S51 men;
missing, II men; making a total OF
1,150, which is over i2 per cent of the
command, without single assault on
the part of the enemy or of our own
troops. These casualties were caused
from picket firing and shell firing, and
extended pretty evenly over the whole
time. / think that the whole of Gen.
Willcox's Division was on the line for
80 days or more without relief. Gen.
Potter's and Gen. Ledlie's Divisions had
The National tribune., 1910-09-22
SECTION OF MAIN GALLERY AT
SHAFT

81. As soon as dark Nai-Gen. Burn
side, commanding Ninth Corps, will
withdraw his two brisades under Gen.
White, occupying the intrenchments be-
tween the Plank and Norfolk roads
and bring them to his front. Care will
be taken not to interfere with the
troops of the Eighteenth Corps moving
into their position in rear of the Ninth
Corps.
Gen. Burnside will form his troops
for assaulting the cneInys woTiSs al
daylight of the goth, prepare his para
pets and abatis for the passage of the
columns and have the pioneers
equipped for work in opening passages
for artillery. destroying enemy's abatis,
etc. and the intrenching tools distrib-
uted for cffecting lodgment, etc.
- Maj.-Gen. Warren, commanding
Fifth Corps will reduce the number of
his troops holding the intrenchments
of his front to the minimum, and con-
Icentrate all his available force on his
right, and hold them prepared to sup
port the assault of Maj.-Gen. Burnside.
The preparations in respect to pioneers,
intrenching tools, etc, enjoined upon
the Ninth Corps Will also be made by
the Fifth Corps.
'3. AS soon as it is dark Ma. Gen.
Ord, commanding Eighteenth Corps,
will relieve his troops in the trenches
by Gen. Motifs Division of the Second
Corps, and form his corps in rear of
the Ninth Corps, and be prepared to
support the assault of Maj.-Gen. Burn
side.
a. Every preparation will be made
for moving forward the field artillery
of each corps.
IS. At dark Maj.-Gen. Hancock, COM
manding Second Corps, Will move from
Deep Bottom TO the rear of the in
trenchments now held by the Eight
The National tribune., 1910-09-22

Flag Lewis W. Smith. Letters of re-
gret from various members who were
unable to attend were read. and at the
close of the meeting luncheon was
SD and 61st Ohio.
A Reunion of the SD and 61st Ohio
was held Aug. 80 at Kenton. o., and
the 65 comrades present had a most
enjoyable time The address of well
responded to by Comrade w. F. Cellers.
Remarks were made by several of the
comrades, and the exercises were in
terspersed with solo. quartet songs
and songs by the comrades.
Marion, o., was chosen for the next
was elected President Retiring Presi-
dent John 8. Scott was elected Presi-
dent Emeritus.
Fayette County Veterans.
Attended by over 5000 of the veter-
and friends, the 10th Annual Reunion
of the Fayette County Veterans Asso-
citation was held at Shady Grove Park,
Uniontown, Pa, Aug. %. In the morn
ing Maj. George W. Neff delivered the
address of welcome. which was re-
sponded to by Capt VIM. S. Craft.
Attorney Wooda N Carr and Col ]. NJ.
Schoonmakcr also addressed the assem-
blage. During the morning officers
were elected as follows: c. L. Smith
was chosen Secretary to fill the position
made vacant by the death of the late
Joseph o. Miller: Maj A. G. Reeson
was named as Chief Musician. The of
ticers reelected were: President. w. T.
Kennedy; Vice Presidents. Capt. w. S.
Craft, s. G. KrepDs. ]. r. Bosley and
James Rankin; Chaplain. F. NJ. Cum
ningham; Treasurer. A /. Ellis; Quar-
termaster. Milton Kemp: Assistanl
Quartermaster, Levi Francis.
The National tribune., 1910-09-22
TO .lrousc Iatcrcst.

Mrs Anna Caldwell, President. Corps
5S. Decorah. Iowa. writes that She be-
Iieves that the citizens of oJr country
are naturally patriotic. hat that the
patriotic sentiment becomes partially
dormant when there is nothing to real
IL cail it forth. and she believes that
real part of the work OF the Wbman's
Relief Corps is 10 Keep patriotism very
much alive. To do this She says we
rlust make oar Corps members active
and have interesting meetings to insure
a good attendance and to keep the funds
up to the proper mark. She says that
| IN Decorah thcrn are very few vcJer-
ans who need GE:tr c.rl assistance. and
| that their most important wcrS Is on
Memorial Da-. we have so far KEEP;
| ti.r day as il was inten led at first.
Mis-. Caldwell writes. 'and have rot
I-er mitted games and sports, as is so
often done in some of the other and
larger cities" She believes that this
matter of keeping Memorial Day sa-
cred will be a perpetual work for the
Woman's Relief Corps. She does not
believe, as so many say, that our work
is ended when the G. \. X. is no more.
She believes that il then really begins.
In Corps SIS in the last year the Dis
trict Convention was entertained, and
she believes that the District Conven-
tions are a source of inspiration and of
great value to the order. Decorah
Corps arranged a flag drill for the
campfire held in connection with the
Convention, and it proved so pleasing a
feature that it has been called for On
several other occasions. The Corps also
! cele ebrated Lincoln's Birthday with n
fine patriotic program. Then the Corps
concluded that 1t wanted n piano to
replace the organ in their hall, and
they gave a grown-up childrens party,
which was a great success, and thus
started their fund. The Corps always
serves dinner for the comrades on Me-
mortal Day. and it also serves dinner in
the Corps Hall on pension day for the
veterans, as so many of the veterans
come in from the country to have their
pension papers made ont. On the
Fourth of July the Corps held picnic
| on the lawn at the home of Jessie Nc
Kay. the Department President, and
they had n royal good time. They have
had thimble bees once or twice a month
| to work for an annual December sale,
and are planning for various other
&musements. Most of these bring in
small sums to the Corps treasury. TAX
ing IT altogether. it looks very much as
If DEBORAH Corps was keeping its MEM
bers 1uita busy, and that they must be
happy and harmonious lot of women.
The National tribune., 1910-09-22
BY JOHN McELRC 4.

| but We're not made with the same par
ticularity to him as l have made them
here
The Ninth Corps also lost in the
fight of the 18th and 18th of June
2.9O3 men and in the action of the SOth
of July 3,S2S. The following are the
figures more in detail: June II and
lS-Kiied. % officers. 34S men:
wounded, LOG officers, 1851 men; miss
ing. ; officers. 554 men; 2.903. July
30--killed. 50 officers. 376 men;
wounded. 105 officers, 1.556 men: miss
ing, 81 officers, 1852 men; 3,S2S."
Selecting the Troops.
Gen. Grant had desired to have the
Eighteenth Corps form the storming
party. as it was stronger and fresher
than any of the other corps, but It was
felt that this would be unjust to Burn
side, whose affair the Mine was. There
fore. Burnside should have been put in
complete control. Grant thinks that if
this had been done the result would
have been different.
Gen. Meade objected decidedly to the
colOred division. He said that with
ont having any reason to believe that
duty as we'll as the white, vet, inasmuch
as they formed q new division which
had never been under fire. and as the
work to he done demanded the best
troops. l judge it inadmissible to in
trust it to a division whose courage
had not been proved
The National tribune., 1910-09-22
Assistant Adjutant- General.
A Night of Anxious Expectancy

Injured as they We're to all the dread
ed probabilities of war, the Armies of
the Potomac and James passed the
night of July 80 in state of feyerish
anxiety. The news of the successful
completion of the Mine and the great
things impending had run thru the
miles of armed men as by electricity
From the extreme right, on the north
side OF the James at Deep Bottom
across the river to Burmuda Hundred
and thence over the Appomattox thru
all the tortillated angularity of forts.
bastions and breastworks men lay down
The National tribune., 1910-09-22

! The colorcd division was differed by
| young men, many of them non-com-
missioned officers of white regiments,
who had won promotion by unusual
courage. There were three of these to
every company. with the fun compile
Inent of field and staff, and all were
burning with eagerness to show the
| white regiments what the despised col
! ored troops could do. They would have
gone into the assault with the highest
possible determination to make it sue
coed. They had been specially drilled
for the work and were sanguine of sue
cess.
The Division Commanders.
OF Burnside's division commanders
two were first-class soldiers-Gens
Wilcox and Potter. The other two
The National tribune., 1910-09-22
A New and Attractive Premium.

THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE has been fortunate obtaining
edition of handsome publication entitled
contents being composed of choice Biblical and poetcal quota
ons suitable for and evening reading the house.
hold For this purpose printed large type heavy paper,
II by "a inches and when suspended the wall
easily read across
Each read be turned back and instruction and
advice is before the eyes constantly for the day.
1t not only ornamental addition any but must
inspiration and blessing all who
monitions and wholesome suggestions
1t originally sold for S5O and while supply holds
will be sent postpaid to address for two yearly subscriptions
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE.
To this splendid premium it will only be necessary
subscriber get send
be sent for so the original pricein
regular subscription.
TRIBUNE Washington d. O.
The National tribune., 1910-09-22
The 63ti Ohio,

Cal Smith, Co. A, Esd Ohio, Sleepy
Eye. Mimi, in noticing the coming Re-
union of the 63d Ohio 10 he held Oct.
at Chauncey, o., remembers that Col.
Oscar l.. Jackson, the President, was
severely wounded at Corinth, where the
loss of the regiment amounted to SO
or so per cent. Col Charles M. Brown
lost his leg on the march to the sea
near Atlanta, when Comrade Smith was
wounded so severely as to be now al
most a total wreck. He would like very
much to attend the Reunion, but his
disabilities will prohibit him. He has
not seen any of the regiment since the
Minneapolis Encampment, but would
like to hear from them.
The National tribune., 1910-09-22
sEpWARD j. WOODS, 534 Sixth Av 457 B, New YoFk, n T.

| land; Second Vice President Albert
Crockett, of Portland; Secretary, E. T.
Andrews, of Gray; Treasurer, H. NJ.
Gushing, of Freeport.
The Ladies' Auxiliary held a meeting
at 1870, and the following officers
were elected: President. Mrs. Leonard
NJ. Perry; First Vice President. Mrs.
Whitman Sawyer. of Portland; Second
Vice President, Mrs. Harry Nelson, of
Portlanu; Secretary, Mrs Charles H.
Adams. of South Portland: Treasurer
Mrs. Percy Farnham, of Portland.
delicious dinner was served to the
veterans by the ladies of the NJ. E.
Church, who acted as mattresses. Fol-
lowing the dinner campfire was held
in Narragansett Hall, with DIR. William
Merrill, Commander of John r. Adams
Post. presiding. ExGov. Frederick
Robie delivered an excellent address of
welcome, and Hon. H. William Smith,
of New York, also addressed the as
semblage. RecitatiOns were given by
Miss Harlie NJ. Day and Prof. Edward
Quinn, of Portland. several solos were
sung and interesting remarks were
made by DR.. Charles F. Haynes, Edgar
F. Carswell and VIM. T. Buckham.
13d Conn. Cav.
One of the interesting incidents in
connection with the Add Annual Re-
union of the 1st Conn. Cav. Association,
held in Waterbury. Conn, was the
meeting after As years of two soldiers
who spent night together in the
Spring of 1862 and had not met since
The veterans were Charles Garfield. of
New York. President of the 4th N. Y
Cav. Association. and John II. Hawkins,
of Conroe, Conn
The 43d Reunion was a marked sue
cess. More than so veteran cavalry
men from all over the State, with
few from distant places, assembled to
elect officers and tell stories. John l..
SAKE, for the past year President of the
Association. presided. and the program
included addresses by Mayor VIM B.
Hotchkiss and the Rev. ]. G. Daven-
port. ID. ID.
The Association voted to hold next
years Reunion at the Armory in Hart
ford. and elected the following officers:
President, Lorenzo D. Converse. of
Providence; 1st V. P, Lewis w. Smith,
OF Hartford: I'd V. p, Chas A Bowles,
of Hartford; Sd V. p. ]. d. Willis, of
Columbia; Assistant Secretary, j. w.
Bradley. of Meriden; Custodian of the
The National tribune., 1910-09-22
G Hesel works.

eenth Corps, resume the command of
Motifs Division, and be prepared at
daylight to follow up the assaulting and
supporting column, or for such other
operations as may be found necessary.
G. Maj.-Gen. Sheridan, commanding
Cavalry Corps, will proceed at dark
from the vicinity OF Deep Bottom to
Lees Mill, and at daylight will move
with his whole CORPS including Will
sons Division, against the enemy's
troops defending Petersburg on their
right, by the roads leading from the
southwark and westward.
"7. Maj Duane, Acting Chief Engi-
neer, Will have the pontoon trains
parked at convenient points in the rear,
prepared to move. He will see that
supplies Of sandbags, gabions, fascines,
etc, are in depot near the lines. ready
for use. He will detail engineer Off
GERS for each corps.
''S. At half past 3 in the morning of
the goth Maj.-Gen. Burnside will spring
his mine, and his assaulting columns
will Immediately move rapidly upon
the breach, seize the crest in the rear,
and effect lodgment there He will
he followed by Maj.-Gen. Ord, who will
support him on the right, directing his
movement to the crest indicated, and
by Maj.-Gen. Warren, who will sup
port him on the left. Upon the explo-
sion of the mine the artillery of all
kinds in battery will open upon those
points of the cnemys woris whose fire
covers the ground over which our col
umns must move, care being taken to
avoid impeding the progress of our
troops. Special instructions respecting
the direction of the fire will be issued
thru the Chief of Artillery.
%. Corps commanders will report to
the commanding General when their
preparations are complete, and will ad-
wise him of every step in the progress
of the operation and of everything i'm
portant that occurs.
10. Promptitude, rapidity of execu-
ton and cordial cooperation are essen
tial to success, and the commanding
General is confident that this indi.a-
ton of his expectations will insure the
hearty efforts of the commanders and
troops.
IL. Headquarters during the opera
ton will be at the headquarters of the
Ninth Corps,
BY command Of Maj.-Gen. Meade.
IS. Williams,
Al
The National tribune., 1910-09-22

sion was temporarily commanded by
Col. Daniel Leasure. Tooth Pa, until
May II, when Maj.-Gen. T. G. Critten-
den, formerly a corps commander in
the Army of the Cumberland, arrived
and took command. The humiliation
of having to take orders from his iu-
niors soon overcame Crittenden's de-
sire to serve his country, and he asked
to be relieved, which was done June 8.
1t is significant of the terrible havoc
among the higher officers by the fight
ing that in spite of Ledlie's newness of
commission and the regency of his join
ing the army, he was the senior officer
of the division, and succeeded to the
command upon Crittenden's retirement.
Burnside's kindness of heart and
easy good nature came into harmful
play. When he found himself charged
The National tribune., 1910-09-22

some small reliefs. enabling those gen.
tlemen to draw some of their men off
at intervals, for two or three days at
time, at certain intervals during this
period. A considerable portion of our
line was so situated as to render it
impossible to keep pickets to the front
of them. 1t was, in fact, situated very
much as a portion of the line occupied
by the Second Corps at Cold Harbor.
AS i stated before. l stated these facts
to Gen. Meade, except that 1 will not
say that i gave him these exact figures,
but the full substance of what / have
stated here was given to him, together
with the statement of the loss of Off
GERS and men and the way in which the
losses occurred; and, in fact. statements
were made regularly to Gen. Meade, SO
that these facts were ip his possession.
The National tribune., 1910-09-22
SECTIONAL VIEW OF THE TUNNEL

Gems. Ledlie and Ferrero-had not won
SO high a reputation. Gen. James III.
Ledlie was born in New York. and en-
tered the army as Major in the Sd n.
Y Art He became Colonel of the reg
iment and the Brigadier-General. He
does not seem to have been entirely
satisfactory, however, for his appoint
inent was allowed to lapse. He secured
"a reappointment, and was commits
stoned a Brigadier-General Oct "a,
1868.
He Joined the army, and assumed
command of the First Brigade May 13,
after the heavy fighting of the Wilder
ness and Spotsylvania was over.
The gallant Gen. Stevenson, COM
manding the First Division, had been
The National tribune., 1910-09-22

NTH the execution Of the plan he should
nave exercised his prercgative of corps
commander, and ordered either one OF
hose tried and approved division COM
manders, Potter or Willcox, to lead the
assault. Either would have made Il
success of it. Instead, in order to avoid
hard feelings. he told the commanders
af his three white divisions to draw
straws for the place. The Army of the
Potomacs i'll luck gave the choice to
Ledlie.
Next, Meade interfcred Gen. Burn
side had made a definite plan of as
sault. which Meade disapproved, and
substituted one of his own. There is
an irreconcilable contradiction of the
testimony between Meade and Burn
side as to how far the latter accepted
and carried out the formers plans.
Meadc.s Order of Battle.
Gen. Meade issued the following on
der for the battle:
headquarters Army of the Potomac,
July %, 1854.
Orders
The following Instructions are is
sued for the guidance of all concerned: