News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1914-03-18
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FIGHT AT CHARLOTTESVILLE
StahIs German Brigade Had No
Chance to Secure Their Arms
to Repel Attack of Enemy.

In my opinion the Army of the Pc
tomac was never in such fine shape
as when Joe Hooker started on the
Charlottesville campaign. 1t was
my fortune at that time to be mem
Der of Co. A, 25th Ohio. Our regi
ment belonged to McLean's Second
brigade, First division, Eleventh
corps, writes R. NJ Fulton, Of Home
stead Pa, in the National Tribune.
Our regiment, or at least my com
pany, was out on the Plank road on
picket on Friday night and when we
were relieved next morning we re-
joined the brigade on the line of bat
tie, although there was no fighting 60
ing on yet AS we had been on picket
all night we stacked arms back in
the rear some 200 yards and remained
there all day until the engagement
began.
Our brigade fronted southwest, with
our backs toward Fredericksburg. In
the early afternoon our colonel w. P.
Richardson, and Col. Lee, of the 55th
Ohio, both having seen service in
Mexico, sent out three scouts from
our company, under Abe Heed to see
what was doing in the heavy timber
in front They came back and reported
the enemy massing on our front and
right flank. Col. Richardson sent Col.
Lee and Capt. E. C. Culp to inform
Gen. Devens of our division and ask
permission to change front so as to be
in shape to meet the assault that they
felt sure would come. But Deyens
took no account of what these ofh-
GERS said.
Some time later | took a stroll up
on the higher ground along the coun-
try road. Stahl's German brigade was
off a little to the right. Their guns
were all stacked, except one regiment,
which was standing in line along the
road facing the woods at order arms.
There were two brass cannons (6 and
12-pounders) by the road. There were
no horses nor artillerymen near the
guns. / went back to where my regl-
ment was, and Col. Richardson had
sent his scouts out again. That time
the enemy's cavalry fired on them.
They reported the woods full of Con-
federates. Col Richardson sent Col.
Lee and Capt. Culp to Gen. Devens
with this information, and again ask
ed permission to change front to be
in position to meet the enemy.
Devens poo-poohed and said: Il
guess Col Richardson is little
scared. The proper place for colo
mel is with his command"
In a few minutes l heard one shot,
of Stahl's brigade that was in line
Then came the terrible onrush OF
Stonewall Jackson's men, which gave
the rest of Stahl's brigade no chance
to get their guns, which were stacked
as | saw them | was close to Col
Richardson when Devens' adjutant-
general came up on gallop. He
said: Col Richardson, Gen. Devens
sends regards and orders you to
double-quick your regiment into line
and check that stampede"
We double-quicked up the hill and
into the young pines, but the smoke
was so thick we could scarcely see.
Stahl's brigade had no time to get
their guns, and, of course, could not |
help repel the enemy, and we had to
get out. About that time Col. Rich |
ardson was painfully wounded in the |
shoulder and was never with the regi- |
ment again.