On the Quaker Road
a batteryman’s Reminiscences of a Fierce Contest

Editor National Tribune:

I have never seen a correct account of the Quaker Road fight in Virginia in March 1865. It was not a big fight, but desperate and fierce while it lasted.
On the afternoon of March 28, 1865, we received orders to move. About noon next day we went into park near a stream in an open field. To are right and front was pine woods. There were four batteries together – – B, fourth US; D Fifth US; Mink’s first New York; and D first New York. About 3 o’clock Battery B was ordered to the front. Everything was very still. We crossed the creek and got on a dirt road. All around us was heavy timber. We went 3 miles to a clearing on the right of the road. About the center of the clearing, next to the road, was a story and a half frame building, and back of this three or four log huts. We could see our lines of battle at the edge of the timber. To the left of the road in our front was a big pile of sawdust, near what remained of a sawmill.

We took position back of the house, and between the log huts. The battery was now commanded by Lieutenants Mitchell and Vose. We were here, perhaps 15 minutes when the sharp crack of the skirmishers’ rifles came to our ears. We could now hear the well-known rebel yell. We got orders to limber to the rear; went back on the trot, and came into position at the edge of the timber in the clearing. We got orders to shell the woods in our front. When we were falling back to change our position, the regiment that was in line of battle across the road, came down the road pell mell, everyone for himself.

They formed behind the left piece. A lieutenant came after them down the road and cried, “Boys, let us save the battery.“ They did; for if they had not run away when they did our battery would’ve been captured. When the Lieutenant got up to his men, he stood by our gun (4) and gave them a great overhauling. He said, “This is the first time a regiment of our corps ever ran.”

The rebels were coming through the gap that this regiment had left in the line. As soon as this officer saw them, he turned to a man and said: “Boys, you can go. I am going back to the house and save the battery. He started all alone. We were giving them canister now.
A little drummer boy sounded the long roll and ran to the front all alone after the officer. Tears were streaming down his cheeks. As soon as the drum sounded the men of the regiment gave the wildest yell I ever heard, and started for the buildings.

They had to race with the rebels. We had but two little brigades of the first division near, while a whole division of Johnnies were in front. Griffin came up the road in our rear and, riding back of the guns, shouted: “Give ‘em canister! Let ‘em go boys; No sponging! “

Griffin sent all his aides and staff to the rear; but his little mounted orderly would not go. It was Buell. The cannoneer. The rebels drove our men back on the battery. They were formed behind it. The enemy could not get possession of the building in our front; for the regiment that had run away had it. Reinforcement struck the enemy on both flanks. The clearing was full of dead and wondered. The rebels were hurled back.
I should like to know who the drummer was who’s the drummer boy and who is the lieutenant, Thomas Scott, Auburn, New York

National tribune
June 24, 1897,
page 3 column six