;-NRLF 
 
3152 DEEDS OF VALOR. How 
 America s Heroes Won the Medal of 
 Honor. Personal Reminiscences and Rec 
 ords of Officers and Enlisted Men who 
 were awarded the. Congressional Medal 
 of Honor for most conspicuous acts of 
 bravery in battle, combined with an 
 abridged History of Our Country s Wars 
 (including War in Philippines). Compiled 
 by W. F. Bayer and O. F. Keydel. Intro 
 duction by Gen, H. M. Duffield. 32 
 colored page plates. 245 engravings and 
 hundreds of portraits. 2 vols. 4to. cloth, 
 gilt. 1,114 pp. Detroit, 1901. ($10.00 net.) 
 Fine copy. $5.00 
 

 
 > 
 
DEEDS OF VALOR 
 
 HOW AMERICA S HEROES WON THE 
 
 MEDAL OF HONOR 
 
 PERSONAL REMINISCENCES AND RECORDS OF OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN WHO WERE 
 AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR FOR MOST CONSPICU 
 OUS ACTS OF BRAVERY IN BATTLE. 
 
 COMBINED WITH 
 
 AN ABRIDGED HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY S WARS. 
 
 COMPILERS 
 
 WALTER F. BEYER AND OSCAR F. KEYDEL 
 
 INTRODUCTION BY 
 BRIG.-GKN L. H. M. DUFFIpLD, U. S. V. 
 
 3Uustrateb 
 
 COMPLETE IN Two VOLUMES 
 
 VOLUME I. 
 
 DETROIT, MICHIGAN, U. S. A. 
 
 THE PERRIEN - KEYDEL COMPANY 
 
 1901 
 
V 
 
 THE PERRIEN-KEYDEL CO., 
 
 DETROIT, MICH., U S. A. 
 COPYRIGHT, 1900 & 1901, BY JOSEPH PERRIEN. 
 
 Sim it s must no/ be reprinted without special permission. 
 

 THE CONGRESSIONAL 
 
 MEDAL OF HONOR 
 
 THE ARMY 
 
 EXTRACT FROM REGULATIONS RELATIVE TO 
 THE MEDAL OF HONOR. 
 
 BY DIRECTION of the President, the following regu 
 lations are promulgated respecting the award of 
 Medals of Honor: 
 
 Medals of Honor authorized by the Act of Congress 
 approved March 8, 1863, are awarded to officers and 
 enlisted men, in the name of the Congress, for particular 
 deeds of most distinguished gallantry in action. 
 
 In order that the Congressional Medal of Honor 
 may be deserved, service must have been performed in 
 action of such a conspicuous character as to clearly dis 
 tinguish the man for gallantry and intrepidity above his 
 comrades service that involved extreme jeopardy of 
 life or the performance of extraordinarily hazardous duty. 
 Recommendations for the decoration will be judged 
 by this standard of extraordinary merit, and incontestible 
 proof of performance of the service will be exacted. 
 
 Soldiers of the Union have ever displayed brav 
 
 ery in battle, else 
 victories could not 
 have been gained; 
 but as courage 
 and self-sacrifice 
 are the character 
 istics of every true 
 soldier,sucha badge 
 of distinction as the 
 Congressional Medal is not to be expected as the reward 
 of conduct that does not clearly distinguish the soldier 
 above other men, whose bravery and gallantry have been 
 proved in battle. * * * 
 
 Recommendations for medals on account of service 
 rendered subsequent to January 1, 1890, will be made 
 by the commanding officer at the time of the action or 
 by an officer or soldier having personal cognizance of the 
 act for which the badge of honor is claimed, and the 
 recommendation will embrace a detailed recital of all 
 the facts and circumstances. Certificates of officers or 
 the affidavits of enlisted men who were eyewitnesses of 
 the act will also be submitted if practicable. 
 
 In cases that may arise for service performed here 
 after, recommendations for award of medals must be for 
 warded within one year after the performance of the act 
 for which the award is claimed. Commanding officers 
 will thoroughly investigate all cases of recommendations 
 for Congressional Medals arising in their commands, and 
 indorse their opinion upon the papers, which will be for 
 warded to the Adjutant-General of the Army through 
 regular channels. 
 
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 NTRQDUCTION 
 
 the progress of the War of the Rebellion, in July, 1862, and 
 March, 1803, Congress provided by joint resolution for Medals 
 of Honor for most distinguished gallantry in action. Under the 
 regulations of the War Department pursuant to these joint resolutions it 
 is provided that every soldier and sailor in the service of the United States, 
 who, outside of the strict line of his duty and beyond the orders of his superiors, 
 performed an act of conspicuous bravery of advantage to the service, should be 
 rewarded by receiving a " Medal of Honor," specially struck for that purpose, 
 on satisfactory proof being presented of the circumstances of the act. From the 
 beginning of the War of the Rebellion to the opening of the war with Spain, only 
 about 1 .400 of these medals were granted, including all those given for services in the 
 Indian Wars which intervened. For services in the Spanish War, only 26 medals 
 
 were awarded. When it is considered that nearly two millions of men served in these wars, and that 
 their course was marked with innumerable gallant actions, the signal merit of the actions which 
 earned the medals and the care with which the proof was scrutinized, may be better appreciated. 
 Mere recklessness of danger, when duty is to be performed or orders obeyed, is a common attribute 
 of all American soldiers, and those who received the Medal of Honor were doubtless, in many cases, 
 more fortunate in opportunity rather than braver of heart than their comrades ^ yet the fact that less 
 than 1,400 out of two millions wear this badge of heroism marks the wearers as soldiers of extraordi 
 nary merit and heroism. 
 
 The official record of these stories of heroic deeds in the service of the Republic is of the most 
 meager character, a mere line, with the name of the individual, his company and regiment, and a 
 brief phrase designating the character of his achievement, without any of the details which would give 
 it life and dramatic interest. It scarcely rises above the form of a tabular statement. As time passed, 
 the heroes of these deeds were rapidly disappearing from the stage of life, and soon all recollection 
 of the essential features of their achievements, would be buried in the graves of those who performed 
 and witnessed them. The design of this work was to gather these details together, verified by the 
 medal bearers, their superior officers, or other witnesses, and present them to the American public in 
 a form worthy of the subject. 
 
 The work has been by no means an easy one. It involved several years of arduous pursuit by the 
 compilers, voluminous correspondence and exhaustive search ; but it has been accomplished with a 
 degree of completeness which was hardly to be expected. The compilers have had the advantage of 
 the zealous assistance of every officer of the army to whom they applied, access to the official reports 
 of the War Department, and written reports of the incidents from the medal holders themselves. So 
 far therefore, as historical accuracy is concerned, there is little apology to be made for the work. As 
 to its literary merit, it may be said that much of it is in the simple and modest language of the heroes 
 themselves, who have minimized their own merits, and taken from their narratives much of the 
 
ma-t lc- infc&re st which a 1 disinterested witness would have found in the deeds they performed. Many 
 of the incidents, on the other hand, have been related by officers who were witnesses of the deeds of 
 their subordinates, and who had the literary skill to mark and describe them in the manner they 
 deserved, but without exaggeration or embellisluiient. 
 
 The editing of the work was committed to competent hands, whose chief purpose was to eliminate 
 crudities, and to avoid extravagant expressions to which such a work was easily liable. Whatsoever 
 may be its demerits, its publishers may at least fairly claim that it is a truthful and modest narration 
 of the most heroic personal achievements of our soldiers during the past half century, verified by com 
 petent officers, and sustained by proofs which have been accepted by the Government of the United 
 States as evidence of the facts which deserved the distinguishing acknowledgment of the Medal 
 of Honor. 
 
 Brigadier-General, U. 5. Volunteers 
 
 COMPILERS PREFACE 
 
 THE pages of our country s history abound with instances of the most lofty courage, which thrill 
 the pulse and kindle the spirit of every true patriot. Congress itself has singled out many 
 of these instances and given them special recognition. It has provided for a medal, known 
 as the " Medal of Honor." It is the nation s grateful acknowledgment of a great and heroic deed, 
 a reward for such gallant services in action as make him who renders them conspicuous among 
 his comrades. 
 
 The heart beats faster and the blood courses through the veins more rapidly, as one reads these 
 simple stories published in the heroes own modest words. These narrations speak for themselves. 
 Editorial embellishment could only detract from their value. 
 
 The footnotes which accompany the several descriptions are intended to give a brief review of 
 the historic events to which they refer. In this manner the reader will obtain an abridged history of 
 our several wars, including the campaign in the Philippine Islands, illuminated by the thrilling acts 
 of the nation s heroes. t 
 
 To the contributors of the narrations, and all who have assisted in this task, and especially to 
 General Lewellyn G. Estes and Captain James R. Durham, Washington, D. C., and His Excellency, 
 Hazen S. Pingree, Governor of the State of Michigan, the compilers feel themselves deeply indebted. 
 
 The compilers submit this work for the approval of the American people, hoping that their effort 
 to preserve these heroic episodes in a permanent and worthy form, before all recollection of them 
 has passed away, will not have been in vain, and that the result will be a monument to remind gen 
 eration after generation of Americans of the heroism of their fathers. 
 
3 
 
 SAVING THE COLORS 
 
 T 
 
 HE first act, in order of 
 time, for which a Medal 
 of Honor was awarded, was 
 that of Corporal J ohn C. Hesse 
 and Sergeant-Major Joseph 
 K. Wilson. At the outbreak 
 of the rebellion the headquar 
 ters of the Eighth IT. S. In 
 fantry were at San Antonio, Texas. 
 On the 23d of April, 1861, the post 
 was seized, and the officers and a few 
 enlisted men, at the time present at San 
 Antonio, were taken prisoners by the rebel troops, 
 under command of Colonel Van Dorn. The prisoners 
 were at once released and were permitted to go North 
 as best they could. 
 
 "A few days subsequent to the capture," said John C. 
 Hesse, "upon going to the former office of the regimental 
 headquarters, the building being then in possession and 
 under control of the rebels, I met Lieutenant Hartz and 
 Sergeant-Major Joseph Wilson. Our regimental colors 
 were in the office, and Lieutenant Hartz said, Hesse, sup 
 pose you and Wilson go in there, take the colors from 
 the staff, conceal them about your clothing, and try to 
 carry them off. Wilson and I went in; I took the torn 
 colors, which the regiment had carried through the 
 Mexican War, put them around my body under my 
 shirt and blouse, and passed out of the building, which 
 was strongly guarded by the rebels. Fortunately, they did not suspect what a 
 precious load we carried with us. We later put the colors in one of Lieutenant 
 Hartz s trunks, and left San Antonio the next day for the North. We arrived 
 in Washington on the 20th of May, and turned the flag over to the regiment." 
 
 JOHN C. 
 HESSE, 
 
 Corporal, 
 
 Co. A, 8th U.S. 
 
 Infantry. 
 
 The War of the Rebellion opened with several small actions, such as the storming of Fort Sum- 
 ter, the seizure of forts and navy yards by the Confederates, several skirmishes in different parts of the 
 country, principally those which were fought with the object of securing control of the States, which 
 were divided upon the question of secession, and the abandonment of forts in the Southern States by 
 U. S. troops. 
 
4 
 
 - 
 
 A HERO OF THREE BRAVE DEEDS 
 
 WALTER JAMIESON, 
 Sergeant, 139th X. Y. S. V. 
 Highest rank attained : 
 
 Lieutenant. 
 Born at Boulogne, France, 1842. 
 
 IN JUNE, 1861. Lieutenant, then Sergeant Jamieson, 
 first distinguished himself as a soldier. It was at 
 Arlington Heights, Va., and in reference to the deed 
 he says : " We had a drove of forty head of cattle 
 in camp, and the rebels managed to get them away 
 one night. The officers and men were furious at 
 the loss, because beef was needed to properly pre 
 pare the men for the work in the trenches. A de 
 tail was ordered out from each regiment of cavalry 
 and infantry present. I was one of the detail of 
 the Twenty-eighth. We marched past Bailey s cross 
 roads on the Fairfax Courthouse road, deploying 
 and scattering through the woods in search of the 
 missing cattle, but without success. Late in the afternoon we were recalled 
 and ordered to return to camp. 
 
 "I made up my mind to find those cattle, so T stole away alone, expecting 
 to return to camp during the night. About sundown 1 found the missing 
 cattle hidden in a ravine, and started to drive them to camp. A man who 
 had charge of them came rushing up. Seeing my gray militia uniform, he mis 
 took me for a Confederate and yelled out : You damn fool, don t you know that 
 the Yankee cavalry is out after these cattle ? Keep em here until night. By this 
 time he had come up to me, so I brought my rifle down on him, and told him 
 I was one of those Damned Yankees : that I was sorry to have come across 
 him, but as the affair stood he would have to help me drive the cattle into 
 camp. The arguments I used were strong and convincing and he agreed. 
 
 "The two of us brought the cattle in before daybreak, but at one time my 
 success looked dubious in the extreme. I stumbled over a stump, had a bad 
 fall and my gun landed several feet away from me. The rebel got to it first, 
 but I was upon him before he could straighten up. We had a little tussle, 
 during which my early training in boxing served me well, and I frightened him 
 so that he tried no more tricks on me during the remainder of the trip. We 
 reached Bailey s crossroads and the outside pickets before daybreak in safety. 
 The sight of the cattle was countersign enough, and we passed all the pickets. 
 I took the rebel to the guardhouse and reached my own tent just as reveille 
 sounded at headquarters." 
 
 From June 1 to July 20, 1861, there were frequent skirmishes and engagements in Virginia, West 
 Virginia, Maryland, and Missouri, in which the advantage was in favor of the Federals. At none of the 
 engagements during this period did the opposing forces exceed 4,000. 
 
LIEUTENANT JAMIESON S second conspicuous act of bravery is related as fol 
 lows: "On the 29th of July, 1864, we occupied the entrenchments on the right 
 of the line of works in front of Petersburg, Va., our brigade resting on the 
 bank of the Appomattox River. The fighting during the night had been severe 
 and the intense heat of the previous day had not abated when morning came. 
 
 RECAPTURING A DROVE OF CATTLE 
 
 "After swallowing my coffee and hard-tack, I took my rifle and went to my 
 lookout hole to see how the field appeared by daylight. It looked far worse 
 than the day before, most of the wounded had died. The body of the captain 
 that T had so often looked at regretfully was nowhere to be seen. What could 
 have happened to him, I wondered. I was sure he could not have been carried 
 away, for we had watched the field too closely by the musketry flashes for that 
 to be accomplished. During the forenoon some of our men made him out, over 
 near the other side, and, sure enough, he was alive, lying on his back, fanning 
 
himself with a rebel hat a black one with a very broad rim. Some rebels 
 had gotten to him during the night and swapped hats. 
 
 The heat was terrible, but the firing on both sides never ceased. Towards 
 evening it was reported that we were to be relieved as soon it grew dark. As 
 I gazed at the poor captain, my feelings got the better of me, and I made up 
 my mind not to let the poor fellow die there in agony. As the evening closed 
 in, my resolution to save him grew T more fixed. I wanted it to be just dusk, 
 but not so dark that the men could not see the loopholes of the enemy and 
 make it dangerous for any one to look through. 
 
 "So I studied the gloaming. I got an empty cracker box, stood it on end 
 against the breastworks and, climbing upon it, told the men to throw it over 
 after me. Then out I sprang, headforemost, with such force that I landed 
 away out on the abatis among the dead, where I tried to appear as one whose 
 last fight is fought. I kept quiet for some minutes, and saw that my comrades, 
 whom I had left, were getting to work in earnest and firing rapidly, which 
 would keep the enemy from the loopholes. This gave me fresh courage, and I 
 started to crawl along the ground, pushing the dead bodies so as to cover my 
 movements on my return. 
 
 " When I reached the spot where the captain lay, I could feel the concus 
 sion of the rebel guns upon my face. I lay alongside of him and whispered to 
 him to roll upon my back. With my load I started to crawl towards our lines, 
 making a few inches with each effort, until I reached the abatis. I could not 
 pull him through, and asked some one to lend me a hand. The orderly ser 
 geant of Company C, of our regiment, jumped over to me. It was now getting 
 dark, so we lifted him over the sticks and threw him into the arms of our com 
 rades. I found a stretcher, and with the aid of some men carried him to the 
 Ninth Corps Hospital." 
 
 AGAIN at Fort Harrison, Lieutenant Jamieson and Sergeant Wolff captured 
 the fort entirely unaided. 
 
 "Fort Harrison was one of the many forts upon the main line of the de 
 fenses of Richmond, built to resist General McClellan in 1862. The works were 
 large and substantial and mounted sixteen heavy guns. To capture this fort it 
 would be necessary for some one to lead on the boys, who. though brave enough, 
 could not face the withering fire of the protected enemy. Giving my gun to 
 Wolff and telling him to follow me, I seized our flag and started to try to 
 plant it on the enemy s fortifications. With a rush we reached a place beneath 
 their walls, and then, with his aid, I crawled to the top. letting down the flag- 
 staff for him to crawl up the side. Then another scramble, and we stood at 
 the top of their earthworks. At the sight of the flag the Confederates, thinking 
 
- 
 
 we were followed by large numbers, turned and fled, all but a few who sur 
 rendered. 
 
 "Thereupon I waved the flag around my head and planted it on the top of 
 the defense. Our men now came up and took possession of the fort, which we 
 held against all efforts of the rebels to retake it." 
 
 STOOD HIS 
 GROUND 
 
 AT BLACKBURN S 
 FORD, VA., on 
 the 18th of July, 
 1861. the enemy s 
 fire became so 
 destructive that 
 the command was 
 ordered to re 
 treat, but Private 
 Charles F. Rand, 
 not hearing the 
 order, did not 
 move until the 
 entire battalion v 
 of 500 men had 
 been swept in 
 disorder from the 
 field. Apparently 
 oblivious or in 
 different to the 
 dangers of his 
 position, he held 
 
 his ground with an old Harper s Ferry musket that had been changed from 
 a flintlock. 
 
 The ground was plowed in all directions by shell and solid shot, yet the only 
 injury he received was from flying dirt and stones. The enemy finally seemed 
 to pity him, and refused to fire on him. Even then he would not fall back, 
 but worked his way across a deep ravine, where he found the command of 
 
 CHARLES F. RAND. 
 PrivnU>, Co. K, 12th X. Y. Infantry. 
 
Captain H. A. Barrum, who were on their faces, firing and turning on their 
 backs to load, not being able to rise to their knees. He crept up to them, joined 
 the line and fought with it to the end of the engagement. 
 
 A DARING ESCAPE FROM LIBBY 
 
 PRISON 
 
 T BULL RUN,VA., July 21, 1861, this officer, then a first 
 lieutenant, and II. Q. M., Thirty-eighth New York 
 Volunteers, took a rifle and fought with his regiment 
 in ranks. When the regiment was forced back, he 
 voluntarily remained on the field with the wounded, 
 was taken prisoner, confined in Libby Prison, thence 
 escaped, and after great suffering and privation, made 
 his way into the Union lines and rejoined his regi 
 ment." 
 
 The above is the brief, official record of a feat 
 of gallantry and an experience of hardship and suffer 
 ing which is deserving of more detailed description. 
 After the battle, when his position was at the rear 
 with his wagon trains, Lieutenant Murphy was re 
 peatedly urged to leave the field with the routed army, but steadfastly refused, 
 on the ground that not one man could be spared from care of the wounded, and 
 chose rather to risk death or capture than leave the men to die uncared for. 
 
 His zealous and efficient aid to the surgeons won him the sobriquet of 
 "Doctor," which clung to him at Manassas and Richmond prisons, where he 
 was sent after his capture. He says: After reaching Manassas, the rebels, be- 
 
 CHARLES J. MURPHY, 
 
 1st. Lieut., 38th N. Y. Vols. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Colonel. 
 
 Born in Stockport, England, June 3, 1832. 
 
 On the 16th of July, 1861, the Army of the Potomac, numbering about 35,000 under the command 
 of General McDowell, occupied the neighborhood of Centerville, Va., about six miles east of the Confederate 
 headquarters at Manassas, and contiguous to the stream called Bull Run, which separated the positions of 
 General McDowell s Army and that of General Beauregard, whose forces numbered about 40,000. A slight 
 repulse to General Taylor s Division of the Federal Army, at Blackburn s Ford, on the 18th of July, was the 
 only preliminary engagement to the Battle of Bull Run. On the 21st the advance was made from Center 
 ville. Tyler s demonstration at the Stone Bridge, which was to have enabled Burnside s flanking column to 
 fall upon the enemy s rear, was feeble, and the flank movement was discovered, and met by Evans with a 
 detachment. The rebels were repulsed, and the center of the action was transferred to the Henry House 
 plateau, where the Confederates were re-enforced and the Union Army was at length entirely routed, falling 
 back to Washington in utter confusion. The Union Army lost in killed, wounded, and missing 2,952 men, 
 while the Confederates lost 1,782 men. 
 
9 
 
 lieving me to be a doctor, offered me parole, but when I found that a sufficient 
 number of surgeons was to return to attend the wounded, I peremptorily re 
 fused to accept it, and was taken prisoner to Richmond, from which place, with 
 two companions, Captain J. R. Hurd and Colonel Wm. H. Raynor, I effected 
 an escape, after the most unheard of sufferings and privations." 
 
 There was a large number of prisoners, sick or wounded crowded together 
 in the buildings, and the suffering was so terrible that several Union surgeons, 
 
 IN LIBBY PRISON 
 
 who were prisoners, were permitted to assist in caring for them. Upon giving 
 their parole, they were provided with red rosettes, and allowed to pass from 
 one prison to another, and also to go about the city. Among these was Lieu 
 tenant Murphy, though not on parole, and, when not on hospital duty, always 
 accompanied by an armed guard. 
 
 Captain Hurd, Colonel Raynor, and Lieutenant Murphy planned to escape, by 
 passing the guards, wearing red rosettes cut from Captain Kurd s red flannel 
 shirt. They succeeded in getting out of the city, and started on their painful 
 and hazardous journey north, traveling as rapidly as possible through the night, 
 and hiding in the thickets by day, never moving forward by daylight, unless 
 under cover of the dense forest, and never free from apprehension of pursuit 
 and discovery. Though unarmed they had resolved to fight against any odds, 
 and to sell their lives as dearly as possible rather than submit to recapture. 
 
10 
 
 They suffered terribly from sore feet, and even more from thirst, but, undis- 
 couraged, pressed on. For eleven days they struggled on over rough country 
 roads, through underbrush and dense woods, enduring hunger and thirst, pain 
 and fatigue, chased by rebel sympathizers, passing themselves off as rebel sol 
 diers, encountering every kind of obstacle, hardship, and suffering, but still un 
 dismayed, and determined to reach their goal. 
 
 When they reached Lower Cedar Point it seemed that their troubles must be 
 over, for a Union Revenue Cutter was anchored in the river, but the captain 
 made no response to their hail, and soon weighed anchor and sailed down the 
 river. This disappointment was a terrible blow to the poor fugitives, who, like 
 shipwrecked sailors, had been elated to the highest pitch in hope of relief, by a 
 sail on the horizon, only to be cast into greater despair than ever by its disap 
 pearance. They passed the night in anxiety and discouragement, surrounded 
 by the rebels, and tormented by reflection on their past suffering and present 
 situation. 
 
 In the morning, however, the Cutter returned, and the captain decided to 
 take the risk of coming closer and taking them aboard. The neighborhood was 
 dangerous, and he had thought their signal in the night a decoy of the enemy 
 to get his men ashore. 
 
 The three were sent to Washington on a tug, and when they stepped ashore 
 Captain Hurd said : " Boys, I have lived twenty-seven days in the Rocky Moun 
 tains on mule s meat, with the snow four feet deep, but that was nothing to 
 the hardships we have just gone through." 
 
 L 
 
 ADELBERT AMES. 
 
 1st. Lieut., 5th U. S. Artillery. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Bvt. Maj-Gen., Vols. 
 
 Born in Rockland, Maine. 
 
 WITH GRIFFIN S BATTERY 
 
 IEUTENANT ADELBERT AMES remained upon the 
 field in command of a section of Griffin s Battery, 
 directing its fire after being severely wounded, and 
 refusing to leave the field until too weak to sit 
 upon the caisson, where he had been placed by men 
 of his command. 
 
 A description of the action of this battery during 
 the battle of Bull Run and the conduct of this young 
 officer are given in the following story. It illustrates 
 the remarkable energy of a brave soldier who refuses 
 to leave his post of duty, even though severely 
 wounded. 
 
11 
 
 SAVED THE GUN 
 
 "O 
 
 N THE morning of the 21st of July," writes Corporal McGough, "our Battery D. 
 Fifth U. S. Artillery, crossed Bull Run. and, after going through the narrow strip of 
 woods, came in full view of the enemy, who had two batteries playing full upon us. 
 "While galloping into action, Lieutenant Adelbert Ames, chief of our section, 
 was riding alongside our gun, and turning to me said: McGough, I will fire the 
 first shot, which he proceeded to do as soon as we were in position. 
 
 SAVING THE GUN 
 
 " The firing by this time was furious and deadly, and while Lieutenant 
 Ames was aiming the piece, a shot pierced his thigh disabling him, whereupon 
 he ordered me to report to the captain of the battery, that he had been 
 wounded. I told him I could not go at that time, and took my position as 
 gunner of the piece, telling him that he had better go to the hospital, as it 
 meant sure death for him to stay where he was. His reply was: Not while 
 this gun is mounted. 
 
 "About half an hour after. Sergeant Murphy was wounded, and then number 
 one of the piece was killed. By the time we got our range we were ordered 
 to change our position to one a little further to the northwest, and Lieutenant 
 Ames asked me to ride his horse, while he would ride on the limber. He 
 remained there, directing the fire of the piece, until he was too weak to hold 
 
12 
 
 his seat. No sooner had we gotten into position than we were again ordered 
 to change, this time to the top of a hill near by. Here we were in an exposed 
 position, at close range, and in bringing the piece into action a shot struck the 
 wheel, carrying it away and killing Patrick Sullivan. 
 
 Under the galling fire of the enemy s artillery and infantry, we, with great 
 difficulty, put on a spare wheel, and got the piece off the field, the other five 
 pieces of the battery being captured by the rebels." 
 
 ONLY SEVEN 
 
 ACCORDING to the offi 
 cial report, Private A. 
 J. Knowles was honored 
 for removing dead and 
 wounded under heavy 
 fire." He relates his 
 experience briefly. 
 
 "On the 21st of 
 July, after a des 
 perate charge on a 
 hill held by the 
 rebels, the Second 
 Maine Infantry, of 
 which I was a mem 
 ber, was ordered to 
 fall back. The colo 
 nel, seeing that a 
 number of the men 
 were left where they 
 had fallen, asked for 
 volunteers to go with 
 him to bring them within 
 the lines. When the colonel 
 called for volunteers seven of us 
 stepped forward and signified our 
 willingness to go with him. 
 
 "The colonel then addressed the 
 regiment, saying: Are these seven men the only ones of the Second Maine who 
 will follow their colonel to pick up the wounded? 
 
 ABIATHER J. KNOWLES, 
 
 Private, Co. D, 2d Maine Infantry. 
 Born at La Grange, Maine, March 15, 1830. 
 
13 
 
 "Not another man advanced, and, led by the colonel, we proceeded, under a 
 withering fire, to pick up our wounded and bring them within our lines." 
 
 For this General Keyes commended the 
 colonel and his seven men in the highest terms. 
 
 EAGER TO FIGHT 
 
 T 
 
 HE term of service of the Fourth Pennsyl 
 vania Infantry expired on the 20th of July. 
 Though Colonel John F. Hartranft urged them 
 to remain, the entire regiment, except Captain 
 Walter H. Cooke. refused, and were marched 
 to the rear. 
 
 Colonel Hartranft then volunteered his 
 services and was assigned to the staff of 
 Colonel W. B. Franklin, where he rendered 
 valuable services, especially distinguishing him 
 self attempting to rally the demoralized regi 
 ments. 
 
 JOHN F. HARTRANFT, 
 
 Colonel, 4th Pa. Mil. Highest rank attained: 
 Maj-Gen., U. S. Vols. 
 
 ATTEMPTED TO CAPTURE A FLAG 
 
 SERGEANT JOHN G. MERRiTT, Company K, First Minnesota Infantry, distin 
 guished himself by "gallantry in action" at the first Bull Run battle. Just 
 before the battle he applied for the privilege of selecting four men for 
 the purpose of capturing the first Confederate flag that they could get, 
 and permission being granted, he selected Sergeant Dudley, Privates Duffee 
 and Grim, and a man whose name is unknown. 
 
 Rickett s Battery came directly in front of Company K, of the First Minnesota, 
 and gave the enemy a couple of rounds of grape and canister, which threw 
 them into the utmost confusion. Merritt, followed by his companions, took 
 advantage of this to advance on a color-bearer. He commanded him to sur 
 render and seized the colors. The party then made a dash for the regiment, 
 but the Confederates, rallying, pursued them, firing a volley which killed Grim 
 and the unknown. The next volley killed Duffee and wounded Merritt in the 
 leg. Another bullet went through his breast pocket and shivered his pipe to 
 pieces. He dropped his gun but held on to the flag, running as fast as possible, 
 although impeded by his wounded leg. Before he had gone far he was knocked 
 down by a blow on the head with the stock of a musket. While he was still 
 helpless, though not unconscious, the rebels pulled the flag from his hands and 
 fell back on the run. 
 
 Merritt, assisted by Dudley, managed to escape from the field. 
 
AN EXCITING CHASE 
 
 A FEW days prior to the 10th of August, 1861, the term of service of the 
 First Iowa Infantry had expired, and they were asked whether they would take 
 their discharges or remain in service until after the expected battle at Wilson s 
 Creek. The men, with one accord, decided to remain in service, all of them 
 
 Wilson s Creek. In the month of August, 1861, General Lyon, with a force of 5,500, was at Spring 
 field, Mo., confronting 12,000 of the enemy under McCullough and Price. 
 
 After a skirmish at Dug Springs on the 1st, the Union force retreated to Springfield. 
 
 On the 9th, General Lyon moved against the enemy, sending General Sigel, with 1,200 men and six 
 guns to gain his rear by the right. 
 
 The frontal attack, led by General Lyon, was energetic and effective, but the flanking party was over 
 whelmed, losing five guns and more than half of its men. 
 
 General Lyon was killed at the head of his column, and, the news of Sigel s disaster reaching the 
 main division, the troops fell back to Springfield. The Union loss was 1,236; the Confederate, 1,095. 
 
- 15 
 
 being eager for action. Private Nicholas Bou 
 quet, a member of Company D of this regiment, 
 describes his experience in the battle as follows : 
 
 "We all wanted to have a whack at the 
 Rebels before going home, and, as luck would 
 have it, Company D, to which I belonged, along 
 with Company E, were detailed by Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Merritt to support Totten s Battery. 
 This order brought us into a hand-to-hand 
 contest with the enemy, and, although we 
 were engaging a superior force, we four 
 times repulsed them. 
 
 "When the retreat of our forces was 
 ordered, after General Lyon had fallen, 
 one of the guns of Totten s Battery had 
 been left behind, because one of its horses 
 had been killed. 
 
 "Being this time on the skirmish line, I was called by the gunner of the 
 piece to help catch a riderless horse which was galloping about the field be 
 tween the lines. To catch this horse was to save the gun from falling into the 
 enemy s hands a most important factor in battle. 
 
 "The enemy were closing in upon us, but, with the thought of saving the 
 gun, not heeding the rain of bullets from both lines, we started after the horse, 
 and in a short time had him. Leading him with all possible haste to the aban 
 doned gun, we soon had him hitched to it. and away we went, following the 
 retreating regiment, and in a short time had it safely within the lines of our 
 army." 
 
 NICHOLAS BOUQUET, 
 
 Private. Co. D, 1st Iowa Infantry. 
 Born in Bavaria. Germany, Nov. 14, 1842. 
 
 The first important movement after Bull Run, though skirmishes and minor actions were of almost daily 
 occurrence, was the capture of Fort Henry, on the Tennessee River, on the 6th of February, 1862, followed on 
 the i6th by the surrender of Fort Donelson and 15,000 Confederate troops. The operations were conducted 
 by General Grant in co-operation with Commodore Foote and resulted in breaking the Confederate lines at the 
 west, giving control of the Mississippi River above Vicksburg to the Federal Government. 
 
 New Berne, N. C. Burnside s attack on New Berne, N. C., was a feature of his Roanoke Expedition, in 
 January, 1862, in which he was supported by the fleet in command of Flag Officer Goldsborough. The force 
 consisted of 31 gunboats, 11,500 troops, and a fleet of small vessels for transportation. 
 
 On the 14th of March he attacked New Berne. 
 
 The place w&s taken, together with 46 heavy guns, 3 batteries of light artillery, and a supply of 
 stores, while Burnside s loss was 90 killed and 466 wounded. 
 
16 
 
 RESCUED 1,000 ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION 
 AND A WOUNDED COMRADE 
 
 " A FTER two hours of hard fighting at the 
 J\ battle of Shiloh," says Private Elwood N. 
 Williams, "we were ordered to beat a retreat, 
 with the Thirty-second Alabama Infantry close at 
 our heels. Our force, though inadequate, fought 
 unflinchingly, and for a time maintained a success 
 ful resistance. 
 
 "In the heat of the action a box containing a 
 thousand rounds of ammunition was inadvertently 
 left between the lines. Colonel Johnson was in 
 formed of the fact and immediately called for vol 
 unteers to recover the box. W. P. Price a former 
 schoolmate of mine, and I volunteered to do this. 
 
 "The box lay about one thousand yards from 
 our lines, and in order to reach it under the 
 heavy fire of both sides, we were compelled to 
 crawl on our hands and knees. We reached the 
 box in safety, but while we were returning 
 with it. Price fell mortally wounded. 
 
 "I then shouldered the box and started off for our lines, expecting momen 
 tarily to meet the fate of Price. Luckily, however, I succeeded in safely de 
 livering the box, and was greeted by my fellow soldiers with cheers. 
 
 "Having safely delivered the box, it was now my duty to look after my 
 wounded comrade, and T immediately returned and brought him within the 
 lines. I turned him over to the care of the hospital corps, where twelve days 
 later he died from the effects of his wounds." 
 
 ELWOOD N. WILLIAMS, 
 
 Private, Co. A, 28th Illinois Infantry. 
 Born in Philadelphia, Pa., Nov. 11, 1842. 
 
 Shiloh. In March, 1862, a force was posted at Shiloh, or Pittsburg Landing, on the Tennessee 
 River, to watch the operations of the enemy gathering at Corinth. The force was gradually increased to a 
 strength of about 32,000, consisting of the divisions of McClernand, Prentiss, Hurlbut, Lew Wallace, and 
 Sherman, under command of General U. S. Grant. 
 
 On the 16th of April the troops were engaged in action, which lasted two days. On the evening of 
 the 16th, when fortune seemed against the Federals, they were re-enforced by General Buell with three 
 divisions, aggregating 18,000 men. The next day they assumed the offensive and swept the enemy from the 
 field. 
 
 The Confederate Army, commanded by General Albert Sidney Johnston, was 45,000 strong, and suf 
 fered a loss of 10,694. 
 
 The Union killed and wounded amounted to 9,195 with 3,122 taken prisoners. 
 
17 
 
 THE MITCHELL RAIDERS 
 
 (1) MARK WOOD, 
 
 Private, Co. C, 2ist Ohio Inf. 
 
 (2) W. J. KNIGHT, 
 
 Private, Co. E, 2ist Ohio Inf. 
 
 (3) DAN L. A. DORSEY, 
 Corp., Co. H, 33d Ohio Inf. 
 
 (4) ROBT. BUFFUM, 
 
 Private, Co. H, 2ist Ohio Inf. 
 
 (5) *J. A. WILSON, 
 
 Private, Co. C, 2ist Ohio Inf. 
 
 JAMES SMITH; 
 
 NOTE. * Hanged at Atlanta, Ga., as spies. 
 
 (6) WM. BENSINGER, 
 Private, Co. G, 2ist Ohio Inf. 
 
 (7) WM. REDDICK, 
 
 Corp., Co. B, 33d Ohio Inf. 
 
 (8) JOHN WOLLAM, 
 Private. Co. C, 33d Ohio Inf. 
 
 (9) W. A. FULLER. 
 
 1 10) W. W. BROWN, 
 
 Private, Co. F, 2ist Ohio Inf. 
 * SAM L. ROBERTSON 
 
 (II)*SAM L. SLAVENS, 
 Private, Co. E, 33d Ohio Inf. 
 
 (12) E. H. MASON, 
 Serg t., Co. K, 2ist Ohio Inf. 
 
 (13} M. J. HAWKINS, 
 Corp., Co. A, 33 Ohio Inf. 
 
 (14) * MARIAN A. Ross, 
 Serg t-Maj., 2d Ohio Inf. 
 
 (15) JOHN R. PORTKR, 
 Private, Co. G. 2ist Ohio Inf. 
 
 * WM. CAMPBELL 
 
 (16) JACOB PARROTT, 
 Private, Co. K, 33d Ohio Inf. 
 
 ( 17) * JOHN M. SCOTT, 
 Serg t., Co. F, 2ist Ohio Inf. 
 
 (18) ANDREW MURPHY. 
 
 (19) WM. PITTINGER, 
 Serg t-Maj., 2ist Ohio Inf. 
 
 * J. J. ANDREWS 
 
 * PERRY SHADRACK 
 
 THE MITCHELL RAID 
 
 ONE of the most interesting and thrilling incidents of the early campaigns of 
 1862, as an exploit of reckless daring, if not of successful strategy, was this 
 celebrated railroad raid, organized with the purpose of destroying the rebel line 
 of communication with Chattanooga, and placing that important stronghold at 
 the mercy of General Mitchell s forces. 
 
18 
 
 The raid was led by James J. Andrews of Kentucky, who had previously 
 acted as a spy for General Buell. The expedition consisted of twenty men of 
 the Second, Twenty-first, and Thirty-third Ohio regiments, who volunteered for 
 the service, and two civilians. 
 
 Wearing citizens clothes, and carrying only side-arms, they proceeded from 
 General Mitchell s camp at Shelbyville, Tenn.. to Chattanooga, in detachments 
 of three or four, representing themselves to be Kentuckians on their way to 
 join the Confederate Army. From Chattanooga they made their way to Mari 
 etta, Ga., which was to be the starting point for the raid. 
 
 On the morning of the 12th of April they boarded a train loaded with rebel 
 troops and ammunition, and rode to Big Shanty (now Kenesaw 
 Station), having bought tickets to different stations along 
 the line to disarm suspicion. At Big Shanty the 
 
 train stopped, and the conductor, en- j 
 
 gineer, and many of the pas 
 sengers went out to 
 breakfast, leaving 
 the train un 
 guarded 
 
 
 -, 
 
19 
 
 The little band immediately took possession, uncoupled a section of the 
 train, consisting of three empty box-cars, the locomotive and tender, and started 
 at full speed on their wild ride through the enemy s country to Chattanooga. 
 
 The plan was, by cutting the telegraph wires and tearing up the track, to 
 destroy all means of communication east and south, preventing the re-enforce 
 ment of the garrison at Chattanooga, and leaving the way clear for General 
 Mitchell, who, with a detachment from his division, was at this very moment 
 moving on the town by rail from Hunts ville, Ala., one hundred miles to the 
 west. 
 
 The train was run at a furious rate of speed, stopping occasionally to enable 
 the men to tear up the rails and cut the wires. At the stations where he was 
 compelled to stop, Andrews replied to all inquiries that he was running an im 
 pressed powder train through to General Beauregard. 
 
 The only difficulties ahead were the extra trains flying south from General 
 Mitchell s forces, whose approach had stampeded the enemy. The danger was 
 all in the rear, where another engine in charge of Anthony Murphy, master- 
 mechanic and superintendent of the road, assisted by the conductor and engi 
 neer of the captured train, was gradually gaining on them in spite of the 
 obstacles in its way. The pursuers had started on a hand car, which had run off 
 the track at one of the breaks in the road, had been obliged to proceed on foot 
 for some distance, and had finally pressed into service a locomotive and a com 
 pany of soldiers. 
 
 Delayed by the south-bound trains as well as by the necessary work of de 
 struction, the Union men lost valuable time, while the Confederates seemed able 
 to surmount all obstacles. The chase was as desperate as the flight, the issue 
 almost equally vital to pursuer and pursued. 
 
 At Kingston the Federals were only four minutes ahead, and, at their next 
 halt, the whistle of the enemy s engine was heard while they were pulling up 
 the rails. The rebels saw the obstruction in time to avoid a wreck, but had to 
 leave their engine and start again on foot. The relief to the fugitives, however, 
 was slight, for, before going far the rebels stopped and reversed a south -bound 
 train, and continued the chase. 
 
 From Calhoun there was a clear track to Chattanooga, but the pursuers were 
 gaining rapidly. The fugitives dropped a car which was taken up and pushed 
 ahead by the engine in the rear. The Federals broke out the end of their last 
 box-car, and dropped cross-ties on the track, checking slightly the progress of 
 the rebels, and gaining enough time to get in wood and water at two stations. 
 Several times they stopped, and almost succeeded in lifting a rail, but each 
 time the Confederates, coming within rifle range, compelled them to give up 
 the attempt. As a final desperate effort they set fire to their third and last car, 
 and as they passed over a long, covered bridge at Oostenaula, uncoupled it and 
 left it in the center of the bridge. The Confederates were upon the bridge before 
 
20 
 
 the fire had gained much headway, and the pursuing engine, dashing through 
 the flame and smoke, drove the car before it to the next side-track. Every 
 effort had failed that ingenuity could devise and reckless courage execute, and. 
 on the very threshold of success, it was plain that escape was impossible. Fuel 
 was now very low. and, though the locomotive was urged to its greatest speed, 
 swaying and trembling from its tremendous impulse, it was a question of very 
 few minutes before it would have to be abandoned. 
 
 As it began to slow down the signal was given for a general sauve-qw-peut, 
 but the little band was at once overpowered. They were taken to Atlanta, where 
 the leader and seven of his men were tried by court-martial, condemned, and 
 executed. 
 
 The others were kept in prison until the following October, when, agreeing 
 among themselves that death by a bullet would be preferable to the scaffold, 
 they planned an escape, a venture quite as desperate as that upon which they 
 had embarked in the spring, but, fortunately, more successful. By a concerted 
 attack upon the guards they managed to escape, but only eight of them reached 
 home, after a most terrible experience, thus described by one of the survivors: 
 
 "In just forty-eight days and nights, for the nights should be counted, since 
 under cover of darkness we made most progress, we reached the Federal lines, 
 footsore and worn to skeletons. We were forced to wade streams, swim swift- 
 running rivers, scale mountains, and at the same time be constantly on the 
 alert against the enemy, who were always around us. The thought that capture 
 meant certain death alone kept us on the march. No person can describe our 
 sufferings God only knows what we were forced to endure. 
 
 "To gain rest in sleep was impossible. To close our eyes in unconsciousness 
 was only to dream of pursuit by bloodhounds, of the huge scaffold on the out 
 skirts of Atlanta, where our friends had been hanged, and where, it was said, 
 we should share the same fate ; or of a sudden attack in which a bullet would 
 have been more merciful than man." 
 
21 
 
 A PLUCKY CHARGE 
 
 O 
 
 SAMUEL E. PINGREE, 
 Captain, Co. F, 3d Vermont Infantry. 
 Born at Salisbury, N. H., Aug. 2, 1832. 
 
 N THE 16th of April, 1862," Captain Pingree, 
 who led the charge at Lee s Mills, Va., nar 
 rates "General McClellan confronted the enemy, en 
 trenched along the Warwick and south of York- 
 town. No attempt to force the line had been 
 made, although cannonading at long range and 
 musketry firing at close quarters had been brisk. 
 
 "About the middle of the afternoon two com 
 panies of my regiment, supported by two others 
 were selected 
 to attack the 
 enemy s line 
 on the other 
 
 side of the 
 
 creek, and to capture and hold a crescent bat 
 tery and the lines of rifle pits protecting it. 
 My company, which headed the assault, was 
 deployed quite closely. Unclasping their 
 waist-belts, each held high his cartridge-box 
 in the left hand and his rifle in the right. As 
 soon as the batteries on the slope in the rear 
 ceased firing, both companies started for the 
 creek. The enemy at the same time opened 
 fire from the rifle-pits across the stream. 
 
 " The water was breast high in the nar 
 row channel, but shallower on both sides 
 of it, about two hundred feet wide, mostly 
 artificial flowage for a line of defense, and 
 was further obstructed with felled trees. 
 
 " In spite of the deadly fire of the enemy, 
 the two companies pushed on, and, without 
 a halt on the other shore, dashed straight 
 for the rifle-pits and battery, driving the 
 enemy into the woods. Shouts of triumph 
 went up and signals of success were 
 waved back to our lines. The two sup 
 porting companies followed us up and 
 joined in holding the captured works. The 
 line of the Warwick was broken. We 
 
22 
 
 anxiously waited for the arrival of the head of the division which was to 
 follow us if we found the crossing possible, but no assistance came. 
 
 "The enemy rallied from their panic, and with several regiments hastened 
 to attack our little party of less than two hundred rifles. 
 
 " We had lost heavily while fording the stream, and now the men were fall 
 ing fast as the enemy rallied against us in overwhelming force. Messengers 
 were sent back twice, explaining the situation and asking for re-enforcements 
 or orders to fall back. 
 
 "As we rushed for the rifle-pits, I received a wound below the left hip, 
 which for a few moments prostrated me and benumbed my left leg so that I 
 could not rise, but I soon recovered, and, finding no bones broken, continued to 
 lead the men on. as our orders were to capture and hold the works till re- 
 enforcements came. It was a critical moment when the Fifteenth North Caro 
 lina came charging down upon us at a run. but the well-directed fire of the 
 brave Vermonters checked and hurled them back, extending their confusion to 
 the two Georgia regiments on their right. 
 
 "It was at this stage of the fight that my right hand was disabled by a shot 
 which tore away my right thumb. While these attacking regiments were reor 
 ganizing for an assault on our position, the order came to fall back across the 
 river, which we did, helping our wounded along. 
 
 "The fight had lasted forty minutes. Out of the fifty-two officers and men 
 of my company, twenty-seven were killed or wounded, and of the three hun 
 dred and ninety-two men engaged, forty-five per cent were killed or wounded." 
 
 A GALLANT DRUMMER BOY 
 
 DRUMMER LANGBEIN was the smallest member of the 
 drum corps in his regiment, and his face and figure 
 was so plump and girlish, that he was known to all his 
 comrades as "Jennie," a nickname given to him by a 
 soldier of the regiment w r ho said that the lad looked 
 just like his sweetheart at home in the North. 
 
 The battle of Camden, or South Mills, N. C., known 
 to the Confederates as the battle of Sawyer s Lane, 
 though not one of the most famous in the War of the 
 Rebellion, was a hotly contested engagement neverthe 
 less. It occurred during the expedition sent to destroy 
 the .Culpeper Lock at the southern end of the Dismal 
 Swamp Canal, in the rear of the city of Norfolk, Va. One 
 
23 
 
 of its notable features was a charge by the Hawkins " Zous," not so disastrous as 
 the one at Antietam. but quite as daring. It was during this mad dash that Adju 
 tant Thomas L. Bartholomew, who had promised "Jennie s" mother to keep 
 special watch over her boy. and between whom and the boy the closest com 
 radeship existed, was struck by a fragment of an exploding shell, which made a 
 frightful wound in his neck. He did not fall at once, but in the delirium of 
 pain staggered outside the ranks, and in a 
 moment was between the hostile lines. In 
 time of action, it is the duty of the musicians 
 to act as an ambulance corps; to look after 
 the wounded and to carry them on stretchers 
 to the rear. Yet it is not part of the drum 
 mer s work to unnecessarily expose himself; 
 indeed, it is expected that he will shelter him 
 self as much as possible, since, if the mem 
 bers of the ambulance corps are killed, fight 
 ing men must leave the ranks to take their 
 places. Little "Jennie" Langbein, however, 
 had no notion of looking out for his own 
 safety. When the order was given to charge 
 he went w j ith his regiment, with a sharp eye 
 for disabled comrades, and especially for Ad 
 jutant Bartholomew. 
 
 Seeing his friend s terrible position, the 
 boy rushed up to him through the rain of bullets, and screaming shot and 
 shell, caught him as he was wandering deliriously and aimlessly about, and 
 managed to pilot him to a comparatively quiet place to the rear towards the 
 hospital field. 
 
 The wounded man was pronounced by the regimental surgeon "nearly dead" 
 and "not worth while to remove," but young Langbein would not abandon his 
 friend. Securing the assistance of a stronger comrade, he managed to carry the 
 unconscious man to a house near by. 
 
 Later in the day the Confederates were re-enforced, and the Federals had to re 
 treat in such haste, that there was no question of taking care of the wounded. 
 The adjutant would have been abandoned had it not been for the continued 
 devotion of his little friend, who managed to get him into the army wagon, and 
 stayed by him till he was safe in the Federal hospital at Roanoke. 
 
 JULIUS C. J. LANGBEIN, 
 
 Drummer, Co. B, 9th N. Y. Volunteers 
 
 (Hawkins Zouaves). 
 Born, Sept. 29, 1846, in Germany. 
 
24 
 
 "WHAT IN H--L ARE WE 
 HERE FOR?" 
 
 A 1 
 
 MICHAEL A. DILLON, 
 
 Private, Co. G, 2d New Hampshire Infantry. 
 B,irn at Cholmsford, Mass., Sept. 29, 1839. 
 
 BOUT four o clock on the morning of May 5, 
 1862, Hooker s division, after a night march 
 through a drenching rain, over muddy roads, with 
 but two hours of rest, came upon the enemy be 
 fore Fort Magruder, near Williamsburg, Va. A 
 hotly contested battle ensued between Hooker s 
 forces, about nine thousand men, and a vastly 
 superior number. The Union skirmish line was 
 advanced through a mass of fallen timber on the 
 right of Williamsburg road, close to Fort Magruder, 
 and kept up a severe fire at short range. Long- 
 street, who commanded the Confederates rear, had 
 passed beyond Williamsburg, but turned back 
 with re-enforcements to crush, if possible, Heintzelman s corps. Charge after 
 charge was made from the fort, but could not release the grip with which 
 Hooker s men held the enemy s left. The battle raged until four o clock in the 
 afternoon in a heavy rain. Hooker s ammunition was nearly exhausted, and he 
 had vainly appealed for re-enforcements. 
 
 Sumner, coming upon the field, relieved Heintzelman, who hastened to the 
 field where Hooker was engaged. He gathered drummers, fifers, buglers, and 
 other musicians to the number of a hundred or more pieces, and directed them 
 to play. "Play anything, Yankee Doodle, Hail Columbia, anything." he 
 ordered. As the music swelled above the din of the fight with increased volume 
 and resonance, the failing courage of the wearied men was revived, and the cry 
 went up: "Hold on, boys, re-enforcements are coming!" Stubbornly and hope 
 fully they continued the contest, until Kearney s arrival afforded Hooker s tired, 
 but not dispirited men the relief which they sorely needed. 
 
 During one of the charges of the enemy it had been found impossible to 
 withdraw one of our batteries, and four guns fell into the enemy s hands as our 
 lines were being pressed back. Then occurred the incident which displayed the 
 courage of young Dillon, and won for him the Medal of Honor awarded by Con- 
 
 Williamsbiirg , Va. After the evacuation of Yorktown by General Magruder, May 4, 1862, the 
 rebels were pursued by our forces under Hooker. At Williamsburg, on the 5th, the enemy made a stand, 
 and the attack was made by Hooker, who was checked by the heavy firing from Fort Magruder. He 
 was re-enforced by General Kearney, and the enemy was compelled to retire at night. 
 
 The Union loss was 2,200; the Confederate, 1,000. 
 
25 
 
 gress for conspicuous bravery. Seeing the pieces in the hands of the enemy, he 
 sprang to his feet and rushed forward, begging his comrades to follow and re 
 take the guns. His lieutenant, seeing him thus exposed to the enemy s fire, and 
 fearing it might be concentrated upon the position which they occupied, shouted 
 to him: "Get down, Dillon, you are drawing the enemy s fire." 
 
 Dillon exclaimed: "What in hell are we here for? Come on, boys, come on! 
 We mustn t let them take that battery." And, with arms raised high in air 
 pleading for men to follow him, he rallied a gallant group, all boys like himself, 
 
 PRIVATE DILLON AT FORT MAGRUDER 
 
 rushed into the thickest of the fight, repulsed and drove back the enemy, and 
 rescued Battery H, First United States Artillery. 
 
 Dillon received a bad check shot before success. He was struck in the leg 
 by a ball, which felled him ; but a moment before the recapture he was venting 
 his wrath in forcible language at the loss of his musket, which was wrenched 
 from his grasp by an exploding shell and shattered into fragments. Staunching 
 the flow of blood, and picking up the musket of a fallen comrade, he pluckily 
 resumed his place and continued the fight until he had the satisfaction of wit 
 nessing the final repulse of the enemy. 
 
26 
 
 ON THE 18th of June, just prior to the battle of Oak Grove, General Hooker 
 called for volunteers to take a redoubt of the enemy on the right of the Wil- 
 liamsburg road. Young Dillon was among the first to report by stepping to the 
 front. His lieutenant ordered him to fall back, remarking: We cannot spare 
 you; there is going to be desperate work to-day, and we need you with us." 
 Dillon, who was aching to get another whack at the enemy, replied: "So does 
 General Hooker need desperate work done, and has called for volunteers, and 
 I am going." He seized his musket, said good-bye to his lieutenant, and joined 
 what seemed like a forlorn hope. Away they started and were soon charging 
 across an open field in the face of a deadly fire from artillery and mus 
 ketry, leaving many comrades dead and wounded, as they advanced upon the 
 run. The redoubt was reached, the parapet gained, and Dillon was among 
 the first in the short, sharp, and deadly conflict, in w T hich he and his comrades 
 were victorious. They took many prisoners and held the fort until Hooker ad 
 vanced his lines. 
 
 ANOTHER brave deed mentioned in his Medal of Honor award was performed 
 by Private Dillon on hands and knees. At the battle of the 25th of June, or 
 the first of the seven days desperate fighting in front of Richmond, during a 
 lull in front of the Second New Hampshire Volunteers, Dillon performed an 
 act that displayed his coolness as well as his disregard of the peril to which 
 he voluntarily exposed himself. He crawled on his hands and knees through 
 the grass and among the bushes, in advance of the line, into the enemy s camp, 
 overheard the details of Longstreet s plans, returned safely, and communicated 
 the information to General Hooker, thereby enabling the general to rearrange 
 his forces in such a manner as to repulse the enemy. 
 
 AT THE battle of Groveton. on the 29th of August, 1862, in which the Fed 
 eral brigade of John Gibbon and part of Abner Doubleday s were engaged, 
 Dillon again distinguished himself, but was badly wounded. It was while the 
 Second New Hampshire were doggedly retreating step by step from the ground 
 gained before, and attempting to form a new line, that the enemy in turn made 
 a charge upon them. Sergeant Marshall, who was with Dillon, said: "Come, 
 Dillon, we have got to go, they are charging us." Dillon answered: "Not be 
 fore that color-bearer is downed." He discharged his gun, and lowered both 
 colors and bearer of the Forty-ninth Georgia, but at the same moment he him 
 self dropped, shot through the lungs, the bullet passing through his body and 
 breaking three ribs. In spite of his desperate wound, after partly recovering and 
 receiving his discharge, he returned to the army and served throughout the war. 
 
27 
 
 "LET S CAPTURE THEIR 
 COLORS, BOYS!" 
 
 JOHN N. COYNE, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. B, 70th New York Infantry. 
 
 Born in New York City, Nov. 14, 1839. 
 Highest rank attained: Lieutenant-Colonel. 
 
 WHEN the enemy were overtaken at 
 Williamsburg the Third Excelsior, 
 of the Seventieth New York Volunteers, 
 was in advance. It was a dark, rainy morn 
 ing. A heavy vapor covered the field, and 
 the smoke of the battle obscured the scene. 
 As the supporting regiment approached, 
 the enemy, who were concealed in the 
 thick woods, sent up the cry : " Show your 
 colors!" The color-bearer waved the flag, 
 and, as its folds spread out and showed 
 the stars and stripes, the rebels advanced 
 from the woods and opened fire. The fire 
 
 was returned so effectively that they were driven back. Another advance, with 
 re-enforcements, was also repulsed by the valiant Excelsiors. 
 
 After several hours of conflict the ammunition became exhausted, and the 
 New Yorkers were ordered to fall back by companies. Sergeant Coyne s com 
 pany, which during the latter part of the 
 battle was under his command, the cap 
 tain and lieutenant having been disabled, 
 became separated, and a number of them, 
 missing their way, found themselves with 
 their leader confronted by a party of the 
 enemy surrounding their color-bearer. 
 
 " Let s capture their colors, boys ! " shouted 
 Coyne, and, with a ringing cheer, the little 
 band made a dash for the enemy. Coyne 
 singled out the color-bearer and rushed 
 upon him. The rebel was too strong to 
 be conquered by such an assault, and de 
 fended his flag bravely until a bullet, shat 
 tering his right hand, forced him to loosen 
 his hold and enabled Coyne to drag the 
 trophy from him. Tearing the flag from 
 the staff and tying it around his body, he 
 turned to offer battle to any one who should 
 attempt to retake it ; but the survivors of 
 
28 
 
 the enemy were hurriedly leaving the field before a rescuing party sent by General 
 Heintzelman. Of the brave band who had supported their leader but few re 
 mained standing, and Sergeant Cook, Corporal Beekman, and Privates Howard 
 and Lynch were killed outright. 
 
 Sergeant Coyne received the commission of second lieutenant to date from 
 the battle. He was mentioned for bravery in general orders by General Heint 
 zelman, and was advanced to the rank of lieutenant-colonel for several other 
 acts of gallantry during the war. 
 
 THREE DEEDS OF VALOR 
 
 A 
 
 T WILLIAMSBURG I performed one of the deeds for which Congress awarded 
 me a Medal of Honor. I was out on the skirmish line with our company 
 at the time, and after holding our position for some time, the firing of the enemy 
 
 was so severe that we were compelled to retreat, 
 This we did slowly, paying back shot for shot. 
 
 "We had retreated to a place of comparative 
 safety, when I noticed that my comrade, R. B. 
 Wilson, was missing, having been wounded or 
 killed in the retreat. My captain called for some 
 one to volunteer to assist him in bringing Wilson 
 off the field. I volunteered, and we started for 
 the late scene of action. 
 
 "Not knowing exactly where he had fallen, 
 we spent some time in searching for him. At 
 last we found him and started with him for our 
 lines. While we had been looking for him the 
 enemy had completely surrounded us and cut off 
 our escape. I tried to attract their attention so 
 that the captain could manage to escape, and in 
 so doing was shot in the left groin, received a 
 pretty severe scratch across both legs, and a buckshot wound in the belt. 
 
 "I fell, and was immediately taken prisoner, but the next day, when they 
 found I was unable to walk I was let out on parole. I managed to return to 
 my company, then at Harrison s Landing." 
 
 JOHN H. HAIGHT, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. G, 72d New York Infantry. 
 Born at Westfield, N. Y., July 1, 1841. 
 
 "ON AUGUST 27, 1862, at the battle of Bristow Station, I was suffering greatly 
 from a severe carbuncle on my neck. On this account I was ordered to the 
 rear before the battle commenced. From my dreary position I could hear the 
 
29 
 
 distant rattle of musketry, and longed to be with my comrades. Soon I began 
 to formulate schemes whereby I could rejoin my regiment. I gave this up and 
 decided simply to forget my orders and join my company. Here I fought until 
 the battle was over. w r hen I fainted and had to be carried from the field." 
 
 SERGEANT JOHN H. HAIGHT, who relates the above two stories, also partici 
 pated in the second battle of Bull Run. or Manassas, on the 29th of August, 
 1863. The company, to which he belonged, was flanked and compelled to 
 fall back upon the main body of the brigade. When the retreat had been com 
 pleted the captain called for volunteers to rescue any wounded that w T ould 
 otherwise fall into the hands of the Confederates. Sergeant Haight and two 
 others immediately volunteered for the service. They advanced towards the 
 enemy s lines under a heavy fire, and succeeded in bringing out Private Plumb 
 and several others whose names are not known. 
 
 A BOLD STROKE 
 
 M 
 
 AY 5, 1862, Captain George W. Mindil, of Company C, Sixty-first Penn 
 sylvania Infantry, distinguished himself for conspicuous gallantry while aide 
 on General Kearney s staff. His heroism was also rewarded with a colonelcy, he 
 being at the time only nineteen years old. 
 
 At Williamsburg Captain Mindil s position as aide gave him considerable free 
 dom of action, and realizing that a bold stroke was necessary, he organized and 
 led a desperate charge, with a battalion of the Fortieth New York. 
 
 In the face of a terrific fire from the enemy s infantry and artillery, which 
 was doing great destruction in the Federal ranks, this young officer led his men 
 into the very midst of the rebel force, pierced their center, silenced some of 
 their guns, and, getting in their rear, forced them to abandon their position. 
 
30 
 
 FIRED THE BRIDGE 
 
 WILLIAM TAYLOR, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. H, 1st Maryland Infantry. 
 Highest rank attained: Captain. 
 
 WILLIAM TAYLOR S military career is distinguished by two most daring deeds 
 The first of these was the burning of a bridge at Front Royal, Va., May 23, 
 1862, where a detachment of Stonewall Jackson s force fell upon and routed a 
 
 body of General Banks , with a loss of 904 
 men. Taylor, in company with another man, 
 volunteered to rush forward, in the face of a 
 deadly fire from the enemy, and destroy this 
 bridge to prevent the rebels from crossing. 
 The rush was made in safety, although shot 
 flew all around them, until they neared the 
 place where they were to fire the bridge. Here 
 Taylor s companion was killed, and he himself 
 severely wounded in the right hand. Neverthe 
 less he succeeded in firing the bridge and so 
 prevented an attack by the Confederates. 
 
 His second notable adventure took place at 
 the Weldon Railroad, Va., August 19, 1864, after 
 he had been promoted a lieutenant. About this 
 Captain Taylor says : 
 "On the evening of August 19, during a heavy rain, the rebels charged 
 with a yell. Our brigade was on the extreme left, with the brigade of regulars 
 on our right, who broke and ran. A little later the rebels retreated, and we 
 held the ground until the regulars were brought back. 
 
 "That night a regiment of our brigade was sent out on picket line, which 
 they left and came into camp, through some misunderstanding. It was reported 
 to General Warren, who sent an order to Acting Brigadier-General Dushain to 
 send an officer and a few men to find connections of the rebel picket line. I 
 volunteered and took two men with me. 
 
 "It was a dark, rainy night. On the way we ran foul of two men whom we mis 
 took for rebels, and made prisoners. They turned out to be officers of our division. 
 "We found the picket line and came back, and finding Colonel Wilson about 
 to start with the regiment, I took the right and made connections with the 
 picket line. I was then detailed, with Captain McClellan of General Ayres staff, 
 with sixteen men and a sergeant, to reconnoiter the enemy s position. Leaving 
 the men inside our lines, Captain McClellan, the sergeant and I got through 
 the enemy s lines, and close to a house, where Heath, the rebel general, had his 
 headquarters. The captain and I started to return to our men, leaving the ser 
 geant behind, but were captured on the way, the sergeant being taken shortly after. 
 
31 
 
 DESTROYING THE BRIDGE AT FRONT ROYAL, VA. 
 
32 
 
 "We were sent to Petersburg the next day, and from there to Richmond, and 
 remained in Libby Prison about two months, until Fort Harrison, some four 
 miles below, was taken. Later on I managed to escape in company with two 
 other officers. The hardships that we had to undergo to reach our freedom 
 would be interesting enough, but they do not belong to the incidents for which 
 I received my Medal of Honor." 
 
 WITH AN EMPTY GUN 
 
 PRIVATE DELANO J. MOREY, Co. B, 82d Ohio Infantry, a native of Licking Co., 
 Ohio, gives the following interesting account of his capture of two rebel 
 sharpshooters : 
 
 "When our regiment left Moorefield, Va., where we had been encamped 
 all winter, and was ordered to re-enforce General Milroy. a detail of fifty 
 men, of which I was a member, was sent out to look for bushwhackers, who 
 infested the woods. After traveling over fifty miles of the roughest roads, we re 
 joined our regiment at McDowell on the 8th of May, 1862, hungry as wolves, but 
 supplied with a few choice specimens of poultry, which we had incidentally taken 
 prisoners of war. These some of us were eating with all the ardor of hungry 
 men. when the report of the pickets guns aroused us, and as this was to be our 
 first battle our chickens were left behind in our anxiety to have a brush with 
 the enemy. But oh! had we known the strength and numbers of the enemy, we 
 should have been reluctant to attack them; but, eager for a fight, we advanced 
 on Bull Pasture Mountain. We engaged them at this point, and in the midst 
 of the roar of battle came the erroneous order to fix bayonets and charge 
 them. About 150 of us, on the extreme right of the line, from which the order 
 emanated, fixed our bayonets and charged the enemy down in the valley. Down 
 the mountain side we went, to within about a hundred yards from them, when 
 they opened fire on us which was too high, and not a man was touched. We 
 in turn emptied a volley into them, when we found to our surprise that our 
 150 men were charging about 4,000 of the enemy. No sooner were we aware 
 of this fact than a hasty retreat was made up the mountain side, but I, noting 
 two of the enemy some little distance from me, left the retreating men and 
 made for the two sharpshooters with the intention of capturing them. When 
 they saw me coming on the full run they hastened to load their guns, but I 
 was a little too quick for them. I leveled my empty gun at them and ordered 
 them to surrender, which they promptly did, and I led the captives to my cap 
 tain. I was sixteen years old, and each of my prisoners was old enough to be 
 my father." 
 
Painted by Paul H i/liehni 
 
 THE BATTLE OF SHILOH 
 
35 
 
 A YOUNGSTER S HEROISM 
 
 WM. H. 
 HORSFALL, 
 
 Drummer, 
 
 Co. G, 1st 
 
 Ken tucky 
 
 Vol. Inf. 
 
 Born in 
 
 Campbell 
 
 Co., Ky., 
 
 March 3, 1848. 
 
 " r LEFT home without money or a warning to 
 1 my parents," writes William Horsfall "and in 
 company with three other boys, stealthily boarded 
 the steamer Annie Laurie, moored at the Cin 
 cinnati wharf at Newport and billed for the 
 Kanawha River that evening, about the 20th of 
 December, 1861. When the bell rang for the de 
 parture of the boat, my boy companions, having 
 a change of heart, ran ashore before the plank 
 was hauled aboard, and wanted me to do the 
 same. I kept in hiding until the boat was 
 well under way and then made bold 
 enough to venture on deck. I was accosted 
 by the captain of the boat as to my destination, etc., and telling him the old 
 orphan-boy story, I was treated very kindly, given something to eat, and allowed 
 very liberal privileges. 
 
 " I arrived at Cincinnati without further incident, and enlisted as a drummer- 
 boy. 
 
 "In the fighting before Corinth, Miss., May 21, 1862 Nelson s Brigade engaged 
 -my position was to the right of the First Kentucky, as an independent sharp 
 shooter. The regiment had just made a desperate charge across the ravine. Cap 
 tain Williamson was wounded in the charge, and, in subsequent reversing of 
 positions, was left between the lines. Lieutenant Hocke, approaching me, said : 
 Horsfall, Captain Williamson is in a serious predicament; rescue him if possible. 
 So I placed my gun against a tree, and, in a stooping run, gained his side and 
 dragged him to the stretcher bearers, who took him to the rear." 
 
 Drummer Horsfall was on all the subsequent marches of his regiment. During 
 the famous charge at Stone River he presently found himself hemmed in by rebel 
 horsemen and hostile infantry. Even the rebels took pity on his youth and one of 
 them shouted: "Don t shoot the damned little Yank! I want him for a cage." 
 The plucky little drummer made a run for his life and safely got back to his 
 regiment. 
 
 During the Siege of Corinth a Union force 30,000 strong, under General Pope, occupied Hamburg 
 Landing five miles above Pittsburg, where General Halleck was in full command. The movement against 
 Corinth was made on the 30th of April. There was little or no active engagement. Beauregard evacuated 
 the town on the 26th of May and the Union Army took possession on the 30th. 
 
36 
 
 AGAINST A SUPERIOR FORCE 
 
 B 
 
 RUFUS SAXTON, 
 
 Brigadier-General, U. S. V. 
 Highest rank attained :Bvt. Maj-Gen., U.S.V. 
 Born at Greenfield, Mass., Oct. 19, 1824. 
 
 , RIGADIER-GENERAL RUFUS SAXTON reports, re 
 garding the action of his brigade between 
 May 26 and 30, 1862, at Harper s Ferry, Va.: 
 
 " I assumed command of the forces at Harper s 
 Ferry, May 26, 1862, occupying Bolivar Heights 
 with my troops, and Maryland Heights with the 
 naval battery. On the same evening I sent two 
 companies of the First Maryland regiment, under 
 Major Steiner, to make reconnoissance of London 
 Heights, where, it was reported, the enemy were 
 in position. 
 
 " They were fired upon while ascending, between 
 nine and ten o clock in the morning, by dismounted 
 rebel cavalry concealed in the bushes on both 
 sides of the road. The fire was returned, but with what effect is not known. 
 
 "On Wednesday I shelled the Heights, compelling the enemy to retire, as 
 was proved by subsequent reconnoissance. Our cavalry drove the enemy out of 
 Charleston, but they were almost immediately re-enforced, and, opening fire from 
 a battery of nine guns, compelled our force to retire. A body of the enemy s 
 cavalry was seen occasionally emerging from a point of the woods about two 
 miles distant. Our guns shelled the woods in front, but the enemy made no re 
 sponse, and seemed from their movements, desirous of drawing us from our po 
 sition. 
 
 " On the morning of the 29th the Fiftieth New York Cavalry was sent out to 
 reconnoiter, and was fired upon by the enemy s infantry and artillery. A body 
 was seen stationed in the woods in a position to cover the battery. Having ac 
 complished their object, our cavalry returned. 
 
 "About midnight General Cooper s Brigade was set in motion, and, by daylight, 
 had succeeded in crossing the river and occupying the banks on the Maryland 
 side. General Clough s Brigade at the same time fell back to a new position on 
 Camp Hill, and when morning dawned, our batteries, supported by a heavy force of 
 infantry, were in a position to command all the approaches on our front and flanks. 
 "On Friday morning Major Gardner, with the Fifty-fifth New York Cavalry, 
 was sent to the front to feel the enemy s position and watch his movements. 
 He was later in the day re-enforced by a piece of artillery and two hundred 
 sharpshooters. The enemy opened fire on him with scattering volleys of mus 
 ketry along his whole front. The first discharge of grape from one piece caused 
 the enemy s skirmishers to fall back in disorder. 
 
37 
 
 AT HARPER S FERRY 
 
38 
 
 " About dark Friday evening, in a heavy storm, General Clough opened upon the 
 enemy, who was advancing upon Camp Hill with three batteries. The scene at 
 this time was very impressive. The night was intensely dark, the hills around 
 were alive with the signal lights of the enemy; the rain descended in torrents, 
 vivid flashes of lightning illumined at intervals the magnificent scenery, while 
 the crash of thunder, echoing among the mountains, drowned into comparative 
 insignificance the roar of artillery. After an action of an hour s duration the 
 enemy retired. He made another unsuccessful attack at midnight with regiments 
 of Mississippi and Louisiana Infantry, and, after a short engagement disappeared. 
 Signal lights continued to be seen in every direction. On Saturday morning I 
 sent out a reconnoissance and found that the whole rebel force, estimated at 
 20,000 or 25,000 strong, had retired, and that we had successfully held our po 
 sition and repulsed his several attacks with less than 7,000 effective men." 
 
 HE WAVED HIS SHATTERED ARM 
 
 THE fiercest fighting at the battle of Fair 
 Oaks occurred on June 1 a Sunday. 
 It was a fight which taxed the bravery 
 of every Union officer and soldier. Many 
 a deed of bravery and daring can be re 
 corded from that memorable struggle, but 
 none more noteworthy, than that which 
 will ever connect the name of General 
 0. 0. Howard with the history of that 
 battle. His conduct distinguished it 
 self above that of all others and will 
 always furnish an illustrious example of 
 American bravery. 
 
 The battle began at seven o clock in 
 the morning. The rebels with undaunted 
 
 courage withstood the deadly charge of the Federal troops. General Howard, who 
 commanded a brigade, led four of his regiments on the right wing of the Union 
 Army, one regiment in the first line, the remaining three in the second line. As 
 sisted by eighteen pieces of Meagher s Artillery, he advanced and was met by the 
 superior numbers of the enemy. The clash was fearful. For an hour and a half a 
 tremendous struggle for supremacy ensued. The general was omnipresent. He 
 was in the thickest of the battle. Wherever the danger was greatest, there he 
 was, inspiring and animating his men. 
 
 OLIVER 0. HOWARD, 
 
 Brigadier-General, U. S. A. Highest rank attained: Major- 
 General, U. S. A. Born at Leeds, Me., Nov. 8, 1830. 
 
39 
 
 Twice his horse was shot from under him. Finally a bullet struck and shattered 
 his right arm. Waving the fractured limb high above him, he aroused his soldiers 
 to still greater ardor and enthusiasm. Such heroic fighting the enemy could not 
 withstand. They fled. General Howard was carried to the rear by his admiring 
 soldiers. The brave leader s arm was amputated; but he again went to the front, 
 as soon as he had recovered from the operation and continued on his career of un 
 dying fame. 
 
 THOUGH WOUNDED, REMAINED AT HIS POST 
 
 " T WAS engaged with the pioneers of the bri- 
 1 gade on the 31st of May, 1862, in con 
 structing a bridge across the Chickahominy 
 River. An attack of the Confederates on our 
 extreme left, on the Virginia side of the 
 Chickahominy, caused the Second Corps to be 
 thrown across the river immediately after 
 twelve o clock noon, and the battle of Fair 
 Oaks began soon after. 
 
 "As my services were not necessary at 
 the bridge, I took half of my command - of 
 forty-five men. and proceeded to the head of 
 the brigade, reaching it just as it was about 
 to engage the enemy. I was directed by 
 General Dana to proceed across an open field 
 in front of an advancing rebel regiment, which 
 I did, arriving at the point designated with 
 only four out of a party of twenty-two men. 
 eighteen having been killed or wounded within 
 a couple of minutes. 
 
 "The adjutant of the regiment to which I belonged, the Seventh Michigan 
 Infantry, was, about this time, dangerously wounded and incapacitated for 
 
 WM. R. SHAFTER, 
 
 1st Lieutenant, Co. I, 7th Michigan Infantry. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Major-General, U. S. A. 
 
 Born at Galesburg, Mich., Oct. 16, 1835. 
 
 Fair Oaks. On the 30th of May, 1862, the right wing of the Union Army rested near New Bridge, on 
 the west bank of the Chickahominy, the center at Seven Pines, and the left on the White Oak Swamp. Gen 
 eral Simmer s Corps remained on the east side of the river. The force was under command of General 
 McClellan. 
 
 The efforts of General Johnston, the Confederate commander, were directed chiefly against the left 
 wing, where Heintzelman s and Keyes Divisions were placed. The Union position was supported at this 
 point by General Kearney, Berry s Brigade, and an Irish Battalion, and was held in spite of repeated assaults 
 in force. The arrival of General Simmer s Corps decided the day in favor of the Federals. 
 
 Fighting was resumed on the following day on the left bank of the river, and ceased about midday 
 with the retreat of the enemy. 
 
 The Union loss was 5,739; the Confederate, 7,997. 
 
 It was in this battle that General Johnston, the Confederate commander, was disabled, and relieved 
 by General Lee. 
 
40 
 
 further service, whereupon I was directed by Major Richardson, who com 
 manded the regiment that afternoon, to assume the duties of regimental ad 
 jutant, which I did. 
 
 Just at the close of the battle, about half an hour later, my horse was 
 shot from under me and I was wounded, a severe flesh wound, but as no bones 
 were hit, my injuries were not considered dangerous. I was perfectly able to 
 remain in the field, and did so during the fight of the next day. In order to 
 escape being sent north with the wounded, I went to the rear of the command 
 and remained there for two or three days until the wounded had all been sent 
 
 IN FRONT OF AN ADVANCING REBEL REGIMENT 
 
 away, and I then returned to my regiment. I was unable to ride a horse, and 
 was confined to my couch and there performed the duties of adjutant, so far 
 as the office part of the work was concerned. 
 
 "At the change of base I had the choice of being left in the hands of the 
 enemy or mounting my horse and going with our troops, and although riding 
 horseback in my then wounded condition was very painful, T adopted the latter 
 alternative, and was with the regiment in all of the seven days battles sub 
 sequent." 
 
 General Shafter, who gives this account of his services at Fair Oaks, 
 voluntarily went with half of his little band into the battle, when his pioneer 
 
41 
 
 work gave him a satisfactory reason for remaining at the grapevine bridge, in 
 stead of engaging in the gallant charge of his regiment, and remained in 
 action for twenty-four hours after receiving a bullet wound. His intelligent 
 energy and activity during the battle, and his example of soldierly heroism, had 
 an effect on the men. to which a great share of their success may be credited. 
 
 HEROIC RESCUE OF TWO FLAGS 
 
 W. H. PURCELL, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. G, 104th I enii. Infantry. 
 
 Born at Upper Black Eddy. Buck Co., Pa., 
 
 Aug. 1, 1837. 
 
 THE One hundred and fourth Pennsylvania 
 Infantry had been under fire for an hour 
 and a half at the battle of Fair Oaks, and a 
 large number of the men had fallen. The fight 
 ing line had been maintained unusually well, 
 and the men fought more like veterans of a 
 hundred battles than recruits under fire for 
 almost the first time. The enemy was pressing 
 them in front and flank, and his fire had be 
 come so warm as to endanger the battery they 
 were supporting. He approached within a short 
 distance of the right. At this crisis, a charge 
 was ordered in the hope of checking his advance. 
 The One hundred and fourth had no expectation 
 of crossing bayonets with the rebels, but hoped 
 to gain time. The men were ordered to cease firing and fix bayonets, which 
 was done with great promptness, considering their excited condition. The com 
 mand was given: " Charge bayonets, forward, double-quick, march !" and the men 
 sprang toward the enemy with a tremendous yell. 
 
 They advanced about a hundred yards over a piece of ground covered with 
 dwarf bushes. In the way was an old worn fence that had not been observed be 
 fore, which cut the old line of battle at an angle of about thirty degrees. The men 
 sprang over this obstacle into the clearing where the enemy stood, and immedi 
 ately began to reform and open fire. Both flags were carried over the fence by 
 the bearers. This movement had the desired effect. It was foolhardy under the 
 circumstances, but it staggered the enemy, and the heavy fire checked him at 
 once. It soon became apparent that the regiment must relinquish the ground 
 unless re-enforced, and Lieutenant Ashenfelder was dispatched across to the 
 Williamsburg road to request General Casey to send support. The general sent 
 word to hold out a few minutes longer, when re-enforcements would be sent. 
 
 It must be understood that, at this time, the One hundred and fourth Penn 
 sylvania was engaged single-handed, in front of the line of the army, with a 
 
-42 
 
 greatly superior force. Three hours had now elapsed since the regiment had 
 gone into action, and more than one-third of the men had fallen. The promised 
 re-enforcements did not arrive, and they could hold out no longer. There was 
 no order given to retire, but they were literally pushed back by the superior 
 force of the enemy pressing against them. Individual soldiers on either side 
 came almost near enough to strike each other with the musket. The regiment 
 retired slowly and sullenly, not an officer or man running. 
 
 In the excitement and confusion of retiring, one flag was left on the other 
 side of the fence, the staff sticking in the ground, and the enemy made a bold 
 
 THE FLAG WAS LEFT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE 
 
 effort to capture it. Color-Sergeant Purcell had already secured his own standard, 
 and, with it in his hands, he jumped over the fence and seized the other. The 
 enemy saw the movement, and five of their men rushed forward at the same 
 time, still keeping up their fire. Purcell reached it first, seized the staff, and 
 sprang for the fence with both flags in his hands. As he mounted the fence he 
 was struck by a bullet in the left thigh and fell, carrying the colors with him. 
 Getting to his feet again he ran about 500 yards, handed one flag to Sergeant 
 Myers, and started for the rear with the other, but, becoming faint from the 
 loss of blood, he gave it to Corporal Mitchner and fell exhausted on the field, 
 having received two slight wounds in the arm and neck. He was rescued by 
 General Casey s bugler, Israel Stidinger, who took him on his horse to Savage 
 Station. 
 
 The flags were brought off the field in safety, and delivered to the regiment 
 after the battle. 
 
43 
 
 AT THE RISK OF HIS LIFE 
 
 JOHN C. HUNTERSON, 
 Private, Co. B, 3d Pa. Cavalry. 
 
 ABOUT June 5, 1862, a few days after the battle 
 of Fair Oaks, John C. Hunterson, then a 
 private in Co. B, Third Pennsylvania Cavalry, on 
 duty as one of the escort of two to an engineer 
 officer, accompanied him on an reconnoissance 
 between the lines of the two armies for the 
 purpose of ascertaining the best available posi 
 tion for earthworks. This party was discovered 
 and fired upon by the enemy. 
 
 The horse of the engineer officer was killed, 
 and the second person in escort hurriedly returned 
 to our lines. This placed the officer in a most 
 exasperating position. Here he had, at great per 
 sonal peril, approached the enemy s lines, surveyed the topography of the battle 
 field, made valuable sketches and drawings, and now, at the very last moment, 
 found himself deprived of the means to carry the information obtained to his 
 
 superior officers! Hunterson keenly appreciated the situa 
 tion. He realized that the engineers life was of the 
 greatest value to his army and his noble impulse 
 quickly made him reach a conclusion. He 
 voluntarily gave up his mount to the 
 officer, enabling .him to escape with the 
 important plans and drawings which 
 were upon his person. 
 
 Hunterson effected his 
 escape, and at once reported 
 to General Dickinson, then 
 the assistant adjutant-gen 
 eral of Hookers Division, 
 who investigated and veri 
 
 fied the incident. The act 
 is worthy of special note as 
 an exhibition of exceptional 
 daring and devotion to duty. 
 In giving up his horse in a 
 desperate emergency, Hun 
 terson reduced his own 
 chance of escape to a min 
 imum, entirely losing sight of his own welfare in his zeal for the safety of his 
 superior officer and the interests of his country. 
 
44 
 
 MUD BATHS FOR FUTURE GOOD HEALTH 
 
 o 
 
 DEWITT C. LEWIS, 
 
 Captain, Co. F, 97th Penn. Inf. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Bvt. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel, U. S. V. 
 
 Born at West Chester, Chester 
 
 Co., Penn., July 30, 1822. 
 
 N JUNE 15, 1862, the enemy, having secured the 
 range of our camps from Fort Lamar, opened on 
 them with shell, making it quite lively for us. General 
 Benham, then in command of the Union troops, resolved 
 to make an assault on the fort on the morning of the 
 16th, at daybreak. The attack was made by General 
 Stevens Division, which was repulsed with a loss of 
 about 600 men* Our brigade commander, Colonel Robert 
 Williams of the First Massachusetts Cavalry, was ordered 
 to advance two of his regiments, the Ninety-seventh 
 Pennsylvania and the Third New Hampshire, to sup 
 port the assault. 
 
 "It was low tide and we forced our way through 
 a thicket, or hedge, finding ourselves in a swamp, and 
 under fire from the fort. But we drove the enemy s 
 
 advance back to the fort, and located ourselves along the embankment about 
 200 yards from the enemy s works. We were able, at that distance, to effec 
 tually keep them from using their guns on two sides of the works. 
 
 "About 10 o clock A. M., re-enforcements for the enemy commenced to ar 
 rive by way of the Charleston and Savannah Railroad. Their artillery went in 
 to position on the ridge and rendered our position untenable by enfilading our 
 line. The order was given to retire, and we commenced falling back towards 
 the swamp we had crossed at daylight. As soon as we left the embankment 
 the field artillery and fort opened on us with canister at about 250 yards 
 range. When we reached the swamp the tide was well up and the place was 
 a slimy, oozy mass of mud, which the "Johnnies" were stirring up with 
 canister and round shot for all they were worth, and making it unfit to swim 
 in or to drink. After a severe struggle I landed on the far side from the 
 enemy, as a matter of choice and necessity, assisting a number of comrades, 
 
 In June, 1862, General Benham attempted to reach Charleston by the Stono River. The Union force 
 crossed over to James Island on the 9th. Assaults were made upon a fort which the Confederates had 
 erected at Secessionville during the week following. The attack on June 16 was a dismal failure, the 
 Federals being compelled to fall back losing 500 men killed and wounded. 
 
45 
 
 whose heads were covered with mud, when their feet reached the bottom. I 
 suppose they were dodging the canister. We were very good at that. 
 
 "I landed, tired, disgusted, and dreadfully covered with mud, and was trying 
 to find out where I was located in the mass of filth, when I beared a faint call 
 that sounded thick and muddy. Looking back over the ground and water, I 
 saw a head pop up above the sticky mass about one-third of the way back, 
 and I felt satisfied that some poor fellow was having trouble and was in need 
 of prompt assistance. The prospect was not inviting, with the shot fiying 
 
 RETURNING TO RESCUE A COMRADE 
 
 about, but there was no time to think, so I drew off my accoutrements, plunged 
 in and got him to the shore, both of us thoroughly exhausted, and found him 
 to be one of my own men." 
 
 Colonel Lewis, who writes this account of his adventure at Fort Lamar, 
 was present at the Mine Explosion at Petersburg, Va. When the attack was 
 made upon the rebels, after the explosion, he was directly behind the major of 
 the Forty-eighth New York, whose head was blown off, the bloody fragments 
 striking him in the face. Soon after, his bravery and kindheartedness were 
 again called forth by the misfortune of one of the men of his company who 
 was wounded on the retreat. In the face of an awful storm of bullets, Colonel 
 Lewis returned to the wounded man and carried him off the field to a place 
 of safety. 
 
46 
 
 FOUR CHARGES WITH A SHATTERED ARM 
 
 WHEN the Seventh Connecticut Infantry was storming Fort Lamar, James 
 Island, S. C., at daybreak June 16, 1862, Sergeant Jackson was in com 
 mand of Company F. He was struck abov r e the elbow with a canister shot 
 
 from an eight-inch 
 columbiad, and his left 
 arm was shattered. 
 With his right hand 
 Jackson seized his splin 
 tered arm, pressed it 
 tightly to prevent, as 
 much as possible, the 
 flow of blood, and 
 dashed forward with 
 his men. The regiment 
 retired, rallied again, 
 and went forward on 
 the second charge, only 
 to be again repulsed. 
 Once more the regi 
 ment rallied, and in 
 this charge, Sergeant 
 Jackson fell, fainting 
 from the loss of blood. 
 He lay on the field 
 from five o clock in the 
 morning until half-past 
 ten at night, only a 
 hundred feet from the 
 fort, neither Federals 
 nor Confederates dar 
 ing to succor their 
 wounded, so fierce was 
 the firing. During more than seventeen hours he remained unable to move, all 
 the while exposed to the fire from the Union forces, but too near the fort to be 
 in range of the enemy s missiles. 
 
 Referring to this part of his experience, he writes : 
 
 " Of the fourteen comrades who came under the Confederate surgeon s 
 knife as prisoners, only myself and one other lived to reach home. I was put 
 under the influence of chloroform, and, when I became conscious again, discov- 
 
 FREDERICK R. 
 JACKSON, 
 
 1st Serg t., Co. F., 
 
 7th Conn. Inf. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Major, U. S. V. 
 Born at New Haven, Conn. 
 
47 
 
 ered two surgeon s knives and another instrument lying across my breast. 
 Among those in the room were General Gist, commanding the Confederates, 
 and the colonel in charge of the fort. On regaining consciousness some one 
 asked me: 
 
 " How many troops have your forces got? 
 
 " Go over and count them, I replied. 
 
 " We will go over and we shall get them all. said he. 
 
 "The surgeon was Doctor Bellinger, the son of one of the most famous sur 
 geons in the South at that time. He said to me: 
 
 " The Southern Confederacy is not abundantly supplied with chloroform, 
 and will not throw any away on you. 
 
 "Before beginning to amputate my arm, they divided some of my clothing 
 among themselves. The first thing taken was a pair of new boots which had 
 been sent from home by my father. My uniform was also disposed of, and they 
 gave me a shabby suit of clothes in case I should ever need any more. Then 
 the surgeon proceeded to cut off my arm, and, true to his word, he did not 
 waste any of the Southern Confederacy s chloroform on me. 
 
 "I was made acquainted with six of the Southern prisons, and was grad 
 uated from Libby October 14, 1862." 
 
 TWO GALLANT OFFICERS 
 
 THE following story, describing an important 
 movement in the action at Gaines Mills, Va., 
 June 27, 1862, is written by a captain of the 
 Eighty-third Pennsylvania Infantry, who testifies 
 warmly to the gallant conduct and able leader 
 ship of General Daniel Butterfield and Major 
 Ernst Von Vegesack, and the inspiriting influence 
 upon the men of their fine example. 
 
 "The Twelfth and Forty-fourth New York 
 Volunteers, who were deployed in the rear and 
 on the heights in the woods above us, opening 
 fire upon the enemy, the fire was returned, and the right wing of the Eighty- 
 third, being more on a level and in view of the enemy, commenced also a 
 heavy fire. The enemy still approached in column of brigade, covered by a 
 regiment in line of battle, but discovering, when too late, the position our 
 regiment held, precipitately fled back with a heavy loss in killed and wounded. 
 
 DANIEL BUTTERFIELD, 
 
 Brigadier-General, V. 8. Volunteers. 
 
 Highest rank attained : Maj-Gen., U. S. V. 
 
 Born in Oneida Co., N. Y., Oct. 31, 1831. 
 
48 
 
 " At this moment Brigadier-General Butterfield, amidst a gallant fire from his 
 line of support in the rear, and that of the enemy in front, came coolly down 
 the knoll, and, sword in hand, seized the colors, waving them repeatedly aloft, 
 encouraging the valor of our regiment and stimulating with new vigor our 
 thinned ranks. My boys, he shouted, Your ammunition is never expended 
 while you have your bayonets, and use them to the socket ! 
 
 The battle at this juncture raged furiously. The trees were lopped and the 
 leaves fell as thick as snowflakes, while the balls flew like a hailstorm, the 
 solid shot, grape, canister, and shrapnel scattering destruction in all directions. 
 It was intimated that the regiments on our right had been repulsed and had 
 given way under the destructive fire of the enemy, who also threatened our 
 right flank and were at that moment gradually gaining the rear. In this situa 
 tion one regiment was ordered to face by the rear rank and wheel obliquely by 
 a quarter on the proper right, and then become the left. This manoeuvre was 
 rapidly executed, but during its performance, our commander, Colonel McLane, 
 was killed, and Major Nagel mortally wounded. 
 
 " The enemy, being fairly driven from the woods, as a last resort made their 
 final stand on their own chosen ground. Major Von Vegesack, who was serving 
 voluntarily as aide, came galloping along our lines, and, in a voice never to be 
 forgotten, ordered the Eighty-third to face by the right flank, advance, half to 
 the left, thereby still keeping the rear rank in front, deep on the center, and 
 again face the foe. This cool and determined move on the part of Major Von 
 Vegesack, which cannot be too warmly appreciated by the Eighty-third, so as 
 tounded the enemy, who were drawn up in line at about a hundred yards dis 
 tance, that they remained perfectly motionless for several minutes. They waved 
 signals, which we did not understand, and finally sent forward a flag of truce, 
 the Eighty-third sending out an officer to receive their communications, which 
 were to the effect that they considered themselves so powerful that we had 
 better surrender. 
 
 "This proposition, I need hardly say, caused some indignant mirth among us, 
 and before the officers of the Eighty-third, who bore our flag of truce, returned 
 to the ranks, the rebels, contrary to the rules of civilized warfare, poured a 
 deadly volley into the ranks of our regiment. We fell flat on the ground, then 
 rising to our knees, returned the fire, which was kept up in the bravest and 
 most determined manner against overwhelming numbers, keeping the enemy at 
 bay until dark, when the total expenditure of our cartridges caused us to retreat 
 across the Chickahominy River." 
 
 The "Seven Days " Battle before Richmond commenced with the battle of Oak Grove, on the 25th 
 of June, when General Lee s attack on the right wing was made without decisive results. In an engagement 
 at Mechanicsville on the 26th, General Hill, of the Confederate Army, was repulsed, with considerable 
 loss, by the Sixth Corps under Porter. 
 
49 
 
 DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT IN ACTION 
 
 /->HARLES F. HOP- 
 
 V-- KINS touches 
 briefly upon his 
 rescue of a wound 
 ed comrade in his 
 description on the 
 action at Gaines 
 Mills, Va., but he 
 was reported and 
 highly praised for 
 this act. 
 
 Our regiment, the First New Jersey Volun 
 teers, was ordered from the south side of the 
 Chickahominy River to support Fitz John Porter, 
 who was attacked at that 
 place, by Stonewall 
 Jackson and Longstreet. 
 determined to crush our 
 right wing. We reached 
 the field about 1 P. M., 
 and were sent in to re 
 lieve the Fourteenth Reg 
 ulars. The First Michi 
 gan s right was turned, 
 and they were swept from 
 the field for a short time. 
 This left an opening by 
 which the Fourth New 
 York Volunteers were taken prisoners, only about ninety escaping, our regiment 
 being compelled to retire its right. A similar movement was taking place on 
 the left, leaving our company in the apex of the angle, thus made. 
 
 CHAS. F. HOPKINS, 
 
 Private, Co. 1, 1st New Jersey Vols. 
 
 Born at Hope, New Jersey, 
 
 May 1C, 1842. 
 
 On the 27th of June the Fifth Corps, with about 25,000 men, was attacked by a rebel force of 70,000, on 
 (iaines Mills Heights, and made a firm stand until the cavalry was repulsed, falling back in disorder on 
 the lines. The enemy, pursuing their advantage, had almost accomplished the destruction of the corps 
 when darkness enabled the Federals to cross the river. 
 
 On the 28th the general retreat began, during which occurred the engagements of Salvage Station. 
 Glendale (Charles City Cross Roads), Peach Orchard, Chickahomiiiy, White Oak Swamp, and Malvern Hill. 
 
 At the last-named place, on July 1, the Second, Third, and Sixth Corps occupied a strong position, pro 
 tected by gunboats on the river. The enemy s attack was defeated and the rebel force rendered incapable 
 of further pursuit. The Union loss during the Seven Days Battle is estimated at 15,249; the Confederate 
 at 17,583. 
 
50 
 
 "The order to retire, keeping up the fire, was given by our captain. Not 
 hearing the order, or unconscious of the dangerous position, the company did 
 not retire promptly, and the enemy poured a terrific fire on us from every 
 point but our immediate rear, and even that was not exempt until we reached 
 a point parallel with the line of battle. 
 
 "A comrade and myself were laggards in retiring, but w r ere keeping up the 
 fire. Having been twice wounded, I was looking for shelter to cover by back 
 ward movement, and, while moving from one place to another among the 
 bushes, came across Sergeant Richard Donnelly of our company, who was 
 badly wounded in the right leg. I told him I would take him out, and we 
 could both chance the awful fire from all quarters. I got him on my back, 
 and through that gauntlet of flame and bullets, made my way to the rear in 
 safety. 
 
 " I was badly wounded in the hand twenty minutes after leaving him, and 
 was left for dead on the field, but recovered, and was taken prisoner the next 
 morning, being released five hoars later with a large number of wounded who 
 were able to walk." 
 
 THE DRUMMER-BOY OF THE 
 CHICKAHOM1NY 
 
 G 
 
 EORGE DALLAS SIDMAN, "The Drummer-Boy 
 of the Chickahominy," as he was called, 
 was but little over sixteen years of age when 
 he enlisted in 1862. At the battle of Gaines 
 Mills, Va., the second of the Seven Days Battle 
 before Richmond, and during his subsequent 
 experience with the army, his great pluck and 
 nerve, his presence of mind and fortitude, es 
 tablished for him a record which is barely sug 
 gested by the official description, " distinguished 
 bravery in battle." 
 
 From early morning of that memorable day, 
 the enemy ha,d been concentrating in front of 
 Porter s Corps, believing that the whole of 
 McClellan s force was before them. Several times they had charged the Union 
 lines in force, but had been repulsed each time with great loss. 
 
 General Butterfield s Brigade, composed of the Twelfth, Seventeenth, and 
 Forty-fourth New York Infantry, Eighty-third Pennsylvania Infantry, and Six 
 teenth Michigan Infantry, occupied the extreme left of the line, resting on the 
 
 GEORGE D. SIDMAN, 
 
 Private, Co. C, 16th Michigan Infantry. 
 Born at Rochester, N. Y., Nov. 25, 1844. 
 
51 
 
 Chickahominy Swamp, not far from Bottom s Bridge, which with a corduroy 
 road across the swamp, offered the only means of retreat to the left flank in 
 case of defeat. 
 
 The sun was low on the horizon w r hen the enemy advanced, four columns deep, 
 to charge the Union center by an enfilading movement. They broke through the 
 weakened lines and forced the left flank back into the swamp, where, for a 
 time, it looked as if the entire corps had been caught like rats in a trap. The 
 
 SEIZED ONE OF THE GUIDONS OF HIS REGIMENT 
 
 stampede was so complete that a part of the brigade, under Butterh eld, was forced 
 back almost into the swamp. At this juncture General Butterfield and a part of 
 his staff rode into the lines, calling upon his men to rally and save the day. 
 Young George Sidman. caught by the enthusiasm of the moment, seized one 
 of the guidons of his regiment, and, rushing to the side of the general, called 
 upon his comrades to rally there. His action, with the calls of the officer, 
 had the effect of rallying a remnant of the brigade, and, in less time than it 
 takes to tell the story, this handful of men formed a "forlorn hope" that 
 charged back, and almost crossed bayonets w T ith the enemy, then in full posses 
 sion of the field. The rebels, not knowing the strength of the force charging 
 them, fell back a short distance, and night set in before they discovered that 
 " Stonewall " Jackson s army had been whipped by less than a thousand 
 
52 
 
 Yankees. There is little doubt that this " forlorn hope " rally, incited, in a 
 measure, by the heroic example of George Sidman, was the means of saving 
 the Fifth Corps from almost total destruction. 
 
 Sidman was severely wounded by a minie ball through the left hip, in the 
 charge back upon the enemy, and lay upon the field until the firing ceased, 
 when he clubbed his musket over a stump, to destroy its usefulness to the 
 enemy, and threw his accoutrements into a ditch of water near by. He 
 crawled off the field and through Chickahominy Swamp on his hands and 
 knees, being unable to walk, or even stand, on his wounded leg. The next 
 morning he was picked up by an ambulance and taken to Savage Station, 
 where, two days later, he was taken prisoner with 8,000 other sick and 
 wounded, left by McClellan to the tender mercies of the enemy. 
 
 He celebrated the 4th of July by a ride to Richmond on a flat car, exposed 
 all day to the hot sun, without food or water, weak and helpless. He was con 
 fined in Libby Prison, Castle Thunder, and finally at Belle Isle. While at the 
 last-named place gangrene formed in his wound, and, without medical attention 
 he would have died, as thousands of others did from the same cause, had he 
 not cured it himself by the most heroic treatment. He had with him a little 
 house-wife," containing, among other things, a small package of capsicum, 
 which he deliberately poured into the open wound. The remedy was nearly as bad 
 as the disease, but Sidman declares that it removed the gangrene and saved his life. 
 
 He was exchanged in August and sent to the hospital at Point Lookout, 
 Md., but the place was so isolated and lonesome that he begged to be sent 
 north. This request being refused, he took passage one night in the stoke-hole 
 of a steamboat going up the Potomac River, and arrived the following morn 
 ing in Washington, where he reported at the War Department and requested to 
 be sent to his regiment, then campaigning in Virginia. The spectacle of a sol 
 dier on crutches, of very uninviting appearance, reporting at the headquarters 
 of the army and requesting to be sent to his regiment for duty, was such a 
 novelty that the officers regarded him as a lunatic. 
 
 The hospitals being crowded at this time with the wounded from the second 
 battle of Bull Run, he was sent to Convalescent Camp, near Alexandria, Va., 
 where he remained until he could move about with the aid of a stick, when, 
 hearing that his regiment was encamped not far away, he took "French Leave," 
 and joined his company much to the amazement of his comrades. The surgeon 
 of the regiment would not certify him for duty, because his wound was not yet 
 healed, and as it was evident that he could not march, he was ordered to re 
 turn to the hospital, which he refused to do. The following day the army 
 started on the Maryland Campaign, and his regiment marched away, leaving 
 him behind to shift for himself. Nothing daunted, he begged a ride across the 
 river to Georgetown, and succeeded in reaching his regiment that night, nearly 
 worn out. The next morning he found a condemned horse by the roadside, and, 
 with a bridle made of knapsack straps, and a pile of blankets to soften the pro 
 truding bones of his fiery steed, he rode into camp that night. The colonel of 
 his regiment, admiring his pluck, ordered that Sidman be permitted to remain 
 with the command and that he be allowed rations. He followed his regiment 
 to Antietam, mounted on his condemned horse, and participated in the battle 
 that resulted in driving General Lee out of Maryland. 
 
53 
 
 MOST BRAVE AND 
 
 INTREPID ON 
 
 THE FIELD 
 
 JAMES QUINLAN, 
 
 Major, 88th N. Y. Infantry. 
 
 Highest rank attained : Colonel. 
 
 B trn at Tipperary, Ireland, Sept. 13, 1833. 
 
 ON THE morning after the bat 
 tle of Gaines Mills, Va., the 
 colonel and lieutenant-colonel of 
 my regiment, the Eighty-eighth 
 New York (Meagher s Irish Bri 
 gade), of which I was major, re 
 ported sick and went to the 
 rear, the command devolving 
 on me. 
 
 " The afternoon of that day 
 we took up our march for our 
 new base, which, we were informed, would be Harrison s Landing, Va. Harassed 
 all the way by the enemy, fighting each day and marching at night, Sunday morn 
 ing, June 29. we arrived at a place called Savage Station, Va., and were ordered 
 to halt and make ourselves as comfortable as possible. Early that day the enemy 
 appeared in force at Tyler s and Nelson s farms. My regiment and the Twenty- 
 ninth Massachusetts, under Colonel Pierce, were ordered into action at both 
 places. The fighting was pretty severe, but the enemy were repulsed, and we 
 were ordered back to our original position. 
 
 "The army under General McClellan was crossing the White Oak Swamp on 
 its retreat. Our turn came to move, as the corps of General E. V. Sumner, to 
 which we were attached, had the rear of the whole army. As we neared White 
 Oak Swamp a Confederate Battery of six guns, supported by a large column of 
 infantry under Generals Magruder and Huger, opened a terrific fire, which caused 
 Sumner s Corps to halt. General W. W. Burns, U. S. A., with his brigade, was 
 sent to silence the Battery, and being unsuccessful called for re-enforcements. 
 Several regiments were sent to his assistance, notably, the First Minnesota, under 
 the gallant Sully, but still the fire of the battery kept up. General Sumner sent 
 for the Eighty-eighth Regiment, and when I reported to him he said: Quinlan, 
 what formation have you? I answered: Double on the center. Good he said. 
 I know your regiment well, and they can deploy at the double-quick. He or 
 dered me to report to General Burns, who ordered me forward at double-quick 
 to charge the battery. As we started, the enemy s guns ceased firing, and when 
 we got within the range that suited them best, their six guns were discharged 
 simultaneously. But the Eighty-eighth did not falter. They pushed on and si 
 lenced the battery." 
 
54 
 
 In addition to Major Quinlan s account of the charge, the official statement 
 of one of his superior officers is as follows: 
 
 " The conduct of Major Quinlan on that occasion was that of a self-sacrificing 
 soldier. He dashed into the very face of death, so far as he could know, thereby 
 relieving the troops massed in a cul de sac from the battery s devastating fire, 
 and probably discouraging the enemy for the day, for the fighting was not re 
 newed after the silencing of their guns until past nightfall. Major Quinlan de 
 serves the badge of gallantry to be awarded to the most brave and intrepid on 
 the field." 
 
 RESCUED AN ABANDONED 
 BATTERY 
 
 O 
 
 N THE 80th of June, 1862, after the 
 battle of White Oak Swamp, the Fifth 
 United States Artillery, of which I was a 
 member, was stationed on the road leading 
 to Richmond. Va. About four o clock that 
 afternoon we received orders to move to a 
 new position and, while our regiment was 
 preparing to make this move, I saw that 
 Captain Mott s Battery, of the First New 
 York Artillery, had been abandoned and 
 was in danger of being captured by the 
 advancing enemy. 
 
 "I at once went to Captain Ayres of our battery and told him that if he 
 would let me have two men I would recover some, if not all, of the abandoned 
 battery. Permission was granted, and with my two companions I started back. 
 " We soon reached the battery, and, after much hard work, in constant danger 
 of losing our lives, we succeeded in recovering two guns, two limbers, and cais 
 sons, which we delivered to Captain Ayres." 
 
 The service which George Uhry performed and here describes, deserves notice, 
 not only for the bravery of the act, but for its importance in preventing a pos 
 sible advantage to the enemy. 
 
 GEORGE UHRY, 
 
 5th U. S. Artillery. 
 Born in Baden, Germany, Oct. 31, 1838. 
 
55 
 
 UNDER CONSTANT FIRE FOR SEVENTEEN HOURS 
 
 LIEUTENANT KlNG glVCS this 
 account of the trying posi 
 tion maintained by the battery 
 under his command at White 
 Oak Swamp: 
 
 "During the retreat of the 
 Army of the Potomac, com 
 manded by General George B. 
 McClellan, from in front of Rich 
 mond to Harrison s Landing, Va., 
 the batteries to which I belonged 
 - A and C, Fourth United States 
 Artillery, commanded by Cap 
 tain George Hazard, a veteran 
 of the Mexican War, was de 
 tailed as part of the rear guard, 
 which was composed of Richard 
 son s Division of Sumner s Corps, 
 covering the retreat from Savage 
 Station to White Oak Swamp. 
 After three days of constant 
 fighting we reached White Oak Swamp, and there had a narrow escape from capture. 
 
 " On the morning of June 30, about nine o clock, arriving at the sw T amp, and dis 
 covering that the bridge had been burned by the retreating army, we made the 
 crossing at the place where the bridge had been, to the intense astonishment of 
 our army, congregated on the other side watching the perilous experiment. The 
 Confederates were striving with all their skill to build a new bridge, and. on the 
 defeat of this attempt, depended the safety of our army. On the heights oppo 
 site the Confederates were piled enormous quantities of our transportation, ac 
 cumulated there in our hasty retreat from Richmond. Sumner s Corps still 
 occupied the post of honor on the rear guard, and Batteries A and C were ordered 
 into position on the brow of the hill with instructions to prevent the enemy 
 from crossing, and to hold the ground at any cost. About ten minutes after our 
 taking position, Captain Hazard was mortally wounded and carried from the 
 field, the command then devolving upon me, the senior lieutenant present for 
 duty. 
 
 " Our battery was made the object of attack by some thirty pieces of artillery 
 concentrated by the enemy in an endeavor to dislodge us from our position. 
 The fire from the guns was frightful, and there was not a portion of the battery 
 
 RUFUS KING, 
 
 1st Lieutenant, 4th U. S. Artillery. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Colonel. 
 Born in New York City, March 21, 1838. 
 
56 
 
 that did not get its share of it. Our fire was so accurate that it was impossible 
 for the enemy s engineers and bridge builders to accomplish their work while 
 we were pouring our spherical case and solid shot into their midst, but the 
 strain on us was tremendous. Our battery, consisting of eight guns and about 
 one hundred and seventy-five men, was depended upon to reply to a concentrated 
 attack by thirty guns that had our range accurately, and whose efforts to dis 
 lodge us were most persistent. The fire from Jackson s Artillery was so heavy 
 that cannoneers and drivers were shot down and horses killed in such numbers 
 that some of the non-commissioned officers took it upon themselves to withdraw 
 one of the guns. I went after them and succeeded in having the gun brought 
 back to its old position. 
 
 "The demands on our diminished numbers to serve the guns efficiently were 
 most exhausting, and it required my constant presence in all parts of the bat 
 tery, encouraging and cheering the men, assisting them to serve the pieces, and 
 praising them, to give them the confidence necessary to enable our battery to 
 accomplish the desired result. 
 
 " We remained in position from 9 A. M. until 2 A. M. the next day, under 
 constant fire all the time, losing a great many men and horses from the fire of 
 the enemy, but succeeded in preventing them from building the bridge and 
 crossing the swamp before our army had reached a place of safety." 
 
 BETTER WORK WITHOUT 
 THE DRUM 
 
 o 
 
 BENJAMIN B. LEVY, 
 
 Drummer, 1st New York Vols. 
 Born in New York City, Feb. 22, 1845. 
 
 N THAT memorable retreat from Richmond. 
 June 30, 1862, the First New York Volunteers, 
 in which Benjamin Levy was the drummer, had 
 been on picket duty the night before, and it con 
 sequently fell to their lot to cover the retreat. 
 In this position they were considerably harassed 
 by sharpshooters and guerrillas who lay in wait 
 for those who fell by the wayside. Levy, who w r as 
 little over sixteen years old, was marching with his tent-mate who was sick with 
 malaria, and in his feeble condition could make but slow progress. He was about 
 to lie down, when Levy broke his drum and cast it aside, took the accoutrements 
 and gun of his sick comrade, and encouraged him to keep up so as to avoid capture. 
 This regiment became engaged that afternoon in the battle of Charles City 
 Cross Roads, Va. (or Glendale). Levy, being a drummer, was not obliged to go into 
 action. He reported, however, to his superior officer and bravely volunteered to 
 
57- 
 
 shoulder a rifle and participate in the action on the firing line. His brave offer 
 being accepted he proceeded to the front with his regiment and thus became 
 actively engaged in the fighting. 
 
 There were four colors in this engagement belonging to the regiment. All but 
 two of the color-bearers and corporals were killed or wounded. Immediately he 
 threw away his gun, which he still carried in one hand, grasped the other flag and, 
 
 with a stand of colors 
 a hasty retreat, dur- 
 ceived a slight flesh 
 
 On emerging from 
 two colors, he met 
 ney, who was in com- 
 at that time. The 
 what regiment he be 
 ing informed, direct- 
 where the remnant 
 stationed. For his 
 the two colors he was 
 moted by General 
 sergeant. 
 
 The day after, at 
 Hill, the regiment 
 and the men were so 
 that their uniforms 
 than blue. While 
 cross an open field, 
 
 
 ROLLED OVER AND OVER 
 
 on each shoulder beat 
 ing which he re 
 wound. 
 
 the woods with the 
 General Phil. Kear- 
 mand of his division 
 general inquired 
 longed to, and on be- 
 ed him to the point 
 of the regiment was 
 gallantry in rescuing 
 then and there pro- 
 Kearney to be color- 
 
 the battle of Malvern 
 had been marching, 
 covered with dust, 
 looked more gray 
 obeying an order to 
 they were fired upon 
 batteries stationed 
 The colonel, Garret 
 
 by one of the Union 
 
 on a hill, the gunners mistaking them for Confederates. 
 Dyckman, seeing the danger of his regiment, ordered the men to lie down, 
 and directed Levy to unfurl his flag, advance down the center of the field, 
 and wave the colors until the firing should cease. Levy promptly obeyed 
 and, when the , firing stopped, was about to return to the regiment, when a 
 volley from the enemy s pickets or sharpshooters, lined along the edge of the 
 woods, opened upon him. The staff of the colors was struck, and a ball pierced 
 the tin cup attached to his haversack. He lay down, tore his handkerchief 
 into strips, with which he tied his colors up, and then rolled over and over 
 back to the regiment, arriving safe amid the laughter and applause of his 
 comrades. 
 
58 
 
 RETALIATION 
 
 IT WAS at Charles City Cross Roads that Corporal Shambaugh captured a Con 
 federate flag. During the battle his eye was caught by the stars and bars 
 of a Georgia regiment waving defiantly amid the hail of shot and shell not 
 far away. He remarked to Sergeant Howard, who stood near him, that, as the 
 Confederates had taken some of their battle flags at Gaines Mills, and had captured 
 at the same time, nine companies of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Reserves, it would 
 be a good idea to retaliate. 
 
 The two men took up a position considerably in advance of the Federal line 
 of battle, and, when the rebels charged, Shambaugh dashed forward, in the face 
 of almost certain death, and grappled with the color-bearer for his flag. A very 
 short tussle ensued, and Shambaugh succeeded in wresting the color from the 
 bearer. Upon gaining the colors he turned and ran, and managed, in the Federal 
 countercharge, to get back to the ranks unhurt. Howard was separated from 
 Shambaugh at the beginning of the charge, and had no hand in the capture. 
 
 SEVEN WOUNDS IN SEVEN DAYS 
 
 CAPTAIN RAFFERTY S story as he tells it, shows, be 
 sides an extraordinary degree of nerve and pluck, 
 that love of fighting which seems to have been 
 characteristic of the members of the Irish Brigade. He 
 writes: 
 
 "I was seventeen years old when I enlisted as a private 
 in the Sixty-ninth New York Volunteers. This was not 
 the Sixty-ninth Militia, which, in the volunteers, had 
 
 PETER F. RAFFERTY, 
 
 private, co. B, 69th K.Y. vol. inf. another number. Both regiments, however, were enlisted 
 
 Highest rank attained: Captain. : ^ Pw Vr^L- rS4- v anr ] m riptv fivP rPr PPTlt of OUT* rpcri 
 
 Born in New York City, June 12, 1845. 1T V> all( Uineiy-Ilye p6 regl- 
 
 ment were Irishmen. We were in the Irish Brigade, 
 
 and were called into action at Malvern Hill. Va., late in the afternoon of 
 the first day of July, 1862, the last day of the fight before Richmond. The Sixty- 
 ninth, Colonel Robert Nugent, and the Eighty-eighth New York attempted to check 
 the advance of a powerful column of rebels. We were in the lead, and as soon 
 as we had exhausted our sixty rounds of cartridges, the Eighty-eighth took our 
 place until we could get a fresh supply of ammunition and go into the fight again. 
 "We had scarcely gotten well warmed up before Colonel Nugent saw that a 
 detachment of the enemy had mounted the foothills and was bearing down upon 
 
59 
 
 our flank. Nugent charged with both regiments, and we had a hand-to-hand 
 encounter with the famed Louisiana Tigers. The Terriers wiped the Tigers 
 off the field, but we were pretty well used up ourselves. 
 
 " It was in this part of the fight that I felt a stinging sensation in my right 
 thigh and realized that I was hit. It made me limp, but I concluded to stay in the 
 ring in fact there wouldn t have been anywhere else to go until there should 
 
 "I LL STAY AND FIGHT IT OUT" 
 
 have been a lull in the fighting. After we had repulsed the Tigers, our 
 company (B) took stock of the dead and wounded. Captain Thomas Leddy told 
 several of us who had been hit, to go to the rear, but there was nothing at the 
 rear that could do us any good no surgeons, no ambulances. We would be 
 among strangers, and, if our army shifted its position, it might leave us in the 
 hands of the enemy. 
 
 "I don t want to go to the rear, captain, said I, I m all right. I ll stay and 
 fight it out with the boys. So after some arguing, the captain let all of us come 
 back to the company who were able to get around. 
 
60 
 
 "But the Tigers hadn t had enough, and, at about half-past eight, they came 
 up to the assault again. There were a thousand men on each side in full view 
 of each other, and for ten minutes shooting was good. Then Colonel Nugent 
 ordered a charge, and that was the end of the Tigers. Their colonel was captured 
 and with him a good many men. 
 
 I didn t come out of this second fight in as good condition as the first. I 
 got two bullets in the mouth and the lower part of the jaw, which smashed the 
 bones and carried away part of my tongue. Besides this another went through 
 my foot entering at the top and coming out at the sole. 
 
 "I was left on the field for a long time, and two days later was captured 
 and sent to Libby, reaching there on the Fourth of July. In those last seven 
 days of fighting I had received just seven wounds but as I was rated a good 
 shot in my company, and could hit anything I fired at, it is very likely that I 
 did not have the worst of the bargain. 
 
 "I was exchanged later, and was discharged in March, 1863, on account of 
 my wounds, having served a year and a half. In 1864 I had recovered suffi 
 ciently to re-enlist in the Sixth District of Columbia Volunteers, in which I was 
 lieutenant." 
 
 CAPTURED TWO REBELS 
 
 IT WAS at the battle of Baton Rouge, La., on the 5th 
 of August, 1862, that John C. Curtis, then a second 
 lieutenant, performed an act of military daring, which 
 won the plaudits of his comrades, the commendation of 
 officers, and the official recognition of his Government. 
 Twenty-five hundred Federals faced a foe of twice 
 this strength. For eight hours the struggle continued 
 with varying success until the Union gunboats Essex, 
 Sumter, and Kineo came to the support of the troops 
 and rendered most valuable assistance. 
 
 General Williams, who in a brilliant charge led the 
 Yankees to victory, was shot in the chest and killed 
 during this engagement. Under ordinary circumstances 
 the death of the commander might have caused a panic among the 
 troops. The presence of mind of the various officers, however, prevented any 
 such disastrous effect. One of these was Second Lieutenant Curtis. His un 
 daunted courage animated and inspired the men. He was always in the lead, 
 once even approaching the enemy so closely as to be within their own rank. 
 With great coolness and nerve he captured two rebel soldiers and at the point 
 of the bayonet marched them to the regimental headquarters. 
 
 JOHN c. CURTIS, 
 
 Born at Bridgeport, Conn. 
 
61 
 
 A DANGEROUS MISSION 
 
 A 
 
 T THE battle of Cedar Mountain," writes 
 Private Yunker, "our command was 
 flanked by the enemy on the right, and 
 we came under a heavy cross-tire from our 
 own guns in the rear, while we were, at 
 the same time, under a severe fire, at close 
 range, from the Confederate batteries. Our 
 men fell dead and wounded almost by 
 companies. Captain Anderson called for a 
 volunteer to carry an order back to our 
 artillery, to cease firing on us, and notic 
 ing that the men were hesitating, I stepped 
 forward, took the order and safely deliv 
 ered it to the captain of the battery. 
 
 " On my quarter-of-a-mile trip, shot and shell and missiles of every descrip 
 tion flew around me like hail, but I reached the officer unharmed, and on my 
 return received only a slight wound in the left arm." 
 
 It requires but slight powers of reading between the lines, to discern, in 
 this brief and modest recital, a deed of the utmost bravery. It appears, that 
 the enemy, perceiving the mission of the daring volunteer, made him the ob 
 jective point of their concentrated fire during his trip to and from the battery, 
 so that his escape alive was a very narrow one. Although wounded in the 
 performance of this service, he returned to his company and resumed his place 
 in the fighting line. 
 
 JOHN L. YUNKER, 
 
 Private, Co. A, 12th U. S. Infantry. 
 Born in Wiirtemherg. Germany, November 16, 1836. 
 
 Cedar Mountain. On the 9th of August, General Pope in command of the Army of Virginia, with 
 about 32,000 men, came in contact with a rebel force, under Jackson, of between 18,000 and 20,000, at a little 
 stream called Cedar Run, near Gordonsville. Va. 
 
 The cannonading on both sides was heavy, and the battle was of short duration, fortune seeming, at 
 first, in favor of the Union men ; but a brilliant rally, led by Jackson himself, changed the conditions, and 
 the rebels drove our troops from the field. The loss to Pope s command amounted to about 1,400 ; the Con 
 federate loss being 1,307. 
 
62 
 
 A TIMELY WARNING 
 
 ONE of the most conspicuous individual incidents 
 of the second battle of Bull Run was the ex 
 ploit of James Webb, who relates the circumstances 
 and partly describes the fight. 
 
 " We went into action with the Nineteenth New 
 York Infantry, and while waiting for orders, with 
 JAMES W.WEBB, the Tenth on our left, we were permitted to make 
 
 Private, Co. F, 5th N. Y. Infantry. , 
 
 Highest rank attained: Brevet Captain. COftee. W 6 had not DCCn long at thlS, when Colonel 
 
 Born at Brooklyn, N. Y., Sept. 20, 3844. /-^ 7-. -ITJ n i <M u_ j_- -.LI 
 
 G. R. Warren rode up, and, atter a consultation with 
 
 General Reynolds, gave the order, Forward, guide center, and away we 
 went, carrying our kilters of coffee with us. We continued the march until 
 within about ten paces from the edge of the woods, where Longstreet s Army, 
 under Hood and Evans, was concealed. Six companies of the Tenth were de 
 ployed to the front as skirmishers, but in a few minutes they came back helter- 
 skelter, having found the enemy in the woods. 
 
 " The rebels came out directly behind them, so that we were unable to fire, 
 lest we fire into our own men, and we therefore opened our ranks to let the 
 skirmishers through. The enemy s fire was too much for us, and we were 
 swept off the field as if mown down by a scythe. When we got beyond the 
 creek we halted, and what was left of us reformed. 
 
 " Though we had been through the Peninsular Campaign under General 
 McClellan, we were dodging bullets like raw recruits. While thus engaged, I 
 saw that Hazlett s Battery (D), Fifth U. S. Artillery, was still in position at 
 the edge of the woods, firing away as if victory were ours, and wholly unaware 
 of the fact that our forces had drawn back. There was the battery, without 
 support of any kind, and Evans Brigade preparing to charge it. I wondered 
 what that battery was doing out there all alone, and, in my excitement I 
 called out that they would be captured. I said: 
 
 " I am going over there and tell them of their danger, and with that I 
 started across the field. 
 
 At the Second Battle of Bull Run, which occurred on the 30th of August, 1862, General Pope was in 
 command of a force near Groveton, consisting of two of Heintzelman s divisions, under Hooker and Kearney, 
 on the right, and Reno and Sigel, on the left. He was opposed by Lee s entire army. 
 
 The attack was made on the enemy s left, with disastrous result to the Union force. On the following 
 day the attack was renewed on the left, which at first retired, as Lee s plan was also to attack Pope on his 
 left. Porter s Corps, in pursuit of a supposed flying foe, received a severe check from the rebels concealed 
 in the woods, and was repulsed with great loss. 
 
 Our troops retreated across Bull Run under cover of darkness, unpursued by the enemy. 
 
 The Union loss in this engagement amounted to 14,462; the rebels lost 9,197. 
 
63 
 
 " At this time the firing had ceased, but I was no more than about fifty feet 
 from our lines when the enemy, evidently surmising my intention, opened fire 
 upon me. The bullets whistled all around me, but I kept on, for I was in a 
 place where I could not stop. 
 
 "AS WE WERE HURRYING BACK" 
 
 " I finally reached the battery, which was about 600 feet away from us, and 
 managed to say to Lieutenant Hazlett: 
 
 "The Rebs are on your front and rear! 
 
 " He looked around, and, seeing his danger, at once ordered the battery to 
 limber up to the rear, and away we went to the Warrenton Turnpike. 
 
 "Just as we started, a bullet struck me in the side and went through me. 
 As we were hurrying back, each man for himself, there was no one to assist 
 me, and, after falling down three or four times, I finally reached the turnpike, 
 where I dropped. 
 
 " After lying there some time a surgeon came along, and, seeing that I was 
 pretty badly wounded, ordered me taken to the rear, a fit subject for the hos 
 pital. This I did not want done, and. with the assistance of some of the boys, 
 I made my way to Centreville, about eight miles distant. After my wound was 
 dressed, I joined my company and fought with it through the Maryland 
 campaign." 
 
64 
 
 SURRENDER-SURRENDER " 
 
 NERVE and pluck are essential qualifications of a soldier. They were abun 
 dantly displayed by the Union men, but here is a sample which earned for 
 Sergeant Mills an official recognition and will awaken the interest of every 
 reader. The sergeant himself narrates : 
 
 " I was on the advance guard with some of our men September 4, 1862, 
 when we moved towards Sandy Cross Roads. Some noise and faint cheering 
 
 gave us our direction. When we came in sight 
 of Sandy Cross Roads, we discovered the rebels. 
 Giving the signal to our troops, we rushed in 
 on the surprised enemy as fast as our horses 
 could carry us. It happened that my horse 
 carried me in the lead. Before I realized it, 
 I was right among the rebels. That I came 
 out of the affair alive, was a surprise to me. 
 At the time, however, I thought of nothing 
 but to capture the enemy before me. Unmind 
 ful of all danger I kept yelling to them : Sur 
 render Surrender. 
 
 "The rebels were completely taken by sur 
 prise. They believed the Yankees to be miles 
 away. They were actually paralyzed and did 
 not recover from their surprise, until the cap 
 tain arrived with the rest of our troops. Then they tried a little resistance - 
 some of them even stood their ground, others ran and got behind anything 
 they could find. 
 
 " During the melee a rebel aimed his gun at Captain Hamilton, but I had 
 just time enough to spur in on him and cut him down, before he fired. 
 
 " We captured about 120 Confederates and nearly 100 horses and mules. 
 While occupied in gathering them in, a most satisfactory job for a soldier, a 
 colored lad came up to me and told me, that two prisoners had got away and 
 gone down the road with a mule and cart. He added : 
 
 " Boss, they may stop at a store four miles down the road. Here was some 
 thing for me to do ; I took one man and started after them, in the hurry even 
 forgetting to notify the captain. 
 
 "We soon came in sight of the store and, sure enough, the mule was tied 
 outside. No one saw us come up, so I dismounted, gave my bridle to my com 
 panion, and crept up to the store. The rebels were just relating their experi- 
 
 FRANK W. MILLS, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. A, 8th N. Y. City Militia. 
 
 Born at Middle town, Orange Co., New York, 
 
 August 5, 1845. 
 
65 
 
 ence with the damned Yankees, when I sailed m on them and shouted : Sur 
 render ; I fired a shot in order to scare them, and, finding their guns near the 
 door, had little trouble in capturing everything in sight. 
 
 "As we hastened the mule and the prisoners back to our lines, we barely 
 escaped being left behind by our command. Captain Hamilton was very glad to 
 
 "WE HASTENED THE PRISONERS BACK" 
 
 see us return. He had missed us, and was reluctant to go without us, though 
 he knew, that every minute spent on this ground might have brought an attack 
 by the rebels to free their comrades. 
 
 Our prisoners felt greatly mortified to think, that a sergeant and thirty-five 
 Yankee soldiers should have captured them, when it had been within their power 
 to do us up, and let no one go back to tell the story." 
 
A HIGHLY HONORED SOLDIER 
 
 JOSEPH L. FOLLET, 
 
 2d Lieutenant, Co. G, 1st Mo. L. Art. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Lieutenant-Colonel, 
 
 Born at Newark, N. J., Feb. 16, 1843. 
 
 LIEUTENANT JOSEPH L. FOLLET enlisted as a 
 private in Co. G, First Missouri Infantry in 
 1861. From September of that year he served 
 continuously throughout the war, never absent 
 from his command a single day and, though 
 twice wounded, always in active service. He 
 saw, perhaps, as much real hard fighting, and 
 actual duty, as any other man. He has the 
 distinction of being the youngest officer in 
 command of a battery. 
 
 "I was nineteen years old." Lieu 
 tenant Follet writes, "when at the 
 battle of Perryville, Ky., I had charge 
 of a battery as first sergeant. Again 
 at the age of twenty-one, as a second 
 lieutenant, I drew and equipped a 
 six-gun battery and reported to Gen 
 eral King on Lookout Mountain. I 
 commanded Fort Sheridan, one of the defenses at the right of Chattanooga, 
 which I afterward turned over to my successor. Later I was appointed ad 
 jutant of the Artillery District of the Etowah, General J. B. Steedman com 
 manding, comprising the defenses of Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga, and 
 Bridgeport." 
 
 Lieutenant Follet took part in all the battles and campaigns under Generals 
 Sheridan, Pope, King, and Steedman, who repeatedly selected him to carry 
 orders under the most trying circumstances. He himself says in regard to 
 these services: 
 
 It really looked sometimes as though I would never return. On more than 
 one occasion I had a miraculous escape from death." 
 
 That Lieutenant Follet in the pursuit of these missions overcame all 
 dangers and obstacles is evidence of his daring bravery and great presence of 
 mind. 
 
 He was wounded at the battle of New Madrid, Mo., March 2, 1862, and at 
 Farmington, Miss., May 9, 1862, yet, as stated before, continued in active serv 
 ice. He received his Medal of Honor for his intrepidity and fine soldierly 
 qualities throughout his military career and was honored by General Sheridan 
 by special mention in several reports of important battles and in the general s 
 personal memoirs. 
 
tainted by E. Jahn 
 
 AT ANTIETAM 
 
69 
 
 HEROIC STAND OF A BRAVE 
 YOUNG CORPORAL 
 
 B 
 
 WILSON SMITH, 
 
 Corporal, BatteiT H, 3d N. Y. Lt. Art. 
 Born at Oriskany Falls, N. Y., Sept. 7, 1841. 
 
 EFORE daylight of September 6, 1862, the men 
 of Battery H, New York Light Artillery 
 of which I was a corporal, were encamped in the 
 streets of Little Washington, N. C. We were 
 ordered to fall in, and an expedition consisting 
 of Battery H, four guns, a detachment of 
 cavalry and infantry and a supply train, 
 started for some point unknown to us. 
 
 " The morning was dark and foggy. Sev 
 eral gunboats lay in the stream, the men 
 on board being asleep. After the column 
 
 had moved six or seven blocks, firing was heard to the left. Then a mounted 
 officer appeared, shouting that the town had been surprised by a large force. 
 A stampede immediately followed this announcement and the column ahead was 
 in complete confusion. The cavalry following maintained discipline. The order 
 of the commanding officer: Steady, men could be plainly heard. The lieu 
 tenant in charge of one gun having disappeared in the confusion, I assumed com 
 mand and proceeded rapidly in the direction of the firing. 
 
 "After advancing some blocks we came upon the remainder of the battery 
 unlimbered and read}^ for action. We continued until we reached River Street, 
 where the gun was unlimbered and loaded with canister. Our piece was unsup 
 ported. As the men finished loading, the fog lifted, and a body of men filling 
 the entire street, and numbering about 600, was discovered marching rapidly 
 toward our gun. I hesitated, not knowing who they were. Just then Adjutant 
 Guiero, of the Third New York Cavalry, rode up and said: 
 " Young man. why don t you fire? 
 "I replied: I don t know who they are. 
 " Quite right. he said. Til soon see. 
 
 "He advanced in the direction of the men, but. in an instant, he wheeled 
 and shouted: In God s name fire! 
 
 " Then I gave the order to fire, and in a few minutes fifteen charges of 
 canister were hurled against the advancing men, who first halted, and then re 
 treated rapidly in the direction whence they came. Up to this time not one of 
 my small detachment had been injured except myself, a bullet cutting my ear 
 slightly. 
 
 " The gun was then limbered, and we followed the enemy up the street to the 
 next block, where the Tar River Bridge provides an entrance to the town. 
 
70 
 
 Upon arriving at the corner we could see that the retreating Confederates were 
 mixed in confusion with another regiment, which had been following them. 
 The officers were endeavoring to rally and reform their lines. We again at 
 tempted to unlimber the gun, but the horses, in making a short turn at the 
 entrance to the bridge, became stalled, and the gun remained fast. 
 
 " Just then the Confederates discharged a volley, a portion of which struck 
 the wheel horses, causing them to plunge and wheel. Now our men were en 
 abled to unlimber the gun. Before it could be loaded, however, the Confeder 
 ates were upon us with their bayonets, and a hand-to-hand fight ensued in front 
 
 "WE LOADED THE GUN FOR THE LAST TIME" 
 
 of the gun. During this combat John Malone and John McGrehan loaded the 
 gun with canister. We immediately discharged it, and after a few shots the 
 street was rapidly cleared of the enemy. But their rifle fire on the street was 
 terrible. Within a few minutes every man at the gun was killed except John 
 Malone and myself. Two soldiers from Battery G, one named Lincoln, the other 
 Albert Willard, three members from Potter s North Carolina Infantry, and 
 three members of the Third New York Cavalry then joined us and assisted in 
 working the gun. 
 
 "A large body of Confederates, in the meantime, had entered the grounds 
 of ex-Governor Grice s residence and was pouring volley after volley into our 
 detachment. The last charge left was a solid shot. All our newly joined com- 
 
Ti 
 rades had been killed or wounded, and Malone and I loaded the gun for the 
 last time. Just before the shot was inserted into the gun a bullet shattered 
 my knee, and as I fired, Malone received a shot through the body, which com 
 pletely paralyzed his leg. 
 
 " He threw his arms about me and I carried him on my back to the bridge 
 stairs, hobbling along with the aid of my saber. How it was possible to reach 
 the edge of the water alive, is a mystery to me. A cutter then took us both, 
 with the wounded Lincoln, to the gunboat Louisiana. As our gun ceased firing, 
 the Louisiana came into action, her guns covering the position we had 
 abandoned, and soon after the Confederates were in full retreat. 
 
 " The next day, September 7, on my twenty-first birthday, my leg was 
 amputated above the knee. While I was lying in the hospital at New Berne, Major- 
 Greneral J. B. Foster, the corps commander, and Colonel J. H. Ladlie, the regi 
 mental commander, met at my bedside. The colonel said that the action of 
 my gun detachment had saved Little Washington to the Union forces." 
 
 On September 12, 1862, Corporal Wilson Smith was promoted to the rank of 
 sergeant for the gallantry which he describes so graphically. 
 
 HELD ON TO THE REBEL 
 CAPTAIN 
 
 /^~>ORPORAL L. H. INSCHO describes his act of 
 \*-^ bravery as if it were but a mere in 
 cident in the course of his regular duty. 
 
 " I was a member of Co. E, Twelfth Ohio 
 Infantry, when, at South Mountain, Md., our 
 regiment, with others, charged the Confed 
 erates, who were posted behind a stone wall 
 on the side of the mountain. As we approached 
 the enemy, a rifle-ball struck my gun, wounding 
 my left hand. While I stopped to examine my 
 piece and my hand, the regiments made a flank 
 movement to the left, leaving me alone near the 
 wall. 
 
 "A Confederate captain was on the other side, 
 and as he came near me, I caught him by the 
 collar and told him to surrender. He refused, and pointed his revolver at my 
 head, but I caught it by the barrel and turned it up just as he fired. I clung 
 to the revolver and disarmed him, and grabbing him by the shoulders began 
 
 LEONIDAS H. INSCHO, 
 
 Corporal, Co. E, 12th Ohio Infantry. 
 Born at Chatham, Ohio, July 20, 1840. 
 
"I GOT HIM OVER THE WALL" 
 
73 
 
 to pull him over the wall. He struggled vigorously and struck me in the face 
 several times, but I got him over the wall and knocked him down compelling 
 him to surrender. 
 
 "I then turned my attention to some of his men, who were taking refuge 
 behind a clump of trees. I pointed my revolver at them and demanded their 
 surrender. Four of them dropped their guns and came over to the Union side 
 of the wall, but a fifth man came up to me with his gun in his hand and 
 swore he would not give up to a Yankee. He took aim at me as he spoke, and 
 I dropped behind the wall just as he fired. 
 
 " He turned to run away and I at once rose from my position and emptied 
 the contents of my revolver into him. I then ordered the captain and his four 
 men to fall in, and marched them over to the colonel of my regiment." 
 
 BOLDLY CAPTURED FOURTEEN REBELS 
 
 PRIVATE JAMES ALLEN furnishes a fine example of 
 audacity and presence of mind in the following 
 narration: 
 
 "On the 14th of September, 1862, our regiment 
 engaged the enemy at South Mountain, Md. A charge 
 brought us to a dense cornfield, separated from the 
 base of the mountain by a stone wall. While we were 
 charging through the corn, the command: Right 
 oblique was given, which a comrade and myself did 
 not hear. We kept straight on toward the wall. 
 When quite near it we were met by a volley which 
 checked us for a moment. My comrade said to me: 
 
 " Hold on. Jim. what shall we do? 
 
 " We ll charge them from behind that wall, I replied. 
 
 "At our approach the rebels retreated from the 
 breastworks up the steep mountain side. We followed and climbed the wall. A 
 ball struck my brave comrade in the left leg and made him unfit for further 
 
 JAMES ALLEN, 
 
 Private, Co. F, 16th N. Y. Infantry. 
 Born in Ireland, May 0, 1843. 
 
 South Mountain. After the capture of Colonel Miles with 11,583 men, at Harper s Ferry, General 
 Jackson hurried with the greater part of his force to rejoin General Lee. 
 
 McClellan learning the Confederate plan, ordered Franklin s Corps to pass through Crampton s Gap 
 of the South Mountain, a continuation of the Blue Ridge, to relieve Harper s Ferry; the corps of Reno and 
 Hooker he moved to Turner s Gap. 
 
 McClellan himself arrived at the passes on the 14th of September, but Lee had observed the move 
 ment and posted forces at both points. 
 
 A bloody all-day battle ensued in which the Union men forced the passage of the mountain. 
 
 The loss at Turner s Gap was 1,500 on each side, 1,500 prisoners being taken by the Union troops. At 
 Crampton s Gap, the loss was about 500 on each side, and 400 rebel prisoners were taken. 
 
action. I found a comfortable place 
 for the poor fellow in a crevice and 
 gave him a drink from my canteen. 
 -Richards," said L -if I pull through 
 all right* IH come and take care of 
 jam. 9 I then followed the retreat- 
 ...- .--- - - 
 
 ~By tins time they had reached 
 a road running up the mountain 
 which was skirted on our side by 
 another wait over which they had 
 disappeared. The only thing for me 
 to do was to climb also. As I drew 
 myself up, I was met by another 
 volley, but was only slightly wounded. 
 ~ Putting on a bold face, and wav 
 ing my arms, I said to my imaginary 
 company: *ITp, men. up!" 
 
 "The rebels, thinking they were 
 cornered, stacked their arms in re 
 sponse to my order to surrender. I 
 made haste to get between them 
 and the guns, and found that I had 
 fourteen prisoners and a flag taken 
 from the color-guard. 
 
 " While thus situated I saw our 
 colonel advancing up the road. Just 
 out of gunshot he stopped, and tak 
 ing his ^linmiy carefully scanned my 
 party. Be then approached, and, 
 learning the details, rode back for a guard, to whom I handed over the prisoners. 
 ~ Knowing that the mountain top was the position to be secured by my regi 
 ment, I went up in advance, and when they arrived and saw the captured 
 flag they gave three hearty cheers. I spoke to the colonel about my wounded 
 comrade lying far down the mountain side, and a party was sent at once to 
 bring him in. 
 
 ~The morning following this episode found us on the march to Antietam, 
 where we arrived at three o clock and went into the fight, charging a battery 
 that was shelling our General Hospital, where the surgeona were at work. We 
 silenced the battery and then lay on the ground, in position, for twenty- 
 four hours." 
 
 . 
 
 ~ - i 
 
JOHN COOK, THE BOY GUNNER 
 
 I WAS fifteen years of age. and was bugler 
 of Battery B. which suffered fearful 
 losses in the field at Antietam where I 
 won my Medal of Honor." writes Bugler 
 John Cook. 
 
 neraJ Gibbon, our commander, had 
 just ordered Lieutenant Stewart to take 
 his section about one hundred yards to the 
 right of the Hagerstown Pike, in front of 
 two straw stacks, when he beckoned me 
 to follow. Xo sooner had we unlinibered. 
 when a column of Confederate infantry, 
 emerging from the so-called west woods, 
 poured a volley into us. which brought 
 fourteen or seventeen of my brave com 
 rades to the ground. The two straw stacks 
 offered some kind of shelter for our wounded, 
 and it was a sickening sight to see those 
 poor, maimed, and crippled fellows, crowding on top of one another, while sev 
 eral stepping but a few feet away, were hit again or killed. 
 
 -Just then Captain Campbell unlimbered the other four guns to the left of 
 Stewart, and I reported to him. He had just dismounted, when he was hit 
 twice, and his horse fell dead, with several bullets in its body. I started with the 
 captain to the rear and turned him over to one of the drivers. He ordered me to 
 report to Lieutenant Stewart and tell him to take command of the battery. I re 
 ported, and, seeing the cannoneers nearly all down, and one. with a pouch full of 
 
 JOHX COOK, 
 
 "- _ 7 v- -7 : r: ..".".-.--. ; 
 !:"::. _ .: ,- : .-. _ 1 >-" 
 
 ABtittim. After MB repute at Sooth Mountain. General Lee, with his force reduced to about 50,000 
 crossed Antietam Creek and took op a strong position, with both flanks Testing on the Potomac, the creek 
 loving in front, crossed by three bridges and two ford*, all bat the north bridge being strongly guarded. 
 In the afternoon of Tuesday, the 16th of September. 1862. General Hooker crossed the Antietam by the 
 opper bridge, and, assisted by Somner s Corps, attacked Jackson s flank the next morning, when the bloody 
 battle began in earnest. 
 
 At one o clock Burnade carried the ridge commanding Sharpsburg and captured a battery, but a Con 
 federate division. 2,000 strong, coming op. compelled him to abandon it. 
 
 Aboot this time die battle ceased withoot apparent victory to either side and with terrible slaughter 
 on both. 
 
 Two-thirds of MeClellan s force of 90J900 had been engaged with Lee s entire army. The Union lose 
 was 12.489. of which number 2j010 were killed. The Confederates total loss was over 25.000. 
 
76 
 
 ammunition, lying dead, I unstrapped the pouch, started for the battery, and worked 
 as a cannoneer. We were then in the very vortex of the battle. The enemy had made 
 three desperate attempts to capture us, the last time coming within ten or fifteen feet 
 
 of our guns. It was at this time that General 
 Gibbon, seeing the condition of the bat 
 tery, came to the gun that stood in 
 the pike, and in full uniform of a 
 brigadier-general, worked as a gun 
 ner and cannoneer. He was very 
 conspicuous, and it is indeed sur 
 prising, that he came away alive. 
 "At this battle we lost forty- 
 four men, killed and wounded, and 
 about forty horses which shows 
 how hard a fight it was." 
 Bugler John Cook, 
 although but fourteen 
 years of age when he 
 enlisted, showed great 
 courage and daring in 
 every battle in which 
 he participated. At 
 Gettysburg, Captain 
 Stewart was compelled 
 to use the bugler as an 
 orderly because the 
 battery suffered such 
 heavy losses. He car 
 ried messages to the 
 left half of the battery, 
 nearly a half mile 
 away, the route be 
 ing well covered by 
 the enemy s riflemen, 
 who lost no opportuni 
 ty of firing at him, thus 
 
 making it a most perilous undertaking. At the same battle he assisted in de 
 stroying the ammunition of a damaged and abandoned caisson, to prevent its 
 being of use to the enemy, who were closing in on the Union men. 
 
 ASSISTING THE CAPTAIN 
 
"BOB, I LL HELP THE DOE-BOYS." 
 
 THE Fourth U. S. Artillery being short of men, and unable to get recruits for 
 the regular service, Captain Gibbon obtained permission from the War De 
 partment, to til] his battery detaching men from volunteer regiments. One of 
 
 the men selected from the 
 many who responded 
 to the call was 
 Private Wil 
 liam P. Ho- 
 garty of the 
 Twenty - third 
 New York In 
 fantry. 
 
 He was one 
 of the volun 
 teers who were 
 
 "Si"""- 
 
 promoted to the 
 vacancies in the 
 rank of non-com 
 missioned officers, and 
 was made lance corporal. 
 It is necessary to explain 
 
 here, that detached volunteers cannot hold an actual rank in the regular service. 
 Hence, when Hogarty was promoted lance corporal to h ll the vacancy in the 
 rank of non-commissioned officers, the duties and obligations of that rank were 
 exacted of him, though his pay and actual rank were not above that of a private. 
 Bright and early on the morning of September 17, 1862, made over memorable 
 as the bloodiest one-day battle of the war, General Gibbon gave orders to Lieuten 
 ant Stewart, commanding the center section, to go to the front with the ut 
 most speed, and take position in advance of the skirmish line, on an elevated 
 piece of ground to the right of the Hagerstown road, in front of a cluster of 
 wheat stacks, and facing the Dunker Church about a half mile distant. The section 
 came into action, the cannoneers mounted and the horses started on a run. The 
 men had barely time to unlimber the guns, when the charging columns of Stone 
 wall" Jackson s Infantry were upon them, determined to capture the section 
 and turn the right wing of the army. This furious onslaught was met by a 
 rapid, accurate, and deadly fire from these two Napoleon guns of Stewart s sec 
 tion, triple shotted with canister, which stopped the charge, driving the enemy 
 back with fearful loss. In this charge Stewart s section lost fourteen men out 
 of twenty-four actually engaged at the guns. 
 
 WILLIAM P. HOGARTY, 
 
 Private, Co. D, 23d New York Infantry. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Lieutenant, U. S. A., and Captain, U. S. Vols. 
 Born in New York City, Feb. 16, 1840. 
 
78 
 
 While the enemy were reforming their lines preparatory to renewing their 
 attack, the other four guns of the battery under the command of Captain J. B. 
 Campbell came up taking position on the right and left of Stewart s section, 
 the left gun resting on the Hagerstown Pike. 
 
 The battery had little opportunity to remove its wounded to a barn in the 
 rear of the wheat stacks, and to replenish its exhausted ammunition, when the 
 re-enforced columns of Jackson s Corps again came madly charging on the bat 
 tery. At the same time the enemy s artillery, massed on a hill to the right, 
 opened fire on it. This time, however, the charging masses were met by the 
 withering fire of the entire six guns, each double and triple shotted with can 
 ister. At this critical juncture the "Iron Brigade" charged the enemy on the 
 right, and a New York brigade, through the cornfield on the left. During the 
 fifteen or twenty minutes that the battle raged around Battery B, it seemed 
 that all the missiles of destruction were flying through the sulphur-laden atmos 
 phere screeching, hissing, howling their discordant song of death. 
 
 During this final charge, Corporal Hogarty perceived through the stifling air 
 one of the guns of the battery, at which all the men had been killed or disa 
 bled, standing idle on the summit of the slightly elevated ground, in a very 
 commanding position, just in advance of the line of battle. He seized a shrap 
 nel, cut the fuse to explode the shell the moment it left the muzzle of the 
 gun, and alone and unaided fired it into the ranks of the enemy. 
 
 With a few remaining men and horses the battery was moved into the corn 
 field on the left of the Hagerstown Pike, and again unlimbered for action in 
 the rear of a firing line of infantry, which acted as a screen and prevented it 
 from again becoming engaged. While here awaiting orders, Corporal Hogarty 
 picked up a loaded, new .Springfield rifle from the side of a dead soldier. The 
 gun was capped and ready for firing. Turning to one of his comrades Hogarty 
 said: "Bob, the supply of ammunition is running mighty low to-day, I think I 
 will take this gun up to the firing line and help the Doe-boys. (Doe-boys was 
 a nickname for infantry soldiers.) 
 
 After the battle of Antietam the battery, its ranks depleted marched with 
 the advance of the army through Northern Virginia to Fredericksburg in pur 
 suit of the retreating enemy. 
 
 On the evening of December 12, 1862, Battery B, with the advance of the 
 First Corps, crossed the Rappahannock River at the lower pontoon bridge. 
 
 The next morning, the 13th, the battery engaged the enemy on the extreme 
 left of the army, driving them from their entrenchments. It then swung up to 
 the Bowling Green road, and immediately became engaged with a couple of the 
 enemy s batteries posted in their front in a commanding position. 
 
 The rebels having previously measured the ground closely, marked the dis 
 tances, opened fire on the battery with deadly accuracy, but "old Battery B" 
 soon silenced them, dismounting their guns and blowing up their caissons. At 
 
79 
 
 this critical point, while getting the range for his guns, Corporal Hogarty was 
 wounded by a four-inch solid shot striking him just above the elbow, tearing 
 off his left arm, necessitating subsequent amputation at the shoulder. The force 
 of the blow whirled him around. He fell, landing on his right arm and elbow. 
 He was not, however, rendered unconscious. Three of his comrades seeing him 
 fall came to his assistance, and with a stick twisted a handkerchief around his 
 arm at the shoulder to stop, as much as possible, the flow of blood. 
 
 AT BLOODY LANE 
 
 SAMUEL C. WRIGHT, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. E, 29th Mass. Infantry. 
 
 Born at Plympton, Plymouth Co., Mass., 
 
 Sept. 29, 1842. 
 
 SERGEANT SAMUEL C. WRIGHT, during his service iii the 
 War of the Rebellion, participated in thirty battles. 
 In those engagements he was wounded five times 
 and twice reported dead. On one occasion he was 
 shot directly in the right eye, and still keeps the 
 bullet as an awful souvenir of his closeness to death. 
 In speaking of the taking of the fence at Antietam, 
 he says nothing of his own action but describes the 
 wild rush and retreat of the volunteers for that des 
 perate service. 
 
 "September 16, 1862, found our division (Richard 
 son s) in the advance from South Mountain to An 
 tietam, where we came upon the enemy. The shot from the first piece of artil 
 lery fired took off the leg of the color-bearer of my regiment. During the 
 afternoon of that day the artillery fight was at times very lively. Early the 
 next morning troops were sent to engage the enemy in our front. The roar of 
 cannon and small arms was deafening. But, while, from where we lay we could only 
 hear the cannonading, we could not see the enemy, as a growth of woods im 
 paired our view. It was. perhaps, as well, that we could not see the carnage wrought. 
 "Soon an aid-de-camp, whose horse was white with foam, rode up to our 
 position and ordered us to cross to the support of the troops so hotly engaged. 
 We left hurriedly, made a detour to the right and left, and were soon fording 
 Antietam Creek. The stream was so deep, that in crossing, we had only to re 
 move the stoppers of our canteens and they would fill themselves. We held 
 rifles and ammunition above our heads. The opposite bank reached, we re 
 moved our shoes, wrung out our stockings, and were then ordered forward, 
 straight toward the Sunken Road. Going up the hill we could see the cause 
 of our sudden call. The hill was strewn with dead and dying; yes, and with 
 those unhurt, for to stand was to be instantly killed by the sharpshooters who 
 
80 
 
 filled the Sunken Koad. The main army in line was only a few feet to the 
 rear of them. 
 
 "Some 200 yards in advance of our position, which we were holding at a 
 terrible cost, was a fence built high and strong. The troops in advance had tried to 
 scale the fence and reform under that hell of fire. They were actually torn in 
 shreds and wedged into the fence. 
 
 The cry came to us for volunteers to pull down the fence. Instantly there 
 sprang from the long line, fast being shortened as the ranks closed up over the 
 dead, seventy-six volunteers. We ran straight for the 
 fence amid a hail of iron and lead, the dead falling all 
 about us, but to reach the fence was our only thought, 
 A part of the force reached it, and, as one would 
 grasp a rail it would be sent flying out of his hands 
 by rifle-shots. 
 
 " The fence leveled, we made the attempt to return, 
 and it was as hot for us on the retreat, 
 as it had been on the advance. 
 Few escaped death or 
 wounds. I had almost 
 regained my regiment, 
 when I was hit. The line 
 then successfully pressed 
 on, and the Sunken 
 Koad, or Bloody Lane, 
 as it is now known, was 
 within our lines." 
 
 Sergeant Wright s in 
 trepidity and fine soldier 
 ly qualities were readily 
 conceded by his superior 
 officers and found sub 
 stantial recognition by 
 two promotions on the 
 field of battle. He was 
 further rewarded by be 
 ing placed in charge of 
 the prisons at Paris, Ky., 
 and Tazewell, East Ten 
 
 nessee. 
 
 "AMID A HAIL OF LEAD" 
 
81 
 
 CARED FOR THE WOUNDED 
 AMIDST A HAIL OF BULLETS 
 
 DR. RICHARD CURRAN, 
 
 Asst-Surgeon, 33d N. Y. Infantry. 
 Born in Ireland. 
 
 THE morning of September 17. 1862, the 
 command to which I belonged arrived, after 
 a forced march, on the battlefield of Antietam," 
 Assistant-Surgeon Richard Curran writes. "My regi 
 ment and brigade were immediately put into action. I 
 was the only medical officer present, and, in the absence 
 of orders how to proceed or where to report. I decided to 
 foJlow r my regiment, a course which brought me at once 
 into the midst of a battle, terrible but brief, as the enemy, 
 after a stubborn resistance, yielded, and fell far to the 
 rear. The loss in killed and wounded sustained by the 
 Third Brigade in this charge, and in the subsequent effort to hold the position, 
 was 813. 
 
 " The ground of the battlefield at this point was a shallow valley looking 
 east and w T est. The elevated land on the south was occupied by the Confeder 
 ates, while the slight ridge on the north was held by our troops and batteries. 
 From this formation of ground it was impossible for our wounded to reach the 
 field hospital without being exposed to the fire of the enemy. In a battle men 
 will suffer their wounds to go uncared for and undressed for a long time, if in 
 a measurably secure place, rather than expose their lives to obtain surgical at 
 tention; and this was the case with our wounded. At this point the injured. 
 Union and Confederate, numbering many hundred, preferred to remain close to 
 the ground, and in shelter of the valley, rather than take the risk of seeking 
 care in the rear. During the severest of the fight, and later on, I was told 
 many times by the officers and men, that if I did not seek a place of safety I 
 \vould surely be killed. I realized that the danger was great, and the warnings 
 just, for, in the performance of my work I had to be on my feet constantly, 
 with no chance to seek protection. But here were the wounded and suffering of 
 my command, and here I believed was my place of duty, even if it cost my life. 
 
 "Close to the lines, and a little to the right, were a number of straw stacks. 
 I visited the place and found that many of the disabled had availed themselves 
 of this protection. Without delay I had the wounded led or carried to the 
 place, and here, with such assistance as I could organize, although exposed to 
 the overhead firing of shot and shell. I worked with all the zeal and strength 1 
 could muster, caring for the wounded and dying until far into the night. My 
 only fear then was that my improvised straw-stack hospital would catch fire. 
 
82 
 
 But we were spared this misfortune and the harrowing scene w r hich w r ould have 
 followed. That there was good reason for this fear is illustrated by one of 
 very many similar incidents. While dressing a wound on the leg of a soldier I 
 turned away to get something to be used in the dressing. On my return I found 
 the leg had been shot off by a cannon ball. 
 
 "Happily," the doctor concludes, "in no other position could I have rendered 
 
 IMPROVISED STRAW-STACK HOSPITAL 
 
 equally good service, for I am confident that, by my action, many lives were 
 saved." 
 
 In the report of the commanding officers of the brigade, Doctor Curran is 
 mentioned in one place as follows: 
 
 "Assistant-Surgeon Richard Curran, of the Thirty-third New York Volun 
 teers, was in charge of our temporary hospital, which unavoidably was under 
 fire. He attended faithfully to his severe duties, and I beg to mention this 
 officer with particular commendation. His example is most unfortunately but 
 too rare." 
 
83 
 
 TO SAVE THE STARS AND STRIPES 
 
 T 
 
 HE First Delaware Infantry," Sec 
 ond Lieutenant Charles B. Tan 
 
 ner writes, " formed the right of Briga 
 dier-General Weber s Brigade. On the 
 morning of the 17th of September, 
 1862, we forded Antietam Creek and 
 marched in column for a mile and 
 facing to the left, advanced in line 
 of battle. We now formed the 
 first line of General French s Divi 
 sion of General Sumner s Second 
 Army Corps. 
 
 "Presently the enemy s batteries 
 opened a severe fire of spherical case, 
 shell and solid shot. We advanced 
 steadily through woods and cornfields, driving all 
 before us, and met the Confederates in two lines 
 of battle, posted in a sunken road or ravine, with 
 rudely constructed breastworks of rails, sod, etc., 
 and still a third line of troops in a cornfield forty 
 yards in the rear, where the ground was gradually 
 rising and permitted them to fire at us over the 
 heads of those below. Our right was also exposed to the sudden and terrible 
 fire from the troops who had broken the center division of our formation. 
 
 "The cornfield, where we had taken up our position terminated about 100 
 yards distant from the sunken road, leaving nothing but short grass pasture- 
 land between us. 
 
 "On coming out of the corn, we were unexpectedly confronted by heavy 
 masses of Confederate infantry, with their muskets resting on the temporary 
 breastwork. We all realized that the slaughter would be great, but not a man 
 flinched, and cheerfully we went to our baptism of fire. 
 
 "Our colonel dashed in front w T ith the ringing order: Charge! and charge 
 we did into that leaden hail. Within less than five minutes 286 men out of 
 635, and eight of ten company commanders, lay wounded or dead on that 
 bloody slope. The colonel s horse had been struck by four bullets; the lieu 
 tenant-colonel was wounded and his horse killed, and our dearly loved colors 
 were lying within twenty yards of the frowning lines of muskets, surrounded 
 by the lifeless bodies of nine heroes, who died while trying to plant them in 
 that road of death. 
 
 CHARLES B. TANNER, 
 2d Lieutenant, Co. H, 1st Del. Infantry. 
 Highest rank attained : 1st Lieut. Vols. 
 Born at Philadelphia, Pa., Nov. 25, 1842. 
 
84 
 
 " Those of us who were yet living got back to the edge of the cornfield, and 
 opened such a fire, that, though the enemy charged five times to gain possession 
 of the flag, they were driven back each time with terrible slaughter. 
 
 " We had become desperately enraged, thinking, not of life, but how to re 
 gain the broad strips of bunting under which we had marched, bivouacked, 
 suffered, and seen our comrades 
 killed. To lose what we had 
 sworn to defend with our blood, 
 would have been, in our minds, a 
 disgrace, and every man of the 
 First Delaware was ready to 
 perish, rather than allow the 
 colors to fall into the hands of 
 the enemy. Two hundred rifles 
 guarded the Stars and Stripes, 
 and, if they were not to be 
 recovered by us, the foe 
 should not have them, 
 while a single member of 
 the regiment remained 
 alive. 
 
 "Charge after charge 
 was made, and the gallant 
 Fifth Maryland, forming 
 on our left, aided in 
 the defense. The fire 
 from our lines direct 
 ed to the center of 
 that dense mass of 
 Confederates, was appall 
 ing. Over thirteen hun 
 dred noble dead were covered 
 with earth in that sunken road 
 by the burying party on the 
 following day. 
 
 "When the Maryland boys joined us, Captain Rickets, of Company C, our 
 regiment, called for volunteers to save the colors, and more than thirty brave 
 fellows responded. It seemed as if they had but just started, when at least 
 twenty, including the gallant leader, were killed and those who would have 
 rushed forward, were forced back by the withering fire. 
 
 "Maddened, and more desperate than ever, I called for the men to make 
 another effort, and before we marched fifty yards only a scattering few remained 
 
 I REACHED THE GOAL 
 
85 
 
 able to get back to the friendly corn, in which we sought refuge from the tem 
 pest of death. 
 
 " Then Major Thomas A. Smyth ( afterward Major-General, and killed 
 on the day General Lee surrendered ) said he would concentrate twenty-five 
 picked men. whose fire should be directed right over the colors. 
 
 "Do it, I cried, and I will get there! 
 
 "There were hundreds of brave men yet alive on that awful field, and, at my 
 call for assistance, twenty sprang toward me. 
 
 "While covering that short distance, it seemed as if a million bees were 
 singing in the air. The shouts and yells from either side sounded like menaces 
 and threats. But I had reached the goal, had caught up the staff which was 
 already splintered by shot, and the colors pierced with many a hole, and stained 
 here and there with the lifeblood of our comrades, when a bullet shattered my 
 arm. Luckily my legs were still serviceable, and, seizing the precious bunting 
 with my left hand, I made the best eighty-yard time on record, receiving two 
 more wounds. 
 
 "The colors were landed safely among the men of our regiment just as a 
 large body of Confederate infantry poured in on our flank, compelling us to face 
 in a different direction. We had the flags, however, and the remainder of the 
 First Delaware held them against all comers." 
 
 Lieutenant Tanner modestly forgets to mention one fact in his vivid pen- 
 picture, to wit: That he was promoted on the spot and his bravery formed 
 the text of a flattering report. 
 
 After recovering from his wounds he participated in several engagements 
 equally as exciting, and one year later was so badly disabled, that he was 
 given his discharge. Nevertheless, three months later the lieutenant again took 
 up the sword and remained in active service until the war had virtually come 
 to an end. Altogether he was wounded three times and has had as many nar 
 row escapes from death as any soldier in the army. 
 
JACOB G. ORTH, 
 
 Corporal, Co. D, 28th Pa. Infantry. 
 Born in Philadelphia. Pa., Nov. 25, 1&37. 
 
 A STRUGGLE FOR 
 
 THE COLORS 
 
 JACOB G. ORTH disposes of his own daring exploit with the follow- 
 ing sketch : " Business commenced quite early for the Twenty-eighth Penn 
 sylvania Infantry at Antietam. It was six o clock in the morning, when we 
 charged and drove the rebels back across the fields to an apple orchard where 
 we encountered a very hard task. No less than three rebel regiments and a 
 battery were our opponents. To secure a victory over them meant hard 
 fighting. 
 
 " It fell to my lot to encounter the color-sergeant of the Seventh South Car 
 olina regiment. A hand-to-hand fight ensued. The final result of our short but 
 sharp conflict was, that the Carolinian was minus his flag, and I had secured 
 the trophy. I also had a shot wound through my shoulder. Six other stands of 
 colors were taken by our regiment in this charge." 
 
 This description, though brief, is sufficiently clear to indicate a hard, stub 
 born, and desperate struggle between two men intent on the possession of the 
 same object, and reckless of the consequences to themselves. 
 
 WOUNDED WHILE CAPTURING A FLAG 
 
 AT THE battle of Antietam, Captain Theodore W. Greig, then a lieutenant in 
 the Sixty-first New York Infantry, captured the battle flag of the Fourth 
 Alabama. The two regiments were close together, firing into each other s 
 ranks, when, with a bravado spirit the Alabama color-bearer planted his flag in 
 
87- 
 
 the ground a few paces in front of his regiment, as if defying the Federals and 
 daring them to capture it. 
 
 Grreig saw it, and the thought of capturing it had no sooner entered his 
 mind, than he was off, running like mad across the open space. The flag was 
 in his hands before the Alabamians realized what was happening, but as the 
 young officer started back, a shower of bullets was sent after him. Near his 
 lines he fell, shot in the neck, but, recovering his strength, saved the flag that 
 he had so gallantly captured. 
 
 SURROUNDED BY REBELS 
 
 DURING the battle at Antietam, Colonel William H. Irwin, finding it nec 
 essary to dislodge the enemy s sharpshooters, who were annoying a Union 
 battery of four Napoleon guns, ordered the Seventh Maine out for that purpose. 
 The regiment advanced in front of the skirmishers on the left. Major Hyde 
 also threw out skirmishers and soon drove in those of the enemy from the edge 
 of a cornfield and a hollow in front of timber. 
 
 The battalion was ordered forward, and, as the enemy opened fire on it from 
 the front and left flank, a charge was ordered. With fixed bayonets the men 
 rushed forward cheering, led by the gallant major. A body of the enemy in an 
 orchard to the left, being flanked, broke and ran. Those directly in front, be 
 hind haystacks and outbuildings, also broke, and, their colors having fallen, the 
 Seventh pushed on up the hill to secure them, when a rebel regiment suddenly 
 rose from behind a stone wall on its right, poured in a volley, and, at the same 
 time, double-quicked around to the left to cut off the retreat. Those in front, 
 seeing the small number of Union troops, had rallied and advanced in force. 
 
 Looking back and seeing no chance to escape, Major Hyde marched the regi 
 ment by the left flank, formed them on a crest in the orchard, poured a volley 
 into those who were endeavoring to cut off the retreat, and faced those in front. 
 Here the regiment received a severe fire from three directions. A rebel battery 
 opened on it with grape, and it suffered heavy loss, although shielded somewhat 
 by the trees of the orchard. 
 
 Having disposed of most of their cartridges, the men retreated through the 
 orchard, gave the rebels, who attempted to follow, another volley, which drove 
 them back, and, closing up on their colors, marched back in good order to their 
 old position on the left of the Third Brigade. 
 
 The affair had lasted perhaps thirty minutes. The color-sergeant was killed 
 and all the other guards shot but one, who brought off the regimental flag rid 
 dled with bullets. Of the 181 men, who went into action, there were twelve 
 killed, sixty-three wounded, and twenty missing. 
 
THE LAST ON ANTIETAM S 
 BLOODY BATTLEFIELD 
 
 T 
 
 FRANK M. WHITMAN, 
 
 Corporal, Co. G, 35th Mass. Infantry. 
 
 Born at Woodstock, Oxford Co., Maine, Sept. 30, 1838. 
 
 o VENTURE, for the sake of wounded com 
 rades, into a conspicuous and dangerous 
 position is the height of soldierly pluck. 
 Corporal Frank M. Whitman describes it 
 thus: 
 
 "At the battle of Antietam, General Burn- 
 side, commander of the Ninth Corps, was or 
 dered to take and hold the bridge that crossed 
 a stream of water, on the opposite side of 
 which the Confederates were in large force 
 and well protected by the natural formation 
 of the bank. 
 
 "The duty of taking this bridge was given to our brigade by the commander 
 of the corps. The fight was a fierce one, but was soon won by our forces. We 
 then advanced in line of battle up the hill, driving the enemy before us, until 
 we reached a very high stone wall, behind which they made another stand. 
 This stone wall ran along the ascending slope of the next hill beyond the one 
 over which we were advancing. Our forces steadily went up and over the first 
 hill and were part way down the descending slope, when our progress was 
 stopped by the terrible fire of the enemy. 
 
 "W^e were obliged to retire. I and a few others were separated from our 
 comrades and left behind with the dead and wounded on the field. We fired a 
 last volley, receiving one in return which sent death to one of our men. 
 
 " Lying low and carefully watching, I discovered the enemy moving to an 
 other part of the field a short distance away. Cautiously I looked around among 
 the men, and found that two besides myself were alive and unhurt. Turn which 
 way one would, nothing could be seen or heard but the dead, the dying and the 
 wounded, and the suppressed moans and cries of agony from all directions; here 
 and there cries for a cooling drink of water, or a call for assistance and a help 
 ing hand. Mangled bodies of brave men, wherever one turned! A ghastly scene, 
 that will ever be before my eyes! 
 
 "We three undertook to relieve the suffering as far as we could and to get 
 the wounded away from the place. This work we continued for several hours, 
 after which we set out to find the regiment. On regaining our lines, at my 
 urgent solicitation, two officers and a number of men were sent with me to re 
 move as many wounded as possible without drawing the fire of the enemy. 
 
"On returning to the field, we found that the enemy had advanced his picket 
 line some distance beyond his own line, and well up to that of ours. Because 
 of this advance our picket would not allow us to go outside of the lines, but 1 
 pleaded with him so earnestly, that I was permitted to make the attempt to 
 get a wounded comrade of my own company. This was a very delicate task, 
 for had I attracted the attention of the enemy, an engagement would, without 
 
 I REACHED 
 
 MY WOUNDED COMRADE" 
 
 doubt, have been precipitated. Stealthily, however, I worked my way to where 
 my comrade lay, within a few feet of the enemy s pickets, and told him in a 
 whisper what I could do for him with his co-operation. My friend, though suf 
 fering great pain from a wound in the leg that caused his death three weeks 
 afterward, mutely and thankfully took up the journey to our lines, which, though 
 near, seemed yet so far away. With great difficulty the task was accom 
 plished, and we got within the lines, unobserved by the enemy, or at least 
 without drawing their fire. The two officers and other men were able to 
 remove quite a number of our wounded to a place where they could receive 
 medical care. 
 
90 
 
 " The morning dawned sad and dreary through the falling rain. Company G 
 was astir early, and counting its members, I saw only eight present, with myself 
 the sole surviving company officer. All commissioned and non-commissioned officers 
 who had been in action, except myself, were gone. Nine were killed and 
 thirty-five wounded." 
 In a later engagement the brave corporal was shot and lost his right leg. 
 
 THE FLAG WAS SAVED 
 
 THE usually brief and indifferent official 
 record grows more eloquent when it 
 refers to Sergeant William H. Paul and his 
 inspiring behavior on the field of battle. 
 The sergeant himself, modest as well as 
 brave, tells the following: 
 
 "During the battle of Antietam, our 
 corps was being vigorously attacked in a 
 wooded and hilly part of the country, 
 where our forces could not very well cope 
 with an enemy accustomed to bush fight 
 ing. Nevertheless, in a hard and deadly 
 struggle we were slowly but surely driv 
 ing the enemy back, when Color-Sergeant 
 Mason, who was in advance of our lines some 
 four or five yards, cheering us on, was shot. 
 
 " A rebel detachment immediately rushed forward to capture the fallen 
 colors. Seeing this, I placed myself at the head of a few men, probably ten in 
 number, and charged out to meet the enemy, and if possible rescue the 
 colors. We clashed with a shock, and a sharp hand-to-hand fight ensued in 
 which two of our men were killed and five so severely wounded, that they 
 were unable to be of any assistance. 
 
 "A rebel had already seized the colors, but I grasped them and with one 
 supreme effort wrenched the precious banner from his hold. Waving it high 
 above my head, I carried it throughout the remainder of the battle. In the 
 melee my comrades managed to kill one of the enemy and capture another. 
 
 "I afterwards carried the flag in all the battles in which our regiment par 
 ticipated, until after the battle of Gettysburg, when I was relieved from further 
 duty as color-bearer, because of a wound received during that battle." 
 
 WILLIAM H. PAUL, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. E, 90th Pa. Infantry. 
 
 Born at Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 3, 1844. 
 
91 
 
 PLACED HIS COMRADE S LIFE 
 ABOVE HIS OWN 
 
 AN INCIDENT during the battle of Antietam made 
 a hero of Corporal Ignatz dresser of the One 
 hundred and twenty-eighth Pennsylvania Infantry 
 and saved the life of a brave Union soldier from 
 an almost certain death. In the heat of the 
 struggle, when the telling fire of both armies 
 brought havoc to Union and Confederate ranks, 
 Gresser saw one of his comrades drop to the 
 ground, struck by the enemy s bullet. To leave 
 him where he had fallen, meant death, almost 
 inevitable; but to get at his side and carry him off, was equally as dan 
 gerous. Gresser placed the life of his wounded comrade above his own and 
 undertook the perilous task. He succeeded in carrying on his strong arms the 
 wounded man to the rear, miraculously escaping the deadly hail of balls and 
 bullets. Thus it was, that Corporal Gresser earned his medal. 
 
 IGNATZ GRESSER, 
 
 Corporal, Co. D, 128th Pa. Infantry. 
 Born in Germany. 
 
 ATTEMPTED TO SPIKE 
 
 AN ABANDONED GUN 
 
 WHEN the Union troops fell back across the Potomac, at Shepherdstown Ford, 
 Va., on the 20th of September, 1862, they had to leave a number of fieldpieces 
 to the advancing Confederates. The enemy, however, gained nothing by their 
 capture, as almost every gun had been spiked. As the Second U. S. Infantry 
 was retiring an officer of the regiment presently remembered that one large 
 gun had been overlooked and left unspiked. 
 
 "Who is willing to go and spike that gun?" he inquired. 
 
 First Sergeant Daniel W. Burke of Company B, at once offered his services. 
 The fire from the enemy was severe, but nothing daunted, he started out on 
 his perilous task and boldly attempted to unfit this gun for further service. 
 After repeated attempts to fulfill his mission, he saw that the task was impos 
 sible of accomplishment, and reluctantly returned to his own lines, which he 
 reached in safety. He was thereupon complimented by his superior officers for 
 his display of coolness and courage. 
 
92 
 
 AIM LOW AND 
 
 GIVE THEM H--L!" 
 
 CYRUS SEARS, 
 
 1st Lieutenant, llth Ohio Artillery. 
 Highest rank attained: Lieutenant-Colonel. 
 Born in Delaware Co., N. Y., March 10, 1832. 
 
 T IUKA the Eleventh Ohio Battery under my 
 
 command made a most desperate fight, 
 which was not only returned full measure, 
 pressed down and overflowing, but in 
 which it lost, in killed and wounded, 
 over 52 per cent of its entire force and 
 over 88 per cent of its combatants or 
 cannoneers or forty-eight out of fifty- 
 four men. 
 
 " The part taken by this battery in 
 the field was in violation of orders. 
 When w r e reached a point just south of 
 its battle ground which was done un 
 der pretty heavy fire from the enemy s artillery and infantry I was ordered 
 to form in battery at a point designated, and await further orders. These 
 orders never came, but the enemy did. in force, sneaking up with their pieces at 
 charge bayonets/ in plain view and at easy canister range. Though just then there 
 was a comparative lull in the enemy s firing, their bullets were s-s-z-z-z-ipping 
 among the battery with very uncomfortable frequency, and occasionally winging a 
 two or four-footed victim. On the charging masses came, 150 or 200 yards. Still the 
 battery was waiting further orders/ every man at his post, toeing the mark, 
 with everything ready under fire. 
 
 " Of course, this wait was not actually long, though it seemed longer than 
 the whole fight. Naturally, the boys grew uneasy, and chafed from seeing such 
 splendid chances for the most beautiful spot-shot going to waste, and gave ex 
 pression to views on the conduct of the war accordingly. 
 
 I uka. The battle of luka was fought on the 19th of September, 1862. General Grant, commanding 
 the Union forces entrenched at Corinth on the Tennessee River, sent General Rosecrans with 20,000 men to 
 Rienzi, and General Ord with another body of troops to luka. This plan, if successful, would have caught 
 the rebels in a triangle. General Price, who led the Confederate troops, evaded the trap and crossed the 
 country diagonally toward luka. Rosecrans followed in close pursuit and overtook the rear guard at luka. 
 That night the hostile armies camped in sight of each other and clashed at daybreak. General Hamilton 
 held the Federal right, Rosecrans commanded the center, and General Stanley the left. The battle lasted 
 until noon. The telling fire of the Federal artillery decided the day in favor of the Union cause. The 
 rebels were routed and escaped with a loss of 300 prisoners and 500 killed and wounded. The Federal loss 
 was 350 killed and wounded. 
 
93 
 
 "For example, one sergeant said: 
 
 " By God, I guess we re going to let them gobble the whole damned shooting 
 match before we strike a lick, if we don t mind and quickly too. 
 
 "A corporal replied: I guess we are obeying orders. 
 
 "Damn the orders! To wait for orders in a time like this! the sergeant re 
 torted. 
 
 " This dialogue struck a responsive chord in my mind, and was, perhaps, the 
 last straw that moved me to take a chance and shoulder the responsibility. I 
 
 "OUR BATTERY POURED A DEADLY FIRE UPON THE ENEMY" 
 
 gave the order: With canister, load, aim low. and give them hell as fast as 
 you can ! And so the fight was on. 
 
 " Before the end it became evident that the position of the guns of this bat 
 tery had become so much the bone of contention in that fight, that everything 
 else, both flags, the Union and the Confederacy, and even the damned nigger 
 were forgotten in that all-absorbing, handspike and ramrod, rough-and-tumble, 
 devil-take-the-hindmost fight for those six guns. 
 
 " I was wounded, and after the battle was ordered home to Ohio for repairs. 
 
 In recalling the fight, Lieutenant Cyrus Sears quotes the following from the 
 report of General Rosecrans: 
 
 "The enemy s line of infantry now moved forward on the battery, coming 
 up from the woods on our right on the Fifth Iowa, while a brigade showed it 
 self on our left and attempted to cross the road toward Colonel Puiczel. The 
 
94 
 
 battle became furious. Our battery poured a deadly fire upon the enemy s col 
 umn advancing up the road, while musketry concentrated upon it soon killed or 
 wounded most of the horses. When within one hundred yards they received a 
 volley from our entire line. The enemy penetrated the battery, were repulsed; 
 again returned, were again repulsed, and finally bore down upon it with a col 
 umn of three regiments, this time carrying the battery. 
 
 "Many of the cannoneers were knocked out with ramrods and handspikes 
 in the hands of the batterymen. Sands Eleventh Ohio Battery, under Lieuten 
 ant Sears, was served with unequaled bravery under circumstances of danger 
 and exposure such as rarely, perhaps never, have fallen to the lot of a single 
 battery during the war." 
 
 SPLENDID HEROISM 
 
 OF A PRIVATE 
 
 WM. G. SURLES, 
 
 Private, Co. G, 2d Ohio Infantry. 
 Born at Steubenville, Ohio, Feb. 24, 1845. 
 
 IT SEEMS strange and paradoxical even that war 
 with the horrors of the battlefield should serve 
 to bring out the highest virtues and noblest im 
 pulses of mankind. The same cannon ball that 
 carries death and injury, that destroys many a hope 
 ful life, arouses at the same time along its swift 
 and fatal course an increased feeling of patriotism, 
 awakens bravery and incites men to the most bril 
 liant deeds of heroism. Amidst the roar of guns 
 and the hail of bullets sentiments of the most ten 
 der kind are born. Love, friendship, and sacrifice 
 have found their most fervent manifestations on the 
 
 battlefield. The love and admiration that a soldier, a mere youth, bore toward 
 his commander forms a highly touching incident of the war. The scene was at 
 the battle of Perry ville, Ky, October 8, 1862, the heroes were Private W. G. 
 Surles and Colonel Anson G. McCook. 
 
 Colonel McCook, commanding the Second Ohio Infantry had attacked the 
 rebel infantry under General Bragg. The Confederates outnumbered the Union 
 forces almost three to one, but, with noteworthy skill and bravery, the latter in 
 flicted severe losses on the enemy, and retreated in good order. 
 
 "Although General Buell with a large force was within sound of our guns" 
 Private Surles says, " he did not come to our assistance and we were forced to 
 fall back. During the retreat Colonel McCook s horse was shot from under him. 
 
95 
 
 Arming himself with a musket taken from a dead soldier, he fought on foot and 
 by his own gallant example, cheered the drooping spirits of his men. The 
 ground we traversed was thickly strewn with the dead and, wounded of our own 
 army and presented a ghastly picture. 
 
 " We observed with horror that our pursuers, with the cruelty of barbarians, 
 were plunging their bayonets into the prostrate forms of many of our comrades. 
 Colonel McCook himself noticed one of the ghouls, just about to extinguish the 
 
 HE SPRANG IN FRONT OF HIS COMMANDER 
 
 life of one of our boys with his bayonet. The colonel halted, fired his musket 
 and dropped the fellow, before he could accomplish his dastardly deed. 
 
 "The death of the rebel made the enemy still more furious. A Confederate 
 soldier, a veritable giant in appearance, presently sprang from behind a tree 
 close by and took deliberate aim at the colonel. I had observed this fellow s 
 movements and realized the great danger of my beloved commander. How I 
 wished I could with a well-directed shot, end this Johnny s life. But like the 
 colonel himself I had just fired my musket and did not have time to intercept 
 the shot. My blood froze in my veins as I saw the rebel raise his gun and take 
 
96 
 
 aim at our brave leader. Presently, on the spur of the moment and moved by 
 the love and admiration I felt toward our commander I sprang directly in front 
 of Colonel McCook, ready to receive the bullet, which was to strike him. 
 
 "Happily the rebel giant was a little too slow in firing or hesitated to make 
 sure of his shot ; anyway, before he pulled the trigger, he himself was shot through 
 the head and rolled on the ground to die within a few seconds. One of the 
 crack shots of our company had frustrated his plans. 
 
 " All of this happened, while shot and shell were flying around us like hail, 
 and within less time than it takes to tell it. I should not forget to mention 
 the conclusion of the episode, for it made me the happiest man in our regiment 
 and has ever been one of the proudest moments of my life. 
 
 "When Colonel McCook saw his would-be assassin fall, he took me in his 
 arms and with tears in his eyes kissed me as a father would his son. 
 
 " We all " Private Surles ends his narration " fairly idolized our commander 
 and I m sure, every one in our regiment would have willingly sacrificed his life 
 as I was willing to do. I suppose, the fact, that at the time I was a mere boy, 
 weighing less than 100 pounds and of almost girlish appearance, while the rebel 
 was such a big, burly man, made the incident a trifle more prominent, than it, 
 perhaps, otherwise would have been." 
 
 Private Surles served with his regiment throughout the war. At the battle 
 of Chickamauga he and an older brother were fighting side by side. Both were 
 giving a good account of themselves and paying back the enemy shot for shot, 
 when the older brother was struck by a bullet, fell and died before William 
 could grasp him in his arms or bid him a last farewell. 
 
 In addition to these two battles Private Surles fought with great distinction 
 in some of the bloodiest battles of the war. 
 
 Perryville (or Chaplin Hills), Ky. In the latter part of 1862, a formidable Confederate force 
 under Generals Bragg and Kirby Smith invaded Kentucky. This invasion not only threatened the perma 
 nent occupation of the State, but also exposed the States north of the Ohio River to invasion. Learning 
 that Louisville was to be General Bragg s objective point, General Buell left a sufficient force to protect 
 Nashville, Tenn., which he occupied, and put his army in march for Kentucky, reaching Louisville on the 
 25th of September, 1862, ahead of Bragg s army. 
 
 On the 1st of October General Buell marched his army in three corps to Bardstown, but the enemy s 
 infantry had retired from that place eight hours before the arrival of the Union forces. After a sharp 
 engagement with the enemy s rear guard of cavalry and artillery, the pursuit was continued toward Spring 
 field. Upon discovering that the enemy would concentrate for battle at Perryville, General Buell moved 
 his army to that place ; the center (third) corps, under General Rousseau, arriving on the afternoon of the 7th 
 when the battle commenced, and lasted till nightfall. The engagement which terminated at night the 
 previous day, was renewed on the morning of the 8th, the First, Second and Third Corps participating. 
 
 The rebels were repulsed with a loss of 2,500 killed and wounded and 4,500 missing. The loss sustained 
 by the Federals was 3,859 killed and wounded and 489 missing. 
 
97 
 
 "THREE CHEERS FOR 
 
 THE COLOR-BEARER!" 
 
 "O 
 
 JOHN J. NOLAN, 
 
 Color-Sergeant, 8th N. H. Vol. Infantry. 
 Born in Ireland, June 24, 1844. 
 
 UR brigade left Donaldsonville on the 26th of 
 October, 1862, under command of General God 
 frey Weitzel," writes Sergeant J. J. Nolan. "After a 
 march of about four or five miles our advance guard 
 had a running fight with the Confederates, which lasted 
 all day. 
 
 "Next morning General Weitzel, seeing a number 
 of Confederates on the right bank of the Bayou La- 
 fourche, decided to throw our regiment (the Eighth 
 New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry) across it and pick 
 all we could of them. After crossing the Bayou we advanced about two miles, 
 when we discovered quite a force of Confederate cavalry in front of us. 
 
 " Colonel Hawks Fearing, of the Eighth New Hampshire, formed the regiment 
 into a hollow square to resist the cavalry, which was in close pursuit. When 
 we came to an open field the colonel deployed the regiment from square to 
 line of battle. The Confederates formed in line on a road which ran along 
 the woods to the right of the Bayou. 
 
 "By this time General Weitzel discovered that, during the night, General 
 Mouton had crossed with his whole brigade from the left to the right of the 
 Bayou, at the same time giving orders to make a pontoon of the boats that he 
 had towed up from Donaldsonville, in order to get re-enforcements to our as 
 sistance. He then ordered our regiment to advance, which we did, and after 
 throwing down the last fence between the Confederates and ourselves, the 
 colonel ordered us to charge the enemy. After advancing about half way 
 through the field, the flag staff was shot in two in my hands. I picked up the 
 several pieces and advanced shouting: Come on and chase that battery! 
 
 The Lafourche District, La. During the latter part of October, 1862, an expedition was or 
 ganized, which consisted of a brigade (five regiments of infantry, two batteries of artillery, and four 
 companies of cavalry) under command of Brigadier-General Godfrey Weitzel, and a fleet of gun-boats, 
 to move upon the western bank of the Mississippi through Western Louisiana, for the purpose of dispers 
 ing the forces assembled there under General Mouton. 
 
 The expedition arrived at Donaldsonville, La., on the 25th of October, and entered it without op 
 position. Thence the expedition proceeded to Bayou Lafourche, Thibodeaux, Berwick Bay, Boutte Sta 
 tion, Bayou des Allemands, etc., all of which places were entered. Valuable stores, freight cars, guns, 
 and accoutrements, along with many prisoners were captured. The expedition proved a perfect success 
 and gave undisputed possession of the Lafourche District to the Union Troops. 
 
98 
 
 "FLAUNTED THE STARS AND STRIPES 
 
 "Our hard 
 fight was 
 rewarded 
 with suc 
 cess. We 
 took about 
 200 pris 
 oners, one 
 piece of ar 
 tillery, and 
 routed the 
 whole Confederate 
 brigade. 
 
 "After the battle 
 
 the colonel formed line, took the colors out of my hands, and called for three 
 cheers for the color-bearer, and General Weitzel rode up and thanked me in 
 the presence of the regiment." 
 
 Colonel 0. W. Lull under date of November 16, 1862, furnishes a few more 
 details of the incident, which Sergeant Nolan, who relates the above story, omits. 
 The colonel writes : " Young Nolan was as fine and brave an Irish lad as ever 
 shouldered a gun in the Union Army. At the fight at Georgia Landing he was 
 the color-bearer and moved up and looked straight into the muzzles of the enemy s 
 artillery, as steady and cool as Marshall Ney ever faced a battery. When his 
 colors, struck by a cannon shot, fell forward on the ground, our young friend 
 threw himself prostrate on his face and gathered the colors in his outstretched 
 arms. Two or three of his own company also sprang for the flag, but young 
 Nolan held on to his treasure, and with a No you don t arose, moved on and 
 flaunted the Stars and Stripes where grape and canister fell as thick as hail 
 stones in a northern storm." 
 
99 
 
 LED A GALLANT CHARGE 
 
 T 
 
 JOHN C. BLACK, 
 
 Lieut-Colonel, 37th Illinois Infantry. 
 
 Highest rank attained : Brevet Brig-Gen., U.S.V. 
 
 Born at Lexington, Miss., Jan. 27, 1839. 
 
 E Thirty-seventh Illinois Infantry, 
 
 commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel 
 John C. Black, participated in the battle 
 of Prairie Grove, Ark., on the 7th of De 
 cember, 1862. Its position was on the 
 extreme right, supporting Captain Mur 
 phy s Battery (F. First Missouri Light 
 Artillery). After some manoeuvring the 
 regiment came to a halt, the men were 
 ordered to lie down and being exhausted 
 from marching sixty-six miles in thirty- 
 six hours, most of them fell asleep almost 
 immediately. Firing, however, by the 
 artillery on both sides, commenced with 
 in five minutes after the halt was made 
 and was kept up for an hour. 
 
 The action from this point on is best told in Colonel Black s own words: 
 At the end of an hour we were ordered to advance into the open field. A cheer 
 was given and we moved out a short distance, and remained stationary for some 
 fifteen minutes, when I was ordered by Colonel Huston, commanding the Second 
 Division, to advance the regiment down the slope to the support of the batteries 
 of the Third Division. Scarcely had this position been reached, before Colonel 
 Huston again ordered our advance against the hill, on which the center of the 
 enemy was posted in unknown strength, and from which two regiments had 
 first been driven with heavy loss. Throwing out Company A on the right and 
 Company I on the right and left, as skirmishers, I ordered a charge up the hill. 
 It was executed in fine style, the men advancing steadily and swiftly up to the 
 edge The firing of the skirmishers in front announced the enemy close at 
 hand. Clearing the edge, we stood face to face with them, their numbers over 
 whelming, one column moving by left-oblique upon our left and the right of 
 the Twenty-sixth Indiana, another moving directly upon our right. They moved 
 in column en masse, with guns at a ready. The firing began first upon the left 
 and in a few minutes was general along the line. But, pressed by overwhelm 
 ing numbers, the right of the Twenty-sixth gave way after most gallantly con 
 testing the ground. My skirmishers about the same time reported the enemy s 
 artillery posted on our right. Thus overwhelmed, the only hope from annihila 
 tion was the bayonet or retreat. The bayonet could not be used; directly in 
 
100 
 
 front of us was a rail fence, and it could not have been passed and we re 
 formed before the enemy would have been upon us; so, reluctantly, I ordered a 
 retreat. Not a man had moved from his post till that order. Falling back 
 some 300 yards, they reformed in the rear of our batteries. 
 
 "In this charge and retreat I was too seriously wounded to retain the com 
 mand, and so, turning it over to Major H. N. Frisbie, I left the field, not how 
 ever, until the regiment was reformed and had again commenced its fire." 
 
 In his report of the action Colonel Daniel Huston. Jr., who commanded the 
 Second Division of the Army of the Frontier, refers to Colonel Black s gallant 
 regiment as follows: 
 
 " Finding on my arrival at the foot of the ridge, that the other regiments 
 had fallen back so far and were so badly cut up, that it was necessary to give 
 them time to reform, I brought up the Twenty-sixth Indiana and the Thirty- 
 seventh Illinois at double-quick and ordered them to move up the hill to as 
 sault the position of the enemy, strongly posted on the crest of the ridge. 
 Throwing out a company of skirmishers from each to cover their front, both 
 regiments moved steadily and compactly forward till they reached a point 75 
 to 100 yards beyond the crest of the ridge, when the skirmishers commenced 
 firing upon the enemy, of whom comparatively few could be seen. Suddenly 
 the infantry of the enemy, which had been lying down, concealed by the thick 
 brush and leaves, rose up in one overwhelming number and poured in a deadly, 
 galling fire, which was withstood and returned by our troops with the coolness 
 and firmness of veteran soldiers. The preponderance of numbers on the part 
 of the enemy was so great that the infantry was eventually forced to retire in 
 some little confusion; but they soon reformed in good order, taking a position 
 about 250 yards from the foot of the ridge, which they maintained until the 
 close of the action. The two regiments had lost nearly one-third of their 
 number in killed and wounded in the desperate assault." 
 
103 
 
 THE SINKING CREEK VALLEY RAID 
 
 WILLIAM H. POWELL, 
 
 Major, 2d YV. Va. Cavalry. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Brevet Maj-Gen..U.S.V. 
 Born in South Wales, ti. B., May 10, 1825. 
 
 L UR regiment, the Second West Virginia Cav 
 alry." relates Major William H. Powell, 
 "having as we supposed completed its campaign 
 of 1862, was enjoying winter quarters at Camp 
 Piatt, in November 1862, on the bank of the 
 Kanawha River, about twelve miles above Charles 
 ton, S. C.. when, to the surprise and gratification 
 of the boys, they were ordered into the saddle 
 and en route for Cold Knob Mountain, at which 
 point the command was to be re-enforced by the 
 Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Colonel P. H. 
 Lane commanding. From this point we moved 
 against the Fourteenth Virginia Cavalry, then in 
 winter quarters, recruiting, occupying two separate 
 camps, one in the Sinking Creek Valley, the other 
 
 some two miles west near Williamsburg, both in Greenbriar County, twelve 
 miles west of Lewisburg. 
 
 " Leaving the Kanawha River Valley route at Connelton. to avoid suspicion 
 as to the objective point of operation, the column proceeded via the old road to 
 Lewisburg, passing through Summerville, where the command arrived the same 
 evening, having traveled sixty miles that day over rough mountain roads. 
 
 "Next morning we pushed forward as rapidly as possible through a blinding 
 snowstorm, the snow being a foot deep on the ground. About noon, while ac 
 companying the advance guard, composed of a lieutenant and eight men, I en 
 countered a squad of rebel scouts consisting also of a lieutenant and eight men. 
 We took them evidently by surprise, and, at the first sight of us. disregarding 
 my polite invitation to halt, they ran into a log cabin but a short distance away 
 from the roadside. Observing that the lieutenant had made his escape into the 
 woods beyond the cabin, I pushed on after him, ordering my lieutenant and 
 guard to surround the cabin. I captured him about a mile away. I have often 
 wondered since, why the fellow did not take a position behind a tree, and, with 
 good aim, stop my advance upon him. especially when he became convinced 
 that I was pursuing him with a determined purpose to run him down. On re 
 turning to the cabin I learned that Lieutenant Davidson had captured the entire 
 rebel squad, which result proved a very important factor in the final mission of 
 the raid, as no one escaped to report the movement of the command. 
 
 "Resuming the march we pressed forward through snow nearly two feet deep, 
 arriving at noon of the 26th on the summit of Cold Knob Mountain, where 
 we found Colonel Lane awaiting us. 
 
104 
 
 " After a conference .between Colonels Paxton and Lane, the latter decided 
 that the condition of his regiment, caused by exposure to the terrible storm and 
 deep snow of the past twenty-four hours, rendered the continuance of the march 
 utterly impracticable, and compelled him, in justice to his men and officers, to 
 return to their winter quarters at Summerville. 
 
 "Influenced by the action of Colonel Lane, Colonel Paxton submitted to the 
 officers of the regiment the question of returning to camp with Colonel Lane 
 and the Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry. This proposition met with my de 
 cided and unqualified opposition. When General Crook delivered the order to 
 make the raid upon the enemy in the Sinking Creek Valley, knowing Paxton s 
 failings, and being disposed to throw the mantle of charity over them and allow 
 him to accompany the expedition rather than detain him in camp, he had con 
 fidentially charged me not to return to camp without good results. Influenced 
 by these instructions and the fact that the men in the ranks and many of the 
 company commanders were in full accord with my views favoring a forward 
 movement, I said to the colonel that I would call for volunteers to accompany 
 me in the advance movement upon the enemy s camp. This announcement, 
 fully understood by Colonel Paxton, induced him to change his mind. He gave 
 me orders, as the major of the regiment, to make a detail and move down the 
 mountains as the advance guard. 
 
 " I ordered Lieutenant Jeremiah Davidson and twenty men of Company Gr, to 
 accompany me, and immediately moved out in advance of the regiment. Pro 
 ceeding about a mile, I met four rebel scouts at a sharp turn of the road. I 
 instantly commanded a halt, and seeing that they preferred attempting their 
 escape to a surrender, fired and charged upon them, wounding one and capturing 
 another. The remaining two made good their escape. 
 
 " From our prisoners I hastily obtained valuable information as to the strength, 
 location, and relative position of the two camps. The two scouts who had es 
 caped, having seen but a part of our advance guard, concluded, as we afterwards 
 learned, that as we did not press them closely down the mountain, we were 
 nothing more or less than a squad of Union Home Guards living in the neigh 
 borhood. 
 
 "On nearing the foot of the mountain we discovered the two escaped scouts 
 in the distance in the valley, moving leisurely towards their camp, the smoke 
 of which was perceptible to me. I halted for a moment until they had passed 
 out of my view around a point in the turn of the valley. Seeing that the coast 
 was clear, and conscious that we had no time to waste, I pushed forward rapidly 
 to the point where the scouts had disappeared, reaching it with my little band 
 unobserved by the enemy. 
 
 "I could plainly see that they were in a state of innocuous desuetude, un- 
 apprised of our proximity, and therefore unprepared to welcome us. Apprecia 
 ting the golden opportunity, I decided promptly to charge the camp. Announcing 
 
106 
 
 the situation and my purpose to my heroic little command of Lieutenant 
 Davidson and his twenty men, they answered : 
 
 " We will follow where you lead! 
 
 "Having not a moment to lose, I wheeled my command into line, facing the 
 camp, and charged my handful of men on a full run of half a mile down the 
 Sinking Creek Valley, into the center of the enemy s camp, 500 strong. We 
 were each armed with a saber and a brace of Colt s 54 caliber navy revolvers, 
 giving us 220 shots, which we held in reserve to avoid alarming the other camp, 
 some two miles away, and to be used only in case of absolute necessity. 
 
 " It was soon made evident that the camp was surprised, and that the 
 enemy s firearms were unloaded. During the brief and very exciting hand- 
 to-hand encounter which ensued, some few of their number, in their confusion, 
 ran up to us grasping us by the legs, and claiming us as their prisoners. To 
 such daring and undignified assaults and claims we responded politely by tap 
 ping them on the tops of their heads with our revolvers, which we held in our 
 hands, felling several of the rudest of them to the ground and causing them to 
 loosen their grasp. After thus dealing with them for but a moment, I demanded 
 the surrender of the rebels camp, offering the protection of their lives. These 
 terms Lieutenant-Colonel John A. Gibson promptly accepted, and surrendered 
 the command to me without reservation. 
 
 Thus I captured the camp of the Fourteenth Regiment Virginia Cavalry, 500 
 strong, in the Sinking Creek Valley, Va., November 26, 1862, without the loss 
 of a life or the firing of a gun or revolver. Colonel Paxton did not reach the 
 camp until after the surrender, at which time the other portion of the rebel 
 regiment, in camp at William sburg. came over to a point within respectful dis 
 tance to look at us. The achievement of the Sinking Creek Valley raid by a 
 mere handful of men, at noonday, far into the heart of the enemy s country, 
 requiring a continuous forced march in the saddle of thirty-six hours, from the 
 Union lines to the enemy s camp, under the most unfavorable conditions of 
 weather and roads, is an example of what a few brave, loyal, and determined 
 men can accomplish." 
 
107- 
 
 VOLUNTEER INFANTRYMEN AT THE GUN 
 
 r EXAMPLE of dashing- 
 bravery and courage, 
 which General Daniel E. 
 Sickles designates "a heroic 
 act," was furnished by Cor 
 poral John G. Palmer and 
 Private Wallace A. Beckwith 
 of Company F, Twenty-first 
 Connecticut Infantry. The 
 story is interestingly told 
 by Corporal Palmer : 
 
 k At the time of Burn- 
 side s great battle of Fred 
 ericksburg, I was a boy sev 
 enteen years of age and a 
 member of Company F, 
 Twenty-first Connecticut 
 
 Infantry. We were held in reserve in the streets of the city until the last 
 afternoon of the desperate fight. At 4:30 P.M. w^e received a hurry order to go 
 to the support of the Second Division. Away we went, glad to take an active 
 part, as we had been under fire more or less for two or three days. As soon as 
 \ve cleared the streets of the city, we w T ere exposed to a perfect shower of bul 
 lets and exploding shells from a general attack which was now taking place all 
 along the front. Amidst this terrible fire we formed and moved rapidly towards 
 the line of battle, our company marching for two or three blocks through the 
 
 WALLACE A. BECKWITH, 
 
 Private, Co. F, 21st Conn. Infantry, 
 Born at New London, Conn. 
 
 JOHN G. PALMER, 
 Corp. Co. F, 21st Conn. Infantry. 
 Born at Montville, Conn., Oct. 14, 1845. 
 
 Fredericksburg 1 . In December, 1862, General Burnside, superseding McClellan as commander-in- 
 chief of the Union Army, directed an attack against Fredericksburg, Va., on the southern bank of the 
 Kappahannock. The town is situated on the steep slopes of one of the three wooded terraces in the nar 
 row valley. The battle took place on the second terrace, while on the third the enemy under Lee 
 had gathered a force of 90,000 men. 
 
 Burnside, stationed at Falmouth was occupied from December 11 to 13 in building bridges and 
 throwing across the river the two divisions of Franklin and Sumner. On the 13th, assaults were made 
 by these divisions, which were repulsed with great loss. Hooker, ordered across, had the same experi 
 ence. The Union troops were gathered at Fredericksburg and withdrawn across the river. 
 
 Burnside s losses amounted to 13,000 men, while the Confederate loss was not more than a third 
 of that number. 
 
108 
 
 back yards of houses and dwellings. We had a most lively time pulling up and 
 scaling numerous fences to keep up with that part of the line which was meet 
 ing with less obstructions. We advanced to the scene of operations until the right 
 of the regiment reached the railroad at the depot, the line extending to the left 
 
 "THE BATTLE GREW MORE FIERCE" 
 
 through some brickkilns. A light battery of four pieces, situated on a low ridge 
 in front of the left of the regiment was shelling the enemy, whose fronts were 
 near, as fast as they could fire their guns. 
 
 " We were ordered to lie down, which we did in short order, and settled our 
 selves into the soft clay of the brickyard, which offered some degree of shelter 
 from the iron and lead which were flying so furiously around and dangerously 
 near our heads. 
 
 "After a time the fire slackened. Our assault had met with a bloody repulse. 
 Manoeuvres were immediately ordered with a view of making one more grand 
 final charge and ending the battle. 
 
 "As the attack ceased and the firing had become desultory I raised up on 
 my elbows ; the colors of the regiment brushed my face. Pushing the flag aside 
 
109 
 
 I glanced up and down the line. Our regiment appeared like two rows of dead 
 men, every one except the colonel, with his head face down in the mud as low 
 as possible. 
 
 "Presently the captain of a battery came running towards our regiment and 
 hurriedly saluting the colonel, said: For God s sake, colonel, give me six men, 
 quick, who know something about firing a gun. I haven t men enough left to 
 work my battery in the coming charge. 
 
 Our colonel faced the colors and repeated the call. Though I was the 
 youngest member of the company I had heard and seen enough for several days, 
 and especially during the previous hour, to know the seriousness of the situation, 
 to realize the probable consequences of the act, and to compare the exposure on 
 the knoll with the safety of the shelter of the brickkilns. 
 
 It took but a few moments for me to determine what to do. By the time 
 the colonel had pronounced the word men, I stepped from the ranks, closely 
 followed by Comrade Beckwith and four others. We had but a few moments to 
 look over the field and receive instructions from the sergeant, when the captain, 
 reading the signals from the church belfry, gave the order to stand by the guns 
 ready for action. 
 
 " The troops that were selected to make the final attack moved forward to 
 the charge. 
 
 "Suddenly the enemy opened with every gun and musket that could be 
 brought to bear. As we occupied the only rise of ground on our side and were 
 the only battery in action on our left, we found that several of the enemy s 
 batteries were paying us particular attention and that we had to take their con 
 centrated fire. The battle grew more fierce. 
 
 " Twilight came on ; twilight passed to darkness. It was a grand and awe- 
 inspiring spectacle one mighty and thundering roar. 
 
 "Around us rained a perfect shower of bullets, which completely riddled a 
 board fence in front of the knoll. They struck the guns and splintered the 
 spokes of the wheels. Shells exploded constantly over and around us and 
 knocked down several of my comrades. Many officers and men were killed, and 
 a great number, including several in my own regiment, were wounded in our 
 immediate rear. We kept our little battery barking. Our commander said that 
 our shells were bursting squarely in the ranks of the enemy, but our army could 
 not accomplish the impossible. The heights were too strong with earthworks, 
 cannon, and men, and the assault ended the battle for the night. 
 
 "We lived through the entire attack uninjured. Sunday morning the captain 
 of the battery thanked us heartily for our services and told us to return to our 
 regiment. Our colonel said, as he received us : I am proud of my men. 
 
110 
 
 "IT SEEMED I GRASPED 
 
 FOR DEATH" 
 
 JOHN G. B. ADAMS, 
 
 2d Lieutenant, Co. I, 19th Mass. Infantry. 
 
 Born at Groveland, Mass., Oct. 6, 1841. 
 
 IWON my medal at the charge upon Marye s 
 Heights," writes Lieutenant John G. B. 
 Adams. At that time I was second lieuten 
 ant of Company I, Nineteenth Massachusetts 
 Infantry. At Falmouth, Va., where we were in 
 camp, the Third Brigade. Second Division, Sec 
 ond Corps, received orders on the llth of De 
 cember, to march to the banks of the Rappa- 
 hannock. where we found an engineer company 
 endeavoring to lay a pontoon bridge across the 
 river. Our enemy, Barksdale s Mississippi Bri 
 gade, in the rifle-pits and houses of Fredericks- 
 burg on the opposite shore, had prevented our 
 men from completing their work. After sev 
 eral fruitless attempts to continue, the bridge was abandoned, and volunteers 
 were called for to cross in boats. My regiment and the Seventh Michigan re 
 sponded to the call and undertook the task. History tells of the hard fight 
 we had, trying to take the position of the rebels. Many a brave life was lost 
 while crossing the river, and during the subsequent severe fight clearing the city. 
 "But these were only part of the hardships which we were to undergo at 
 this place. On the 13th we were ordered up with the rest of the army to charge 
 Marye s Heights, our regiment being on the extreme right. Shots from the bat 
 teries ploughed through our ranks as we pressed forward through the streets 
 towards the enemy. Under a steep bank, not far from the rebel works, we took 
 position until the order was given to move forward. The terrible havoc which 
 took place after we had advanced over the embankment will surely stay in the 
 mind of every participant to his last day. As fast as the colors came in sight, 
 the color-bearer fell, and, in less than no time, eight were killed or wounded. 
 The color-sergeant fell and Lieutenant Edgar W. Newcomb grasped the national 
 flag. A moment later he, too, shared the fate of the sergeant. As he went 
 down, I snatched the colors. It seemed as if I grasped for death, expecting 
 every moment to be my last. 
 
 " Almost at the same instant the bearer of the state colors at my side was shot 
 and, directed by a sudden instinct. I also took possession of our state emblem. 
 Realizing that it would be sure death, and probably the loss of both colors, if we 
 remained where I was, I rushed across the field to a fence at the left, my men 
 
Ill 
 
 following. Here the regiment was reformed, we changed front, and, by lying 
 close to the ground, had a good opportunity to respond effectively to the fire of 
 the rebel sharpshooters. 
 
 The Nineteenth Massachusetts lost more than half of the men engaged and 
 was finally obliged to retreat across the river and return to camp at Falmouth." 
 
 IT SEEMED I GRASPED FOR DEATH 
 
 BOTH ARMS SHOT OFF 
 
 THE Twenty-first Massachusetts Infantry crossed the Rappahannock at Freder- 
 icksburg on the upper pontoon bridge December 12, and the next morning ad 
 vanced on the enemy s works. The Second Brigade moved forward most gallantly 
 in double line of battle, across a plain swept by a destructive fire of the enemy. 
 Colonel W. S. Clark, of the Twenty-first Massachusetts, says in his report : 
 
 " When about sixty rods from the city, Color-Sergeant Collins of Company A, 
 was shot, and fell to the ground. Sergeant Thomas Plunkett of Company E, 
 
112 
 
 seized the colors and carried them proudly forward to the farthest point reached 
 by our troops during the battle. When the regiment had commenced the de 
 livery of its fire, about forty rods from the position of the rebel infantry, a shell 
 was thrown with fatal accuracy at the flag. 
 
 "Both arms of the brave Plunkett were shot off and literally carried away, 
 and once more the colors, wet with the bearer s blood, were brought to the 
 ground. Color-Corporal Olney of Company H, immediately raised the flag and 
 defiantly bore it through the remainder of the day. Color-Corporal Barr of 
 Company C, who carried the state colors, was shot, and his post of honor and 
 danger quickly taken by Color-Corporal Wheeler of Company I. Color-Corporal 
 Miller was also wounded." 
 
 Plunkett survived his injuries and was awarded the Medal of Honor. 
 
 
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 COLONEL COLLIS "PITCHED IN 
 WITH HIS ZOUAVES 
 
 IN THE ofticial report, upon which the Medal 
 of Honor was awarded to Colonel Charles 
 H. F. Collis, it is stated that at the battle of 
 Fredericksburg General John C. Robinson, who 
 commanded a brigade, was thrown off his horse, 
 which was killed by a solid shot. Lying on 
 the ground the general called out to Colonel 
 Collis : " Pitch in, pitch in, colonel ! " 
 
 Here is the story of how Colonel Collis exe 
 cuted the order and " pitched in." He was com 
 manding the One hundred and fourteenth Penn 
 sylvania Volunteers, called the Collis Zouaves, 
 and was attached to the First Brigade, First 
 Division, Third Corps, which was commanded by General John C. Robinson. 
 
 The brigade was brought into action at the critical moment when the Penn 
 sylvania reserves, commanded by General George G. Meade, had been repulsed 
 and were being driven back towards the Rappahannock River. The enemy s in 
 fantry were pursuing the reserves, while the rebel batteries on the ridge were 
 keeping up a terrific fire of solid shot and shell. Randolph s and Livingston s 
 Batteries on the Union side were doing their utmost to protect the retreating 
 Federal soldiers, but the enemy had reached Randolph and were about to take 
 
 CHAS. H. F. COLLIS, 
 Colonel, 114th Pa. Infantry. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Brevet Maj-Gen.,U.S.V. 
 Born in Ireland, Feb. 4, 1838. 
 
113 
 
 possession of his guns, when Robinson s Brigade, led by the Collis Zouaves, came 
 up on the field at double-quick time, in column formation. General Robinson s 
 horse was disemboweled by a solid shot; his adjutant-general was severely 
 wounded, and his bugler killed, while they were all riding at the head of the 
 column. This caused a momentary check to the advance of the Zouaves, who 
 were now engaged in their first fight, though some of the officers, including 
 Colonel Collis, had seen previous service. It was a moment of supreme impor 
 tance to the Union Army. If the enemy had secured Randolph s and Living 
 ston s Batteries, and turned them upon the Union ranks, the left flank of the 
 
 COLONEL COLLIS AT FREDERICKSBURG 
 
 Army of the Potomac would have been doubled up, and serious disaster would 
 have been imminent. Colonel Collis, though a young man, only twenty-four 
 years of age, quickly took in the situation, and seizing the colors of his regiment 
 from the color-sergeant, galloped with them to the front, deploying his regiment 
 into line of battle at the same time, and attacking the advancing foe with the 
 bayonet. The charge of the Zouaves was not only brilliant, but picturesque, as 
 they were uniformed in scarlet and blue, their heads being decorated with the 
 red fez and white turban of the French Zouaves d Afrique. 
 
114 
 
 They came into collision with the enemy in the midst of the guns of Ran 
 dolph s Battery, but their advance was so impetuous as to be irresistible and the 
 enemy fell back in great confusion, leaving one entire regiment on the field, 
 which was captured by the Zouaves. Robinson s Brigade held the position thus 
 secured until the entire army retired two days later. 
 
 AT ANTIETAM AND 
 
 FREDERICKSBURG 
 
 F 
 
 OR distinguished bravery, coolness in 
 action, soldierly conduct and conspicu- 
 
 JOHN JOHNSON, 
 Private Co. D, 2d Wis. Infantry. 
 Born in Norway, March 25, 1S42. 
 
 ous gallantry at the battles of Antietam and 
 Fredericksburg." This is the inscription on 
 Private John Johnson s medal. The gallant sol 
 dier s narration follows : 
 
 "I enlisted in the Second Wisconsin Infantry, 
 but was on detached service in Captain Gibbon s 
 Light Battery, B, Fourth U. S. Artillery. 
 
 "At the battle of Antietam the enemy opened 
 fire at break of day, from a battery on a knoll, 
 about halfway between the turnpike and the east 
 wood. Shot and shell whistled over us but we 
 returned the fire and soon silenced the enemy s 
 guns. Lieutenant Stewart, who commanded the right section of Battery B was 
 ordered to take his section, to which I belonged, and proceed with Gibbon s 
 Brigade. He formed in front of Dr. Miller s, barnyard on the right, west side of 
 the pike looking south on a little ridge, close to some buildings and within 
 thirty or forty yards of a fence separating the cornfield from the pasture ground. 
 The cornfield was full of the enemy s skirmishers and sharpshooters. It was 
 here that Stonewall Jackson s troops made three desperate charges to capture 
 the battery at the point of the bayonet, and the last time came within a few 
 rods of our guns before we could stop them. The infantry of General Gibbon 
 and General Patrick s Brigade rallied to its support with equal resolution, the 
 result being as fierce and murderous a combat as ever surged about a six-gun 
 battery. Battery B was the very vortex of the fight. General John Gibbon 
 came up to one of the guns, straddled the trail, sighted the gun, and exclaimed: 
 Give them hell, boys! 
 
115- 
 
 Stewart s section in this position had three men killed and eleven wounded 
 in a few moments. Among the wounded was Sergeant Joe Herzog, who with 
 myself had hold of the handspike of the gun s trail and was trying to change 
 the position of the gun, when he was shot through the lower part of the ab 
 domen. Knowing that the wound was fatal and being in great agony, poor Joe 
 deliberately drew his revolver and shot himself through the right temple. I 
 was a cannoneer during the whole time the section and battery were engaged. 
 We were firing double canister. During this time I filled different positions at 
 the piece, including gunner. The cannoneers had been killed and wounded so 
 rapidly that those remaining had to fill their places as best they could. By this 
 time the other four guns of the battery had come up and commenced firing. 
 This terrific contest resulted in the battery driving the enemy s infantry out 
 of their cover. Our casualties in this action were forty killed and wounded. 
 At my piece there were but t\vo cannoneers left, myself and one other. As 
 near as I can remember, we fired from ten to fifteen rounds of canister, 
 brought to us by teamsters of the extra caissons, after the other cannoneers had 
 been killed or wounded. The battery limbered up and hauled off without the 
 loss of a single gun or caisson. Some of the guns had only two horses left, and 
 the battery went into action again on another part of the field during the day. 
 
 "Again, at the battle of Fredericksburg I was a cannoneer in the right section 
 (Stewart s), and filled the different positions at the gun, of cannoneers who had 
 been killed or wounded. While carrying tw r o case shots to the gun, having cut 
 the fuse of one and made it ready to be inserted, I was wounded by a piece of 
 shell, which carried away my right arm at the shoulder, with a portion of the 
 clavicle and scapula. So much of the shoulder was carried away that the cav 
 ity of the body was exposed, and the tissue of the lungs made plainly visible. 
 It has been said by comrades who were at that gun as cannoneers that I in 
 serted the shell into the gun after my arm was torn off, before I fell. This, 
 however. I do not remember. 
 
 This same shell played havoc in the section, killing two men outright. 
 Bartly Fagen of the Second Wisconsin, and Patrick Hogan of the regulars, and 
 wounding several. It has been said by survivors of this engagement that the 
 same shell also tore William Hogarty s left arm off. (See page 77 for Hogarty s 
 story.) I served in the same section and at the same gun with him in this 
 battle. 
 
 "Naturally this was my last battle." 
 
116- 
 
 "I D RATHER BE KILLED, 
 THAN CALLED A COWARD 
 
 w 
 
 MATTHEW S. QUAY, 
 
 Colonel, 134th Pa. Infantry. 
 
 Highest rank attained : Colonel, U. S. V. 
 
 Born at Diilsburg, York Co., Pa., Sept. 30, 1833. 
 
 HILE Colonel Matthew S. Quay was in com 
 mand of the One hundred and thirty-fourth 
 Pennsylvania Infantry he contracted typhoid fever 
 at Falmouth, Va., opposite Fredericksburg, in the 
 latter part of 1862. He was so broken down by the 
 disease that his friends urged him to resign his 
 commission and go home to recuperate. Colonel 
 Quay finally applied for his discharge. General 
 Tyler, handing him his papers, told him that he 
 regretted his departure, particularly at this time, 
 as they expected to go into action very soon. On 
 hearing this Colonel Quay refused to accept the papers, and declared his intention 
 of waiting for the battle. General Tyler told him, that he would be foolish to 
 remain, in his broken state of health, and furthermore, that his discharge had 
 been signed and he was a private citizen. The general said that if he went 
 into the battle, he could surely not survive it, and all concurred in the advisa 
 bility of his going home. Colonel Quay put these kindly suggestions aside with 
 an impatient gesture, and said: I ll be in this battle, if 1 have to take a mus 
 ket and fight as a private, for I would rather be killed in battle and be called 
 a fool, than go home and be called a coward." 
 
 General Tyler, seeing that further argument would be useless, gave in, and 
 made him an aide on his staff, in which capacity he fought all day and well 
 into the night in the famous battle of Fredericksburg. 
 
 FOUGHT, WHEN HE SHOULD BE AT THE 
 
 HOSPITAL 
 
 CORPORAL MARTIN SCHUBERT, Company E, Twenty-Sixth New York Infantry, 
 writes: I received my first wound at Antietam, September 17, 1862, and 
 was sent to the Columbia College Hospital, Washington, D. C., for treatment. 
 While there I was given furlough to go home, but, instead of doing so I went 
 back to the regiment, and joined it at Brook Station, Va., December 10, 1862. 
 We crossed the Rappahannock below Fredericksburg on the night of the 12th, 
 and the battle opened about seven o clock next morning. 
 
117 
 
 "My old wound, not yet healed, still gave me considerable trouble. I went 
 into the battle with the regiment, however, against the protests of my colonel 
 and captain, who insisted that I should use the furlough. I thought the Govern 
 ment needed me on the battlefield rather than at home. 
 
 "Within an hour I received another w T ound, this time in the left side. I still 
 carry the bullet. 
 
 "General Burnside knowing of the fact that I had gone into the battle while 
 I had a furlough and should have been in the hospital, promised me then and 
 there a Medal of Honor, which I received in due time." 
 
 JACOB G. FRICK, 
 
 Colonel, 129th Pa. Vol. Infantry. 
 Born at Northumberland, Pa., Jan. 23, 1825. 
 
 SEIZED THE COLORS 
 
 AND TOOK THE LEAD 
 
 c 
 
 OLONEL JACOB G. FRICK, with the One 
 hundred and twenty-ninth Pennsyl 
 vania Infantry took a prominent part 
 in the fighting at Fredericksburg. Charge 
 after charge had been made on the stone 
 wall and other parts of the rebel works, 
 each attempt meeting with a bloody re 
 pulse. In spite of these repeated failures 
 and futile efforts, it was deemed expe 
 dient to try a further experiment, and 
 Tyler s Brigade of Humphrey s Division 
 was chosen for the purpose of carrying 
 the stone wall, behind which a heavy 
 force of the enemy was strongly en 
 trenched. The brigade was formed ready 
 for the charge. Before the word was 
 given to advance, Generals Hooker, Butterfield, and Humphrey rode up to 
 Colonel Frick, who occupied his proper position in the formation in the 
 rear of the Ninety-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, on the left of the line, and 
 expressed the desire that he should lead the charge with the One hundred and 
 twenty-ninth Infantry, informing him: "that he had a most difficult job be 
 fore him." 
 
 In conformity with the desire of his superior officers, Colonel Frick moved 
 his regiment between the files of the Ninety-first, and, upon orders, led his com- 
 
118 
 
 mand boldly up to the very base of the stone wall, where the enemy poured 
 forth a merciless fire of musketry upon him, aided by the fire from numerous 
 batteries posted on Marye s Heights. 
 
 The charge was a signal failure. Flesh and blood could not stand the ter 
 rible fire which met them from the stone wall enveloping the whole command 
 in a sheet of flame. 
 
 Colonel Frick s Joss was 143 out of the 500 men of the One hundred and 
 twenty-ninth taken into action. He himself was hit by pieces of shell in the 
 thigh and right ear. A shell from the batteries concentrating their fire on the 
 charging column, struck a horse at his side and literally covered him with the flesh 
 and blood of the slaughtered animal. At the critical point of this charge the 
 color-bearer was shot down, but the colonel quickly seized the colors and took 
 the lead. Shortly afterward the flagstaff was shot off in his hands, close to his 
 head, and the flag fell drooping over his shoulders. But he steadily advanced, 
 leading his men through the terrible fire. 
 
 AT THE battle of Chancellorsville, May 3, 1863, Colonel Frick, with the One 
 hundred and twenty-ninth Pennsylvania Infantry, on the right of the bri 
 gade, occupied a conspicuous position, and was brought into action in the midst 
 of the heaviest fighting. French s Division was on his left, but the nature of the 
 ground was such that the colonel felt justified in occupying a more advanced 
 position. Having held this position against superior numbers, until many of 
 his men had fallen, and long after the troops that covered his right and left 
 had retired, he discovered that the enemy had already passed his right flank and 
 was gaining his rear. Then he retired in good order to the rear of the batteries, 
 which had gotten into position, while his steady musketry held the enemy in 
 check. 
 
 He had retired none too soon, for the enemy fell upon him, captured his col 
 ors arid a few prisoners, including his lieutenant-colonel. Colonel Frick quickly 
 rallied his men, and, in a hand-to-hand fight, recaptured comrades and colors and 
 brought to his rear as prisoners the very Confederates who had made the dash. 
 
 CAPTURED THREE HUNDRED REBELS 
 
 FIRST LIEUTENANT E. M. WOODWARD relates a most thrilling adventure, of which 
 perhaps, the most remarkable feature was his escape uninjured: 
 "At Fredericksburg the Pennsylvania Reserves held the left of our line, and 
 when we charged the rifle-pits, our brigade struck the left of Archer s and 
 passed up the Heights. I saw that the pit was still held by the enemy, and, 
 knowing the danger of leaving an armed foe in our rear, I succeeded in halting 
 
119 
 
 E. M. WOODWARD, 
 
 1st Lieutenant, 2d Pa. Reserves. 
 
 Highest rank attained : Major. 
 
 Born at Philadelphia, Pa., March 11, 1838. 
 
 some twenty men, and, with them attacked 
 the pit from high ground in the rear, hop 
 ing to hold the occupants in position until 
 assistance came. In ahout twenty minutes 
 the Seventh Reserves advanced, halted some 
 three hundred yards in our front, and opened 
 fire, their balls passing over the enemy into 
 our men. 
 
 "Instantly realizing that we should be 
 wiped out if something were not done, I 
 sheathed my sword, and. with my hat in 
 hand, advanced between the lines to the 
 rifle-pits, stopped the fire of my own men 
 and that of the enemy, and demanded 
 and received the surrender of the Nine 
 teenth Georgia regiment. The rebel color- 
 bearer attempted to escape up the heights with his flag, but I headed him off 
 
 and captured it. I gave it to Charles Uphorn, who was 
 
 soon afterwards wounded, and it fell into the hands 
 
 of the Seventh Reserves. 
 
 " By this time all but five men of my small party were 
 
 killed or wounded, and, seeing the impossibility of hold 
 ing the prisoners with this handful, I crossed the 
 
 rifle-pits, and, with a Confederate on each side, 
 
 advanced towards the Seventh, waving my 
 
 bat and thereby stopping their destructive 
 
 fire. Returning to the rifle-pits, I got the 
 
 Johnnies out, and sent them with their arms 
 
 and accoutrements over to the Seventh. 
 
 They numbered over three hundred, and 
 
 were the only prisoners taken in this battle. 
 
 With the remainder of my men I advanced 
 
 up the Heights and joined the brigade, which 
 
 was soon after crushed out and driven over 
 
 the rifle-pits. During this fight thirteen 
 
 bullets pierced my clothing and hat, but I 
 
 felt that my own men could not kill me 
 
 while I was saving their lives. It was this 
 
 conviction which gave me courage to step 
 
 between the firing lines and stop the 
 
 deadly fusilade." i 
 
 "STOPPING THEIR FIRE" 
 
 
120 
 
 SAVED HIS 
 
 CAPTAIN S BROTHER 
 
 A 
 
 FRANCIS H. GOODALL, 
 
 1st Sergeant, Co. G, llth X. H. Infantry. 
 
 Born at Bath, X. H., January 10, 1838. 
 
 T THE battle of Fredericksburg, Va.," 
 Sergeant F. H. Goodall writes, both of 
 the lieutenants being sick, I was directed by 
 Captain George E. Pingree of Company G, 
 Eleventh New Hampshire Volunteers to act 
 as lieutenant during the engagement, and 
 told that the regiment had been ordered to 
 advance from Princess Charlotte Street, Fred 
 ericksburg (in the lower part of town), to 
 attack the Confederates at 1 1 : 30 A. M. We 
 were the first regiment of our brigade to 
 make the advance, and it was our first real 
 battle. 
 
 "We marched out in the rear of the city, 
 under a very heavy fire of shot, shells, and 
 musketry, past some brickkilns, filed to the 
 right, crossed the Fredericksburg and Richmond Railroad, and went up on a little 
 crest or elevation, within twenty- five rods of the famous Stone Wall, at the foot of 
 Marye s Heights, facing McLaw s and Cobb s Confederate troops under General 
 Longstreet, without any breastworks or protection, commenced firing and so con 
 tinued until all of ths ammunition we had was expended sixty rounds to each 
 man. Our regiment remained there for six long hours under a galling fire, and 
 lost nearly 200 men in killed and wounded. After the battle, there were 620 
 dead bodies by actual count picked up on the place immediately at and close 
 by the spot where the Eleventh New Hampshire fought. 
 
 "Early in the engagement, William L. Pingree, one of the sergeants of Com 
 pany G, Eleventh New Hampshire Volunteers, and a brother of Captain George 
 E. Pingree of the same company and regiment, was very badly wounded in the 
 head, and Captain Pingree said to me: Orderly, if anything happens to me, will 
 you see that my brother Will gets off the field all right? I replied: I will 
 do so. 
 
 "Not long after that, a shell burst close by us, killed two men. and knocked 
 Captain Pingree over, so that we supposed for some little time that he would 
 not regain consciousness. But he revived, although still feeling dazed, and just 
 before dark he retired with his company and the regiment to the city, while I 
 
121 
 
 remained to take his brother off the field as I had promised, and selected Ches 
 ter Simons, another sergeant of our company, to assist me. 
 
 "So, when the firing had about ceased and we thought the battle w r as all 
 over for that day, we started to take the captain s brother off the field. But 
 we had gone only a very short distance before a wild yell broke out on our right 
 and immediately the firing began, faster and more furious than at any time 
 during the day, and we w T ere right out in the open field back of the city, ex 
 posed to the whole of it. It was the last desperate charge of General Meagher s 
 Irish Brigade, and the bullets flew like hail; but we managed to escape some 
 how and finally got back to camp in the city with the regiment, and with the 
 captain s brother, who lived almost three years before he died from the effects 
 of his terrible wound." 
 
 TRADED HIS INSTRUMENT 
 FOR A GUN 
 
 ONE of the many acts of daring and pluck 
 that occurred during the battle of 
 Fredericksburg, is here described by Ser 
 geant Philip Petty, the hero of the action : 
 
 In August, 1862, I enlisted as a musi 
 cian in the One hundred and thirty-sixth 
 Pennsylvania Volunteers, but not long aft 
 er my enlistment, I exchanged places with 
 a private of Company A, and took his gun. 
 I was soon promoted to corporal and ser 
 geant, and in the latter capacity was fre 
 quently called upon by our captain to 
 temporarily fill higher positions. 
 
 "In December, 1862. we found ourselves 
 
 encamped near Bell Plain Landing. Va., and on the morning of the 13th we 
 crossed the river below Fredericksburg. on our way to battle. While at a halt 
 near the bank of the river, we could plainly see the lines of battle to our right, 
 while in front and to our left, for a considerable distance, the ground was cov 
 ered with tall grass. We were ordered forward and advanced slowly, when 
 suddenly, within a few rods from us, the enemy s line of battle rose from the 
 grass and fired a volley into our ranks. We retaliated, lay down, loaded, rose, 
 and fired, and continued this operation until we reached the railroad, slowly 
 
 PHILIP PETTY, 
 
 Sergeant. Co. A, 13<Hh Pa. Infantry. 
 Born in Tingewick, England, May 17, 1840. 
 
122 
 
 driving the rebels back. Comrades were falling all around me and, the color- 
 sergeant being wounded, the colonel at once called for some one to carry the 
 fallen colors. At the time the colonel made this request I was busy taking 
 charge of and marching to the rear the Confederates whom we had captured in 
 the battle, and as no one else responded, I stepped up and told him 1 would 
 pick up the colors, and carried them in the advance until we were repulsed by 
 a flank movement of the enemy and were ordered to retreat. 
 
 "I PLANTED THE FLAGSTAFF IN THE GROUND" 
 
 "I had advanced a little beyond the railroad track with the colors when the 
 retreat was ordered, and, as T could not very well retreat with a gun and the 
 colors in my hands, I planted the flagstaff in the ground and fired about thirty 
 rounds into the rebels, then broke my gun by striking it on the rails, and car 
 ried the colors safely off the field. The colonel formed what was left of the 
 regiment in a hollow square, and when he told the boys what I had done, they 
 gave me three rousing cheers, after which the colonel promoted me to be color- 
 sergeant." 
 
123 
 
 A CHARGE IN WATER 
 
 AND DARKNESS 
 
 MILTON T. RUSSEL, 
 Captain, Co. A, 51st Ind. Vol. Infantry. 
 Born at North Salem, Ind., Sc]i . i">. ls::ti. 
 
 " A BOUT nine o clock on December 29, 1862." 
 /i writes Captain Milton T. Russel, " an 
 orderly came quietly along the line of sleeping 
 soldiers and in a low tone called my name, and 
 said that Colonel Streight wanted to see me. 
 I went a short distance with the orderly and 
 found the colonel and General Harker stand 
 ing by their horses in consultation. They had 
 just returned from a reconnoissance. The col 
 onel said : Russel. take your Company A, move 
 quietly to the front until you come to the river 
 (which was about 200 yards in our immediate 
 
 front), wade across, form your company on the south bank, and wait for further 
 orders. He explained that General Wood, our division commander, was ordered 
 to cross and attack the enemy at that point at daylight the next morning, and 
 he wanted to know more about the ford and find whether or not the enemy 
 were close down on the bank of the river. This move was necessary in order 
 to fully develop the enemy s position. It required but a moment to return to 
 my company and form it in line, as the men had rolled up in their blankets 
 without removing any of their clothing. It was cold and chilly, and all the men 
 were lying on their arms. Without further ceremony the company moved off. 
 As we left the regiment, the officers were busy forming the men into line to 
 support us. We moved down and crossed the river, wading it with the w T ater 
 
 Stone River. On the 30th of December, 1862, the Confederate General Bragg had concentrated 
 his army of 62,000 two miles in front of Murfreesboro, Tenn. 
 
 The position of the Union Army 43,000 strong, under the Reserves, was on the west bank of Stone 
 Eiver. The line ranged north and south three or four miles, the left wing touching the river. 
 
 On the 31st Johnson s Union Division was furiously charged and swept away by the enemy s left 
 under Bragg, who followed up his advantage by driving off Davis, and rushing upon the next division 
 under Sheridan, who retired after an hour s hard fighting, losing 1,630 of his men. 
 
 Eosecrans had massed his artillery on a knoll in the rear, which was assailed by four charges of 
 the enemy, who were repulsed with great loss. 
 
 Bragg then brought up Breckenridge with 7,000 fresh men, but his attacks were also unsuccessful. 
 
 On the 1st of January nothing was done. On the 2d, Rosecrans threw a force across the river, 
 and, with his artillery on the heights almost destroyed Breckenridge s Division, which was ordered to 
 drive him from the river. 
 
 On the 3d Bragg withdrew. His loss was 14,700 men. On the Union side there was a loss of 
 11,553. More than a third of our artillery and a large portion of our train were taken. 
 
124 
 
 in some places up to our hips. Talk about cold water or a cold bath, it was so 
 cold that our teeth chattered ! 
 
 "As the company was nearing the opposite shore a terrific volley was fired 
 from behind a rail fence not over forty steps in our front. The enemy, being 
 on higher ground than we, fired too high, their bullets taking effect in the regi 
 ment that was standing in line where we left them on the opposite side of the 
 river. There were but two ways out of the trap: one was to recross the river, 
 the other was to advance. There was only a second in which to decide which 
 horn of the dilem 
 ma to take. It 
 flashed through 
 my mind that 
 their guns were 
 empty, ours 
 loaded. I 
 gave the 
 
 "WE MOVED ACROSS 
 
 THE RIVER 
 
 command : On right into line, double-quick, charge ; and in less time than it 
 takes to tell it, we were over that fence. My boys emptied their guns, fixed 
 bayonets, and went at them. The best troops on earth will not stand with 
 empty guns and receive cold steel. The Johnnies gave way and Company A, 
 Fifty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry followed right at their heels. Before I 
 could bring the men to a halt the rebel line was driven back 400 yards and the 
 desired information obtained. Had the charge proved a failure I would have 
 been court-martialed for exceeding my orders. As it turned out all right, Uncle 
 Sam has conferred this beautiful medal on me, but no captain ever had the 
 honor of commanding a braver body of troops than I had in that charge." 
 
125 
 
 LIKE AN ANGEL AMONG 
 
 THE WOUNDED 
 
 o 
 
 N THE night of December 30, 1862, my regi 
 ment, the Fifteenth Indiana, was ordered to 
 
 REV. JOHN M. WHITEHEAD, 
 
 Chaplain of the 15th Ind. Infantry. 
 Born in Wayne Co., Ind., March 6, 1823. 
 
 cross Stone River, at the ford. The command 
 was obeyed, but as we advanced up the hill on 
 the opposite side, we met the enemy in force, and, 
 countermarching, recrossed the river. Here we 
 bivouacked. Early the next morning our colonel 
 passed along the officers lines and said : Get your 
 men up. Our pickets are falling back. The en 
 emy is advancing. In a second we were all astir, 
 and at the dawn of day the bloody battle of Stone 
 River commenced. 
 
 "Our position was between Stone River on 
 
 our left and the railroad and turnpike on our right, and directly in front of 
 Breckenridge s Corps. The tiring from the Confederate batteries was terrible 
 and very destructive. 
 
 "Colonel G. A. Wood, who commanded our regiment, was ordered to hold our 
 position on the left, nearest to the river, at all hazards. Three times he charged 
 Jackson s Brigade and three times put the enemy to flight, capturing a greater 
 number of prisoners than there were men in our own command when we went 
 into battle. But this was accomplished only with a fearful loss of life. Of my 
 own regiment every alternate man was either killed or wounded. Though a 
 non-combatant, I was with my regiment during the entire battle, comforting the 
 dying, carrying off the wounded and caring for them. 
 
 "During the struggle Captain Singleton fell, fatally wounded. I carried him 
 to the rear and remained at his side, until he breathed his last. I copied his 
 last message and sent it to his friends at home. My own next-door neighbor in 
 Westville, Ind., Captain J. N. Forster, dropped mortally wounded into my arms, 
 the same ball killing two other brave soldiers. 
 
 " Colonel I. C. B. Surnan, of the Ninth Indiana, was shot twice, one ball sever 
 ing the artery in the arm, the other penetrating the body and lodging between 
 two ribs, whence I pulled it out. 
 
 "One boot was filled with blood and he was bleeding his life away. I 
 dressed his wounds and helped him on his horse and he rode back into the ra 
 ging battle. John Long, a private, had one leg shot to pieces. He cut the dan 
 gling limb off with his pocketknife and hobbled off using his gun for a crutch, 
 until I took him up and carried him to the rear. Calvin Zenner of Company 
 
126 
 
 its 
 
 G, received a fatal wound. I carried him back. A number of soldiers gathered 
 around the dying comrade and I offered a prayer for him. He talked to all of 
 us and then said: Now boys, let us all once more sing a song together. And 
 he struck up the hymn, B ^ m 
 
 Sing to Me of Heaven. 
 Then he said: Good-bye 
 boys, I am going home. I 
 am mustered out. And he 
 closed his eyes and ceased 
 to breathe. After night 
 fall, when both armies were 
 quiet along the front lines, 
 L helped to bring the wound 
 ed to the general hospital, 
 carrying those who could 
 not walk on my shoulder 
 to the ambulance." 
 
 Chaplain John M. White- 
 head who furnishes the fore 
 going vivid pen picture from 
 the battlefield with all 
 horrors, modestly omits 
 to mention that he 
 helped many hundreds 
 of wounded soldiers, 
 brought comfort and 
 solace to a great 
 number of dying and 
 preached at many a 
 hero s grave. Col 
 onel I. C. B. Surnan 
 says of him : " I was 
 severely wounded at 
 the battle of Stone 
 River. When Chap 
 lain White head gave 
 me his assistance, he 
 was all besmeared 
 with the blood of 
 the wounded he had 
 cared for. He seemed 
 to be an angel 
 
127 
 
 the wounded, Yankees and Johnnies alike. He thought nothing of the danger 
 he was in, caring for the wounded, looking after the dead, directing and assist 
 ing their burial. I came in contact with many chaplains during my long serv 
 ice in the army and can truthfully state, that Rev. John M. Whitehead was the 
 most worthy one that ever came under my notice. In camp, on the march, and 
 on the field of battle, especially that of Stone River, his services were per 
 formed admirably, and without the hope of reward or promotion." 
 
 BROUGHT IN HIS MAJOR DEAD 
 
 JOSEPH R. PRENTICE, 
 
 Private, Co. E, 19th U. S. Infantry. 
 
 Born at Lancaster, Fairfleld Co., Ohio, 
 
 Dec. 6, 1838. 
 
 PRIVATE JOSEPH R. PRENTICE writes : " It was at the 
 battle of Stone River that Major Carpenter was 
 killed. We had been ordered to advance on the en 
 emy, so we formed up, and, inarching at ease, we left 
 the wood which had sheltered us up to that time, and 
 started to cross a large, barren field. As soon as we 
 emerged from the cover of the wood, the enemy opened 
 a terrible fusilade on us, and several of our men were 
 killed. The Confederates had a small breastwork or 
 shelter on the other side of the clearing among some 
 cedar trees, about five hundred yards from the position 
 which we occupied. From this shelter they kept up a 
 galling fire on our men. Our brigade was in the middle 
 
 of the line of attack, and very soon the rebels slackened their fire on our divi 
 sion and concentrated all their energies upon the two wings of our line. 
 
 It was evident that if the flanks were weakened, the enemy could very eas 
 ily surround us almost completely and so have us wholly at their mercy. To 
 defeat this plan Major Carpenter ordered us to retreat in good order, and, after 
 we had about faced, he fell in behind, and proceeded to follow us in the rear. 
 
 " No sooner did the enemy see us retreating, than they opened fire on us 
 again. I was in the front rank in the advance, now in the rear in the retreat, 
 and could plainly see the aw r ful destruction wrought upon our ranks by the 
 death-dealing work of the enemy. Suddenly, above the din and roar of battle, I 
 heard our major call out: Scatter and run, boys! and was about to join the 
 rest in the rush to a place of safety, when I heard a horse bearing down on me 
 like mad. As I ran, I looked around, and saw that it was Major Carpenter s 
 horse dashing after us, frenzied by several slight bullet wounds. By yelling at 
 him I managed to turn him and head him along our lines. Then I rushed after 
 
128 
 
 the boys to tell them of the fate of the major, but did not manage to see any 
 of the commanding officers until we had retreated about a quarter of a mile. 
 Then I gained permission to return and look for him. Back I went at the top 
 of my speed, and as soon as I entered the clearing the enemy s sharpshooters 
 opened a brisk fire on me. Still 1 was bound to find the major if possible, and, 
 
 "I MANAGED TO TURN THE HORSE 
 
 knowing about where he fell, rushed to the spot. Bullets ploughed up little 
 puffs of dust at my feet and whistled around my head. A short spurt more and 
 I was at the place. Glancing round I saw him lying face downward upon the 
 dust, and rushed to his assistance. But, poor fellow, he was past need of human 
 assistance ! Nevertheless, I picked him up and carried him to the rear, my ears 
 filled with the mournful dirge of the bullets that threatened me at every step." 
 
129 
 
 SAVED A BATTALION 
 
 < 
 
 \r""ir 
 
 \ 
 
 FREDERICK PHISTERER, 
 
 1st Lieutenant, 18th U. S. Infantry. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Brevet Brig-Gen., N. Y. N. G. 
 
 Bom in Germany. 
 
 THE regular brigade of the Army of the 
 Cumberland consisting of battalions from 
 the Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Nineteenth, and two 
 of the Eighteenth regiments of infantry and 
 Battery H, Fifth Artillery, marched early on a 
 gray frosty morning, December 31, 1862, from 
 Stewart s Creek, where it had bivouacked dur 
 ing the night, to the battlefield of Stone 
 River or Murfreesboro, Tenn., arriving 
 there at about eight o clock. After having 
 been drawn up in column for possibly an 
 hour the brigade was ordered into the cedars 
 to the support of the right wing which was 
 obviously being forced back by the enemy. 
 
 The two battalions of the Eighteenth 
 formed the left wing, the other three bat 
 talion the right wing. The position of the battery was between the battal 
 ion of the Sixteenth and the Second Battalion of the Eighteenth, the right and 
 left wings. 
 
 The infantry marched into the woods and after a march of about fifteen min 
 utes on a wood road, the battalions of the Eighteenth regiment received orders 
 to halt which order was executed. 
 
 After some ten minutes or more had elapsed Major Frederick Townsend, com 
 manding the detachment of the Eighteenth Infantry consisting of his own. the 
 Second and the First Battalions, received orders to return and support the battery 
 of the brigade. This order indicated that the battery was to the rear, yet, 
 there was a possibility that it might have gone to the front on another road 
 and joined the right wing. In order to make sure that this was not the case, 
 Major Townsend sent an orderly to the rear to find the battery and Lieutenant 
 Frederick Phisterer, his adjutant, volunteered to go to the front, find the remainder 
 of the brigade and ascertain whether or not the battery was with it. After a 
 gallop of about ten minutes along the wood road, which first lead directly toward 
 the approaching enemy and then turned to the right along his front. Lieutenant 
 Phisterer came up with the battalion of the Sixteenth Infantry under Major 
 Slemmer which was engaged with the enemy and under a heavy fire. From 
 the moment that he had come to the turn in the road he had been exposed to 
 musketry fire which increased in force as he came nearer the battalion of the 
 Sixteenth. 
 
130 
 
 He reported to Major Slemmer, inquired if the major had seen anything of 
 the battery, and received the information that Major Slemmer had not seen any 
 thing of it and did not know its whereabouts. 
 
 This showed conclusively that the battery was not in advance as it was 
 thought possible to be. Lieutenant Phisterer informed Major Slemmer of the 
 orders received by Major Townsend. This was the first intimation Major Slem 
 mer had received of any movement since he had struck the enemy, and as there 
 was no support on his left and any delay might cause the capture of his bat 
 talion, Major Slemmer decided to fall back. 
 
 Lieutenant Phisterer then returned by the road over which he had come un 
 der a very uncomfortable fire, and rejoined his battalion, which he found mov 
 ing out of the woods into the open field, there to support the brigade battery 
 of whose whereabouts the orderly sent by Major Townsend had brought word. 
 
 Lieutenant Phisterer, in voluntarily going to the front and continuing his 
 search for the battery in the face of a heavy fire from the enemy until he found 
 the left battalion of the right wing of the brigade, imparting to its commanding 
 officer the situation and the orders received by the left wing of the brigade, un 
 questionably saved that battalion at least and probably another battalion to its 
 right from annihilation or capture. The brigade had but barely formed in sup 
 port of its battery in the new position of the latter, when the enemy came out 
 of the woods and made most determined and repeated efforts to take the bat 
 tery, which efforts were, however, sturdily defeated by the latter, its regular sup 
 ports, and additional troops formed to the left and right of the brigade; the 
 determined assault showing that the strength of the enemy greatly exceeded the 
 few hundred men of the right wing of the regular brigade engaging him but 
 half an hour before 
 
 "FOR GOD S SAKE, 
 
 RUN!" HE RAN 
 
 SQUIRE E. HOWARD, 
 
 1st Sergeant, 8th Vt. Infantry. 
 
 Highest rnnk attained : Captain. 
 
 Born in Jamaica, Vt., May 15, 1840. 
 
 JANUARY 13, 1863, a force of infantry, which in 
 cluded the Eighth Vermont Infantry and four 
 small gun-boats, under General Godfrey Weitzel, 
 attacked an entrenched force of the enemy, sup 
 ported by the Cotton, a very formidable ironclad 
 gun-boat, at a point on the Bayou Teche, La. The 
 object of the expedition was the destruction of the 
 ironclad, as she was much more powerful than any 
 other of the fleet, and threatened the safety of the 
 camps at Brashear City. 
 
131 
 
 On the morning of the 
 second day of the fight, 
 General Weitzel asked for 
 sixty volunteers from the 
 Eighth Vermont, to act 
 as sharpshooters. They 
 were to be carried on a 
 gun-boat as near as pos 
 sible to the enemy s iron 
 clad, and there landed. to 
 steal up near enough to 
 pick off the gunners. Cap 
 tain H. F. Button of Com 
 pany H, volunteered to lead the party 
 on this dangerous mission, and was at 
 once confronted with the necessity of 
 selecting his sixty men from more than 
 twice that number, who stepped to the 
 front at the call for volunteers. When 
 finally selected, the number included 
 First Sergeant S. E. Howard of Button s 
 Company. 
 
 The party was carried on the gun-boat 
 Diana, to the point where our three gun 
 boats were hotly engaged with the enemy, 
 where it was found that the Calhoun, the 
 largest of our boats, and the flagship, carry 
 ing Commodore Buchanan, the commanding 
 officer of our fleet, had run hard aground on a 
 
 bar ; that the enemy having foreseen this, had a force in the rifle-pits on the shore 
 near by, had killed Commodore Buchanan and many men on the Calhoun, driving 
 the survivors from the guns, and were getting boats to board and capture her. 
 At this critical moment Button arrived on the Diana, and was eagerly hailed by 
 the nearest boat and asked, if he could send a message to Colonel Thomas, com 
 manding the Eighth Vermont, which in the meantime had crossed to the west 
 side of the Bayou, and was about 500 yards distant, entirely unaware of the 
 grave situation of our fleet. 
 
 Sergeant Howard volunteered to carry the message, and received this from 
 the naval officer : " Run, for God s sake, and tell Colonel Thomas that if he doesn t 
 take those rifle-pits in five minutes, the Calhoun is lost. She is hard aground, 
 Buchanan is killed, the men are driven from the guns and the enemy are pre 
 paring to board her." 
 
 ESCAPED UNHURT" 
 
132 
 
 Discarding all equipments, Howard was put ashore from a small boat and ran 
 for his life, drawing a heavy fire from the enemy the moment he mounted the 
 bank, but fortunately escaped unhurt, and delivered his message. The regiment 
 was already in line of battle, and a moment later was swooping down on the 
 doomed rifle-pits like a whirlwind. 
 
 The force in the pits was so busy trying to capture the Calhoun, that they 
 neglected to watch their flank and rear, and before they knew what had hap 
 pened, as one of the Union men expressed it, "a regiment of Yankees jumped square 
 on top of them." The pits were taken in a moment, the Calhoun was saved, 
 .and was soon afloat, roaring her defiance. 
 
 Sergeant Howard received his commission as second lieutenant, immediately, 
 and the medal which was awarded him later was accompanied by this flattering 
 notice from the authorities: To Captain S. E. Howard, for most distinguished 
 gallantry at the battle of Bayou Teche, La., January 14, 1863." 
 
 FORT HUGER TAKEN BY BOLD AND ALMOST 
 RECKLESS BRAVERY 
 
 HAZARD STEVENS, 
 
 Captain, and A. A. (i., V . S. Vols. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Brevet Brig-Gen., U. S. V. 
 
 Born at Newport, R. I., June 9, 1842. 
 
 ON THE 19th of April, 1863, the en 
 emy appeared in heavy force up 
 on the line of the Nansemond River, 
 Va., planting batteries at a number 
 of points, threatening to force a pas 
 sage, and compelling a few unarmored 
 gun-boats which assisted in the de 
 fense, improvised from ferry-boats and 
 the like, to shift their position to avoid 
 destruction. Some five miles below the 
 tow r n the river was narrowed by a 
 salient point on the opposite, or the 
 enemy s side, known as Hill s Point. 
 Here was an old earthwork - - Fort 
 Huger erected by the Confederates 
 during the first year of the war. They 
 occupied this with a battery of five 
 guns, and all efforts to dislodge, or 
 silence them by the fire of the gun 
 boats and artillery from the opposite 
 bank proved abortive. One gun-boat 
 
133 
 
 was almost destroyed, being struck over a hundred times by shot and shell, and the 
 others were repulsed. Five small gun-boats above the fort were cut off from 
 escape by its fire, and their destruction became a question of only a few days, 
 or even hours. 
 
 Such was the state of affairs when General Getty, Captain Hazard Stevens, 
 
 "STRUGGLED ASHORE WAIST DEEP IN THE WATER" 
 
 and Lieutenant R. H. Lamson of the Navy, who commanded the gun-boats, rode 
 to that part of the line opposite Fort Huger to observe it more closely. 
 
 Captain Stevens and Lieutenant Lamson climbed a tree near by to obtain a 
 better view, but the more closely it was scanned, the more formidable and un 
 approachable the fort appeared. Finally, Captain Stevens declared, that the 
 only w r ay to silence the fort was to cross the river and take it. Lieutenant 
 Lamson responded, that he would furnish the boats, if General Getty would fur 
 nish the troops, whereupon the gallant fellows hastened to lay the suggestion 
 before the general. 
 
134 
 
 He adopted it at once. As rapidly as possible a detachment of 270 men was 
 embarked on one of the gun-boats, at a landing some two miles above the fort. 
 General Getty went aboard and accompanied the expedition in person. A can 
 vas screen was drawn up all around the deck, effectually concealing the troops. 
 
 The boat steamed rapidly down the stream, followed by the other gun-boats, 
 all firing their guns and blowing their w 7 histles. The enemy, observing the 
 leader, and supposing that she was about to try to run past the battery, shotted 
 guns until she should come abreast, and within fifty yards of the fort as the 
 channel ran, all ready to blow her out of the water. 
 
 Just above the work, the vessel was run into the bank, but. glancing on a 
 pile, she struck some forty or fifty feet from the shore. At this juncture. Cap 
 tain Stevens leaped off the deck of the vessel, calling upon the troops to follow r 
 him, and struggled ashore, waist deep in mud and w r ater. He was immediately 
 followed by the troops. They waded in, climbed the steep bank, made for the 
 fort, and stormed it on the run, though the enemy opened a hot fire of musketry, 
 and reversed and fired one of their guns on the attacking party. 
 
 The capture of five guns, nine officers, and one hundred and thirty men, the 
 rescue of five gun-boats, and the occupation of a point of vital importance, were 
 the results of this achievement, one of the most brilliant of the war, accomplished, 
 too, with a loss of only four killed and ten wounded. 
 
137 
 
 LOVILO H. HOLMES. 
 
 Sergt. Co. H, 2nd Minnesota 
 
 Infantry. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Captain. 
 
 Born in Catharangus Co., N. Y., 
 
 Oct. 10th, 1830. 
 
 BYRON E. PAY. 
 
 Private, Co. H, 2nd Minn. 
 
 Infantry. 
 
 Born in I.,e Roy Township, Jef 
 ferson Co. N. Y., Oct. 2lst, 
 1844. 
 
 MILTON HANNA. 
 
 Jorp. Co. H, 2nd Minn. 
 
 Infantry. 
 
 Born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., 
 Oct 21st. 1844. 
 
 THE "D--D YANKS" DIDN T BEG FOR MERCY. 
 
 A T NOLENSVILLE, TENN., on the 15th of February, 1863, occurred an incident, in 
 ** which a small body of Union men had an opportunity to call into play all their 
 energies and determination against a party of the enemy, more than seven times 
 their number. This little squad was composed of sixteen men, of which eight re 
 ceived the Medal of Honor after the war. These eight are Joseph Burger, William 
 A. Clark, James Flannigan, Milton Hanna, Lovilo H. Holmes, Byron E. Pay, John 
 Vale and Samuel Wright, members of the Second Minnesota Infantry. Corporal 
 Milton Hanna, one of the members of this little squad, tells the story of the exploit : 
 
 "On Sunday morning, February 15th, 1863, after inspection and before breaking 
 ranks, we were ordered to report at regimental headquarters. Here we found Co. C 
 of the Ninth Ohio, commanded by the second lieutenant, awaiting us, with First 
 Lieutenant H. R. Couse, of Co. C, of the Second Minnesota, who, being the ranking 
 officer, had command of both companies. 
 
 " We received orders to go to the front to forage for mules, and started with ten 
 teams. We marched south along the turnpike about three miles from camp, on a 
 cross-road known as Concord Church Road. Here a colored man informed us that 
 just over the hill, about a half mile away, near where the turnpike crossed over, the 
 Sixth Alabama Cavalry, 500 strong, had camped the night before. After satisfying 
 ourselves that this was true, we turned to the left on the mud road, and went a mile 
 east to a farmhouse. 
 
138 
 
 " At this point Sergeant Holmes received orders from Lieutenant Couse, to take 
 fourteen men and four wagons, and go in a southwesterly direction to the foot of 
 a hill near where the turnpike crossed over, and where the enemy was supposed to 
 be, while he with the rest of the company should keep on east about three miles to 
 another farmhouse, to load the other six wagons. We could not understand why 
 we were separated, as there was more forage at either place than the ten wagons 
 could hold. 
 
 " On reaching the farmhouse, located on a little hill, with a small creek some 
 eight or ten rods away, we came to a lane leading from the house, some 500 yards 
 in length, running east and west, at the head of which were some barns, cribs, etc., 
 arranged in the form of a letter V. The sergeant at once stationed sentinels at 
 different points to prevent surprise, and John Vale, who stood at the foot of the hill, 
 was soon hailed by a colored man coming on the run, and nearly out of breath, 
 yelling : See em ! See em ! 
 
 " The enemy were west of the turnpike, and had passed into the timber where 
 we were unable to see them. They aimed to cut us off from our camp and the other 
 foraging party. Sergeant Holmes ordered me to go to the cross-road and see what 
 they were doing, while he returned to the cribs to prepare for defense. I placed my 
 self in a cedar thicket a few rods from where the enemy crossed over the turnpike, 
 and could hear them talk and laugh as the horses hoofs pattered over the road. 
 
 " The captain of the rebel cavalry remarked that he would pick up the squad of 
 fourteen blue-coats and take them prisoners, as they would not offer fight, but throw 
 up their hands and beg for mercy. He would then send them with a small guard, 
 over the hill to the reserve. 
 
 " I returned at once and reported, but the enemy had already arrived at the farm. 
 They filed into the field following the same course we had taken, spreading out and 
 making as large a showing as possible, giving us a chance to count them. They 
 numbered 125, all mounted. 
 
 " Holmes saw they were coming to us first, and ordered us to get under covei as 
 best we could, and hold our fire until he shot first. 
 
 " We can die ; said he, but we ll never surrender. 
 
 " With these orders we took refuge in the buildings. I took shelter in the lower 
 part of the barn, Holmes with two men in the hay-mow, the others in cribs, hog 
 pens, and other out-buildings between the house and barn. When the enemy 
 reached the head of the lane, they put spurs to their horses, each trying to be first 
 to catch a live Yankee. On they came across the creek, yelling : Surrender, you 
 damned Yanks ! Moments seemed hours as we sighted our rifles, and waited for 
 the signal gun. 
 
 " The advance was less than two rods from us, when three shots from the hay 
 mow took down the leading horse, which fell on its rider, and held him down during 
 the fight, after which he was taken prisoner. Other shots quickly followed, killing 
 
WE WERE HOLDING OUR FIRE" 
 
140 
 
 eight horses and wounding several men. The others quickly dismounted, and run 
 ning back, took shelter behind the fences. During their confusion we had time to 
 reload our guns, and as some loaded quicker than others, we kept up a continuous 
 fire until the enemy were driven away. 
 
 "When the fight had continued for some time, I noticed a man sitting on his 
 horse in a very dignified manner, who, we afterwards learned, was the captain in 
 charge of the command. He was out of my range, but I took careful aim and fired. 
 As he did not heed my salute, I gave him two more charges of powder and ball. 
 Those familiar with the old musket know what this meant at my end of the gun. 
 He had occasion to dismount and lead his horse farther back. I yelled that I had to 
 do something on account of my shoulder. This, of course, was done in jest, and 
 the other boys began yelling and asking why they didn t come and take the damned 
 Yanks; if they wanted us. 
 
 " The Confederates finally withdrew, and when the smoke had cleared away, we 
 found two dead rebels, several wounded, and ten dead horses. We took three 
 prisoners, and three horses who broke from their riders and came to us. Jim 
 Flannigan was mounted on one of the captured horses and sent to camp, and Charles 
 Krause, on another, was dispatched to the remainder of the company, which was 
 nowhere to be seen at that time. 
 
 "We finished loading our wagons, and prepared to return to camp. Our loss was 
 Sergeant Holmes, Charles Liscomb and Sam Louden, slightly wounded ; one mule 
 killed and a wagon-tongue broken. We had three good horses to return to Uncle 
 Sam for the dead mule." 
 
 THREE HUNDRED YANKEES AGAINST FOUR 
 
 REGIMENTS. 
 
 ON THE advance to Chancellorsville in the latter part of April, 1863, part of the 
 Sixth New York Cavalry, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Duncan 
 McVicar was detailed to the Twelfth Corps and led the right wing of the army, 
 crossing at Kelly s Ford on the Rappahannock on the 29th and the Rapidan River 
 at Germania Ford, reaching Chancellorsville in the afternoon of the 30th, when 
 orders were received from General Slocum to go to Spottsylvania Court House and 
 ascertain the force there. From prisoners taken on the advance Colonel McVicar 
 knew that a large body of Confederate cavalry was in front of us, but calling his 
 officers to him, repeated the orders to them, and the bugle sounded "forward." 
 Passing by a road through the woods, they halted where the crossroad led to 
 Spottsylvania Court House. A scouting party was sent to that point and a guard 
 sent to the rear. The command dismounted and lay by the roadside, holding their 
 horses bridles and, exhausted by continuous work, rested. In a short time the party 
 
141- 
 
 sent to the Court House returned and reported a 
 heavy force there, and just then the rear guard was 
 fired on and driven in. It was then about dusk; the 
 men sprang to their feet, some mounting, others 
 leading their horses into an open field in front of 
 the road where they formed in line. A bugle 
 sounded for a parley, when word was sent for the 
 Sixth to surrender, as they were surrounded by 
 Fitz Hugh Lee s Brigade. Colonel Me Vicar s response 
 was : " Draw sabers and cut your way through to 
 our lines." 
 
 The bugle sounded the charge, all hesitated 
 for they knew the enemy were massed in the road 
 to meet them. The first squadron was commanded 
 by Captain W. L. Heermance. After a moment s 
 delay he said to his first lieutenant, George W. 
 Goler : "George, some one must make the start," and 
 gave the order : "By fours from the right, forward, 
 charge." They started with a yell, Heermance and 
 Goler leading the first set of fours; Colonel Me Vicar on the flank of the leading column. 
 As they came from the field into the road Me Vicar was shot and instantly killed. 
 Holer s horse was shot and the rider fell with him. Heermance was in the lead and 
 alone as they struck the enemy massed in the road, who poured a volley from their car 
 bines on the advancing troops. For a moment he was without assistance, and while 
 engaged with one of the enemy on his right, another placed a pistol to his side on 
 the left and as he wheeled his horse to give a left cut, the man fired and the ball 
 
 W. L. HEERMANCE. 
 
 Captain, Oth N. Y. Cavalry. 
 
 Highest rank attained : L,ieutenant-Colonel. 
 
 Born in Kinderhook, N. Y., Feb. 33. 1837. 
 
 Chancellorsville, Va. About the middle of April, 1863, General Hooker had massed his troops, an 
 effective force of 130,000, in camp on the south side of the Rappahannock, while General Lee with his 60,000 
 remained on the north side. On the 30th of April, Hooker marched his corps to the Wilderness, around 
 Chancellorsville, where his army encamped, Lee s army being at Fredericksburg, ten miles away on the 
 same side of the river. Lee, however, knew nothing of Hooker s movement until noon of the 30th. 
 
 About noon on the 1st of May, Hooker s advance began, the march being by three different roads. 
 Sickles corps was held in reserve, to Banks Ford, at which point Hooker ordered a return to Chancel 
 lorsville. 
 
 On the 2d, Hooker prepared for a defensive battle. Lee sent "Stonewall" Jackson to the attack, he 
 driving Howard back to Hooker s center. General Pleasanton with his cavalry and General Sickles corps 
 kept Lee back, by skirmishing with Jackson s rear guard. 
 
 After dark Hooker directed Sedgwick to march towards Chancellorsville, but he was already below 
 Fredericksburg, fighting to gain the road to Chancellorsville. In the vicinity of Banks Ford he was 
 engaged on the 3d with Lee s main army where he fought until dark. He was still contesting his ground 
 on the 4th, when Hooker ordered him to retire across the river. 
 
 On the 3d, Lee s army closed in from left to right, assaulting the Union forces and directing their 
 artillery fire at the Chancellor House, Hooker s headquarters. It was at this time that Hooker was 
 temporarily disabled. The Union troops persistantly held their ground against the repeated assaults, and 
 after much hard fighting, Hooker ordered them to retire across the river, yielding the roads to Lee. 
 
 The Union loss was 12,145 and the Confederate, 12,463 
 
143 
 
 passed through his arm into his stomach, and a blow on the head knocked him from 
 his horse. As he fell his men broke through to where he was and he called on them 
 "to go on, as he was done for," which they did, driving back the Fifth and Third 
 Virginia Cavalry, who came up as reinforcements. The Second Virginia, com 
 manded by Colonel Thomas Munford, came in from Todd s Tavern, after the re 
 mainder of the Sixth had reached the forks of the road leading to the Union Army 
 at Chancellorsville and took prisoners the wounded who had been left behind. 
 Colonel Munford told Captain Heermance that the three hundred men of the Sixth 
 had held Stuart s Division of cavalry, numbering four regiments, for six hours, pre 
 venting him from joining General Lee and cutting off the Union Army line to the 
 Rapidan, and so materially changing Lee s plan of attack at Chancellorsville. 
 Colonel Heermance was taken to Richmond and Libby Prison, but was soon ex 
 changed. He was in over sixty engagements, severely wounded three times, was 
 with Kilpatrick and Sheridan on their rides around Richmond, and with four corn- 
 companies, after the fight at Yellow Tavern, charged down the Brooks Pike and 
 took his troopers inside the first line of works at Richmond, they being the first 
 Union troops to enter them. 
 
 Bugler Wells, who afterwards received the Medal of Honor for the capture of a 
 flag and its guard at Cedar Creek, was chief bugler and sounded the charge at 
 McVicar s order, and was with him when he fell. 
 
 AN EXTENDED HAIR CUT. 
 
 /CORPORAL STEPHEN O NEILL tells an amusing story 
 ^-^ in connection with the incident at Chancellors 
 ville, which earned for him his Medal of Honor. He 
 says : 
 
 "Our regiment, the Seventh U. S. Infantry, of 
 which I was a corporal, on the night of April 30th, 
 camped on a highway near Chancellorsville, Va. The 
 enemy was in front of us ; we could hear the bands 
 playing. Our pickets were sent out at once and pio 
 neers ordered to chop down all the trees, in order to 
 obstruct a possible attack from the enemy. By day 
 light we were all on the alert, waiting for the next 
 command. I sat down to get my hair cut. The 
 
 barber was about half done when the assembly sounded, and we had to fall in. 
 Then came the order to double quick to meet the enemy. Line of battle was 
 formed on a clearing off the road. We soon met the enemy and were but a short 
 
 STEPHEN O NEILL, 
 
 Corporal Co. E, Tth U. S. Inf. 
 
 Born in St. John, P. Q., Canada, 
 
144 
 
 time engaged, when the color-bearer who carried the national flag was mortally 
 wounded. I was close at his side when the poor fellow staggered and dropped. 
 Stepping up to w r here he lay, I quickly picked up the colors and bore them through 
 out the battle, leading our men to victory. Our own loss in killed and wounded was 
 rather heavy. We were not allowed to maintain the position which we had gained 
 in the struggle, but were ordered to retreat to our original position which we had left 
 in the morning. We had just stacked our arms, the pickets had gone out again and 
 I had just sat down on the same stump to have my haircut finished, when with a 
 bang ! bang ! bang ! the rebels came down on us. We ran for our guns and com 
 menced firing. The enemy found, however, that there was too much climbing over 
 the trees which had been felled the night before and retired under our well directed 
 fire. We were ordered to another position of the line on the next morning, May 
 2nd, and held it all day, fighting, resting, playing poker, and eating at intervals. 
 At night we retreated to our old camp ground near Falmouth, a sorry and disap 
 pointed lot of boys. Then I had the haircut completed." 
 
 SOLDIERS AS GOOD 
 SAMARITANS. 
 
 A T CHANCELLORSVILLE, four mem- 
 * bers of Company A, Sixty-sixth 
 Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Wallace W. 
 Cranston, Henry Heller, Thomas 
 Thompson, and Elisha B. Seaman, 
 accomplished a deed, which won the 
 admiration of their comrades, the 
 gratitude of the enemy, and a Medal 
 of Honor from the Government. 
 
 This story is told by Private Cran 
 ston as follows : " At about nine 
 o clock in the morning, the Twenty- 
 third North Carolina Infantry came 
 up the plank road, and marched by 
 platoons to within about seventy-five 
 yards of our works. A few charges 
 of grape and canister from a Penn 
 sylvania battery, stationed with our 
 division on the plank road, served to stop their progress. 
 
 " In their retreat they left a Confederate soldier on the road. The poor fellow s 
 piteous cries for help attracted the attention of the commanding general, who was 
 
 WALLACE W. CRANSTON. 
 
 Private, Co. A, 6Gth Ohio Vol. Infantry. 
 
 Highest rank attained ; Captain. 
 Born near Woodstock, Ohio, Nov. 20th, 1839. 
 
145 
 
 passing along the lines. He asked for volunteers to go out and bring him in. * The 
 roads are full of rebels/ said he, but if you go boldly down unarmed, they will know 
 that you are after a wounded man and will surely not be so inhuman as to fire on 
 you who are bringing relief to one of their own men. 
 
 " With three of my companions, I volunteered for the service. We laid off our 
 accoutrements, and, with two army blankets for stretchers, marched to where the 
 man lay, in plain view of the enemy. We succeeded in bringing him back alive, 
 and took him to the Chancellor House, which was then being used as a field hospital. 
 
 " After we had disposed of our wounded rebel, we rejoined our regiment, and 
 very soon the battle opened in earnest all along the line. It continued for several 
 hours with the greatest fury until we were driven in disorder from the field. 
 
 " The Chancellor House took fire from the rebel shells during the engagement, 
 and burned to the ground, and I suppose this poor rebel soldier, with many of our 
 own wounded must have perished in the flames." 
 
 THE OLD VERMONT BRIGADE." 
 
 ENERAL LEWIS A. GRANT describes the efficient service 
 of the brigade under his command in the battle of 
 Salem Heights or Banks Ford, Va., as follows : 
 
 "When General Hooker crossed the Rappahannock, and 
 proceeded to Chancellorsville, he left the Sixth Corps, com 
 manded by General Sedgwick, in front of Fredericksburg, 
 which caused a large force of the Confederate Army to re 
 main upon the heights. My command was the Second 
 Brigade, Second Division of the Sixth Corps, consisting of six 
 regiments, and was known as the Old Vermont Brigade. 
 
 "On the morning of May 3rd, having already crossed the 
 river, General Sedgwick carried the heights of Fredericks- 
 burg. The main part of the corps moved from the town and 
 carried Marye s Heights. My brigade was on the left of 
 Hazel run, outside of the town, and in front of the principal 
 heights. It moved to the attack in two columns, scaled 
 
 these heights, drove the enemy from their position, and captured several guns and 
 a number of prisoners. Later in the day, the brigade started for Chancellorsville, 
 following the division of General Brooks. On the heights near the Salem church, 
 General Brooks met a large force of the Confederate Army coming from Chancel 
 lorsville, and became heavily engaged. The enemy were turning Brooks left, when 
 my brigade deployed on the left, and held the rebels in check. The position was 
 held during the night. In the morning it was found that a large Confederate force 
 
 LEWIS A. GRANT. 
 
 Colonel 5th Vermont Infantry. 
 
 Highest Rank attained : Brevet 
 Major-General, u. s. v. 
 
 Born in Bennington Co., Vt., 
 Jan. 17th, 1829. 
 
146- 
 
 "THE ENEMY WAS CHECKED." 
 
 had passed 
 around our left, 
 and occupied the 
 ground between us and 
 Fredericksburg. A change 
 of position was necessary, and, 
 during the first part of the day, 
 the Confederate Army and the Sixth 
 Corps mano3uvred for position. 
 
 "A general and concerted attack was 
 made by the enemy late in the afternoon. 
 Long lines of Infantry emerged from the woods 
 and bore directly down upon us, their batteries 
 successfully opening fire upon us. 
 
 " The position chosen for my brigade was one of advantage. Four of the regi 
 ments occupied a swell of ground or crest, with an open field in front. The extreme 
 right regiment occupied an advanced position in support of a battery ; the ex 
 treme left fronted a ravine and strip of woods and had its left thrown back. As 
 the enemy advanced the right regiment and the battery opened fire vigorously. 
 This volley and the firing from a strong skirmish line caused the enemy to oblique 
 to our left. This regiment, pursuant to orders, abandoned its position when no 
 longer tenable, marched around the right and rear of the brigade and took position 
 on the left. The Union forces in our front were met and scattered by the enemy, 
 and the main attack came directly upon my brigade. The attack was gallant and 
 determined. The enemy evidently supposed our lines to be broken and came upon 
 us with cheers. Our men hugged the crest reserving their fire until the Confeder 
 ates were within a few yards of our line. One volley was sufficient to check the 
 advance. The enemy was thrown into confusion, and a great number of them were 
 slaughtered. For a few minutes the fire from our line was rapid and continuous, 
 then the right of the line charged down upon the shattered and confused mass in 
 front of us and captured a large number of officers and men. At this part of the line 
 our victory was complete. While engaged in gathering in our prisoners, T received 
 
147 
 
 imperative orders to withdraw my command, and place it farther to the rear and 
 left. It seemed that the Confederate lines overlapped ours, and their right had 
 gained a position on our left flank, threatening to cut us off from the river. The 
 movement was urgent and necessarily prompt and rapid, and, in making it, we were 
 obliged to abandon most of our prisoners. Nevertheless we succeeded in taking 
 with us about four hundred, including several officers of rank. 
 
 " Our new position, covering the retreat, was taken and held. Darkness came on, 
 and the Sixth Corps began recrossing the river on a pontoon bridge, constructed for 
 that purpose near Bank s Ford. The crossing occupied the greater part of the night. 
 During all this time, my brigade held the front with its picket lines extending from 
 the river on our left, around to the river on our right. After all the rest of the 
 corps had crossed, those of my brigade, not on the picket line went over. Then the 
 picket line was gradually called in, and the greater part of it crossed in boats after 
 the southern end of the bridge had been cut loose and had floated down the river 
 around to the northern shore. 
 
 " It has been, I think, generally admitted, that, had not the Vermont Brigade 
 checked and broken the enemy s line, and steadfastly held the front that night, the 
 Sixth Corps would have found it difficult, if not impossible to cross the river. We 
 were attacked by a superior force, flushed with apparent victory at Chancellorsville, 
 which overlapped and flanked us and threatened our line of retreat. 
 
 " This was the first engagement in which I had command of the brigade, having 
 assumed command, as the ranking colonel, only two and one-half months before." 
 
 SCOUTS PERILOUS PLIGHT. 
 
 E Seventy-fourth New York Infantry, Fifth 
 "Excelsior," distinguished itself at Williams- 
 burg, where it fought in an abatis of felled timber, 
 holding its position against the main force of the 
 enemy. Its conduct at Chancellorsville was 
 equally notable. A service performed by four of 
 its members at the latter battle is described by 
 Sergeant Gotlieb Luty, as follows : 
 
 "On the afternoon of May 3rd, when the Elev 
 enth Corps was driven back, General Hooker 
 ordered the Second Division, Third Corps, to take 
 its place. We advanced to the position about dark. 
 
 "While lying there we heard firing in front, and General Berry, supposing that 
 some of the Eleventh Corps were still in advance, asked Colonel Louisberry, of the 
 
 GOTLIEB LUTY. 
 
 Sergeant, Co. A, 29th N. Y. Inf. 
 Born in Berne, Switzerland, Sept. 74th, 1842. 
 
-148- 
 
 Seventy-fourth New York, if he had one or two men who would volunteer to find 
 out if anyone were there, and to observe the enemy s position. Four of Company A, 
 Felix Brannigan, Joseph Gion, Sergeant-Major Eugene P. Jaccbson and myself 
 volunteered to go. 
 
 "We divided into two squads, Brannigan and I going together, the others taking 
 a different direction. We had advanced about fifty yards beyond the outposts, and 
 were close to the plank road, when we heard horses coming down. 
 
 "We concluded to hide and await developments. 
 
 "A party of horsemen rode to within fifteen yards of us and we discovered by 
 listening to their conversation that it was a body of rebels. Suddenly the firing 
 commenced from all sides at once. There was only one round, and just as the firing 
 ceased, we heard them say that the General was shot. The reconnoitering party 
 consisted of General Jackson and staff. 
 
 "After the Confederates withdrew, we got up, and concluded to go back to our 
 lines, but lost our way and got among the rebels. They were terribly excited about 
 General Jackson, and in the confusion we quietly withdrew. 
 
 "We reached our lines about three o clock in the morning. Here we heard that 
 General Berry had followed us and been mortally wounded. Before his death he 
 requested, that if any of the scouts should get back, they should be rewarded for 
 their services. 
 
 EVEN THE ENEMY CHEERED. 
 
 "Ax SALEM HEIGHTS (or Bank s Ford), Va., the 
 ** Ninety-eighth Pennsylvania Infantry, to 
 which I belonged, were forced back from an ad 
 vanced position. We had to leave some of our 
 wounded men between the lines. Among them 
 was Private Charles Smith, not only a comrade but 
 also a dear friend of mine. I stepped up to Captain 
 J. W. Beemish, of my company : If you ll give 
 me permission, Captain, I said, I ll try to save 
 Charlie. Permission was granted. On a dead run 
 and under heavy fire, I advanced 250 yards, reached 
 my friend, took him on my shoulders and brought 
 him safely within our lines. A number of rebel 
 soldiers, perhaps twenty, who witnessed the incident 
 from a position behind the fence, cheered as they observed me escape their fire with 
 my burden and gain the lines of my regiment. Our own men returned the cheer." 
 
 This is Corporal Peter McAdams story. It furnishes a noble example of true 
 friendship and soldierly virtue which the Government itself felt bound to honor. 
 
 PETER McADAMS. 
 
 Corporal, Co. A, gSth Penn. Vol. Inf. 
 Born in Armagh Co., Ireland, Oct. 8th, 1837. 
 
149 
 
 GALLANT SERVICE AT CHAN- 
 CELLORSVILLE. 
 
 ST. CLAIR A. MULHOLLAND. 
 
 Major, HCth Penn. Inf. 
 
 Highest rank attained : Brevet Maj.-Gen. 
 
 Born at I^isbon, Ireland, April 1, 1839. 
 
 T~\URING the battle of May 4th, 1863, at Chan- 
 *-^ cellorsville, the Confederates immediately 
 opposed to that part of the line of battle occu- 
 piedby the Second Corps, tried to burn the abatis and 
 log revetment behind which the Union forces were 
 fighting. A high wind was blowing at the time and the 
 danger was great. Repeatedly had General Hancock 
 ordered that the flames should be extinguished, and 
 each time an effort had been made to accomplish the de 
 sired result, but the fire of the Confederate sharpshooters 
 was too deadly. 
 
 At last, in the afternoon, when the result of the day s work depended upon 
 putting out the fires, General Hancock asked Major St. Clair A. Mulholland, of the 
 One hundred and sixteenth Pennsylvania Infantry, to take command of the picket 
 line and to extinguish the flames. The work had to be done under heavy fire and in 
 full view of the enemy, but Major Mulholland formed squads of men quickly and 
 assigning each squad to a section of the burning abatis, made a series of attacks. 
 The enemy, seeming, to comprehend the meaning of these efforts, at once redoubled 
 their firing apparently, because the volleys were concentrated upon each squad in 
 turn so that the brave Pennsylvania tugged and struggled in the midst and under a 
 perfect torrent of bullets. They succeeded, however, in beating down the flaming 
 logs and at last conquered the scorching enemy, completely disposing of the danger 
 from such a source. It was work quickly accomplished and with but very little 
 injury to the men engaged. 
 
 Later on, the same day, Major Mulholland scored another no less brilliant 
 achievement. In order to withdraw the Union Army successfully from the field of 
 Chancellorsville, it was thought necessary to sacrifice some officers and men. Gen 
 eral Hancock requested Major Mulholland to remain in command of the picket line, 
 keep up a continuous fire and remain fighting all night if necessary, or until the Union 
 forces had fallen back and safely recrossed the river. The major willingly assented, 
 fully realizing that the execution of the task meant almost certain capture by the 
 enemy. Not only that, but he held the enemy in check on the picket line, until 
 seven o clock on the morning of the 5th, when, the entire army being safe over the 
 Rappahannock, he was notified to abandon the line. In doing so he succeeded in 
 drawing back nearly all of the pickets, getting them safely over the river. Major 
 Mulholland fortunately was not captured by the enemy, though he was among the 
 last to cross the stream. 
 
150 
 
 THE COLONEL CARRIED THE STANDARD. 
 
 A LEXANDER SHALER Was Colonel of 
 
 " the Sixty-fifth New York Volun 
 teer Infantry, and in the spring of 
 1863, commanded the First Brigade, 
 Third Division, Sixth Corps, Army of 
 the Potomac. While General Hooker 
 was engaging the enemy at Chancel- 
 lorsville, the Sixth Corps was on the 
 Rappahannock River below Fredericks- 
 burg. On the night of May 2nd, under 
 orders from Hooker to move out on the 
 plank road leading from Fredericksburg 
 to Chancellorsville, and attack Lee s 
 rear, the Sixth Corps entered Freder 
 icksburg, but was unable to advance 
 farther in the darkness and fog, on 
 account of the formidable, defensive 
 works of the enemy on Marye s Heights 
 back of Fredericksburg, through which 
 the plank road passed. 
 
 At nine o clock on the morning of 
 May 3rd, the Corps was formed for an 
 assault. On the right were two columns, 
 ordered to charge over the two roads leading up to Marye s Heights. All the troops 
 to the left of these columns were in deployed lines. The enemy s batteries com 
 pletely enfiladed the two road-ways which led from the city, over an open plain 
 about a quarter of a mile wide, up the heights. The column on the extreme right 
 was composed of the Sixty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel George C. Spear, 
 and the Thirty-first New York, Colonel Baker, supported by the Eighty-second 
 Pennsylvania, Colonel Isaac Bassett, and the Sixty-seventh New York, Colonel 
 Nelson Cross, all formed in the order named. Colonel Shaler was ordered to 
 accompany the two last named regiments which belonged to his brigade. 
 
 Upon a given signal the troops advanced. As soon as the head of the right 
 column debouched from the city, it received the fire from the enemy s infantry in 
 the rifle-pits at the base of the hill and from the batteries, one of which was placed 
 in the middle of the road, delivering a terrific hail of grape and canister. This 
 momentarily checked the column s advance, but Colonel Spear, with great gallantry, 
 rallied and carried it to a small bridge about half way across the open ground. 
 Here Colonel Spear fell at the head of his column, mortally wounded, and his two 
 
 ALEXANDER SHALER. 
 
 Colonel, 65th N. Y. Vol. Inf. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Brevet Major-General. 
 Born at Haddam, Conn., March 19th, 1827. 
 
151 
 
 regiments were practically dissolved. The demoralization which ensued, greatly 
 imperiled the success of the movement at that point, as the surging column was 
 threatened with destruction from the severe h re of the infantry and artillery. The 
 Eighty-second Pennsylvania, next in the column, seemed unable to make any head 
 way. Seeing this, Colonel Shaler caught up the standard of the regiment, rushed 
 forward, calling upon the two regiments of his brigade to follow him, forced the pas 
 sage, advanced up the hill and captured two guns, one officer and a few men of the 
 
 COLONEL SHALER AT CHANCELLORSVILLE. 
 
 Washington Battery of artillery, of New Orleans, posted in a redoubt on the right 
 of the road. The other regiments of this brigade, soon after greeted him within the 
 enemy s works with cheers and congratulations. His men had not expected to again 
 see him alive. 
 
 Colonel Shaler s bravery was reported to President Lincoln the night of the same 
 day by Doctor Hosmer, the Herald correspondent with the Sixth Army Corps, who 
 witnessed the assault and started for Washington immediately thereafter to report 
 the success of the Sixth Corps in capturing all the enemy s works around Fred- 
 ericksburg. Colonel Shaler was promptly made a Brigadier-General of Volunteers, 
 and subsequently received the Congressional Medal of Honor for this act of bravery. 
 
152 
 
 ON HORSEBACK DOWN A PRECIPITOUS BLUFF. 
 
 CHARLES A. CLARK. 
 
 lieutenant, 6th Maine Infantry. 
 
 Highest rank attained : Brevet I,ieutenant-Coloiiel. 
 
 Born at Sangerville, Maine, Jan. 26th, 1841. 
 
 T^VURING that memorable retreat across the 
 *- Rappahannock, Lieutenant Charles A. 
 Clark, of the Sixth Maine Infantry, accom 
 plished a feat which saved his regiment from 
 capture or annihilation, at Brooks Ford on the 
 night of May 4th, 1863, when the Sixth Maine 
 was ordered to protect a single pontoon. 
 " General Sedgwick was withdrawing his troops 
 across the Rappahannock," says Adjutant 
 Clark; "and our position was at the extreme 
 right, on a bluff. The spot was important. A 
 battery of artillery stationed on this bluff 
 would command our pontoon bridge. We had 
 orders to hold the position as long as possible, 
 and then, if cut off from the remainder of the 
 corps, to make our way to the bridge if we 
 could. We all understood this to mean that a 
 desperate enterprise was confided to our hands, 
 
 and we were not mistaken. We were posted in a belt of timber which screened us 
 from the enemy. The corps was retired from its center, which in time left us 
 detached and upon the right flank without support. About 11 o clock the enemy 
 moved between us and our picket line, the pickets on our left, towards the center, 
 having been withdrawn, and our pickets were captured without firing a shot. At 
 this time I was adjutant of the regiment. Hearing a confused noise, Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Harris and I rode to the edge of the timber, and we discovered in the moon 
 light the enemy forming its lines and coming on to attack us. Riding back hastily, 
 the alignment of the regiment was somewhat changed to conform to the direction 
 from which this attack was about to be delivered. This was hardly done before the 
 enemy were upon us. There was a sharp fight of ten or fifteen minutes, and the 
 night was filled with wild outcries and uproar. The result was a complete repulse. 
 We held our position, but the extent of our force having been discovered, and it 
 being demonstrated that we were entirely cut off from the remainder of the corps, 
 our situation was more critical than ever. Riding again to the front to see what 
 was going on, I discovered that the open space in front of us was filled with 
 augmented forces whose lines were drawn around us, and that an immediate 
 renewal of hostilities was to be anticipated. Sewall, of Company A, just then 
 captured a Confederate officer who was attempting to reconnoiter our position. I 
 put him in charge of Private Crockett, of Company A, and told Crockett to take 
 him over the bluff, down to the water s edge, and if he could do so, to make his way 
 
153 
 
 to the pontoon bridge and turn his prisoner in to any force he might find there. 
 Crockett started away, but the officer persuaded him that it would be impossible to 
 descend the bluff, as it was too steep, but that to follow the edge of the bluff down 
 towards the pontoons was much easier. Taking this line of march, Crockett in 
 two or three minutes found himself in the Confederate lines which surrounded us 
 and cut us off from the bridge. The tables were turned. He was the prisoner, and 
 his prisoner was now the captor. 
 
 "WE WERE IN DEEP SHADOW AS WE PASSED." 
 
 "Meanwhile, a further examination showed the enemy in readiness to make an 
 immediate assault. Lieutenant-Colonel Harris in his efforts to ascertain the situ 
 ation, and if possible to open communications with Colonel Burnham, commanding 
 the Light Division, had been cut off from the regiment by the cordon which was drawn 
 around us. I tried to explain the situation to the senior captain, and to have him 
 take command and withdraw the regiment. He naturally hesitated, thinking the 
 responsibility very great, and that Colonel Harris might reappear at any moment. 
 There was no time to be lost. I rode along the line, cautioned the men to maintain 
 
154 
 
 perfect silence and not to rattle their canteens or accoutrements, then left-facing 
 the regiment I led them over the bluff. It was a sheer descent of fifty to sixty feet. 
 I started over on horse-back. When part way down, my horse lost his footing, and 
 I found myself falling with him through the air. I caught in the branches of a tree 
 as we descended, slid down the tree, and on foot made my way to the base of the 
 bluff, with the other men of the regiment. I expected to find a horse with a broken 
 neck, but old "Jim" stood there waiting for me, apparently a good deal dazed and 
 confused, but still ready for faithful service, although strained and sore for days 
 afterwards. The men came on over the bluff helter skelter, but as silent as possible. 
 Directly over our heads, and a few rods down the river towards the bridge, was the 
 Confederate force into which Crockett had been marched by his wily prisoner, and 
 which was waiting to assault us and insure our capture. Fortunately, we were in 
 deep shadow as we passed under the bluff along the water s edge. When directly 
 under the enemy, who reached to the edge of the bluff above us, some of our men 
 became noisy. Just at this time the enemy again advanced upon our now aband 
 oned position, and in the uproar which ensued we passed down the river undis 
 covered, and made our way in perfect order to our pontoon bridge. On approaching 
 this, masses of troops were visible in the moonlight. Whether Confederate or Union 
 forces it was impossible to tell. Even if Union forces, they might open fire upon us, 
 taking us for the enemy, if we advanced without warning. Hiding forward, it was 
 a great relief to find blue uniforms and the stars and stripes. Giving these forces 
 the caution that the Sixth Maine Infantry was coming in, we joined the rear of 
 the Sixth Corps, after it was supposed that every man of us was captured or disabled 
 in battle. When I found Colonel Burnham and told him that the old regiment had 
 come in all right, he cried like a child. We passed over the bridge with the rear 
 guard, and got across just in time, for as we went over the enemy opened fire with 
 a battery from the bluffs above us. Not having the range accurately, the shelling 
 did little harm, and the Sixth Corps reached the left bank of the Ilappahannock 
 intact." 
 
155 
 
 "THAT S THE LAST YOU LL SEE OF SACRISTE." 
 
 LOUIS J. SACRISTE, 
 
 1st I,ieut., Co. D, 116th Penn. Inf. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Brevet Major. 
 
 Born in Delaware, June 15th, 1843. 
 
 T WAS a second lieutenant commanding Co. D, One 
 * hundred and sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, 
 Meagher s Irish Brigade, Hancock s First Division, 
 Second Corps," Lieutenant Louis J. Sacriste relates : 
 
 " At Chancellorsville, Saturday night, May 2nd, 1863, 
 our brigade deployed near Scotts Mills and when General 
 Stonewall Jackson charged the Eleventh Corps under 
 Howard, we had orders to prevent a possible stampede, 
 but met with little success. Early the next morning 
 we received orders to move to the front. As we neared 
 the Chancellor House, and before we formed in line 
 of battle, the enemy s shells killed a number of the 
 brigade, because, for some reason, it countermarched 
 while under fire of the enemy s batteries. We then 
 formed in line of battle, my company being on the 
 extreme left of the brigade, at the edge of the clearing 
 
 around the Chancellor House. As we were forming, the Fifth Maine Battery 
 under Catain Le Peine took up position between our left and the Chancellor 
 House and opened fire at once with excellent effect, which, however, was only 
 temporary. 
 
 "General Stuart placed thirty cannon in position and opened upon us with 
 telling result. The man on my right was literally cut in two by a shell; the man 
 on my left, had both legs cut off; the man in my front had a piece of his skull 
 carried away, and the ground was covered with the dead and wounded. Men and 
 horses of our battery were mowed down with such rapidity, that in less than an hour 
 every gun, with one exception, was silenced, and but two noble fellows, Corporal 
 Charles Lebrooke and Private John F. Chase, remained at their posts. Captain 
 LePeine was mortally wounded. After the officers were disabled, a lieutenant 
 of the regular army took command, but in a few minutes he too was fatally 
 wounded. 
 
 "So accurate was the enemy s fire, that one of their shells exploded as it struck 
 the mouth of one of our cannon, sending the pieces inside ; another shell exploded 
 one of the ammunition chests, the Chancellor House was set on fire, and smoke 
 and dust added to the confusion. The line appeared to melt away and the front to 
 pass out, w^hile soldiers and riderless horses hurried down the road to the rear in 
 something like a panic. 
 
 "I was in command of the left company of my regiment and brigade, and, seeing 
 the enemy s infantry advancing, called on my comrades to follow me. I led them 
 
156 
 
 through the dust, smoke, and the fire of thirty cannon, into the face of Stuart s 
 men, reached the battery, and brought off the first gun in triumph from the field. 
 My example was followed by others of my regiment and brigade, and every gun and 
 caisson was saved. A few minutes later the enemy had possession of the field. 
 
 OF HIS second exploit at Auburn, Va., which is included in the grounds of award 
 of the Medal of Honor, Lieutenant Sacriste writes : 
 
 "On the night of the 13th of October, 1863, during a retrograde movement of the 
 army, I was ordered, with twenty-five picked men from my regiment (One hundred 
 and sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers) to report to Colonel James A. Beaver, 
 commanding the picket line of the First Division, Second Corps. Early in the 
 morning of the 14th, while the division and train were crossing Cedar Creek, Swell s 
 Corps attacked our line with such determination that it was about 11 o clock A. M. 
 before we forced the position, which we did by turning our flank and securing the 
 ford and road over which our division and train had passed. By this movement the 
 entire line was cut off from the rest of the army, our troops being nearly surrounded, 
 and on the same side of the stream confronting Swell s Corps. Colonel Beaver, 
 seeing the critical position and danger of capture or destruction of his entire 
 command, and perceiving but one avenue of escape, requested me to proceed along 
 the line, which was heavily engaged and stubbornly contesting the ground, inform 
 the officers of the situation, and direct them as to the route of march, which was to 
 fall back slowly on the same side of the creek with the enemy, cross the stream 
 south of the ford, and then inarch diagonally across the country to rejoin the 
 division. As we started to obey the order of Colonel Beaver, one of my men 
 remarked to another in my hearing, That s the last you ll see of Sacriste. 
 Colonel Beaver s instructions were carried out to the letter. As we were falling 
 back, however, I discovered that one detail on the extreme right, commanded by 
 a lieutenant of the One hundred and fortieth Pennsylvania Volunteers, had been 
 overlooked in my first instructions. A second time I went in, and succeeded in 
 saving this as well as the rest of the line, the command in the meantime being 
 hard pressed, and closely engaged by cavalry, infantry, and artillery. Considering 
 all the circumstances, the escape of the line was remarkable, and our action and 
 stubborn courage made us the ideal of a rear guard." 
 
157 
 
 
 THEY STOOD BY THEIR 
 GUNS. 
 
 JOHN F. CHASE. 
 
 Private, 5th Maine Battery. 
 Born in Chelsea, Maine, in 1843. 
 
 SUNDAY morning, May 3rd," Private 
 John F. Chase narrates, " my battery, 
 the Fifth Maine, was ordered to take position 
 in an apple orchard between the Chancellor 
 House and the woods. The sight which 
 presented itself to our eyes as we came through 
 the woods to our designated position was 
 enough to make the heart of the bravest man 
 falter. Limbs and twigs of trees were falling 
 struck by a storm of iron hail ; the very air 
 was laden with these flying missiles of death 
 and it seemed impossible to be in that hell of 
 shot and shell and survive. Into that position 
 
 of death and annihilation we were ordered, and obeyed. Our battery was ordered to 
 strip for action, a short prayer was offered and the command given : Mount 
 battery, forward, gallop, and as fast as the horses could go, we galloped forward. 
 
 " The boys were singing : I am going home, to die no more, and in less than 
 thirty minutes half of our number had gone home. Even before we could get into 
 position our horses and men went down like grass before the scythe. We had to 
 place our guns by hand, and open fire on the enemy s batteries, which were 
 masked on a wooded ridge about 200 yards in our front, and on several regiments of 
 Confederate infantry to the right and left. Our orders were : Fight your guns to 
 the death. Our beloved Captain, George F. Leppien, had his leg shattered, the 
 other officers were soon killed or wounded, and within a short time only two guns 
 out of the six could be worked. 
 
 "General Hancock sent Lieutenant Kirby, of the First U. S. Battery, to take 
 charge of us. He had just reached my gun, when a shell exploded, shattering his 
 hip and breaking his horse s leg. I shot the horse to keep him from tramping on 
 the wounded officer, whom I asked whether I should take him from the field. 
 Lieutenant Kirby answered : No, not as long as a gun can be fired. He was lying 
 on the ground near the gun, bleeding from his wound, and liable to be hit again at 
 any moment. 
 
 "Only one gun going now, and that short handed ! I was number one cannoneer 
 my duty was to sponge the gun and ram the cartridge home. Beside myself, 
 there was now left only Corporal Lebrooke. We could have gone to the rear and 
 carried honors with us, but we had made up our minds to lie there on the battle 
 field with our dead comrades, and fight the last gun to the death. We loaded 
 
158 
 
 several times with canister, and fired at the column of infantry that was charging 
 up to capture our guns. Oh ! how we hated to see the guns that we had served 
 through many a hard fought battle, go into the hands of the enemy. At last a rebel 
 shell struck our piece, exploding in the muzzle, and battering it so that we could 
 not get another charge into it. I stepped to the rear of the gun, and reported 
 to Lieutenant Kirby that our last gun was disabled and only two of us left. I also 
 asked him if I could take him off the field. He replied : No, not until the guns 
 are taken off. What a display of courage in that young officer, lying there with 
 his life s blood slowly ebbing away and putting duty before life. 
 
 "At this moment the Irish Brigade came charging in to our support. Corporal 
 Lebrooke and I held up the trail of our gun, 
 while the men of the One hundred and six 
 teenth Pennsylvania, belonging to the Irish 
 Brigade, and led by Colonel St. Claire A. 
 Mulholland, hitched on with the prolong 
 rope and helped us draw it off the field. 
 As soon as I saw that the guns were 
 safe, I returned to Lieutenant 
 Kirby, took him up in my 
 arms and carried him 
 to the rear, w r here I 
 put him into an ambu 
 lance and started him 
 back across the river. 
 I was informed later 
 on that he died before 
 reaching Washington, 
 but before he left, he 
 took the names of my 
 self and my comrade, 
 saying: If ever two 
 men have earned a 
 Medal of Honor, you 
 have, and you shall 
 have it." 
 
 PRIVATE CHASE S 
 experience at the bat 
 tle of Gettysburg was 
 still more exciting and 
 resulted disastrously 
 
 "A SHELL EXPLODED NEAR ME. 
 
159 
 
 for the heroic soldier, who at that battle was made a cripple for life. " My battery, * 
 he says, " took position on the north side of the Seminary buildings on Seminary 
 Hill, where we fought from 10 o clock until four on the first day s battle at Gettys 
 burg, July 1st, losing nearly two-thirds of our corps, and being outnumbered five to 
 one. We were forced to fall back through the town of Gettysburg and take position 
 on a knoll between Cemetery and Culps Hills, which position the battery held during 
 the second and third days battles. It was the time of the historic charges of 
 Early s Division, led by the Louisiana Tigers, on the Union batteries on East 
 Cemetery Hill. My battery was enfilading the charging column as it dashed up the 
 hill. Our shot, shrapnel, and canister was doing such terrible execution that the 
 Confederates opened three or four batteries on us, and made the shot rattle around 
 us pretty lively. 
 
 "One of those shrapnel shells exploded near me and forty-eight pieces of it 
 entered my body. My right arm was shattered and my left eye was put out. I was 
 carried a short distance to the rear as dead, and knew nothing more until two days 
 after. 
 
 " When I regained consciousness, I was in a wagon with a lot of dead comrades 
 being carted to the trenches to be buried. I moaned and called the attention of the 
 driver, who came to my assistance, pulled me up from among the dead, and gave 
 me a drink of water. He said the first words I uttered, after he gave me the water, 
 were : Did we win the battle ? 
 
 " Then I was taken to the First Army Corps Hospital. It was a farm owned by 
 Isaac Lightner, three miles from Gettysburg, on the Baltimore Turnpike. They laid 
 me down beside the barn, where I waited three more days before my wounds were 
 dressed. The surgeon let me lie there to finish dying, as they said, while they 
 attended to all the rest of the wounded. No one thought that I could live another 
 hour. I lay on the barn floor several days, and was then taken into the house, 
 where I stopped for a week. From there I was removed to Seminary Hospital. 
 
 "After about three weeks I was carried out of the hospital to die again, and was 
 told by the head surgeon that I could not live six hours, but I did not do him the 
 favor. I graduated with honors from that Seminary in about three months, and 
 was sent to West Philadelphia Hospital, where I remained until I was able to return 
 to my home in Augusta, Maine." 
 
160 
 
 ON ERRANDS OF MERCY. 
 
 
 FORRESTER L. TAYLOR. 
 
 First lieutenant Co. H, 23rd N. J. Infantry. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Brevet Major. 
 Born at Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 30, 1833. 
 
 T WAS detailed to the command of Company H, 
 * Twenty -third New Jersey Infantry, and led it 
 at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, Va., May 
 3rd and 4th, 1863," writes Major F. L. Taylor. 
 
 " After the retreat was ordered, as I was hurry 
 ing down the road, I came to the prostrate form of 
 Second Lieutenant Wilson of my company, who 
 earnestly begged me to save him. Although it 
 looked like suicide, I could not refuse, and stood by 
 him making several unavailing efforts to obtain aid. 
 Finally three of my men who were hurrying by, re 
 sponded. One of them spread his blanket on the 
 ground; we lifted the lieutenant on it, and, each 
 taking a corner, started to the rear. 
 
 " A Union line of battle was formed a quarter of a mile to the rear, made up of 
 men of various regiments, who bade fair to hold their ground. Before we had 
 pursued our toilsome way over half the distance, the line broke under the fierce 
 rebel attack but reformed about 500 yards farther to the rear, and, facing the foe, 
 succeeded in checking his advance. 
 
 " As the line broke, I told the wounded lieutenant that our capture or death was 
 now a certainty, and that my duty did not permit me to sacrifice four lives for the 
 bare chance of saving one, so I ordered the men to lower him to the road, took his 
 watch and pocket-book at his request, and left him. Perceiving, however, that the 
 line of battle again formed, I encouraged my men to make another effort to save him. 
 Without a murmur the brave fellows turned back between the fires of the contend 
 ing forces. We reached Wilson in safety, and, though tired out with our exertion and 
 the heat, staggered on until arrested by shouts. We were so weary that we were not 
 looking where we were going, but with dogged resolution were struggling on, intent 
 only on getting behind the line of the brave fellows who were so fiercely battling 
 against the rebel advance. Looking up I found we were directly in front of a couple 
 of brass field-pieces ready to fire. I hastly ordered my men to spring into the deep 
 gully on the right side of the road, and a charge of grape went hurling over our 
 heads. It was a narrow escape, as the captain of the battery afterwards said, for he 
 could not have held his fire a half minute longer. We scrambled up out of the gully, 
 and, before the guns were reloaded, passed in between them and sank exhausted on 
 the ground. After a very short rest we again picked up our wounded officer and got 
 him back to the field hospital. 
 
 " On the way to the rear, I was hailed by one of my corporals, Joel Wainwright, 
 
161 
 
 who implored me to save him. I told him that my hands were pretty full just then, 
 but that I would return for him if possible, and cautioned him not on any account, to 
 move from where he was. When I returned for him, it was growing dark, but I 
 had no trouble in finding him, and soon had him in the doctor s hands. 
 
 " Shortly after, I heard that my friend, First Lieutenant Charles Sibley, of Com 
 pany A, had fallen, badly wounded, at a certain place. I went back to my men and 
 asked them to make a third trip, to rescue Sibley. They did not refuse, and, after 
 getting a pass to go outside the lines again, my brave fellows went on their errand 
 
 "THREE OF MY MEN RESPONDED." 
 
 of mercy. But their effort was in vain. Having reached the described spot and 
 calling his name without response, the rebel pickets began to fire on us, and I 
 thought that discretion was the better part of valor. After covering a half dozen 
 poor fellows with blankets, and giving a dozen or more drinks from our canteens, 
 ordered a return, which was accomplished without injury. 
 
 " How we escaped with our lives, while saving Wilson, I cannot tell, unless the 
 rebels, seeing what we were doing, had not the heart to fire on us. The five of us in 
 a bunch were a tempting shot, but there is more good heart shown, even on the 
 battle field, than is generally believed, for the true soldier feels a comradeship even 
 with an enemy, whose conduct shows a spirit not less admirable than his own. As 
 an evidence of this, the cap and shoulder straps of Lieutenant Sibley were sent in to 
 us the next morning, under a flag of truce with a message telling of his death and 
 soldier s burial." 
 
162 
 
 STUCK TO HIS COLORS. 
 
 EDWARD BROWNE, Jr. 
 
 Corp., Co. G, 62nd N. Y. Inf. 
 
 Highest rank attained : Captain, U. S. V. 
 
 Born in Ireland, 1842. 
 
 /CORPORAL EDWARD BROWNE, JR., was reported for 
 ^-^ gallantry in action at Fredericksburg and 
 Salem Heights. In telling his own experience, he 
 gives an interesting account of the movements of 
 his regiment, the Sixty-second New York Infantry. 
 "On the morning of May 3rd, General Hooker 
 was at Chancellorsville and General Sedgwick, with 
 the Sixth Corps, crossed to the right bank of the 
 Rappahannock, about three miles below Freder 
 icksburg, and took up his line of march toward that 
 city. The advance, after considerable resistance 
 on the part of the Confederates, entered the city 
 just before daybreak and drove them out. My 
 recollection is that the enemy found refuge behind 
 a stone wall at the base of the heights back of the 
 city. At daylight, six companies of the Sixty- 
 second were thrown in advance to uncover the enemy if behind the wall. I was 
 with the color-guard at the time 
 
 "We advanced in line of battle until we came within the rebel works, which 
 formed a circle at the foot of the hill, and uncovered them. But we reached the 
 spot through a murderous fire of small arms at point-blank range, opened upon our 
 front and flanks, and it seemed like going to sure destruction. Our men were 
 literally mowed down. Those of us who were not incapacitated, sought the cover of 
 the city as soon as we could. The color-bearer was injured in the engagement, but 
 my comrades and I brought him back with the colors. 
 
 "Upon our return to the city, the remaining companies of the regiment were 
 brought up and the regiment reformed. The colors were entrusted to me. About 
 noon we were in line of battle for the charge, which carried the stone wall and the 
 heights beyond. I was among the first upon the wall with the colors, and kept 
 them flying until we reached the top of the heights and the enemy were routed. 
 
 "In the afternoon we pressed forward, after having reformed our columns, to 
 Salem Church or Heights, about four miles to the rear of Marye s Heights, where, in 
 a belt of woods, our advance became engaged with what we supposed to be the rear 
 guard of the enemy. We afterwards learned that it was a part of Lee s forces on 
 their return from Chancellorsville. The Sixty-second Regiment was in the second 
 line of battle, supporting a battery, with its right resting on the road from Freder 
 icksburg. Generals Newton and Wheaton were close by, mounted. 
 
 "Suddenly our boys came in hurried retreat from the woods, followed by the 
 enemy in good form. I was at that time in front of the line waving the colors, 
 
163 
 
 I REMAINED WITH THE COLORS." 
 
 when, on turning to the right, I observed 
 a line of the enemy emerging from a belt 
 of woods in that direction, and called the 
 colonel s attention to it. At the same 
 time I was wounded in the side. The col 
 onel noticed that I had been hit, and sug 
 gested my retirement to the rear. But 
 the boys were coming across the open field 
 between the woods and our line, and I re 
 mained with the colors open so that they might know they had something to rally 
 about, and to show the enemy that we were not in a panic. I remained at my post 
 until the boys had crossed the open and were within our lines, and the enemy had 
 been brought to a halt by our fire. Then the colonel, C. B. Hamilton, commanded 
 me to give up the colors and get to the hospital. 
 
 "I transferred the colors to a noble fellow, who afterwards fell under them; and 
 after the enemy s line was broken and they had retired to the woods whence they 
 came, late in the afternoon, I went to the field hospital. On the following day I 
 crossed to the left bank of the river, and from a safe position, in the stone house 
 which served as a hospital, I saw the battle. 
 
 " I returned to my regiment as soon as my wound was healed, and was with it in 
 all engagements up to the fight before Washington in 64. I was made sergeant, 
 and a commission was offered me, but I declined the latter through lack of appecia- 
 tion of its worth. I was brevetted second and first lieutenant and captain in the 
 New York Volunteers." 
 
164 
 
 SHOOT HIM1-KILL HIM! 
 
 WILLIAM G. TRACY. 
 
 I,ieut., 122nd N. Y. Infantry. 
 
 Highest rank attained : Major. 
 
 Born at Syracuse, N. Y., April 7, 1843. 
 
 A T the battle of Chancellorsville, Lieutenant 
 ** William G. Tracy was for a few months 
 an aide-de-camp on the staff of Major-General 
 Henry W. Slocum. 
 
 " When the Eleventh Corp was routed by the 
 attack of Stonewall Jackson," Lieutenant Tracy 
 narrates : " I was sent with an order to bring 
 back our troops across the plank road and stop 
 the rebel advance, then about two miles distant. 
 Riding forward, I struck the right brigade of 
 Slocum s command, then under heavy fire, and, 
 informing the brigadier, commanding, of my 
 order, turned to the left and rear and plunged 
 into the thick woods of the wilderness to find 
 General Williams, commanding the division. In 
 my haste and excitement, I soon lost my bearings; 
 the firing in my vicinity ceased and I was completely lost. 
 
 " Riding hither and thither wherever I could see an opening, I finally came to a 
 partial clearing of about fifty acres, where the trees had been cut into cord wood 
 and piled up, leaving the stumps still standing. It was on the side of a hill, upon 
 the top of which a piece of artillery was in action. Although it seemed to me to be 
 pointed in a rather singular direction, I breasted the hill in good faith, stopped my 
 horse about twenty feet from the piece and was about to enquire where General 
 Williams was, when suddenly I discovered that the gunners were rebels. 
 
 " I was completely taken by surprise ; my heart dropped to the bottom of my 
 boots. Sent with an important order lost in the woods and captured ! What a 
 tale for my general! My first thought was to escape. I hastily surveyed my sur 
 roundings. An open, narrow road ran down the side of the hill and up another, the 
 valley thus formed being heavily wooded. Upon the crest of the opposite hill was 
 a blue line, which I knew to be our troops. 
 
 " In an instant my mind was made up and my heart seemed to come back with a 
 thump to my breast. I resolved to ride down that narrow road to death or freedom. 
 It was entirely open, being commanded by our troops. I walked my horse past the 
 piece of artillery, gazing at the rebels as unconcernedly as I could. Although I was 
 in uniform with shoulder straps, my blouse was covered with dust, and they did not 
 spring for me, apparently not realizing that I was a Union officer. As soon as I 
 passed, I struck into a gallop, not too fast to attract attention, yet ready for a burst 
 of speed. In a moment I passed another piece of artillery and then came down to 
 woods, at the edge of which some horses were tied. 
 
165 
 
 " All this time I was making careful observations and realized that in all proba 
 bility there was a large force of infantry at the foot of the hill before me as artillery 
 is never placed in advance of infantry and the problem now became, how to 
 reach the blue line of friends on the hill. Thus far I had proceeded, apparently 
 without being recognized. 
 
 " Suddenly, just as I reached the border of the woods, some one cried out : Shoot 
 him ! and I dug the spurs in and rode for my life. And how that brave horse did 
 cover the ground! Down we went along the incline with no sign of a stumble, 
 while I bent low over my pommel and fairly held my breath. 
 
 "Instantly, from both 
 sides of the 
 came volleys 
 musketry, 
 while 
 all 
 
 road 
 
 of 
 
 
 "FROM BOTH SIDES CAME VOLLEYS." 
 
 through the woods the shouts resounded : Shoot him ! Kill him ! and both 
 forces, aroused by the noise at that point, opened a heavy fire, so that I rode into 
 our line amid a hailstorm of bullets. I was hit once and my right arm was 
 fractured, but I was not thrown from my horse, which was wounded in three 
 places. 
 
 " I afterwards learned that I had, in some way, blundered through both lines, 
 and behind a brigade of the enemy, thrown in advance of their line, and that I rode 
 through this brigade and passed the headquarters of the rebel general, A. P. Hill." 
 
166 
 
 OUR GUN WAS KEPT IN MOTION/ 
 
 T 
 
 AMOS J. CUMMINGS. 
 
 ftergeant-Major, 2Cth N. J. Volunteers. 
 Horn at Conklin, N. Y., May 15th, 1841. 
 
 across the Rappahannock. 
 
 HE Twenty-sixth New Jersey Infantry, of 
 which Amos J. Cummings w r as sergeant- 
 major, was part of General Sedgwick s Corps, 
 which was heavily engaged in the ever memor 
 able struggles between Federal and Confeder 
 ate forces around Chancellorsville. The cul 
 mination of the engagements and manoeuv- 
 rings came w r ith the battle of Salem Church on 
 May 4, 1864. Generals Early, Anderson and McLaws 
 had left Lee s Army at Chancellorsville to drive 
 General Sedgwick s troops into the river. The con 
 flict, which followed, w r as most obstinate, and lasted 
 all day. Though largely outnumbered, the North 
 erners bravely repulsed each assault until darkness 
 fell, when they were forced to yield to the superior 
 strength of the enemy, and retreated, in good order, 
 Up to midnight the armies wrestled for supremacy. 
 Both sides displayed bravery and daring, and many were the deeds of heroism per 
 formed by friend and foe. The Union soldiers especially were conspicuous for their 
 gallantry. Some incidents occurred which give one a clear conception of the fierce 
 ness of the fighting and the heroism of the fighters. In this connection Sergeant- 
 Major Cummings, who earned his medal on that memorable day, furnishes an in 
 spiring narrative in the following : 
 
 "At sundown on this fourth of May, the Twenty-sixth New Jersey, Second 
 Brigade, Second Division, lay in line of battle in a depression along a ditch dug by 
 a farmer to drain his land. We were supported by the regular battery occupying a 
 slight elevation in our rear. Our position was about three-fourths of a mile north 
 of Salem Church. 
 
 " The Confederates massed and came down on us five lines deep. As they ad 
 vanced I could hear the officer in charge of the battery behind us giving his com 
 mands. He was gauging his fuses by the advance of the enemy. 
 " A second and a half he shouted. 
 " Blim ! Blim ! responded his guns. 
 " A second and a quarter ! he cried. 
 " Blim ! Blim ! Blim ! was the reply. 
 " A full second ! he roared. 
 f Blim ! Blim ! Blim ! answered his guns. 
 " Three-quarters of a second ! came next. 
 " Blim ! Blim ! Blim ! 
 
167 
 
 " The shrieking of the shells as they swept over our heads was appalling. Sud 
 denly, right in front, there was a flash all along the line. The Confederates were 
 within thirty yards of us and had commenced firing. The rebel yell was still 
 heard, but the column had lost its impetus. As the yell died away our lieutenant- 
 colonel shouted : ten-tion! 
 
 " The order was heard by every man of the regiment. In a second everybody 
 was on his feet. The colonel continued : Right about face ! 
 
 " The regiment obeyed the orders as if on parade. 
 
 " Then came, probably, the most singular command ever heard on a battle-field. 
 
 " Regiment, left half wheel ! 
 
 "THE ENEMY WERE UPON US." 
 
 " The left wing of the regiment on our right had swung back, doing so to take 
 advantage of the natural depression of the field and thus had left a gap between 
 its left and our right. 
 
 " Our colonel saw the opening and realized that by left half wheeling he could 
 again cement his line. Hence his singular command. But, when our regiment tried 
 to obey the order, beginning the movement steadily and in perfect form, the result 
 was disastrous. Suddenly there was a waver, then a break and then a rush for the 
 river. 
 
168 
 
 "A few brave men remained, but only a moment, when they began to swear and to 
 coolly walk after their fugitive comrades trying by shouts and curses to rally them. 
 A lieutenant of the battery confronted the demoralized men. He stood straight as 
 an arrow with drawn sword. All of his guns had disappeared but one. It stood 
 unmanned, subject to capture. His amazement knew no bounds. Our men had 
 been acting like veterans and were now running over him like frightened deer. 
 His oaths were terrific. He called them all the names in the vocabulary of indig 
 nation. There was a score of our regiment, however, who did not lose their heads. 
 
 " Let us save the gun! I shouted, at the same time seizing it by a wheel. The 
 enemy were making for the gap, but four of my comrades were with me around the 
 gun. On came the Southerners and our little group was increased by the coming of 
 a few more of our men. 
 
 " The piece began to move backward in answer to our efforts, but, suddenly there 
 was a change of scene. 
 
 " The enemy had passed through the gap and were upon us. They were holding 
 our gun by the muzzle and then muskets were clubbed, bayonets were used. If the 
 combatants had been personal enemies for years, the cursing and reviling could not 
 have been more bitter. On both sides the wounded fell, uttering oaths and impre 
 cations, but without groans. 
 
 "Enough of our men had rallied to the cannon to keep it moving until a 
 Vermont regiment in the woods on our left, a regiment which had stood firm 
 through all, was able to bring an enfilading fire to bear, when the Confederates 
 were quickly dispersed. 
 
 "The gun was saved, the medal won." 
 
Painted by Robert Hopkin. 
 
 THE MONITOR IN A STORM. 
 
171 
 
 A 
 
 TRUE COMRADESHIP 
 
 T THE battle of Salem Heights, the Second Bri 
 gade, Second Division, Sixth Army Corps, 
 made a charge on Marye s Heights, near Freder- 
 icksburg, when one of the regiments was thrown 
 into confusion, breaking away from the line. This 
 caused a gap in the charging columns and jeopard 
 ized the success of the attack, the blame resting 
 entirely with the colonel of the regiment. Repeated 
 efforts to reform the line failed. Finally Lieuten 
 ant Frank G. Butterfield, of Company A, Sixth 
 Vermont Infantry, was entrusted with, and assumed 
 the grave responsibility of moving the regiment 
 without the consent of the colonel commanding, 
 bring it back into action in its proper place, in the 
 midst of a fierce battle, and under a galling fire of 
 artillery and infantry. The officer in command of the brigade, General L. A. Grant, 
 thanked and commended the lieutenant, and placed the colonel under arrest. 
 
 The day following, May 4th, the Sixth Army Corps was under fire all day. At 
 dusk the lines were shortened and upon a new line being formed near the river at 
 Banks Ford, General Grant made the startling discovery that the Sixth Vermont 
 Infantry was missing, possibly captured. Lieutenant Butterfield would not believe 
 that his brave Vermonters had been made prisoners, and General Grant sent him to 
 search for the regiment. At last he found his comrades in a strong position several 
 hundred yards in front of the original line of battle. They had repulsed a charge 
 of the enemy, and, charging in return, had been carried far from the original 
 line by their impetuosity and valor. In the meantime, however, the enemy had 
 already attacked the new line. Heavy cannonading sounded from the rear of the 
 Vermont regiment. Colonel Barney, commanding, was loath to retire, but, of 
 course, fell back with his regiment. Lieutenant Butterfield took command of a 
 skirmish line, covered the retreat, and saved the regiment from destruction. 
 
 FRANK G. BUTTERFIELD. 
 
 Lieutenant, Co. A, 6th Vermont Infantry. 
 
 Highest rank attained : Brig.-General, U. S. V 
 
 Born at Rochingham, Vt., 1812. 
 
 AT Lee s Mills a few weeks before the incident above recorded, Lieutenant 
 Butterfield was forced to fall back over the Warwick Creek with his command while 
 under a fearful fire from the enemy. He and Captain E. F. Reynolds, of Company 
 F, Sixth Vermont Infantry, were the last to retreat. The captain fell, and here it 
 was that Lieutenant Butterfield displayed true comradeship. He assisted the 
 wounded officer across the creek, where in midstream he fainted. But the lieu 
 tenant would not desert him. He held his head up above water until he had reached 
 the other bank with his load, only to find that his comrade was dead. 
 
172 
 
 THWARTED THE ENEMY S 
 ATTACKS 
 
 NELSON A. MILES. 
 
 Colonel, (list X. Y. Infantry. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Lieut.-Gen., U. S. A. 
 
 Born at Westminster, Mass., Aug. 8, LS39. 
 
 T IEUTENANT-GENERAL NELSON A. MILES 
 received his Medal of Honor when 
 a colonel during the War of the Rebel 
 lion. The proud distinction was given 
 this brilliant American soldier for " dis 
 tinguished gallantry while holding with 
 his command, an advanced position, 
 against repeated assaults by a strong force 
 of the enemy." 
 
 The occurrence took place during the 
 battle of Chancellorsville, May 2 and 3, 1863, 
 and is described by General Miles himself in 
 the following : 
 
 "On Friday, May 1, 1863, as the Second Army 
 Corps was advancing from Chancellorsville to 
 ward Fredericksburg, Va., my regiment being in 
 advance, I was ordered to move forward and de 
 ploy my command as skirmishers on the right of 
 the road. After advancing through the woods some 500 yards, I came to an open 
 held, where I found the enemy, and also a brigade belonging to the Twelfth Army 
 Corps, which was retreating double-quick, without rear guard or flankers. Here I 
 was ordered to halt, and I remained in this position about half an hour, when I 
 was informed by Lieutenant Alvord, of General Caldwell s staff, that the division 
 was falling back, and ordered me to protect the rear. The enemy was then ad 
 vancing in column with a very strong skirmish line, which was different from any I 
 had ever seen, being much stronger and in four ranks ; part filed to the front, 
 keeping up a continued fire. We were also exposed to the fire of their artillery, but 
 without much loss, we fell back until I passed the troops of the Third Corps, when I 
 reformed the line, and was soon ordered forward with the rest of the brigade, taking 
 up a new position on the left of the road, my right connecting with the One hundred 
 and forty-eighth Pennsylvania and my left with that of the Twenty-second Massa 
 chusetts Volunteers, General Barnes Division. I was then ordered by Lieutenant 
 Mitchell, of General Hancock s staff, to take charge of the line of skirmishers in 
 front of the entire division. During the fore part of the night I received instruc 
 tions from General Hancock that the division was to withdraw to another line some 
 distance to the rear, and ordered me to establish my line on the most favorable 
 ground in its front. 
 
173 
 
 " At 3 A. M. of the 2d, I withdrew the picket line to the rear of an abatis, which 
 had been formed during the night by some regiments of the division. Here I 
 remained during the day. The force on this line consisted of the Fifty-seventh 
 New York Volunteers, Lieutenant-Colonel A. B. Chapman ; two companies of the 
 Fifty-second New York, four companies of the Second Delaware, and six companies 
 of the One hundred and forty-eighth Pennsylvania, together with the Eleventh 
 Massachusetts Volunteers, Colonel Blaisdell, which was ordered there by General 
 Carr, for the purpose of feeling the enemy with their sharpshooters. 
 
 " We were constantly engaged skirmishing with the enemy during the day, and 
 at about 3 P. M. the enemy commenced massing his troops in two columns, one on 
 each side of the road, flanked by a line of battle about 800 yards in front in the 
 woods. Their orders could be distinctly heard. They soon advanced with a tre 
 mendous yell, and were met with a sure and deadly fire of one single line. A very 
 sharp engagement continued for about half an hour after which the enemy fell back 
 in disorder. Their charge was impetuous and determined, advancing within twenty 
 yards of my abatis, but were hurled back with fearful loss, and made no further 
 demonstrations. 
 
 "About 9 A. M. of the 3d instant, I received a detachment of 250 men, under 
 command of Lieutenant-Colonel McCreary, of the One hundred and forty-fifth 
 Pennsylvania, as a support. Soon after, my line was vigorously attacked by the 
 enemy on the left, and engaged the entire line. This continued for about half an 
 hour, when I deployed about one-third of my reserve on the left, and was about to 
 order up the remainder when I received a severe wound in the abdomen, and was 
 obliged to leave the field." 
 
 Colonel Miles conduct througnout this campaign was highly commended by his 
 superior officers who in their official reports of this battle lavished their praise upon 
 the young soldier. After the engagement at Chancellorsville, General John C. Cald 
 well spoke of him in the following flattering terms : 
 
 " Colonel Miles, of the Sixty-first New York Volunteers, was placed by General 
 Hancock in command of the picket line of the division, which consisted of six 
 companies of the One hundred and forty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, the Fifty- 
 seventh New York, two companies of the Second Delaware, supported by the 
 Eleventh Massachusetts Volunteers. 
 
 " With this force Colonel Miles skirmished all day long with the enemy, and at 
 3 P. M., repulsed with signal loss, a determined attack of the enemy, made in two 
 columns on each side of the road. I do not doubt, that this repulse of the enemy, 
 which kept them from our main lines, was due principally to the skill and gallantry 
 of Colonel Miles, who, with a single line of skirmishers, deployed at three paces, 
 repelled a determined attack of the enemy made in column, a feat rarely paralleled. 
 * * * * I confess I was somewhat anxious for the One hundred and forty-eighth 
 Pennsylvania Volunteers, it being a new regiment, and, never having been exposed 
 to fire. It behaved, however, throughout with the greatest coolness, vying with 
 
the old troops in steadiness. Colonel Miles speaks in high terms of the six com 
 panies that were on picket, and the other four companies fought with the greatest 
 gallantry under my own eye. I have seldom seen a more steady or better-directed 
 tire than w T as theirs in the w T oods on Sunday. The Sixty-first New York Volunteers 
 maintained its well earned reputation for steadiness, bravery, and all good soldierly 
 qualities. 
 
 "I greatly regret to report that Colonel Miles w r as severely, if not mortally, 
 wounded on Sunday morning while handling the picket line with masterly ability. 
 I have had occasion heretofore to mention the distinguished conduct of Colonel 
 Miles in every battle in which the brigade has been engaged. His merits as a mili 
 tary man seem to me of the very highest order. I know of no terms of praise too 
 exaggerated to characterize his masterly ability. If ever a soldier earned promotion, 
 he has done so. Providence should spare his life, and I earnestly recommend that he 
 should be promoted and intrusted with a command commensurate with his abilities." 
 
 AMONG THE MOST HEROIC OF THE WAR" 
 
 T REGARD the conduct of the soldiers who 
 * manned the transports as among the most 
 heioic of the whole war." 
 
 Admiral Porter in expressing this opinion 
 referred to the men who manned the trans 
 ports Tiger, John F. Cheeseman, Moderator, 
 Henry Clay, Anglo-Saxon, and Horizon, which 
 ferried the Union troops across the Mississippi. 
 This brilliant feat is described by Second 
 Lieutenant James D. Vernay, of the Seventy- 
 seventh Illinois Volunteers, who commanded 
 the Horizon, as follows : 
 
 "Some few days before the boats were 
 being prepared for the special service of fer 
 rying the troops across the Mississippi, I over 
 heard Generals Logan s and Grant s quarter 
 masters talking about calling for volunteers 
 
 to man the boats. The next morning I walked nine miles in the rain and mud down 
 
 the levee to general headquarters, to put my name down. 
 
 " I met Colonel Rawlins, with whom I had a speaking acquaintance, and informed 
 
 him of my intention. He encouraged me and said, that he thought I would have an 
 
 JAMES D. VERNAY. 
 
 2d Lieut.. Co. B. 7Tth 111. Vol. Inf. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Brevet Major. 
 
 Born at Lacon, 111., Dec. 24, 1834. 
 
176 
 
 opportunity to go. I told him that the whole of Logan s Division would want to 
 volunteer and that I would feel disappointed if my offer were not accepted. He 
 took a slip of paper and wrote my name, rank, and regiment, and said : There, 
 will that suit you ? Well, that s what I came here for, I replied. 
 
 " I was placed in command of the Horizon, the last one of the six transports. 
 An hour before the time set for our boats to go in under fire, I assembled our men 
 in the cabin. There I gave them some necessary instructions, provided them with 
 pieces of strong cord to tie up a wounded leg or arm, if such emergency should 
 arise, and impressed upon them the importance of our service. They crowded about 
 me, some showing the pictures of their loved ones, wives, children, mothers, and 
 sweethearts, and we finally bade each other goodbye, all hoping for a successful 
 ending, but everyone ready to die in the performance of a sacred duty. 
 
 " We worked all night, arriving at New Carthage on the following morning at 
 nine o clock. On April 23d General Grant, after a consultation, ordered the trans 
 ports to run the gauntlet of fire. We started at 7 P. M. As we successfully passed 
 the last of the enemy s batteries, our cheers and hurrahs echoed over the water and 
 our joy was boundless. With our six boats, ragged and torn by shot and shell, we 
 had ferried our troops across the Mississippi, and commenced that brilliant cam 
 paign, which ended in the capture of General Pemberton and his whole army at 
 Vicksburg." 
 
 AN AWFUL BARGE RIDE 
 UNDER FIRE 
 
 of the most desperate feats of the 
 war was the attempt of Captain Wil 
 liam H. Ward, of Company B, Forty-seventh 
 Ohio Volunteers, to run the gauntlet of the 
 Confederate batteries at Vicksburg, on the 
 night of May 3, 1863. There were three 
 barges loaded with stores for General Grant s 
 Army, but between them and their destina 
 tion lay the enemy s batteries, mounting 
 more than one hundred guns, many of them 
 of the heaviest calibre. The Mississippi River 
 makes a double bend at this point, like the 
 letter S, and from the moment the barges 
 entered the first bend, till they emerged on 
 the open river below, they would be under 
 
 the concentrated fire of the guns every foot of the way, and it seemed impossible 
 
 that anyone could live under such a terrible fire. 
 
 WILLIAM H. WARD. 
 
 Captain, Co. B. 47th Ohio Inf. 
 Born at Adrian, Mich., Dec. 9, ]840. 
 
177 
 
 The strength of the position was not unknown to Captain Ward, for he had 
 several times, from a distance watched the batteries in action, when the ironclads 
 were attempting to run the blockade. What he had seen, instead of deterring him, 
 only made him more anxious for a closer acquaintance, and w r hen a call was made 
 for volunteers to take the barge down the stream, he was the first to offer himself. 
 There was no lack of volunteers, and where only thirty-five men were required, ten 
 times that number were willing and anxious to go. One man, Addison J. Hodges, 
 was so eager to go, that he actually offered a comrade a dollar to let him go in 
 his place. 
 
 Previous expeditions had run the gauntlet of these batteries with more or less 
 success, but always on the darkest of nights and convoyed by armor-clad gunboats. 
 On this occasion a full moon and a clear sky made the night as light as day, and 
 there were no gunboats to shelter the barges from the enemy s fire. There was 
 only one little tug, the George Sturgis, to tow the barges, and any accident to her 
 would wreck the whole expedition. This did not discourage the gallant little band, 
 and the account of the adventure is entertainingly given by Captain Ward, as 
 follows : 
 
 "We cast off from Milliken s Bend, La., about fifteen miles above Vicksburg at 
 ten o clock P. M, The trip down the river was uneventful until two o clock in the 
 morning, \vhen a rocket sent up from one of the Confederate batteries, warned the 
 enemy of our approach, and we were soon under a heavy fire. It was a wild ride 
 we had from this time on. 
 
 " Battery after battery opened on us as we came within range, until it seemed 
 that the guns were being played upon like the keys of a piano, and to say that the 
 rain of shot and shell was terrific but faintly describes the situation. The scene 
 was indescribably grand and awe-inspiring as we steamed slowly past the city amid 
 the roar of more than a hundred guns, with their death-dealing missiles whistling 
 and shrieking over and around us, and exploding on board, while the patter of 
 bullets from the infantry resembled a fall of hail-stones. The barges were large and 
 unwieldy ; and as we could make only about six miles an hour at best, the enemy s 
 gunners were able to get our range accurately. We had been struck many times 
 but not seriously damaged. The little tug seemed to bear a charmed life, for we 
 passed several times within a hundred yards of the heaviest batteries. 
 
 " We had now been under fire three-quarters of an hour, and had reached a point 
 below the city where ten minutes more meant safety. The steady puff-puff of the 
 little tug gave assurance that all was .right, and we were beginning to indulge in 
 mental congratulations on the success of the expedition, when a roar like the 
 bursting of a volcano, caused the barges to rock as if shaken by an earthquake, and 
 in an instant the air was filled with burning coals, flying timbers, and debris. A 
 plunging shot from a heavy gun, stationed on an eminence far in the rear, had struck 
 the tug and penetrated to the furnaces, where it exploded, blowing the boilers and 
 machinery up through the deck, and completely wrecking the vessel. The blazing 
 
178 
 
 coals fell in a shower over both barges, setting fire to the bales of hay in hundreds 
 of places at once. The enemy sent up a cheer upon witnessing our misfortune, and 
 for a few minutes seemingly redoubled their fire. The tug went down like a plum 
 met, while the barges were soon blazing wrecks, drifting with the eddying current 
 of the river. No recourse remained but surrender, and the waving of a handker 
 chief from a soldier s bayonet caused the firing to cease. The fiames compelled the 
 survivors to seek safety by taking to the water, and, having no boats, we floated off 
 on bales of hay and found them surprisingly buoyant. The wounded were first cared 
 for, and then all took passage on the hay-bale line. 
 
 " The enemy now hailed us from shore, ordering us to come in and surrender, but, on 
 learning that we had no boats, sent their own to our assistance, capturing all but one 
 of the survivors. That one, Julius C. Conklin by name, was the only man in the party 
 who could not swim. He managed, with the aid of a piece of wreckage, to reach the 
 Louisiana shore unobserved by the enemy, and rejoined his company two days later. 
 
 " When all had been rescued and assembled in the moonlight under guard of 
 Confederate bayonets, the roll was called, and just sixteen, less than half our 
 original number, were found to have survived. Some of the scalded men were 
 piteous sights to behold, the flesh hanging in shreds from their faces and bodies, as 
 they ran about in excruciating agony, praying that something be done to relieve 
 their sufferings. These, with the wounded, were speedily sent to a hospital, where 
 some of them died the next day. 
 
 " It is not often, even in a soldier s life, that one is compelled to face death in so 
 many forms as beset our little party on that memorable night; shot and shell, fire, 
 water, and a boiler explosion with its attendant horrors. Our captors treated us 
 with marked consideration, affording every courtesy consistent with the rules of war 
 and we were the recipients of many attentions from soldiers and citizens, who 
 seemed to marvel at the temerity of our undertaking. We were held prisoners in 
 Vicksburg for two days, when General Grant, having crossed the river and defeated 
 the enemy near Grand Gulf, Mississippi, began to threaten the city from the rear. 
 We were then paroled, and hurriedly forwarded to Richmond, Va., where, after an 
 eventful journey through the Confederacy, we duly arrived, and were assigned 
 quarters in that famous Confederate hostelry, Libby Prison. Here we remained 
 about six weeks before we were exchanged and we were only able to rejoin the regi 
 ment in the trenches before Vicksburg, on the evening before the surrender, just in 
 time to be in at the death. 
 
 " Language fails to describe my feelings, when with a few companions I entered 
 the city the next morning, July 4th, immediately after the surrender, under circum 
 stances in such marked contrast with my forced advent of a few days before. Now 
 no hostile demonstrations of any kind greeted us. The great guns were still, the hos 
 tile flags were furled and Old Glory floated proudly from the public buildings, while 
 our late foes were quietly resting in their camps awaiting the pleasure of the victors." 
 
THE END OF THE JOURNEY. 
 
180 
 
 ROUTED MORGAN S RAIDERS 
 
 T 
 
 E Twentieth Michigan Infantry under the 
 command of Lieutenant W. H. Smith, 
 formed part of a provisional brigade which 
 included three regiments of Kentucky cavalry 
 and the Thirteenth Indiana Independent Bat 
 tery, and was commanded by Colonel Richard 
 T. Jacob. The gallant regiment from Michi 
 gan, was sent with this provisional brigade 
 south of the Cumberland River, to hold the 
 Confederate general, John Morgan, in check. 
 How this was accomplished Major Byron M. 
 Cutcheon describes as follows : 
 
 "After some skirmishing at Monticello, 
 Ky., we had fallen back to the Cumberland River 
 on May 9, 1863, and were waiting for a scout 
 ing party to come in, to recross, when 
 Morgan s advance attacked our outpost at 
 Horse Shoe Bend, that evening. I hastened 
 back to the Bend to take command of the 
 companies stationed there, while Colonel 
 
 Smith remained behind to hurry up the rest of the regiment. That night the 
 regiment came up, and on the morning of the 10th we were re-enforced by a small 
 body a squadron I believe of the Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry, dismounted, and 
 armed with Henry repeating rifles. 
 
 " Before their arrival, Morgan s men made a dash and succeeded in seizing the 
 Coffey house, a large log house on the east side of the road, so called after its 
 owner, We had occupied it as a picket post through the night. The house, out 
 buildings, and garden were filled with rebel sharpshooters, who, though they 
 harassed us throughout the day, did not attempt to advance. 
 
 "About 4 o clock P. M., it was Sunday Colonel Jacob having been re-enforced 
 by a piece of Captain Sims battery, resolved to take the aggressive, and to drive the 
 rebels out of the house and grounds. To me was assigned the command of four 
 companies, A and D, on the left of the road in the field, and C and K, in the road and 
 
 BYEON M. CUTCHEON. 
 
 Major, 20th Mich. Infantry. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Brevet Brig-Gen., U. S. V. 
 Born at Pembroke, N. H., May 11, 1836. 
 
 Morgan s Raid. In the summer of 1863, General John Morgan conducted his famous raid through 
 Kentucky into Indiana and Ohio. Starting from Sparta, Tennessee, with a force of 3,000 men, he made his 
 way northward to the Ohio at Brandenburg, and crossed into Indiana. He was stopped at various points 
 by local forces, but made his way into Ohio, made a circuit to the north of Cincinnati, and attempted to 
 recross the river. He was driven back by Federal gunboats, and passed on to New Lisbon, where he was 
 captured by the brigade of General Shackleford. He was held a prisoner for four months, then made his 
 escape into Kentucky, and finally reached Kichmond. 
 
181 
 
 to the right. At the signal we went forward at our very best pace. I was then just 
 six feet two inches tall, one half of the length in legs, and an expert runner from 
 practice in college. I took a course directly down the road to the south in front of 
 the companies, one could hardly say line , for there was no line ; it was a go as you 
 please foot race with Captain George C. Barnes, an old fireman from Battle Creek, 
 Mich., a good second, a rod behind me. The distance was about 150 yards, and we 
 made it on the jump. There were three steps up to the porch, but I made only one 
 of them. With my sword in my right hand, and a big Colt s navy revolver in my 
 left, I threw myself against the weather-beaten door. A moment later, Captain 
 Barnes came to my side, and the door yielded. 
 
 
 "I THREW MYSELF AGAINST 
 THE WEATHER-BEATEN DOOR." 
 
 "Why we were not both shot down then and there, I have never been able to 
 understand. The rebels certainly missed their opportunity. Instead, we saw the 
 Johnnies going out of the back doors and windows, and making for the woods, while 
 the companies coming up right and left of the house, poured volleys into the 
 retreating foe. 
 
 " The charge was a complete success, but Lieutenant William Green and two 
 enlisted men were killed, and quite a number wounded." 
 
WIT AND NERVE OF A SOLDIER-CLERGYMAN 
 
 T 
 
 E matters of food for men, fodder for 
 horses, and horses and mules for the 
 transportation of an army in the enemy s 
 country, are among the most important 
 considerations presented to a commanding 
 officer. Forage duty on the other hand, 
 requires alertness, quick wit and good 
 judgment, and prompt, energetic action 
 on the part of the men detailed on such 
 service. It was w r hile in command of a 
 party of foragers that the acting regimen 
 tal quartermaster of the Twenty-first Iowa 
 Infantry, won his Medal of Honor at 
 Champion Hills, Miss. This quartermaster, 
 First Lieutenant James Hill, was before 
 the war a clergyman, but he gave up his 
 pastorate and enlisted as a private in the 
 Twenty-first Iowa Volunteer Infantry. 
 He was later promoted to be lieutenant, 
 and was finally assigned to duty as chaplain of his regiment. 
 
 Of the episode at Champion Hills, where he captured three Confederate pickets, 
 Lieutenant Hill says : 
 
 " On the 16th of May, 1868, while acting as quartermaster of my regiment, I was 
 ordered by my commander, Colonel Samuel Merrill, to select as many soldiers as I 
 needed, and return in the direction of the Raymond and Jackson Cross Roads to 
 forage and collect anything that would serve the regiment on our march to the Big 
 Black River and Vicksburg. I selected a sufficient number of good men, and sent 
 them out to cover part of the country, giving them orders to report to me at Ray 
 mond and Jackson Cross Roads with what forage they had gathered in, preparatory 
 to our return to the regiment. 
 
 After getting my men off on their mission, I took a pony belonging to the regi 
 ment and rode through some timber and brush in search of food, mules and horses. 
 
 JAMES HILL. 
 
 1st Lieutenant, Co. I. -21st Iowa Infantry. 
 Born at Cheddar, Eng., Dec. 6, 1822. 
 
 Champion Hills After entering Jackson, Miss., May 13, 1863, and learning that Pemberton was ad 
 vancing toward the Federals rear, Grant turned his troops westward so as to be ahead of Pemberton. 
 This move placed McClernand s Corps in the lead, and reaching Champion Hills, Miss., on the 16th, Mc- 
 Clernand was forced into an engagement with Pemberton. McPherson came upon the field near noon ; 
 a battle of four hours duration was fought in deadly earnest, and resulted in Pemberton being forced 
 back to Big Black River, where Grant overtook him, and, in a sharp action, routed the enemy. The 
 Federals lost 2,268 in killed and wounded ; while the Confederates lost 3,000 in killed and wounded, and 
 2,000 taken prisoners. 
 
183 
 
 In following a path through the dense timber I unexpectedly rode right into the 
 Confederate lines, and encountered three rebel pickets with their loaded rifles. 
 I realized at once that I had gotten myself into a nasty position. Neverthe 
 less, I did not lose my presence of mind, for as I emerged from the brush, I instantly 
 and in the most natural manner, ordered the Johnnies to ground arms ! They 
 obeyed. Then slightly turning my head, I addressed an imaginary guard in the 
 brush, with a hasty order to 
 halt . The under growth and 
 brush were so heavy that the 
 Confederates were prevented 
 from seeing through and thus 
 discovering the deception. I 
 next gave the command : Ten 
 paces to the front, eyes to the 
 center. Seeing my revol 
 ver in my hand ready for 
 instant use, the three men 
 complied with my com 
 mand. I further added 
 that if any of them 
 turned his head to right 
 or left I would shoot 
 him down in his 
 tracks. I frequently 
 gave the order to 
 halt to my imagin 
 ary guard, tending 
 to frighten my pris 
 oners into absolute 
 obedience. This done, 
 I deliberately dismounted 
 and gathered up the three rifles, 
 placed them against the neck of 
 the pony, mounted, took the rifles 
 
 under my arm and then gave the order to my prisoners: Single file, march/ 
 and to my imaginary guard : Forward, march. I hurried toward the command at 
 good speed. Before it began to dawn upon my prisoners that I had fooled them, 
 they found themselves within our lines. I turned them and their rifles over to 
 Colonel Merrill who sent them to Major-General McClernand. When the prisoners 
 saw that I had fooled them, their anger was vented in terms more strong than polite, 
 one of them saying to me: Lieutenant, you could never have taken us but for that 
 devil of a body-guard we thought you had, from the way you kept halting them. " 
 
 SINGLE FILE, 
 MARCH!" 
 
184 
 
 CAPTURES HIS CAPTOR 
 
 GEORGE WILHELM. 
 
 Captain. Co. F, 50th Ohio Inf. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Colonel. 
 
 Born in Sciotio County, O., April 2, 1830. 
 
 T~\URING the Vicksburg campaign the Fifty-sixth 
 *^ Ohio Infantry was with Colonel J. R. Slack s 
 Second Brigade of the Twelfth Division, Brigadier- 
 General Alvin P. Hovey, of the Thirteenth Army 
 Corps under Major-General John A. McClernand. 
 first, and later, Major-General E. 0. C. Ord. On the 
 16th of May, about noon, the Federal forces 
 attacked the Confederates at Champion Hills. The 
 contest was bitter and stubborn for several hours, 
 but finally General Pemberton ordered his army to 
 fall back towards Vicksburg. Thus closed the last 
 and most strenuous effort of the Confederate gen 
 eral to prevent the complete investment of that 
 city by Grant. The Fifty-sixth Ohio participated in the battle of Champion Hills, 
 and Captain George Wilhelm, of that regiment, tells his experience as follows : 
 
 "The country over which we advanced on the enemy was hilly and wooded, 
 with an occasional clearing in which we were raked by a most galling fire from 
 the enemy s sharp-shooters. I was ordered to deploy two companies of infantry 
 as skirmishers. We were to advance across a clearing, and drive the enemy from 
 the woods on the opposite side, where they were ensconced behind trees in large 
 numbers. 
 
 "We advanced amid a sweeping fire, and slowly gained on the enemy. During 
 the skirmish I lost a number of men. Unable to maintain the ground I had gained, 
 I turned back and joined my command, the Twelfth Division, Thirteenth Army 
 Corps, in the general engagement. 
 
 " The whole brigade charged upon the enemy, but we were not able to strike a 
 decisive blow, although we had inflicted heavy losses on them. Five times a 
 charge was made, and after each attempt we retreated part of the distance we had 
 advanced. During the fifth charge, I received a shot in my left breast, the bullet 
 going through me. I reeled and fell, and was left on the field. 
 
 " Some time later, one of the Confederates rushed to the place where I lay, and 
 taking me prisoner, brought me to the rear of their lines. At Baker s Creek I 
 persuaded my guard to stop and allow me to attend to my wound. I managed to 
 stop the flow of blood by bathing the wound, and the cool water revived my energy. 
 "It was fearfully hot at the time, and I continued to gain new strength, while 
 my guard paid more attention to the fight than to me. When I felt comparatively 
 comfortable, I began to w r atch for an opportunity to escape. Once my guard turned 
 his back on me; that was his mistake, for no sooner had he turned than I sprang 
 forward, seized his musket and fixed it at his breast. Before he had recovered from 
 
185 
 
 his surprise, I ordered him to about face and forward, march. Then I led him 
 by a circuitous route, to the rear of our lines. It wasn t very easy, for I could 
 hardly walk myself. My wound pained me considerably and made breathing very 
 difficult. However, I did not betray my own troubles to my prisoner, and brought 
 him safely to our lines, where I turned him over to the guard. Then I applied for 
 medical aid at the hospital." 
 
 "I ORDERED HIM TO ABOUT FACE. " 
 
 KENDALL S TEN FOOT LEAP 
 
 ON the 17th of May, 1863, the Federal troops under General Lawler, encountered 
 the Confederates at the Big Black River Bridge, Miss., well defended on both 
 sides. A charge was ordered, and notwithstanding the fact that the Federal troops 
 had to wade through a wide ditch in front of the Confederate earthworks, the 
 position was carried, seventeen guns were captured, and several hundred prisoners 
 were taken. Among the troops in this charge was the Forty-ninth Indiana Infantry, 
 
-186 
 
 and almost at the beginning of the charge a majority 
 of the commissioned officers of the regiment were 
 either killed or captured. So it happened that the 
 command of Company A, of the Forty-ninth Indiana, 
 devolved upon First Sergeant WLliam Kendall. 
 
 Tall, straight as a gun barrel, athletic, and wholly 
 free from superfluous flesh, Sergeant Kendall had an 
 ideal soldierly appearance, and more than that, he 
 appreciated the responsibility of his position. From 
 both sides the fire was incessant and severe until the 
 advance of his company was suddenly blocked by a 
 ten foot ditch. With a yell and a run he leaped 
 across the opening to a pile of rails, and there, under 
 fire, he personally assisted in laying rails across the 
 ditch that his men might more easily follow him. 
 
 Then, leading the charge he ordered, he and his men entered the works and cap 
 tured more prisoners than he had soldiers in his command, the other Confederates 
 beating a hasty retreat. 
 
 WILLIAM KENDALL. 
 
 1st Seig t, Co. A, 49th Indiana Infantry. 
 Born in Dubois Co., Ind., Aug. 31, 1839. 
 
 A BRAVE SACRIFICE 
 
 IN the woods at Carsville, Va., May 15, 1863, occurred one of the most stubbornly 
 * contested engagements experienced by the Seventh Army Corps. Two days 
 prior to this date, about 5,000 infantry, the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry,, and 
 two batteries of artillery were tearing up the Roanoke Railroad, while about the 
 same number of Confederates were attempting to drive them away. 
 
 In recounting the event, Private Joseph S. G. Sweatt, of the Sixth Massachusetts 
 Infantry, says : 
 
 " Skirmishes of more or less importance occurred on the 13th and 14th of May, 
 but on the 15th the two lines of battle faced each other. The company to which 
 I belonged, could muster only twenty-eight men the remainder being on the sick 
 list. Our company, along with Company I, was thrown forward as skirmishers 
 into the edge of the woods, and at once the firing became furious. In less than 
 fifteen minutes more than one-third of our little company was either killed or 
 wounded. Seeing that the enemy had the advantage, the lieutenant in command 
 ordered us to retreat but as skirmishers. It was not long before we discovered 
 that our line of battle had fallen back, their retreat being covered by the fire of the 
 Seventh Massachusetts Battery. 
 
 "While we were falling back, Comrade Thurston, of Company H, came up to me 
 and enquired about his son, who was a member of our company. Some one said 
 
187 
 
 that he and George Fox were lying near the edge 
 of the woods, both wounded. His face blanched ; 
 that look of despair in his face decided my course. 
 I at once gave my gun to a sergeant and called out 
 for some one to go with me to recover those two 
 wounded boys. Dave Goodhue immediately re 
 sponded, threw down his gun, and together we 
 started to rescue our comrades. Closely scanning 
 the field after we had started, we could see the two 
 blue spots lying between the lines. The closer we 
 got to them, the thicker the bullets flew. It looked 
 to us as though we would be unable to reach them. 
 We pushed on, however, determined to save our 
 friends, and finally reached them ; but as we were 
 lifting Fox from the ground, my companion, Good- 
 hue, was mortally wounded. Immediately after, 
 another shot struck Fox while I was carrying him. 
 
 "The Seventh Massachusetts had now ceased firing and our whole line was 
 falling back. The Confederates, heavily re-enforced, charged out of the woods. To 
 reach our retreating lines was now impossible. The enemy were upon us. The 
 Fourth Louisiana Tigers took us prisoners. 
 
 " After the engagement the wounded were gathered up and taken to the Hebron 
 Church, which was then being used as a hospital. From there we were shortly 
 after taken to Franklin, Va., where before we left, all our wounded, except Goodhue, 
 had died. I shall never forget the last look on Goodhue s face as we passed up the 
 street. The poor fellow was on his knees looking out of the window, left, to die 
 among strangers." 
 
 JOSEPH S. G. SWEATT. 
 
 Private Co. C,0th Massachusetts, Inf. 
 Born at Boscawen, N. H., Oct. 23, 1843. 
 
 Vicksburg In the beginning of the year 1863, the Union Army, under Generals Grant and McCler- 
 nand, was collected at Memphis, Tenn., and three months were spent in exploring the vicinity of Vicks 
 burg in the hope of gaining a position in the rear of the town. The expedition was supported by Admiral 
 Porter in command of a flotilla. 
 
 Several attempts to open a passage for the gun-boats, by cutting a canal across a bend of the river 
 with the idea of turning the channel, ended in failure. 
 
 In April it was decided to run the fleet past the Vicksburg batteries, and on the 16th the passage was 
 effected. General Grant marched his land force down the right or west bank of the Mississippi, formed a 
 junction with the squadron, and, on the 31st defeated the Confederates at Port Gibson. Shortly after, the 
 Union Army took a position in the rear of the city. 
 
 On the 14th a decisive battle was fought at Jackson, Miss., in which General Grant s right wing 
 defeated General Johnston s Division and captured the town. 
 
 General Pemberton, in command of the Confederate troops in Vicksburg, made a sally with the 
 greater part of his force on the 16th, and was defeated at Champion Hills on Baker s Creek. He had the 
 same experience on the following day at the Black River Bridge, and retired within his defenses. 
 
 General Grant ordered assaults on the 19th and 22d, which resulted in repulse with great loss. The 
 loss to his force in these two days was estimated at nearly 3,000. The plan was changed to one of regular 
 siege, assisted by a bombardment by the gun-boats. The Confederates held out until the 4th of July, when 
 Pemberton surrendered with all the defenders of Vicksburg, numbering nearly 30,000, as prisoners of war. 
 His loss in killed and wounded was 31,277. The Union loss during the siege was reported to be 4,536. 
 
188 
 
 WITHIN A FEW FEET OF THE ENEMY" 
 
 A X 7HEN Grant, before Vicksburg, realiz- 
 * V ing that the men of his army 
 were filled with the conviction that they 
 could capture the city by assault, consent 
 ed to make the last supreme effort in that 
 direction, it was decided to begin the 
 assault on the 22d of May, 1863. 
 
 A rush along the entire line of invest 
 ment was planned, all officers setting their 
 time with that of General Grant so that 
 the attempt might be simultaneous, and 
 when the appointed hour arrived the en 
 tire Union Army moved forward. It was 
 during this assault that the following 
 members of the Chicago Mercantile Bat 
 tery won their Medals of Honor : Captain 
 Patrick H. White, Corporal James Dunne, 
 and Privates Charles Kloth, George Kret- 
 singer, Patrick McGuire and William G. 
 Stephens. 
 
 Captain White narrates the occurrence 
 himself in these words : 
 
 " The morning of May 22d, at 10 A. M., was set for the grand assault. At 3 o clock 
 A. M. the cannonading began from the land side. Every available gun was brought 
 to bear on the works. The bombardment this day was the most terrible during the 
 siege and continued without intermission until nearly 11 o clock, while our sharp 
 shooters kept up such a galling fire that the rebel cannoneers could seldom rise to 
 load their pieces. 
 
 " The artillery of McClernand s Thirteenth Corps had succeeded in breaching 
 several points of the enemy s works, silencing five or six guns and exploding four 
 caissons, and at 10 o clock the column moved to the assault. About twelve o clock 
 I received a note from General Smith to bring two guns down the ravine, to go up 
 to the breastworks and hammer down a fort. The general concluded his note 
 with: We shall be inside the rebel works in half an hour. 
 
 " In order to ascertain the nature of the ground, I went up the gully to the fort 
 and discovered a lunette in their works on the Balding s Ferry Road, with a twenty- 
 four pounder covering that approach. On the top of the fort they had piled cotton 
 bales. In building this fort they covered half of the road with earth, so there was 
 
 PATRICK H. WHITE. 
 
 Captain, Chicago Mercantile 
 
 Battery, Lt. Art. 
 Born in Ireland, in 1833. 
 
 WILLIAM G. STEPHENS. 
 
 Private, Chicago Mercantile 
 
 Battery. Lt. Art. 
 
 Born in New York, December, 
 
 1SJ3. 
 
189- 
 
 space enough for only one gun. I got a detail from the Eighty-third Indiana 
 Infantry, and with ropes we dragged one gun up to within a few feet of the breast 
 works by hand, the infantry carrying the ammunition in their arms. We used 
 shrapnel, with fuses cut so close that the shells exploded almost as soon as they left 
 the gun. The first discharge w r as simultaneous with that of the enemy, striking 
 their gun in the muzzle and scattering death among their gunners. I never saw a 
 gun loaded and fired so fast. Every man was at his best. They did not take much 
 care in sponging, and once or twice the gun was prematurely discharged. We 
 disabled the enemy s gun and set the cotton bales on fire, and they abandoned the 
 fort for twenty minutes, thinking it was undermined. 
 That was the time for our infantry to pass in, but we 
 did not know it then. The rebels returned and 
 threw water on the cotton bales, but our guns blew 
 the latter to pieces. An Irishman of the Eighty- 
 third called out: Be gad, captain, there s not a 
 pound of them left. I ll go and get you another load of 
 ammunition. As he stepped off the road to go down 
 the gully, a shot from the Seventeenth Ohio Battery 
 cut off his right arm. 
 
 " The Seventeenth had taken a position in our old 
 place in the road near the First United States 
 Infantry, but the latter stopped them from doing 
 further damage. General Smith told me that Quinby s 
 Brigade was coming to support us, so I told the 
 drivers of the guns and limbers that lay 
 here, to get back to where they 
 came from at full speed, and, 
 should they meet with an 
 accident, not to stop, but 
 keep going. When part 
 way up the hill a shell 
 passed between the 
 swing and wheel driv 
 ers, and exploded on 
 the other side of them, 
 throwing the swing 
 driver on his face in 
 the saddle ; another shot 
 went under the gun. 
 
 "My four guns opened 
 with a terrific fire from their " WE DRAGGED 
 
 ... , , ., _ ONE GUN UP." 
 
 position back on the ridge and 
 
190 
 
 they saw the troops fall back from the breast-works. Overhead in the ravine the 
 air was black with projectiles of all descriptions from friend and foe. I thought it 
 was time to see how the four guns were getting along, and to do this it was neces 
 sary to go back over the slope of the ridge. I had not gotten half way to the top 
 when minnie balls dropped around me as thick as grasshoppers. I retraced my 
 steps a short distance, and then obliqued around the ridge where it ended abruptly. 
 When the men saw me they cheered. After dark Sergeant Throop brought the 
 gun off safely, and it was as hot as a live coal. For a week after the assault we 
 slept by our guns, occasionally firing through the nights. For two weeks our horses 
 did not have their harness off." 
 
 General Grant sent an account of the operations before Vicksburg to Field- 
 Marshal Count Von Moltke. The count read it, marked the passage which told of 
 this incident and sent the description to his chief of ordinance. The latter returned 
 the book with the remark : "Never was such a brave deed done in all the wars of 
 Europe." 
 
 THE "FORLORN HOPE" AT VICKSBURG 
 
 COR superb gallantry and reckless indifference to death and danger, there is 
 nothing in military history to excel the conduct of the "forlorn hope" that led 
 the general assault on Vicksburg on May 22, 1863. General Grant had encircled the 
 city on three sides with a line of battle twelve miles long, and on the Mississippi, 
 which formed the fourth side, were Admiral Porter s warships. The strength of the 
 enemy had been greatly underestimated, and it was decided to make an attempt 
 to carry the city by storm, in order to avoid the tedium of a siege. The enemy s 
 lines ran along the top of a bluff, and the point of attack selected was to the south 
 of one of the forts. This fort, which was protected by a ditch twelve feet wide and 
 five or six feet deep, rose about ten feet above the level and sloped up gently 
 towards the enemy s guns. The face of the fort was perpendicular, the earth 
 having been tamped, instead of being allowed to adjust itself. The point of attack 
 was in front of the Second Division of the Fifteenth Army Corps, and on the 
 afternoon of May 21st, each regimental commander of the division explained the 
 plan of operations to his men and called for volunteers. One hundred and fifty 
 men were required for a "forlorn hope" to lead the general assault and prepare the 
 way for the real attack. As these men would be certain to draw the enemy s fire, 
 there was little probability of any of them returning alive, and on that account it 
 was decided not to order any man to go, but to depend entirely on volunteers. 
 Each regiment was to supply its quota, and in view of the terrible risk to be 
 incurred, orders were given that none but unmarried men were to be accepted. 
 The men responded promptly to the call, and in such numbers that twice as many 
 volunteered as were required, those who had first offered their services being accepted. 
 
191 
 
 The work assigned to the " forlorn hope " was to build a bridge over the ditch 
 which protected the front of the enemy s fort, plant their scaling ladders against 
 the embankment, and it was expected that by the time this was done, the support 
 ing brigades would be ready to carry the works by a grand assault. 
 
 On the following morning the storming party was led through a ravine to the 
 Jackson Road, which crossed the enemy s lines at right angles. In this ravine, out 
 of sight of the enemy, was a pile of roughly hewn logs, another of lumber, and a 
 number of scaling ladders. The advance party was to carry the logs, two men to 
 each log, make a dash for the enemy s entrenchments and throw the logs across 
 the ditch to form the ground work of a bridge. The second detachment was to 
 follow close up with the lumber, which was to be thrown across the logs to make 
 sure footing for the stormers. The third detachment was to bring up the scaling 
 ladders, rush across the bridge, and plant them against the enemy s works. 
 
 The moment the "forlorn hope" emerged from the ravine, they came within 
 view of the enemy, who opened so heavy a fire on them that their works were 
 covered with clouds of smoke. The gallant little band advanced at a dead run, but 
 in the eighty rods of open ground which lay between them and the fort, about half 
 of them were shot down. When the survivors arrived at the ditch, they found it 
 impossible to build a bridge, as so many of the logs had been dropped by the way, 
 and it was equally impossible to remain where they were, exposed to the enemy s fire. 
 There was nothing for it but to jump into the ditch, and seek shelter. Private 
 Howell G. Trogden, who carried the flag of the storming party, planted it on the 
 parapet of the fort, and dropped back into the ditch, where he kept up a fire on the 
 Confederates whenever they attempted to reach it and take it in. 
 
 The other brigades advanced to the support of the stormers, but were driven 
 back by the heavy fire, and all that reached the ditch were thirty men of the 
 Eleventh Missouri with a colonel, major, and two lieutenants. They planted their 
 flag along side that of the storming party, and sought shelter where they could, in 
 the ditch, or in holes dug in the embankment. The Confederates finding it impos 
 sible to depress their guns sufficiently to reach them, dropped 12-pounder shells 
 among them, but the fuses were cut too long, and consequently did not explode for 
 about ten seconds. This gave the stormers time not only to get out of the way, but 
 even to toss some of the shells back over the parapet, otherwise not a man would 
 have survived. As it was, the bottom of the ditch was strewn with mangled bodies, 
 with heads and limbs blown off. 
 
 The Thirty-seventh Ohio Volunteers, who were advancing to the support, be 
 came panic-stricken and broke. The men lay down in the road, and sought shelter 
 behind rocks and inequalities of the ground. They refused to either advance or 
 retire, and lay there for hours, blocking the way of the regiments which were 
 coming up behind, thus compelling them to make a long detour, and deliver their 
 attack on the left of the enemy s position. While making this detour, they were 
 
192 
 
 VOLUNTEER STORMERS 
 
 exposed to the fire of the enemy for nearly the whole distance, and were so weak 
 ened in consequence, that they failed in their attack. 
 
 The assault had now failed at every point, although Admiral Porter s ships had 
 kept up a heavy bombardment, and the Federal troops were obliged to withdraw 
 
VICKSBURG. MAY 22, 1863. 
 
 and seek cover, from which they kept up a heavy and well sustained fire. All this 
 time the men in the ditch, unable to either retreat or advance, held their position 
 with the utmost tenacity and weakened the fire of the rebel guns by shooting down 
 the gunners. In order to dislodge them, a gun loaded with grape was dragged to a 
 
194 
 
 position where it would enfilade the ditch, but sharpshooters shot down the gunners, 
 before a single round could be fired. Others attempted to take their places, but it 
 was certain death to approach the gun, and it was abandoned. 
 
 All day long, from 10 o clock in the morning until darkness fell, the unequal 
 fight went on ; then the little body of survivors crept out of the ditch, carrying with 
 them their flags, riddled with bullets, and made their way back to their own lines. 
 Of the storming party eighty-five per cent were either killed or dangerously 
 wounded, and few of them escaped without a wound of some kind. 
 
 When the storming party withdrew, they left behind them William Archinal, 
 who had been stunned by a fall, and who was afterwards captured by the enemy. 
 Archinal and another man had been carrying a log between them, and had neared 
 the ditch, when his comrade was shot. His sudden fall and the consequent dropping 
 of his end of the log, threw Archinal to the ground, where he struck his head against 
 a stone a ad he became unconscious. His adventure is best told in his own words ; 
 he says : 
 
 "When I came to my senses, I was lying on my face with the log across my body 
 and showers of bullets whistling through the air and dropping all around me. 
 These bullets I found, came from my own division, and to save myself from being 
 shot by my own comrades, I wriggled from under the log, and got it between me and 
 them. It was providential for me that I did so, for I could hear the bullets striking 
 the log in dozens. Sometime during the afternoon one of our cannon balls struck 
 the log close to my head ; the log bounded in the air and fell a little way from me, but 
 I crawled up to it again and hugged it close. The firing continued incessantly all 
 day until nightfall, when it gradually slackened, and finally died away altogether. 
 1 thought I could make my way back to my regiment, but as I was rising the butt 
 of my gun which was slung on my back, attracted the attention of the enemy above 
 me. Half a dozen rifles were pointed at me, and I was ordered to surrender, which 
 I did, considering discretion the better part of valor. 
 
 " When I was taken into the fort, a rebel officer came up to me, slapped me on 
 the shoulder, and said : See here, young man, weren t you fellows all drunk when 
 you started this morning ? I replied: No Sir. Well, they gave you some whiskey 
 before you started, didn t they ? he said, and I answered: No Sir, that plan is not 
 practised in our army. 
 
 ; Didn t you know it was certain death, he asked me again, and I replied: Well, 
 I don t know, I am still living. 
 
 Yes, he said, You are living, but I can assure you that very few of your com 
 rades are. 
 
 " I was then placed in charge of a guard, taken to the city and put into the yard 
 of the jail where I met some fifty or sixty of our men, taken at different points 
 during the day. The jail yard was enclosed by a high brick wall with large syca 
 more trees growing inside. I was nearly dead from fatigue, so immediately crawled 
 into one of the tents put up for our accommodation, and was o-n the point of drop- 
 
THIS GAVE TIME TO TOSS SOME OF THE SHELLS BACK. 
 
196 
 
 ping off to sleep, when our mortar boats on the Louisiana shore opposite Vicksburg, 
 opened fire on the city, throwing their 450-pound fuse shells promiscuously all over. 
 Of course, there was no sleep for us that night, and just about daylight one of those 
 shells struck the jail, the roof of which was covered with slate. I made a jump for 
 one of the sycamore trees, but before I reached it, a piece of slate from the roof cut 
 the rim of my hat in front of my face as clean as though it had been done by a razor. 
 
 "A southern man, suspected of being in sympathy with the Union cause, was 
 located in one of the cells, and when this shell burst in the lower part of the jail, the 
 poor fellow was nearly scared to death. He clung to the iron grating of the window 
 and prayed to God that Grant might come that very minute, and take the God-for 
 saken city and everybody in it. 
 
 "About nine o clock A. M. an officer came and took our parole, and then with a 
 small detachment of rebel guards, we were marched down to the river in front of the 
 city. The guard intended to escort us to the Louisiana side and deliver us to our 
 own men, but our mortar boats, suspecting this to be merely a ruse of the rebels, and 
 fearing an attack, opened fire on us, dropping big shells all around us into the river. 
 We pushed off in yawls as quickly as possible, and after getting out a little way we 
 did not fear them, as they could not elevate the mortars sufficiently to do us any 
 harm. Thus after many narrow escapes I reached our own lines in safety, a pa 
 roled prisoner, having been under fire ten hours and in captivity about twelve." 
 
 Uriah H. Brown was one of the section that carried the logs. His captain was 
 shot dead at his side and his lieutenant dangerously wounded, but he kept on till he 
 reached the ditch. He threw his log across, but found it too short to reach to the 
 other side. While considering what he could do he was shot down and tumbled into 
 the ditch. When he came to his senses and found the enemy dropping shells into 
 the ditch among the wounded men, he set to work to drag them into sheltered posi 
 tions. He had got three of the wounded into a safe place, when one of the officers 
 forbade him to expose himself any longer. He lay quiet for a time, but the longing 
 to get back came over him and he climbed out of the ditch and crawled for fifty yards 
 exposed to the terrible fire, till he found a place of safety behind a little knoll. Two 
 wounded men were lying near by, moaning in pain, and he crept out and dragged 
 them under cover, gave them water and lay down beside them till nightfall, when 
 he assisted them back to their own lines. 
 
 Corporal Robert Cox, Company K, Fifty-fifth Illinois Infantry, gives a humorous 
 description of his experience at the assault: 
 
 "After Trogden had planted his flag on the parapet, the Confederates tried to 
 capture it by hooking it in with the shanks of their bayonets, but failed, owing to the 
 hot fire kept up by the sharpshooters. Thereupon Trogden asked me for my gun to 
 give the enemy a thrust. This was a very foolish request, for no soldier ever gives 
 up his gun, but I concluded to try it myself. I raised my head again about as high 
 as the safety of the case would permit, and pushed my gun across the intervening 
 space between us and the enemy, gave their bayonets a swipe with mine, and dodged 
 
197 
 
 down just in time to escape being riddled. I did not want any more of that kind of 
 amusement, so did not undertake to force the acquaintance any further. After we 
 had been in this predicament about two hours, they sent over a very pressing invita 
 tion to Come in, you Yanks. Come in and take dinner with us. We positively 
 declined, however, unless they would come out and give us a chance to see if the 
 invitation were genuine. This they refused to do, but agreed to send a messenger. 
 By and by it arrived in the shape of a shell, which went flying down the hill without, 
 however, doing us any damage." 
 
 Jacob Sanford, commissary-sergeant, Fifty-fifth Illinois Infantry, tells that while 
 with the storming party, he came out with no injury more serious than a sprained 
 hip caused by grape shot striking the plank he was carrying. He had been very 
 near death more than once, however, for he had two bullet holes through his hat, 
 nine through his blouse. The bullets in passing through his hat, had carried away 
 locks of hair with them in their course. 
 
 The names of the surviving heroes whose courage and bravery was fittingly 
 recognized by a grateful country by the award of the Medal of Honor are as 
 follows : 
 
 CHRISTIAN ALBERT, 
 
 Private, Co. G, 47th Ohio Inf. 
 
 CLINTON L. ARMSTRONG, 
 
 Private, Co. D, 83d Ind. Inf. 
 
 WILLIAM H. BARRIXGER, 
 
 Private, Co. F, 4th W. Va. Inf. 
 
 THOMAS A. BLASDELL, 
 Corporal, Co. H, 83d Ind. Inf. 
 
 EMMER BOWEN, 
 
 Private, Co. C, 127th 111. Inf. 
 
 HENRY G. BUHRMAN, 
 Private, Co. H, 54th Ohio Inf. 
 
 WILLIAM CAMPBELL, 
 Corporal, Co. I, 30th Ohio Inf. 
 
 WILLIAM H. CHISMAX, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. I, 83d Ind. Inf. 
 
 CARLOS N. COLBY, 
 Sergeant, Co. G, 97th 111. Inf. 
 
 JAMES S. CUNNINGHAM, 
 
 Private, Co. D, 8th Mo. Inf. 
 
 MARTIN K. DAVIS, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. H, 116th 111. Inf. 
 
 DAVID F. DAY, 
 
 Private, Co. D, 57th Ohio Inf. 
 
 RICHARD W. DsAViTT, 
 Sergeant, Co. D, 47th Ohio Inf. 
 
 DAVID DICKIE, 
 Sergeant, Co. A, 97th 111 Inf. 
 
 JOHN N. ECKES, 
 
 Private, Co. E, 47th Ohio Inf. 
 
 JOHN H. FISHER, 
 
 1st. Lieut., Co. B, 55th 111. Inf. 
 
 JAMES E. FLYNN, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. G, 6th Mo. Inf. 
 
 FRANZ FREY, 
 Corporal, Co. H, 37th Ohio Inf. 
 
 NICHOLAS GESCHWIND, 
 
 Captain, Co. F, 116th 111. Inf. 
 
 THOMAS GUINN, 
 
 Private, Co. D, 47th Ohio Inf. 
 
 DAVID H. HELMS, 
 
 1st Sergt., Co. B, 83d Ind. Inf. 
 
 JAMES HENRY, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. B, 113th 111. Inf. 
 
 LEWIS T. HUNT, 
 
 Private, Co. H, 6th Mo. Inf. 
 
 WILLIAM JOHN, 
 
 Private, Co. E, 37th Ohio Inf. 
 
 ELISHA JOHNS, 
 Corporal, Co. B, 113th 111. Inf. 
 
 DAVID JOHNSTON, 
 
 Private, Co. K, 8th Mo. Inf. 
 
 DAVID JONES, 
 Lieut., Co. I, 54th Ohio Inf. 
 
 JOSEPH S. LABILL, 
 
 Private, Co. C, 6th Mo. Inf. 
 
 JAMES W. LARRABEE, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. I, 55th 111. Inf. 
 
 WILLIAM H. LONGSHORE, 
 
 Private, Co. D, 30th Ohio Inf. 
 
 JAMES M. MCCLELLAND, 
 
 Private, Co. B, 55th 111. Inf. 
 
 ANDREW MCCORMACK, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. I, 127th 111. Inf. 
 
 EDWARD McGixx, 
 
 Private, Co. F, 54th Ohio Inf. 
 
 WILSON McGoxAGLE, 
 
 Private, Co. B, 30th Ohio Inf. 
 
 JACOB C. MILLER, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. G, 113th 111. Inf. 
 
 JEROME MORFORD, 
 
 Private, Co. K, 55th 111. Inf. 
 
 JASPER N. NORTH, 
 
 Private, Co. D, 4th AV. Vsi. Inf. 
 
 JACOB H. OVERTURE, 
 
 Private, Co. K, 83d Ind. Inf. 
 
 JOEL PARSONS, 
 
 Private, Co. B, 4th AV. Va. Inf. 
 
 AVii.r.iAM REED, 
 Private, Co. H, 8th Mo. Inf. 
 
 Louis RENXIGER, 
 
 Private, Co. H, 37th Ohio Inf. 
 
 FREDERICK ROCK, 
 Private, Co. H, 37th Ohio Inf. 
 
 BENJAMTX AV. SCHENK. 
 Corporal, Co. D, 116th 111. Inf. 
 
 AXDREW SCHMAUCH, 
 
 Private, Co. A, 30th Ohio Inf. 
 
 CHRISTIAN SCHNELL, 
 Corporal, Co. C, 37th Ohio Inf. 
 
 REUBEN SM ALLEY, 
 Private, Co. F, 83d Ind. Inf. 
 
 AVii.LiAM STEINMETZ, 
 
 Private, Co. G, 83d Ind. Inf. 
 
 JAMES C. SUMMERS, 
 
 Private, Co. H, 4th AV. Va. Inf. 
 
 WILLIAM TOOMER, 
 Sergeant, Co. F, 127th 111. Inf. 
 
 Ho WELL G. TROGDEX, 
 
 Private, Co. D, 8th Mo. Inf. 
 
 JOHN AVARDEX, 
 
 1st Lieut., Co. E, 55th 111. Inf. 
 
 RICHARD H. AVooo, 
 
 Captain, Co. A, 97th 111 Inf. 
 
 JOSEPH AA ORTICK, 
 
 Private, Co. A, 8th M. Inf. 
 
198 
 
 COME ON, YOU BRAVE YANK" 
 
 THOMAS H. HIGGINS. 
 
 Private, Co. D. 99th Illinois Infantry. 
 Born in Franklin Co., New York, June 8, 1831. 
 
 "THE assault upon that part of the works of 
 Vicksburg, occupied by the Twenty- 
 Second Texas, was made by the Eighth and 
 Eighteenth Indiana, First United States 
 Kegulars and the Thirty-third and Ninety- 
 ninth Illinois, in the order named. Regard 
 ing the assault, Captain A. C. Matthews, of 
 the Ninety-ninth Illinois, says : " I was in 
 command of the color company on May 22. 
 1863. The color bearer had been wounded 
 a few days before and was not on duty that 
 morning. Private Thomas H. Higgins, a 
 big, strong, athletic Irishman, solicited the 
 privilege of carrying the flag for the day. I 
 gave him permission and handed over the 
 standard to him, telling him not to stop un 
 til he got into the Confederate works. He 
 obeyed this order literally." 
 
 The manner in which Private Higgins 
 carried out the order of his superior officer, 
 
 cannot be more fittingly recounted and with greater credit to the brave color bearer 
 than by Charles I. Evans, an ex-Confederate soldier of the Second Texas, who says: 
 "After a most terrific cannonading of two hours, during which the very earth 
 rocked and pulsated like a thing of life, the head of the charging column appeared 
 above the brow of the hill, about 100 yards in front of the breast works, and, as line 
 after line of blue came in sight over the hill, it presented the grandest spectacle the 
 eye of a soldier ever beheld. The Texans were prepared to meet it however, for, in 
 addition to our Springfield rifles, each man was provided with five additional 
 smooth-bore muskets, charged with buck and ball. 
 
 "When the first line was within fifty paces of the works, the order to fire ran 
 along the trenches, and was responded to as from one gun. As fast as practiced 
 hands could gather them up, one after another, the muskets were brought to bear. 
 The blue lines vanished amid fearful slaughter. There was a cessation in the firing. 
 And behold, through the pall of smoke which enshrouded the field, a Union flag 
 could be seen approaching. 
 
 " As the smoke was slightly lifted by the gentle May breeze, one lone soldier ad 
 vanced, bravely bearing the flag towards the breast works. At least a hundred men 
 took deliberate aim at him, and fired at point-blank range, but he never faltered. 
 Stumbling over the bodies of his fallen comrades, he continued to advance. Sud- 
 
199 
 
 denly, as if with one impulse, every Confederate soldier within sight of the Union 
 color bearer seemed to be seized with the idea that the man ought not to be shot 
 down like a dog. A hundred men dropped their guns at the same time; each of 
 them seized his nearest neighbor by the arm and yelled to him: Don t shoot at 
 that man again. He is too brave to be killed that way, when he instantly 
 discovered that his neighbor was yelling the same thing at 
 him. As soon as they all understood one another, a 
 hundred old hats and caps went up into the air, 
 their wearers yelling at the top of 
 their voices: Come on, 
 you brave Yank, 
 come on! 
 
 ONE 
 
 LONE 
 SOLDIER 
 ADVANCED." 
 
 "He did 
 come, and was 
 taken by the hand 
 and pulled over the 
 breast works, and when it 
 was discovered that he was 
 not even scratched, a hundred 
 Texans wrung his hands and con 
 gratulated him upon his miraculous 
 escape from death. That man s name was 
 Thomas J. Higgins, color bearer of the Ninety- 
 ninth Illinois." 
 
 Private Higgins was then taken before General Pem- 
 berton, the rebel commander, who asked him where General Grant s 
 headquarters were. 
 
 "I do not know, as he is moving them every day, but they will be here 
 tomorrow," came the ready response from the quick witted Irishman. 
 
200 
 
 "How many men has your general got?" the rebel leader inquired. 
 
 " Oh, not many, only about seventy-five thousand," Higgins replied. 
 
 "How far back do his lines extend?" 
 
 "As far as Cairo, Illinois, and they are still being formed in the state of Maine." 
 
 "Well," General Pemberton observed sarcastically, "we ll have Grant in here as 
 a prisoner tomorrow." 
 
 "I know," was the doughty Yankee soldier s reply, "General Grant will come in 
 here tomorrow to ship you and your command to Altona, Illinois, where he has a big 
 boarding house." 
 
 At this General Pemberton got angry. "Sergeant," he exclaimed, "take this 
 man away. He is insulting. He is impudent. He is insolent." 
 
 Thereupon Private Higgins was led away, a few days later paroled, exchanged, 
 and subsequently he returned to his regiment, where he remained until the end of 
 the war. 
 
 His Medal of Honor was awarded him at the request of the very Confederates 
 who captured him at the assault. 
 
 A T 2 P. M. of the 22d," First Lieutenant Meno- 
 ** men O Donnell narrates, " orders were given 
 for the second charge on Vicksburg, to be led by 
 the Second Brigade, Third Division, Fifteenth Army 
 Corps, commanded by General Joseph A. Mower. 
 The Eleventh Missouri led the advance. The 
 enemy s guns had been booming for some time, but 
 as soon as the Union advance was seen coming over 
 the bluff, the fire seemed to double its former 
 strength and fury. The ground was covered with 
 the dead and wounded, and, not seeing my colors 
 I felt like one lost in the wilderness. I called out: 
 
 Where is the flag of the Eleventh Missouri ? A captain of an Ohio company 
 answered: Lieutenant, your flag is over there! then pointing still farther to 
 the left he said : And the head of your regiment is at the fort. I soon found 
 the flag, and called all of the Eleventh Missouri, within sound of my voice, to come 
 forward to the colors. Only forty-four appeared. I exhorted the boys to follow 
 me to the fort. The color sergeant refused to carry the flag. Just as I was about 
 to reach for it, brave Corporal Warner stepped forward, grabbed the flag, and to 
 
 MENOMEN O DONNELL. 
 
 1st Lieutenant, Co. A, llth Missouri Volun 
 teer Infantry. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Captain. 
 Born in Trimborty, Ireland, April 30, 1830. 
 
201 
 
 the fort it went with us. It was raised, but soon shot down, only to be again put 
 up and floated on the rebel fort until dark. Twenty-four of the forty-four got to the 
 fort. After arriving there we could do nothing but sit with our backs to the wall 
 until darkness came, when under cover of the night, we finally got out, and safely 
 returned to camp. " 
 
 Shortly after the fall of Vicksburg, Lieutenant O Donnell was detailed on 
 General Mower s staff, served with him in his campaign directed against Fort 
 De Russy, La., where he voluntary took a place in the ranks of an assaulting 
 column, and was twice wounded during the engagement. Referring to this action, 
 the lieutenant says : " Returning from a reconnoisance, in which, with a few 
 mounted orderlies, I had taken twenty prisoners, with some supply wagons, I found 
 General Mower with the command, about two miles from the fort. The general 
 said to me : Captain, I have received orders to go into camp; what do you say ? 
 
 " General, it is not for me to say what to do, I answered. 
 
 " I wish you would give me your opinion, he persisted. 
 
 " General, I replied, if I were in your place, I would capture Fort DeRussy be 
 fore evening. If we don t, the enemy will be gone before daylight. Just my own 
 opinion, General Mower said, requesting me to take a brigade, and open fire, 
 which was the signal for a general charge. Subsequently I led the Twenty-fourth 
 Missouri of Colonel Shaw s Brigade against the enemy. There was some hard fight 
 ing, but at 6:30 P. M. we were in possession of the fort." 
 
 A FLAG THE REBELS DIDN T GET 
 
 "AT ten o clock on the morning of May 22d, at 
 ** Vicksburg, our brigade captured a fort, 
 together with a number of prisoners. The colors 
 of the Forty-eighth Ohio and Seventy-seventh 
 Illinois Infantry, were ordered to be planted on 
 the fort, which was done by Sergeant Dave Vore 
 and one of the Illinois men. 
 
 "We were then in a very desperate position, 
 and, in addition to the enemy s fire, received some 
 of the shells of our own batteries, which fell short 
 of their mark. To relieve myself somewhat of 
 this uncomfortable situation, I unfixed my bay 
 onet and dug a little trench near the top of the 
 works, close by our flag. An Illinois man crawled 
 
 beneath me, into an excavation caused by the explosion of a shell. We arranged 
 that he should reload our guns, while I continued firing at the enemy whenever one 
 
 ISAAC H. CARMEN. 
 
 Corporal, Co. A. 48th Ohio Infantry. 
 Born in New Jersey, Nov. 17, 1841. 
 
202 
 
 of them would come within my sight and range. This lasted several hours, when, 
 the rebels brought a battery to bear on my position, and, for some time the shells 
 were singing their song so dangerously near to my head, that my position became 
 hardly tenable. A little later the enemy began massing troops at this point. I was 
 able to distinctly hear their commands and see their numerous bayonets. Then I 
 thought it high time 
 to notify our officers of 
 the danger our flag 
 was in. I noticed that 
 our men were some 
 distance behind, in the 
 ditch, but determined 
 to rescue the flag, 
 rushed back, and re 
 ceived from Captain 
 Posegate, the permis 
 sion to get it, if pos 
 sible. I seized it none 
 too soon, for the ter 
 rific assault came 
 sooner than I had ex 
 pected. 
 
 " I reached the top 
 of the bastion and grasped 
 the Ohio flag ; the Illinois stand 
 ard could not be saved. How I got 
 down and paced the hundred feet 
 to our ditch, through all that tre 
 mendous fire, I cannot tell. In my great 
 haste I ran right into the bayonet of 
 one of my own company, who was then in 
 charging position, driving its entire length into 
 my leg and thigh. Although I almost dropped into a faint, 
 I had enough presence of mind to run the shaft of the flag 
 into the dust and hang on to it. My comrades pulled me 
 down into their ditch and got the bayonet out of my leg. 
 I was then taken to the rear." 
 
 Besides the exploit which Corporal Isaac H. Carmen here 
 describes, he also saved the lives of a number of his comrades, by seizing a shell 
 with a burning fuse, and throwing it back to the rebels, whence it came, slaughter 
 ing them with their own weapon of death, intended for the Union men. 
 
 : l SEIZED IT NONE 
 TOO SOON. , 
 
205 
 
 LAY HIM IN THE SHADE; HE WONT LAST LONG 7 
 
 BENJAMIN F. HILLIKER, 
 
 Drummer, Co. A.sth Wisconsin Vol. Inf. 
 Born at Golden, Erie Co.. X. Y., May 23, 1813. 
 
 THE morning of May 22, 1863, the Eighth 
 Wisconsin Infantry was sent on a reconnoi- 
 sance to Chickasaw Bluffs and had proceeded to a 
 point near Mechanicsburg, Miss., when the enemy 
 was discovered in force. It was a time and occa 
 sion when every available man was needed, so that 
 Benjamin F. Hilliker, though mustered as a drum 
 mer, of Company A, asked for a gun and volunteered 
 to go on the skirmish line. He was known to be a 
 fine shot and brave, therefore his offer was accepted. 
 As to what followed is told by the young drummer 
 himself as follows : 
 
 " During the skirmishing near Mechanicsburg, I 
 was still company drummer, but I exchanged my 
 drum for a gun, as I had done on former occasions, 
 and went into the fight with my company. Fear 
 
 in battle never seemed to unnerve me. I felt better at the front in the heat of the 
 fight than I did at the rear. 
 
 "When the fight I mention was becoming interesting, I, with comrade John 
 Horton, advanced about eight rods in front of our line to get a clear view of the 
 Confederate line, and in this we were satisfied, for when we reached the top of a low 
 hill, we were within six or eight rods of the Confederates. My comrade was near my 
 side when we came within this range of the enemy, and we both raised our rifles 
 together to fire. Horton s gun rang out sharply, but mine snapped or missed fire, 
 which placed me in an awkward position. Horton covered himself to the right 
 behind a tree and I jumped into a surface sand pit to the left. While recapping 
 my gun, something occurred that seemed to me like a terrific explosion. 
 
 " It proved to be a Minie ball passing through my head. It entered at the base 
 of the mastoid process, tore through my head, and passed out at the left nostril. 
 The first words I heard after that unpleasant incident were: Lay him in the shade 
 over there he won t last long. But I have lasted, though I have to carry around a 
 bad looking face where good looks might have served me better." 
 
 The Eighth Wisconsin, of which Drummer Hilliker was a member, was known 
 throughout the war as the " Live Eagle Regiment." Its mascot was a live bald 
 eagle, famous as " Old Abe," which was carried during all the marches and engage 
 ments on a perch, surmounting the Union shield. At the end of the war the eagle 
 was presented to the state of Wisconsin, in the custody of which the historical bird 
 died sixteen years later. 
 
206 
 
 DROPPED THE PEN, SHOULDERED THE MUSKET 
 
 to a frail physique, Private Henry T. Johns, after enlisting, was made 
 quartermaster s clerk, hence did not share in a good many of the rougher duties 
 of a soldier. On May 27, 1863, at Port Hudson, however, volunteers were called for, 
 to charge on the enemy s works a so-called " Forlorn Hope." A genuine forlorn 
 hope it proved to be. 
 
 " Ignoring my privilege to keep out of the fight," Private Johns says, " I volun 
 teered as one of a squad of fifty. According to orders we inarched towards a rise of 
 ground, from which we were to charge on the enemy s ranks. It was the most 
 peculiar charge that I have ever heard of. There was no sudden rush, no cheering, 
 nor the usual din of a general charge. We were merely following orders without 
 confidence of success, yet determined to do our best. The plan was a failure in con 
 ception and execution. We had to charge over three-quarters of a mile of open 
 country, exposed to the fierce fire of the enemy, and then climb the enemy s 
 breastworks. But we never reached it. I ran on, knowing that my comrades were 
 dropping on every side of me. Nevertheless we pressed forward until, seeing that 
 to go farther would be useless and only mean death, we retreated." 
 
 Three others, Privates Frederick M. Deland, James W. Strong, and Francis E. 
 Warren, also received the Medal of Honor for participating and distinguishing 
 themselves in this same assault. 
 
 FRUSTRATED THE 
 
 ENEMY S PLANS. 
 
 P 
 
 > 
 
 IRIVATE WILLIAM L. S. TABOR, of Com 
 pany K, Fifteenth New Hampshire 
 Infantry, in describing the part he played 
 at the siege of Port Hudson,- where the 
 Union forces so determinedly, though un 
 successfully, laid siege and assaulted the 
 Confederates, says : 
 
 "During the siege of Port Hudson in 
 1863, it was necessary to undermine the 
 enemy s works, and for this purpose a 
 large number of negroes was set to work 
 digging a trench under the rebel fortifications, and protected by our sharpshooters 
 who were supplied with hand-grenades, to be thrown over the parapets. The sand 
 
 
 WILLIAM L. S. TABOR, 
 
 Private, Co. K. 15th N. H. Inf. 
 Born in Methuen, Massachusetts, in 1844. 
 
207 
 
 from the trench was thrown over the breastworks, for there was no place to dispose 
 of it on our side. This exposed our men to the fire of the rebels, and I was one of 
 the men detailed as sharpshooters to prevent the rebels from doing further damage. 
 We were under a scathing fire all this time, as the enemy were enabled to enfilade 
 our ranks, and with their shot and shell did much damage. One of their contri 
 vances for throwing shells amongst our men, was to place short fuse shells into a 
 trough, constructed of planks, lift up one end of it, thus lowering the other end over 
 our works, and drop the shells into our ranks. 
 
 "I JERKED IT INTO OUR LINES." 
 
 "The first time they attempted this they succeeded in killing and wounding 
 125 men, mostly negroes, who were engaged in shovelling. Just as they were 
 putting a second shell in the trough, I jumped up on the sand bags which formed 
 our breastworks, slipped a noosed rope around the trough, and jerked it into our lines. 
 
 " This resulted in throwing the shell the other way, falling among the rebels and 
 exploding there. While slipping the rope around the trough I was necessarily ex 
 posed to the full view of the rebel sharpshooters but I did it so quickly and unex 
 pectedly, that for a moment not a shot was fired. Just as I jumped down, the rebels 
 opened up and the air was full of bullets, but just a moment too late to do me any 
 harm." 
 
208 
 
 BRAVE AND RESOURCEFUL 
 
 \ VOLUNTARILY exposed himself to a heavy fire to 
 * get water for comrades in rifle pits." This is 
 the inscription on the Medal of Honor, the proud 
 bearer of which is Marcus A. Hanna, sergeant of 
 Company B, Fiftieth Massachusetts Infantry. 
 
 The incident occurred at Port Hudson, on 
 July 4, 1863, and serves not only to illustrate 
 the hero s feeling for his suffering comrades, 
 but his courage and resourcefulness as w T ell. 
 Sergeant Hanna gives a detailed description of 
 the occurrence, as follows : 
 
 "While our forces were closely investing 
 Port Hudson, four days before its surrender, 
 the Fiftieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 
 was ordered into the rifle-pits to support a 
 New York battery. It was early in the morn 
 ing, and we had just been relieved from similar 
 The men went back to the pits without having 
 time to replenish their haversacks or canteens. The day was intensely hot and 
 by noon the men were suffering from thirst. How to get water was a problem, with 
 the enemy on the alert and posted on works but a short distance from and consider 
 ably higher than our position. 
 
 " At about 2 or 3 o clock P. M. the thirst of our men had become almost unbear 
 able and Lieutenant William H. Hurd, in command of our company, gave some of 
 us permission to go to the rear for water. Orderly Sergeant Blatchford and myself 
 were the only sergeants present that day. I at once volunteered to go, and asked 
 for a file of men to assist me. No one responded. I decided to try it alone. I took 
 twelve or fifteen canteens all I could conveniently carry hung them about my 
 neck, and placed them about my body to afford protection from rebel bullets. A 
 dummy, made by rigging up a musket with a blouse and cap, was prepared, the 
 
 MARCUS A. HANNA, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. B, 5()th Mass. Inf. 
 Born in Franklin Co., Maine, Nov. 3, 1842. 
 
 duty, performed during the night. 
 
 Port Hudson or Hickey s Landing, situated on a bond of the Mississippi River, twenty-two miles above 
 Baton Rouge, was strongly fortified by the Confederates, and was held in May, 1863, by Colonel Frank 
 Gardner. It was approached by the combined forces of Generals Sherman, Augur and Banks, assisted by 
 the fleet under Admiral Farragut, and the first line of works was abandoned by the rebels on the 25th. An 
 assault by General Weitzel s Brigade, on the 27th, resulted in failure. Bombardment by the fleet con 
 tinued until the 7th of July, when Colonel Gardner, hearing of the capture of Vicksburg, by the Union 
 Army, surrendered with its force of 6,000 men. 
 
 The Union loss during the siege was about 3,000; the Confederate, 7,208, in killed, wounded, and 
 prisoners. 
 
209 
 
 idea being to raise it above our pit and, if possible, draw the fire of the enemy, and 
 then, before they had time to reload, I was to take my chances. Carefully we raised 
 the dummy until the cap only could be seen, then we ducked it out of sight, to 
 hoist it again at once, this time showing the head and body. The deception was a 
 success, for at once there came a 
 heavy volley, and before the 
 
 smoke had cleared away, I was 
 
 x * / 
 up and off as rapidly as 
 
 my light but bulky load 
 
 I SPRANG FROM THE PIT." 
 
 would permit. I steered across the level plains for the nearest cover some 500 yards 
 away, but I had not gone far, before I could hear the patter of bullets all around 
 me, and knew that I was within sight and range. Yet, I kept on my course, 
 until about half the distance was covered when I realized that I could not escape 
 being hit, and bethought myself of the ruse of throwing myself prostrate, as if killed 
 or badly wounded. The trick was successful. The firing ceased, and, after lying 
 prone until I was well rested, I sprang to my feet and ran like a deer for the black 
 berry hedge. In this second race, no further shots were sent after me by the enemy. 
 " I went about half a mile further to a spring, filled my load of canteens, not one 
 of which, in spite of the firing, had been punctured, and began cautiously to work 
 my way back to my company in the rifle-pits. Instead of making a bee-line for 
 the pit, I made a detour to the left, in order to bring one of our batteries between 
 myself and the enemy. After I had reached the battery I had still some sixty or 
 seventy yards to go to the right, wholly exposed to the enemy s fire. However, I 
 covered this distance unmolested. Lieutenant Hurd and the men warmly con 
 gratulated me, and expressed gratitude for the partial relief I had brought them." 
 
210 
 
 SEVERE COST OF 
 
 SKIRMISHING 
 
 O 1 
 
 JAMES R. DURHAM, 
 2nd Lieutenant, Co. E, 12th W. Va. Inf. 
 
 Highest rank attained : Captain. 
 Born at Richmond, West Virginia, Feb. 7, 1833. 
 
 k N June 14, 1863, the Twelfth West Virginia 
 Infantry left the fortifications at Win 
 chester and were marched to a stone wall on 
 the hills on the opposite side of the Romney 
 Road. They encountered the enemy at the top 
 of the hills, and immediately an order was 
 passed along the line to fall back. The greater 
 part of the regiment obeyed and formed a 
 line some distance back, leaving a number of 
 skirmishers at the wall, where they remained 
 until 4 P. M., when an advance was ordered. 
 At this time, Lieutenant James R. Durham, 
 commanding the skirmishers at the wall, ad 
 vanced, cleared the wall, and kept on until he 
 
 was within the lines of the rebels, who were entrenched behind another wall about one 
 hundred and fifty yards distant. The lieutenant says in his account of the action : 
 " We had been lying behind the stone wall several hours, because to cross it or 
 even show our heads above it, was certain death. Already three of my men had 
 been killed while rising to get a shot. At last, however, we were ordered over 
 the wall. Turning to my boys and shouting a Good bye and Come on, I was 
 the first one over. We advanced about thirty yards, the bullets flying thick and 
 fast on all sides, when I was struck in the right hand. Six or seven of my men 
 were also wounded about the same time. Two advanced too far and fearing to 
 retreat, surrendered. 
 
 "I discovered that the line of battle did not intend to advance farther, but 
 instead took shelter behind the stone walls. I therefore ordered my men back, tak 
 ing our wounded with us. On our retreat two or three others were wounded. After 
 regaining our lines I examined my injuries, and now, for the first time found that my 
 
 Winchester, Va. General Ewell s Confederate Army, after entering the Shenandoah Valley, made 
 a forced march to Winchester, reaching that place on the 13th of June, 1863, with the divisions of 
 Jubal, Early, and Edward Johnston. Ewell s lines were extended over one hundred miles of the country. 
 Lee s Army, under Hill and Longstreet, occupied positions at Fredericksburg, and Culpepper Court House. 
 
 General Hooker became satisfied that Lee contemplated an invasion and he accordingly withdrew 
 toward Washington, and Ewell prepared to invest Winchester, then held by General Milroy. On the 14th, 
 ^lilroy was apprised of this movement and after a council of officers, it was decided to retreat toward the 
 Potomac. Johnston met Milroy s force about four miles from Winchester and dispersed the entire body. 
 
 Milroy s loss was about 4,000 killed, wounded and made prisoners. 
 
211 
 
 right hand and forearm were severely shattered. I reported at the hospital and 
 retreated with the command. The next morning I was obliged to ride forty-five 
 miles on a bare-backed horse to escape capture, while my wound was still bleeding. 
 1 was unable to report to my regiment for duty for the next six months." 
 
 "I SHOUTED TO MY BOYS: "COME ON!" 
 
 A DRAMATIC INCIDENT ON THE BATTLEFIELD 
 
 "/COLONEL, you are a brave man. You are released from arrest. Here is my own 
 ^ sword. Take it and bring it back to me, red with the enemy s blood." 
 
 General Kilpatrick unsheathed his sword and handed it to Colonel Luigi Palma 
 di Cesnola, while a whole regiment in silent reverence witnessed the impressive 
 scene. It was just before the battle of Aldie, June 13, 1863. General Kilpatrick had 
 been sent with his brigade in advance of the main body of the Union troops. The 
 rebels occupied high ground and were behind rails encircling large stacks of hay. 
 Their guns were doing considerable damage to the Union cavalry and the necessity 
 to silence or capture them became urgent. 
 
212 
 
 LUIGI PALMA DI CESNOLA, 
 
 Colonel, 4th N. Y.Inf. 
 
 Highest rank attained : Brig-Gen. U. S. V 
 Born at Rivarolo, Italy, June ;>!. ISW. 
 
 Colonel di Cesnola s regiment formed part of 
 General Kilpatrick s brigade. On the very morning 
 of the battle an unpleasant episode marred the feel 
 ing of comradeship in the Northern ranks. A junior 
 officer had been promoted over Colonel di Cesnola and 
 the latter felt offended. He did not attempt to con 
 ceal his injured feelings, but bluntly walked up to 
 General Kilpatrick and protested against the promo 
 tion. For this act of indiscretion he was ordered 
 under arrest. In the meantime the general ordered a 
 charge on the enemy s position. Colonel di Cesnola s 
 regiment in a body refused to obey orders. Not a man 
 would stir unless led by his own, dearly beloved com 
 mander. For a second the general was nonplussed, 
 but for a second only. Colonel di Cesnola gave him 
 no time to form any conclusion. The honor of his 
 own regiment was now at stake. Without a moment s 
 hesitation the colonel rushed at the head of his men, 
 ordered the charge to be sounded and led his regi 
 ment against the rebels. Three times he made an 
 
 attempt to capture the guns on the crest of the hill. Three times he was forced to 
 retire. 
 
 General Kilpatrick could not observe the dashing courage of the brave New 
 Yorkers and their fearless leader and remain unmoved. After the third charge 
 he stepped up to Colonel di Cesnola and addressing him in the language afore 
 mentioned, handed him his own sword. 
 
 A fourth charge w r as made. Though the guns were not captured, the enemy had 
 no desire for further attacks and retreated to a safer position. But the Union troops, 
 too, paid dearly for the advantage gained, and the gallant New Yorkers especially 
 mourned over an almost irreparable loss. Colonel di Cesnola had been severely 
 wounded and taken prisoner. His horse had been killed under him. After nine 
 months confinement at Libby prison he was exchanged, and returned to his colors. 
 Colonel di Cesnola was a born soldier and a remarkable man.. Of noble family- 
 he was a count he was born in Rivarolo, Italy, June 29, 1832. He entered the Sar 
 dinian Army at the age of sixteen, and distinguished himself in the war against 
 Austria. He also participated in the Crimean war, at the conclusion of which he 
 bade the old continent farewell and crossed the ocean to find a new home and serve 
 a new country and a new flag. He entered the service of the Federal Army in 1861, 
 with the rank of lieutenant-colonel and a year later received his promotion as 
 colonel. He was one of those warriors of whom the poet says that they are : 
 " Every inch a soldier." 
 
"HE WAS FOUND UNDER HIS DEAD HORSE." 
 
214 
 
 NARROW ESCAPE WHILE SAVING A COMRADE, 
 
 ELDRIDGE ROBINSON, 
 
 Private, Co. C, 122d Ohio Vol. Inf. 
 Born in Morgan County, Ohio, January 7, 1844. 
 
 " THE Romney Pike runs west from 
 Winchester, Virginia, up a ravine 
 with hills rising abruptly to the north and 
 south," Private Eldridge Robinson writes. 
 " In the western outskirts of the city, close 
 to a large walled spring on the north side 
 of the pike, stands the old Mason House, 
 of Mason and Slidell fame. Just south of 
 this, extending from the pike about four 
 hundred yards up the hill, is an old blue- 
 grass field, broken with bushy ravines. 
 Separating this from a clover-field, and 
 about fifty yards before reaching the top 
 of the hill, stands a stone fence. The 
 clover-field extends about four hundred 
 yards on the south side of the hill to a 
 deep woody ravine. 
 
 "On Sunday morning, June 14, 1863, 
 the One hundred and twenty-second Ohio 
 Volunteer Infantry occupied a position 
 
 south of the Romney Road, with several of our companies thrown forward as 
 skirmishers under Lieutenant-Colonel Moses M. Granger. We occupied the crest 
 of the hill till noon. 
 
 " On account of a flank movement, we were ordered to fall back to the stone 
 fence and join our commands lying behind it. In falling back, Price Worthington 
 of Co. B, of our regiment, was shot through the body. After we had taken our places 
 in the regiment, I asked several of the boys to go with me and bring Worthington 
 off the field. The drum-major agreed to follow me. 
 
 "As soon as I reached the crest of the hill, I came in range of the rebel skirmish 
 line, which opened on me with energy, but hearing Worthington groaning and beg 
 ging for help, I pushed on to where he was lying, and, in a short time was joined by 
 the drum-major. We picked him up, and, amid a rain of bullets, of which one hit 
 the wounded man in the leg, and many cut holes in our clothes, we reached the top 
 of the hill, when the gunner of a battery about seventy-five yards in the rear of our 
 line, taking us for the enemy, sent a shell so close to our heads that we were coth 
 thrown to the ground. 
 
 "Although much dazed, we soon regained our feet, and, amidst the applause and 
 congratulations of the officers and comrades of the regiment, placed our wounded 
 comrade in the ambulance." 
 
215 
 
 THE FIRST UNION FLAG IN VICKSBURG 
 
 HENKY H. TAYLOR, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. C,45th 111. Infantry. 
 Born near Galena, Illinois, July 4,1841 
 
 Fort Hill, one of the defenses of Vicksburg, 
 was undermined and blown up on the 25th of 
 June, the Forty-fifth Illinois, of which Sergeant Henry 
 H. Taylor was color-bearer, was the first regiment taken 
 into the breach by General M. D. Leggett, and fought 
 there most gallantly until relieved. 
 
 According to the statement of General Leggett, 
 the struggle was desperate. The regimental colors were 
 bravely supported by Sergeant Taylor, and the first to 
 be placed on the rebel works, during the siege. In the 
 assault on the 22d of May, a color bearer, further to the 
 left of McClernand s front, had advanced far enough to 
 plant his flag on, or against the enemy s works. This 
 achievement, however, was not regarded as the placing 
 of the Union colors on the rebel works, as they were 
 not held there. 
 
 At Fort Hill, the colors of the Forty-fifth remained 
 
 until the line could be extended to another work further to the right, which was 
 also blown up. Then, as the general saw that he could not hold the position and pre 
 vent its reconstruction without remaining in the crater, he withdrew the troops 
 about seventy-five feet from it, and there maintained his position until the surrender 
 of Vicksburg. 
 
 This work was done under the orders of Generals Logan and McPherson. The 
 mining was done under the immediate guidance and supervision of General A. 
 Hickenlooper, the corps engineer. 
 
 " The Forty-fifth Illinois," says General Leggett, " was the first regiment to march 
 into Vicksburg, receive the surrender, and hoist the flag on the court house. The 
 whole of one division went in on the 4th of July, and no other troops. The Forty- 
 fifth was a part of the first brigade which I had commanded, and it was for its 
 gallantry in breaking the Confederate line as well as for its other services in the 
 campaign, that I gave it the front on that day." 
 
 Brigadier-General W. R. Rowley reports, concerning the movements of the Forty- 
 fifth, as follows : 
 
 " The honor of leading the entry into the city was accorded to the Forty-fifth 
 Illinois Infantry, by special request of Major-General McPherson, it having been the 
 regiment that first occupied the crater, after the blowing up of Fort Hill, or Hell, 
 as the boys called it. The request was made of General Grant, and I myself saw the 
 flag of the Forty-fifth on the court house, and know the fact to be as I have stated." 
 
216 
 
 A MORE GALLANT CHARGE 
 WAS NEVER MADE " 
 
 CHARLES C. DAVIS, 
 
 Major. Ttli Pennsylvania Cavalry. 
 Born at Harrisburg, Pa., Aug. Jo, is:(0. 
 
 N JUNE 27, 1863, during the operations around 
 Shelby ville, General Sheridan ordered Major 
 Charles C. Davis with 300 troopers of the Seventh 
 Pennsylvania Cavalry to make a charge on the 
 camp of the Fourth Alabama, at Unionville, Tenn. 
 This camp was composed of no less than 1,000 
 rebels under command of General Russell of Gen 
 eral Forrest s Division. Major Davis entered upon 
 the execution of this order with alacrity, made the 
 charge and drove the enemy pell-mell through 
 their own camp and on to Hickory Hill Church, a 
 distance of seven miles, taking Hardee s infantry 
 picket and capturing a wagon train of seventeen 
 six-mule teams. The gallant major then led his 
 
 men back to the rebel camp, seized everything in sight and subsequently was able 
 to report the complete success of his mission to General Sheridan. The enemy s 
 loss in killed, wounded and captured was 302 ; the entire camp and garrison equip 
 age fell into the possession of Major Davis little band and all of the personal effects 
 of the Alabamians were taken, besides $27,000 in Confederate money, which were in 
 keeping of the paymaster. The success of Major Davis achievement is the more 
 brilliant as it was accomplished with the loss of but two killed and one wounded. 
 
 No better idea of this remarkable cavalry charge can be given than by the fol 
 lowing account, which Brigadier-General D. S. Stanley gives of it in his report of the 
 engagement. Says General Stanley : 
 
 " The right wing of General Rosecrans army had driven the left of the Confederate 
 Army, a division of cavalry commanded by General Wheeler, into the town of 
 Shelbyville, when Wheeler s force of 3,000 men formed line just at the northern 
 outskirts of the town to defend their stores. 
 
 " A battery of four guns pointing north, commanded the principal turnpike, well 
 supported by dismounted cavalry, right and left. It was decided to attack the center 
 
 Shelbyville, Tenn. About the middle of June, 1863, General Bosecrans decided to attack Bragg s 
 forces at Shelbyville, and thereby relieve East Tennessee by driving the Confederates into Georgia. The 
 advance began on the 23d of June, when McCook s Corps moved directly upon Shelbyville, where demons 
 trations were to be made while Crittenden, Thomas and Granger were to move upon the place from 
 different directions. Several severe encounters were had with the enemy, who were in every instance 
 defeated. Granger had been joined by Stanley, and together they proceeded to Guy s Gap, which they 
 took after an hour s engagement. They then moved upon and occupied Shelbyville, which Bragg had 
 abandonded. The Confederate cavalry under Wheeler were driven across Duck River with a loss of about 
 500 prisoners and a large quantity of stores and provisions. 
 
217 
 
 of this line and ride over the battery. The Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry was selec 
 ted for the purpose, supported by the Fourth United States Cavalry. The pike being 
 narrow, the charge was made in column of fours. Major Davis position would have 
 placed him on the right of the second squadron, but he volunteered to lead the 
 charge and put himself in front of the leading set of fours. 
 
 " At the signal of two cannon shots from our guns, the column dashed down the 
 pike, receiving only one round from the hostile battery, rode over the guns, routed 
 the supports, and put the entire force opposed, to precipitate and disastrous night. 
 
 THE ENEMY PUT TO DISASTROUS FLIGHT. 
 
 The boldness of the attack insured its success. Only one shell struck the column, 
 killing two men and three horses in the charge. Our captures were 300 prisoners, 
 the battery complete, and a large amount of stores. 
 
 "A more gallant charge was never made, and Major Davis rode well in front of 
 the leading sabres, the beau ideal of a trooper." 
 
 Major Davis was complimented on the field by General Sheridan. Congress, in 
 bestowing the Medal of Honor upon the gallant major, characterized the charge as 
 " one of the most desperate and successful of the war." 
 
218 
 
 CAPTURED A FLAG AND TWO PRISONERS 
 
 THOMAS BURKE, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. A, 5th New York Cavalry. 
 Born in Ireland, in 1842. 
 
 PIFTEEN or sixteen miles due east of Gettysburg 
 is the little village of Hanover, Pa. On the 
 morning of June 30, 1863, General Kilpatrick 
 with his Third Division of the Union Cavalry 
 Corps under Major-General Pleasonton, reached 
 Hanover and while passing through the little 
 hamlet, the rear of his column was suddenly 
 surprised by receiving a sharp fire from a Con 
 federate battery posted on a hill. Kilpatrick at 
 once realized that the object for which he had 
 been striving viz. : to keep his force between 
 Stuart s Confederate cavalry and the Army of the 
 Potomac had been accomplished and at once 
 accepted Stuart s challenge. The fight continued 
 during the day, resulting in Stuart s falling back 
 toward York. 
 
 Sergeant Thomas Burke, of Company A, Fifth New York Cavalry, had a thrilling 
 experience during this fight, of which he says : " We were well worn out by long 
 continued work in the saddle and the attack was almost a complete surprise ; but 
 with the first gun my commander, Colonel Hammond, moved us quickly from the 
 street into an open field where we formed in line for a charge. Getting the word 
 we started directly toward the Confederates and we went with such force that the 
 enemy s line in our front broke and we saw men scattering in every direction. As 
 we neared the battery which was still being served, I noticed a Confederate 
 flag and started after it just as Corporal Rickey did the same thing. The colors 
 were in charge of two mounted men and it was a race. Rickey had gone 200 yards 
 perhaps, when his horse was shot and thus I was left to go it alone. Meanwhile the 
 firing was sharp from both sides ; but I gained on my prize and closing in on the 
 men, as I used my carbine with good effect, I called on them to surrender. 
 
 " My command was almost instantly obeyed and I disarmed each man of carbine, 
 sword and pistol, after which, I rushed them ahead of me as fast as our horses and 
 they were very tired would take us back to our lines. It was a precarious ride of 
 course, but we got there, flag and ail. 
 
 "When I took the prisoners, flag and arms to headquarters, General Kilpatrick 
 complimented me very highly. The colors which T captured were those of the Thir 
 teenth Virginia Regiment." 
 
219 
 
 A GRAVE FOR A PILLOW 
 
 JAMES M. RUTTER, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. C, 143d Pa. Infantry. 
 Born at Wilkesbarre, Pa., May 13, 1841. 
 
 Q ERGEANT JAMES M. RUTTER of Company C, One- 
 ^ hundred and forty-third Pennsylvania In 
 fantry, describes his experience on the battlefield 
 of July 1, 1863, thus: 
 
 " After being in the great fight at Gettysburg 
 from 11 o clock in the morning until four in the 
 afternoon, my regiment, the one-hundred and 
 forty-third Pennsylvania Infantry, was ordered to 
 fall back, as we were being surrounded or flanked. 
 The Eleventh Corps had been routed previously, 
 leaving our brigade, with the Sixth Wisconsin, 
 to cover the retreat. 
 
 " Lieutenant Kropp of our company called out that it would not do to abandon 
 Captain Reichard, who had been shot during the retreat, and asked for volunteers to 
 take him off the field. No one responded. I could not bear to see the captain left 
 to his fate, so I jumped up we were all lying down and firing at the rebels in the 
 railroad cut opposite and started for him, calling back that I would attempt the 
 task. It was on the Chambersburg Pike, about twenty feet in front of the firing line, 
 that Captain Reichard lay. 
 
 " When I reached his side, I asked him if he could walk and he answered : Yes. 
 I lifted him up and started back to the company. The Minies sang like bees around 
 our heads. There was a high fence in the rear of our line of battle, which gave me 
 some trouble, but Sergeant Marcy took the butt of his gun and knocked the two top 
 rails down. It seemed as if the rebels had made a target of the captain and myself, 
 and seconds were like hours, as the captain and I finally passed over the fence 
 
 Gettysburg. At the end of June, 1863, the command of the Union Army, then gathered in the vicinity 
 of Gettysburg, Pa., was transferred from General Hooker to General George G. Meade. He was confronted 
 by the whole Confederate Army, about 80,000, under Lee, his own force being slightly superior. 
 
 The fighting commenced on July 1st, with a struggle for the possession of Seminary Ridge, in which 
 the Union line was driven from its position, and back to the high grounds. Here, a new line was formed 
 during the night, reaching from Round Top around to Cemetery Hill, and there to Wolf Hill. To this 
 position the whole Union force, except Sedgwick s Corps, was hurried forward. 
 
 On the morning of July 2d, Longstreet attacked the Union left under Sickles, and after a terrible 
 battle, lasting until six o clock in the evening, the strong position on Great and Little Round Top remained 
 in the hands of the Federals. In the center, a similar struggle for the possession of Cemetery Hill, also 
 resulted in a Union victory. The Union left was somewhat shattered by the Confederate attack. 
 
 On the afternoon of the 3d, there was fierce cannonading for nearly three hours. The Confederate 
 artillery was concentrated against the Union center. A gallant charge, made by the Virginians, under 
 General Pickett, resulted in failure and fearful slaughter. 
 
 The victory remained with the Federals, and Lee was obliged to fall back. His loss in this battle was 
 over 30,000, that of the Federals, 23,186. 
 
220 
 
 and along the rear of the firing line. After a few minutes, having gained a little 
 hill, I thought all danger was past, but I was mistaken, for I got in between the fire 
 of the rebel batteries and our own near the seminary. As I walked along with 
 Reichard, a comrade of my company, George Tucker, walked beside me without his 
 hat, the blood running down his face. I asked him where he was hit, but he would 
 not answer and instead turned now and then and started towards the rebels. I would 
 call him back and tell him not to go that way, or he would be captured. Then he would 
 turn and come back to me like a child. I soon saw that a ball had parted his hair 
 in the middle, and that his brain had been affected. "After passing our own batteries, 
 
 which were being made ready to 
 limber up, I had little trouble in 
 getting into the town, where I left 
 the captain in a private house, and 
 where Tucker disappeared. They 
 both turned up all right, however, 
 and later rejoined the company. 
 
 " After getting Captain Reichard 
 over the fence, near the Chambers- 
 burg Pike and McPherson s barn, 
 Lieutenant Kropp immediately de 
 tailed George Kindred to help me 
 carry Reichard to the rear. I ex 
 pected to see an ambulance or 
 stretcher there, but not one was to 
 be found, nor did I see one, until I 
 got into Gettysburg. After leaving 
 Reichard in the private house, I 
 saw one or two of our soldiers run 
 ning ahead of me. I asked them 
 why they were running so hurriedly 
 and they exclaimed : Look back 
 and you ll find out ! 
 
 "Sure enough, there were the 
 J ohnnies right onto me. No Libby 
 
 Prison for me! I thought, and I ran a race down an alley, through fields, and at last 
 came up to the old cemetery, where the whole runaway Eleventh Corps was massed. 
 I slept that night in the cemetery, with a grave for a pillow, and never slept sounder. 
 I supposed that I would have trouble finding the balance of the Old First Corps, but a 
 staff officer informed me that they were right down under the hill, and there I found 
 my regiment and answered the roll which was being called. 
 
 " Lieutenant Kropp was glad to see me. He had not expected to see the captain 
 or myself alive again." 
 
 "NO LIBBY PRISON FOR ME." 
 
221 
 
 SAVED A CORPS FROM ANNIHILATION 
 
 T^HOUGH repulsed early during the afternoon of 
 * July 1, the Confederates soon rallied and 
 made a most desperate attack upon the Union left, 
 along Willoughby s Run. The Federals were driv 
 en back on all sides. The First Corps which had 
 sustained the first shock of the fierce assault of 
 the enemy, formed a new line along Seminary 
 Ridge, and what remained of its artillery was 
 posted as advantageously as possible. This move 
 ment left the extreme left of the Eleventh Corps 
 uncovered and when, still later in the afternoon, 
 the Confederates made a second attack upon the 
 Union forces, the enemy broke through the Fed 
 eral center and threw the entire Union line into 
 disorder. This was the situation of affairs, when, 
 by assuming a responsibility which he was in no 
 way called upon to undertake, Major Alfred J. 
 Sellers, of the Ninetieth Pennsylvania Infantry, 
 saved the Eleventh Army Corps from probable 
 annihilation by repulsing the enemy s attack. 
 
 "At the battle of Gettysburg," Major Sellers says, "the Eleventh Corps was being 
 forced back by the rebels, who were coming from the north in overwhelming numbers, 
 and late in the afternoon, July 1, 1863, it gave way, carrying the First Corps along 
 with it as far as Cemetery Hill. This left the Confederates occupying the principal 
 part of the town of Gettysburg. Our brigade was on the crown of Oak Ridge, parallel 
 with Cemetery Ridge, and when the Eleventh Corps gave way, a change of front was 
 ordered under fire. At such a time celerity of motion is of vital importance, as a 
 change of front seemingly indicates a reverse, and it is essential to create confidence 
 in the men as to its object. Although not in command, I rushed to the front, 
 superintended the movement and quickly established the line in its new and more 
 advantageous position. This enabled us to pour an effective fire into the ranks of 
 Niel s Alabama Brigade of Infantry, repulsing its attempt to turn the right flank 
 of the First Army Corps." 
 
 ALFRED J. SELLERS, 
 
 Major, 90th Penn., Infantry. 
 
 Highest rank attained : Colonel. 
 
 Born at Plumsteadville, Bucks County, Penn. 
 
222 
 
 TWO GETTYSBURG HEROES 
 
 OERGEANT GEORGE W. ROOSEVELT, of Company K, 
 ^ Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Infantry, distin 
 guished himself at the battle of Gettysburg on July 
 2, 1863, by capturing a Confederate color-bearer and 
 his Hag. In one of the numerous charges which 
 signalized this battle, he came upon the color-bearer, 
 and covering him with his musket, ordered him to 
 surrender. The Confederate handed over his flag 
 and Roosevelt marched him in a prisoner, but before 
 reaching the Northern lines, Roosevelt got a bullet 
 in his leg, which brought him to the ground, and 
 his prisoner escaped. The wound proved a serious 
 one, and his leg had subsequently to be amputated. 
 
 Roosevelt had previously distinguished himself at the battle of Bull Run in 1862, 
 by recovering the colors of his regiment which had fallen into the hands of the 
 enemy. For these two brave deeds he was rewarded by a Medal of Honor. 
 
 GEORGE W. ROOSEVELT, 
 
 1st Sergeant, Co. K. 2tith Pennsylvania Inf. 
 
 Highest rank attained : Captain. 
 Born at Chester, Penn., Feb. 14, LSI:;. 
 
 \ T EVER was there a better instance of presence of mind than that displayed by 
 ^ Sergeant Harvey M. Munsell, of Company A, Ninety-ninth Pennsylvania 
 Infantry, on the second day of the battle of Gettysburg. His regiment was stationed 
 at the Devil s Den, where some of the fiercest fighting took place, and made a series 
 of charges, in the course of which all the color-guard were either killed or wounded 
 with the exception of Munsell, who was the color-bearer. 
 
 Another charge was ordered, and Munsell was bearing Old Glory aloft amidst a 
 storm of bullets, when a shell burst directly in front of him, tearing a big hole in 
 the ground, and throwing the earth all around. Munsell tumbled headlong into 
 the hole, and lay there stunned, with the colors under him. His comrades, in the 
 excitement of the battle, did not notice what had taken place, and believed that 
 he had been killed and the colors captured. A cry passed through the ranks, the 
 regiment faltered, came to a stop, and fell back in disorder. 
 
 When Munsell came to his senses, he found himself lying close to the enemy s 
 lines, so close that if they made the slightest advance they would see the flag that 
 he was shielding with his body, and nothing could save it from capture. If he got 
 up and tried to make his way back to his regiment, he would assuredly be immedi 
 ately shot down by the sharpshooters, and the regimental flag would be equally 
 
223 
 
 certain to become the prize of the enemy. His best chance lay in remaining where 
 he was, for he knew that his regiment would soon rally and return to the charge, 
 and the probability was that the enemy would not make any advance just then. 
 He was right in his surmise, for the Pennsylvanians, burning at the supposed loss of 
 their colors, came on with a rush that carried them into the enemy s lines. They 
 swept right over Munsell who, immediately they were past, jumped up and rejoined 
 his regiment, waving the colors to the breeze. 
 
 A MUSKET BUTT ARGUMENT 
 
 TT was a gallant feat that entitled 
 1 Captain Edward L. Gilligan of the 
 Eighty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers 
 to a Medal of Honor. He assisted in 
 the capture of the colors of the Twenty- 
 third North Carolina on the first day of 
 the battle of Gettysburg. Gilligan, who 
 was first-sergeant at the time thus 
 describes the affair : 
 
 " Iverson s Brigade of North Caro 
 linians had attacked Baxter s Brigade 
 of the First Corps and been repulsed. 
 
 We got the order to charge the retreating enemy and we struck the Twenty-third 
 North Carolina and captured nearly the entire regiment. Captain Joseph H. 
 Richard, of my company, singled out the color-bearer of the Twenty-third and had 
 a hand-to-hand fight with him. The Confederate pluckily held on to the colors and 
 only gave them up when I reasoned with him with the butt of my musket." 
 
 EDWARD L. GILLIGAN, 
 
 Captain. Co. E. SSth Pa. Vols. 
 Born in Philadelphia. Apr. 18. 1843. 
 
 ANOTHER exploit of Captain Gilligan was performed during General Warren s 
 raid to destroy the Weldon railroad in December, 1864. Gilligan was then captain 
 and acting adjutant of the regiment and so was mounted. He says : 
 
 " The enemy s cavalry had driven in a squadron of horse which formed our rear 
 guard and annoyed us considerably before they could be driven off. When I saw 
 them coming on again, I rode back and made an effort to rally our cavalry, but w r as 
 unsuccessful. I found myself alone, facing the rebels who were madly charging 
 after our boys. There was but one way out of it for me. I slipped out of my saddle, 
 threw myself on the ground and allowed them to ride over me. I was covered with 
 
224 
 
 mud, but escaped injury. When the rebels once more retired, I rose and made my 
 way back to my command. I was able to report to General Baxter the strength of 
 the enemy and we laid a trap for them. 
 
 " The Ninth New York Infantry was left in ambuscade by the side of the road, 
 and when the rebels came on again, gave them such a hot reception, that they fled 
 in confusion and did not trouble us any more." 
 
 "THE CONFEDERATE PLUCKILY 
 HELD ON TO THE COLORS." 
 
 FORGOT HE WAS A GENERAL 
 
 IV A AJOR-GENERAL ALEXANDER S. WEBB gained his Medal of Honor at Gettysburg, 
 * * * July 3, 1863, for an act which, as General Meade said when presenting the 
 medal, had not been surpassed by any general in the field. He was brigadier-general 
 of volunteers, and in command of the Second Brigade of the Second Division of the 
 Second Army Corps, but nevertheless spent the whole day on the firing line. He 
 remained with the color guard of the Seventy-second Pennsylvania Volunteers until 
 every man of them had been either killed or wounded. 
 
 Noticing a company of rebels led by General Armistead clearing a low stone wall 
 to attack the right of the Sixty-ninth Pennsylvania, General Webb rushed down the 
 line until he reached the threatened regiment, and directed its fire upon the rebels. 
 
225 
 
 General Armistead and General Webb remained in the fire-swept zone between the 
 opposing forces until both were wounded. The fire was so severe that more than 
 half of General Webb s men were either killed or wounded, but inspired by the gal 
 lantry of their general, they stood their ground unflinchingly, until they were relieved. 
 In this engagement General Webb received a bullet in the groin, but in a few 
 weeks he was at the front once more. 
 
 I 
 
 T was about seven o clock in the even 
 ing of July 2, 1863," Corporal Harrison 
 Clark writes, " as we moved down into the 
 fight, the sun was sinking low in the w r est 
 and the heavens were ablaze with its 
 splendor, in marked contrast with the 
 lurid fires of death towards which we 
 were marching. We were halted amid a 
 heavy cloud of smoke in front of a swale 
 and a new growth of trees. Through the 
 smoke covering the field we could dimly 
 see the outlines of men moving about. 
 We commenced to fire, but the word was 
 shouted: firing on your own men, and 
 the command was given to : cease firing/ 
 We soon learned our mistake. 
 
 "The color-bearer at my right fell, 
 mortally wounded, and before the old flag 
 
 could touch the ground, I caught it, and on we rushed with loud cries ; on, with 
 bullets whizzing by our ears, shells screaming and cannon balls tearing the air, now 
 bursting above and around us, laying many of our comrades either low in death, or 
 bleeding with terrible wounds. Most of our color-guard were killed or wounded. 
 
 " The purpose was accomplished. The enemy had failed to break through our 
 lines, and Little Round Top and Cemetery Hill were still ours. On the return march, 
 as we were passing the swale, where over one hundred of our brave men had fallen 
 in the space of half an hour, the regiment was again formed in line of battle, the 
 colonel ordered me to step three paces in front of the regiment, promoted me color- 
 bearer and, by his recommendation to Congress, I was awarded a Medal of Honor." 
 
 At the battle of the Wilderness, Color-Sergeant Clark displayed rare bravery and 
 continued fighting, though shot in the leg. He was promoted lieutenant on the 
 battlefield. 
 
 HARRISON CLARK, 
 
 Corporal, Co. E, 125th N. Y. Vols. 
 Born at Chatham. N. Y., April 10, 1842. 
 
226 
 
 FALL OUT HERE, EVERY D - - D ONE OF YOU! 
 
 T 
 
 JOHN LONERGAN, 
 
 Captain Co. A, lath Vermont 
 Infantry. 
 
 Born in Ireland, April 7, 1839. 
 
 E battle of Gettysburg had been in progress the entire 
 day of July 1st, when early in the evening, the 
 Thirteenth Vermont Infantry, commanded by Colonel 
 Francis V. Randall, reached the battle-field after seven 
 days of steady marching. That night was devoted by the 
 entire Third Brigade, under General Stannard, to much 
 needed rest. On the following day, with the battle re 
 newed, the Vermont boys were called upon for heavy 
 work and they responded bravely all along the line. In 
 the afternoon a body of Confederates was seen dragging oft 
 a battery that had just been captured from General Sickles 
 forces and just at that particular time, batteries were needed. 
 At this juncture General Hancock rode up, and, seemingly 
 addressing the entire regiment, asked : " Can you Vermont 
 men take those guns ? " The commander of the regiment, 
 Colonel Randall, replied : " We ll try, General." Then fol 
 lowed the command forming five companies for a charge, then the charge. Com 
 pany A was in the lead and in command of Captain John Lonergan, who describes 
 the succeeding events as follows : 
 
 " My company reached the guns first, and placing my hand upon the nearest gun, 
 I ordered the enemy to surrender. All this time the whole regiment was under 
 severe fire, with men falling all along the entire charge ; but we reached the guns 
 comparatively together and in good form. The Confederates obeyed my summons 
 to surrender, after which my men lay down their guns and taking hold of the 
 wheels of the gun carriages, began moving them to a new position where they could 
 be utilized. 
 
 "Meanwhile I noticed that we were sustaining much damage from firing that 
 came from the Codories House in our front. And so ordering my command to pick 
 up their guns, we made a charge on the house. We quickly surrounded the build 
 ing, the men at once covering the windows and doors with their guns, so that no 
 man should escape. Then I stepped to the front door, and knocking it in, I ordered: 
 Surrender ! Fall out here, every damned one of you ! 
 
 "My order was obeyed almost instantly, for the Confederates came tumbling out, 
 led by their commanding officer, until we had eighty-three men as prisoners. The 
 officer in command handed me his sword and each man laid down his gun until I 
 had a considerably larger number of men as prisoners, than I had in my entire com 
 mand. When all was over for the day General Stannard sent for me, and upon my 
 arrival, he said : Captain, you did well to-day, but do you know you violated all 
 military laws in capturing those prisoners in the Codories House ? 
 
231 
 
 EDWARD M. KNOX, 
 
 2d Lieutenant, Fifteenth Ind. X. Y., Lt. Battery. 
 Born in New York City. 
 
 batteries, which was doing heavy execution 
 on the Union line of battle. This artillery 
 duel was of brief duration. The enemy was 
 compelled to withdraw. A heavy column of 
 infantry was now advancing on the brave New 
 Yorkers, who then directed their fire on the 
 advancing columns, repulsing the rebels. A 
 second attack was made and for a second time 
 the enemy was obliged to retreat before the 
 deadly fire of the well served battery. When 
 a third attack was made and frustrated, the 
 battery s ammunition was exhausted and Cap 
 tain Hart withdrew to a distance of about one 
 mile in good order. 
 
 Lieutenant Knox s behavior during these 
 struggles was admirable and highly appreciated 
 by his captain, who pays him the above men 
 tioned tribute. The lieutenant himself says 
 of his experience on that eventful day : 
 
 " My battery galloped into Peach Orchard, by order of General Hunt, who, point 
 ing in the direction of the orchard, said: Go in there. Rush! I was junior 
 officer, and with Captain Hart, the only officer there. As we went in, the captain 
 shouted : Lieutenant, you fight the right section. I will look out for the left. My 
 speed had carried me fully 100 yards ahead of the artillery line on the left (the Sixth 
 and Ninth Massachusetts Batteries,) and of my own left section. The Confederates 
 thought they had my guns and made a dash for them. As they came, I let go both 
 pieces with double canister, and as I did so, I yelled to my boys to lay down and 
 pretend that they were done for. And thus, not heeding us, the Johnnies swept 
 through my section to meet a charge from the support in our rear, the Seventy- 
 second New York Infantry I think. Then, repulsed and driven back, they came 
 back more rapidly than they came in. After they had again passed over us, 
 we got up and with our prolonges and the assistance of the infantry boys, hauled 
 our guns back. 
 
 " I lost seven men and eleven horses ; the battery, eight men and thirteen horses. 
 I w r as myself severely wounded in this action ; and the next day, at the time of 
 Pickett s charge on our front, I was shot, a round musket ball passing through both 
 hips. Although the latter wound made me an invalid for the next eighteen months, 
 I received my commission as first lieutenant of the Fourteenth Independent New 
 York Light Battery. I was never physically able, however, to be mustered or serve 
 thereafter." 
 
232 
 
 THE STRUGGLE AT THE "BLOODY ANGLE 
 
 IT was during the repulse of Pickett s charge at Gettysburg, that Sergeant Frederick 
 Fuger of Battery A, Fourth United States Artillery, displayed the gallantry for 
 which he was awarded the Medal of Honor. 
 
 The battery, commanded by First Lieutenant A. H. Gushing, was posted behind a 
 stone wall in what afterward became known as the "Bloody Angle." 
 
 At 1 o clock on the afternoon of July 3d, the enemy s artillery, commanded by Gen 
 eral Armistead, opened along the whole line, and for an hour and a quarter the artillery 
 brigade of the Federal Second Corps was subjected to a very warm artillery fire. 
 
 At first the Union batteries made no reply, till the fire of the enemy became too 
 terrible, when they returned it, till all their ammunition except canister had been 
 expended. Within less than two hours the enemy had silenced the Rhode Island 
 battery and all the guns but one of Cushing s battery. They then followed up this 
 concentrated fire upon the Union lines by an infantry attack. 
 
 At three o clock they left the woods in line of battle and, under a fire from 
 Wheeler s Battery and Cushing s gun, formed in front of the several lines of battle 
 and slowly but surely advanced for the attack. Steadily they approached the stone 
 wall. General Armistead with several hundred of his Virginia troops charged across 
 the stone wall and came directly upon Cushing s battery. Double and triple charges 
 of canister were poured into the ranks of the advancing enemy, making frightful 
 gaps in their lines, and by the time they had reached the battery, there was not 
 much left of them. 
 
 The encounter was one of the bloodiest of the war. In the very middle of the 
 battery the fight was continued. Lieutenant Gushing and two officers were instantly 
 killed. Sergeant Fuger, the only remaining officer, was left to conduct the battery s 
 struggle. He bravely held his ground and aided materially to the final defeat of 
 the daring rebels. During the fighting around the guns, General Armistead fell 
 mortally wounded, and almost his whole command was either killed or wounded. 
 
 Battery A s loss was forty-five out of ninety-three men killed and wounded and 
 eighty-three out of ninety horses killed. The guns of the battery were turned over 
 to the ordnance department the next day as unserviceable. 
 
 Sergeant Fuger s conduct at this engagement was highly praised by his superior 
 officers and found immediate recognition by a promotion to the rank of a second 
 lieutenant. 
 
 4gs^ 
 
 * ^5 
 
233 
 
 THE DELAY WAS FATAL 
 
 JOHN M. PIPES, 
 
 Sergeant. Co. A. 140th Penn. Vol. 
 Highest rank attained: Captain. 
 
 TVo gallant actions, one performed at Gettysburg and 
 the other a year later, are thus recalled by Sergeant 
 John M. Pipes of the One hundred and fortieth Penn 
 sylvania Volunteers. 
 
 " On the afternoon of July 3, 1863, our brigade charged 
 across a wheat field and engaged the enemy in the woods 
 south of it. Taking advantage of our exposed position far 
 in advance of our line, the enemy, under General Long- 
 street, poured a deadly fire upon our flank. Our little 
 brigade had lost more than half its men and nearly all its 
 officers, and had begun to waver and fall back before I 
 could fully realize the situation. Standing at the right of 
 my company, a step or two in front, firing as rapidly as I 
 could, I saw that most of our men were getting across the 
 field toward the main line, while the Twenty-fourth 
 Georgia Infantry, crossing from the woods, was close 
 upon us. Lieutenant J. J. Purman, of my company, was 
 standing near me. 
 
 "The question confronted us: shall we be captured or take the slim chance of 
 crossing that field ? Of course we took the chance. We had hardly started when a 
 wounded comrade pleaded to be taken off the field, as he could not rise. The rebels, 
 who were very close upon us, called: Halt, you damned Yankees, halt. We how 
 ever, carried this comrade some thirty or forty steps and placed him behind some 
 large boulders where he would have protection from the fire from both sides, and 
 from being trampled upon. 
 
 "This occupied but a few moments, but the delay was fatal to our attempt to 
 cross the wheat field. We had just started on a good double-quick, when Lieutenant 
 Purman called out: I am hit ! I was then but a few steps from him, and the next 
 moment I received a wound in the leg, and replied: I am wounded too. Realizing 
 that I could not aid the lieutenant, having only one sound leg, I thought goodbye 
 comrades, and, using my gun for a crutch, commenced to hop off the battle-field, 
 but had only gotten a few paces, when to my surprise, I found myself right among 
 the Confederates. 
 
 "Our flank was captured, taken to the rear, and put in an old barn, then used by 
 the enemy as a temporary hospital. We remained in their hands until the next 
 morning, when our forces advanced and recaptured us, taking a good number of 
 Confederates at the same time. I was carried on a stretcher to the tents of the 
 Second Corps hospital, established in the woods, where I found Lieutenant Purman, 
 who had been wounded by my side, and whose leg had been amputated. 
 
234 
 
 "ON AUGUST 24, 1864, at Ream s Station Virginia, two divisions of Hancock s 
 Corps having torn up and destroyed several miles of railroad, a detail was sent out 
 on picket duty for the night. Being captain and ranking officer, the command 
 devolved upon me," Captain Pipes narrates in describing his second experience. "We 
 were on duty all night, and the next day during the fight the enemy attempted to 
 flank us, causing my command to become uneasy and fear capture. I saw clearly 
 that to remain meant capture with serious loss, so finally assumed responsibility, 
 and moved my men by the left flank back across the railroad, ordering them to lie 
 down there while I reconnoitered. 
 
 "I USED MY GUN FOR A CRUTCH." 
 
 "I discovered that our forces had left their positions, so I returned and led my 
 command at the double-quick to a depression, where I ordered them to lie down 
 again. I had been there but a few minutes, when a battery of the enemy unlim- 
 bered and opened a terrific fire upon us. They soon had the range and would have 
 destroyed us, had not I ordered the command back up the hill at a lively gait. Near 
 the top an officer came galloping up to me and said: Captain Pipes, if you will 
 take in your men on the left and help check the enemy in their flank movement, I ll 
 see that you will get credit. 
 
235 
 
 "Moving some distance I deployed my men as skirmishers and led them in what 
 was supposed to be the direction of the command. Then I ordered them to move 
 forward, taking care to avail themselves of any protection they might find. Shortly 
 afterward the command was given, cease firing to enable us to discover the situa 
 tion of our men and that of the enemy. While looking out under the smoke, when 
 the fire of the enemy had abated, I received a wound through the right arm, shatter 
 ing it from near the shoulder down to the elbow. The fight at this time seemed to 
 be nearly over, and with the assistance of two comrades, I was able to lead my com 
 mand back to the woods, where I ran across my regiment. My ride in an ambulance 
 for ten miles that night was a memorable one. The dangling arm was amputated 
 the next day at City Point, Va." 
 
 CAPTURED FOUR REGIMENTAL FLAGS 
 
 T 
 
 EDMUND RICE, 
 
 Major, 19th Mass. Inf. 
 Highest rank attained: Lieut.-Col 
 
 HE Nineteenth Massachusetts Infantry was ex 
 posed to the full force of Lee s artillery fire 
 during the afternoon of July 3d, at Gettysburg. 
 After the suspension of that fire, it was advanced and 
 obliqued to the left, and placed in part behind the 
 famous "Pile of Rails." When Longstreet s infantry 
 advance had fully developed, the regiment was with 
 drawn from that position and momentarily held in 
 reserve. About two or three minutes after reaching 
 the reserve position, a break in General Webb s Bri 
 gade occurred, and the enemy s battle flags appeared in 
 the gap made by the break. That was the crisis of the 
 battle on that wing of the Union Army. Major Edmund 
 Rice, of the Nineteenth Massachusetts Infantry, fully 
 appreciated the danger of the situation. 
 
 "Boys," he shouted to his men, "follow me !" And away he dashed in the direc 
 tion of the Confederate battle flags. The "boys" did not desert their major, but 
 joined in the race to a man. They were followed by a part of the Seventh Michigan 
 and Forty-second New York Infantry. Major Rice kept the lead and was the first 
 one to come in contact with the surprised enemy. The clash of the two bodies of 
 troops was fierce. Brave Major Rice was among the first ones wounded, which fact 
 however did not prevent him from maintaining his command. The desperate hand- 
 to-hand struggle which his fearless initiative had inaugurated, gave General Webb s 
 Brigade time to rally, expel the enemy from the gap in the Union line, and decide 
 the battle in favor of the Union arms. Major Rice s regiment lost three-fourths of 
 its force during the fight, but the victorious survivors returned with the captured 
 colors of four rebel regiments. 
 
236 
 
 SAW THE REBEL FLAG AND TOOK IT 
 
 BENJAMIN H. JELLISON, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. C, 19th Massachusetts Infantry. 
 
 OERGEANT BENJAMIN H. JELLISON of Company C, 
 *~ Nineteenth Massachusetts Infantry has an 
 interesting story to tell of his experience at the 
 battle of Gettysburg. He says : 
 
 "We arrived on the field of Gettysburg the 
 night of the first day of July. The next day we 
 were ordered to the left, in the rear of the Third 
 Corps to rally it, as it had been broken and was 
 coming in in bad shape. We were too late, and 
 our charge, made in an attempt to save the bat 
 tery in front of us, was in vain. The rebels got 
 there first, turned the battery on us, so that we 
 were forced to fall back. As my company was 
 the sixth in line, we were left in charge of the 
 
 colors. In retreating, I was crowded into the color-guard, and soon found myself 
 in front of the colors. Presently the color-bearer was shot ; I picked up the colors 
 and was at once made sergeant. 
 
 " On the third day we lay on Cemetery Ridge, and while the officers were eating 
 their dinner in the rear of the colors, the first shell that the rebels fired went into 
 the mess and killed Lieutenant Robertson . The next shell hit one of our gun stacks. 
 Then the colonel ordered to break stacks. The dance now commenced. The Nine 
 teenth Massachusetts was supporting the New York Independent Battery, which by 
 this time had lost all its men except the captain, one lieutenant and one sergeant. 
 The captain came into our regiment bare-headed, with both hands in his hair, and 
 called out : For God s sake, men, volunteer to work these guns ; don t let this 
 battery be silent. 
 
 " I was lying on the ground, the colors by my side, and Lieutenant Shackly next 
 to me. Shackly said : Come, Jellison, let s go and help, we might just as well get 
 killed there as here. 
 
 " All right, said I, and so I carried my ammunition from the limber to the guns. 
 The colonel saw me and ordered me back to the colors. The shelling had now 
 stopped, and an old general riding past, called to us : Get into line, boys, they are 
 coming. Upon that, the colonel ordered me on the ridge and gave orders to rally 
 on the colors. We then charged to the fence near by, and some got over. 
 
 " Lieutenant Shackly was again at my side. Ben, he remarked this time, see 
 the rebel flag ? Let s get it. He pointed to our front, and the next moment I lost 
 him. I rushed forward and succeeded in capturing the flag, and besides assisted in 
 taking quite a number of prisoners. With the Stars and Stripes flying over my head, 
 and carrying the captured flag, I retreated." 
 
Painted by P. Wilhelmi. 
 
 THE STORMING OF VICKSBURG. 
 
239 
 
 A DASHING CHARGE AT GETTYSBURG. 
 
 T^VURING the battle of Gettysburg, on the after- 
 *-^ noon of July 3d, General Kilpatrick ordered 
 General Farnsworth to charge on the right flank of 
 the enemy in front of both Round Tops, and desig 
 nated Major William Wells to lead the Second 
 Battalion of the First Vermont Cavalry in the 
 attack. 
 
 The charge was made : Major Wells at the head 
 of his brave Vermonters with General Farnsworth 
 riding by his side. At the outset, the Union forces 
 suffered a severe loss. General Farnsworth was 
 struck by a ball and instantly killed. There was 
 no interruption in the attack, however. The death 
 of the gallant general only served to stimulate 
 Major Wells and his men to still more determined action. 
 
 With disregard to a most galling fire the major led his batallion over the stone 
 wall against the superior hostile force and drove the foe in all directions. He fol 
 lowed in pursuit, cleared another wall and dashed across a field swept by the rebel 
 batteries, piercing the enemy s second line. A fresh regiment of rebels, sent from 
 the right to intercept some retreating Union troops, was encountered on a little hill. 
 Then there was a desperate fight for the possession of the hill. Major Wells carried 
 it, and took the greater part of the rebel regiment prisoners. It was a wonderful 
 charge, crowned with brilliant success, and showed Major Wells to be a most dash 
 ing cavalry officer. 
 
 WILLIAM WELLS, 
 
 Major, 1st Vermont Cavalry. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Bvt.-Maj.-Gen., U. S. V. 
 
 Born in Waterbury, Vt., 1838. 
 
 THE CHARGE WAS MADE WITH A MIGHTY SHOUT. 
 
 WHEELOCK G. VEAZEY, shortly after his promotion from the Third Vermont to 
 the colonelcy of the Sixteenth Vermont, was carried by the tide of war to 
 the famous Pennsylvania battlefield, where his regiment attained a reputation 
 second to none. This regiment occupied, on the third day of Gettysburg, the front 
 of Stannard s Brigade, in the left center of the Union line. In this advanced position 
 it received the first shock of Pickett s charge. It was a tremendous attack, but the 
 assailants were forced to surge off to the right, and the regiment commanded by 
 Colonel Veazey, wheeled out and attacked them on the flank as they went by with 
 withering effect, and capturing many prisoners 
 
240 
 
 At this moment, while the Sixteenth was partly broken, another column Wil- 
 cox s and Perry s Brigades came rushing along toward its flank and rear. Colonel 
 Veazey quickly grasped the situation. He explained his plans to General Stannard. 
 
 "Veazey," cried the general, " your men will do almost anything, but the men 
 don t live this side of hell, that can be made to charge down there." But in shorter 
 time than it takes to tell it, the regiment had straightened out, reformed, and made 
 another change of front in the very center of the field, where the battle raged in 
 its greatest fury, and men were falling every instant. 
 
 " I stepped to the front," says Colonel Veazey, " and called upon the men to 
 follow. With a mighty shout the rush forward was made, and, before the enemy 
 could change his front, we had struck his flank, and swept down the line, and again 
 captured a great number of prisoners. In the two charges my regiment captured 
 three stan Is of colors. The last charge brought a heavy artillery fire on us, but we 
 lost only 150 out of 400 because the rebels never accurately found our range." 
 
 USURPED THE GENERAL S 
 AUTHORITY. 
 
 D 
 
 JOHN B. FASSITT, 
 
 Captain Co. F, 23d Pennsylvania Infantry 
 
 Highest rank attained: Major. 
 Born in Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 26, 1830. 
 
 the battle of Gettysburg many were the 
 exigencies and tremendous responsibilities that 
 confronted the general officers in each army. Tn 
 most instances, also, they were met and disposed of 
 with all loyalty, patriotism and bravery. 
 
 It was on the day before the demonstration known 
 as Pickett s charge, that Captain John B. Fassitt of 
 Company F, Twenty -third Pennsylvania Infantry, dis 
 played his courage, his quick mind, action and will 
 ingness to shoulder great responsibility. On the day 
 of the Peach Orchard struggle, shortly after Major- 
 General Daniel E. Sickles had received the wound which later cost him a leg, that 
 Battery I, of the Fifth United States Artillery, was captured by the Confederates. 
 Captain Fassitt, at the time was senior aide to General Birney, who, General Sickles 
 having been carried off the field, was in command of the Third Army Corps. Fassitt 
 had just completed the work of reforming Humphrey s Division on Cemetery Ridge 
 after it had been driven back from Blodensburg Road, and was returning to the left 
 line to report to General Birney, when he saw Lieutenant Samuel Peoples of Battery 
 I, standing on a rock looking to the front. Thereupon Captain Fassitt asked the 
 lieutenant why he was not with his battery, and the lieutenant answered : "Because 
 
241 
 
 it has just been captured." And then pointing toward his battery, the lieutenant 
 continued: "And if those Confederates are able to serve my guns, those troops you 
 have just been forming on the ridge, won t stay there a minute." 
 
 Captain Fassitt, instantly comprehending the fact that the battery could direct 
 an enfilading fire on Cemetery Ridge, and recognizing that ridge as the key to the 
 Federal position, he rode rapidly to the nearest troops the Thirty-ninth New York 
 Infantry and ordered Major Hillebrandt, the commanding officer, to retake the 
 battery. 
 
 "By whose orders?" asked the major. 
 
 The captain replied : "By order of General Birney." 
 
 "I am in General Hancock s Corps," responded the major. 
 
 To this the captain said : " Then I order you to take those guns, by order of 
 General Hancock." 
 
 "THE CAPTAIN 
 STRUCK UP WITH 
 HIS SABRE." 
 
 At this, Ma 
 jor Hillebrandt 
 moved his regi 
 ment by flank with 
 superb alacrity, and when 
 
 opposite the battery, he ordered a charge. Captain Fassitt not only helped to move 
 the regiment by the flank, but, being the only mounted officer, also assisted in the 
 assault. The Confederates were not willing to give up the battery and position 
 without a struggle and the fight was a three one. As the Federal line reached the 
 Confederates, one of them seized the bridle of Captain Fassitt s horse while another 
 raised his musket fair into the face of the mounted man. The captain struck up 
 with his sabre just in time to divert the musket ball so that it passed through the 
 
242 
 
 visor of his cap, and the next instant a member of the Thirty-ninth ran his bayonet 
 through the man who delivered the shot, while Fassitt shot down the man holding 
 the bridle of his horse. Again free, the captain went on with Major Hillebrandt s 
 troops, until they had secured Cemetery Hill for Hancock s use in repulsing 
 Pickett. 
 
 WHERE DISOBEDIENCE WAS A 
 VIRTUE 
 
 WILLIAM E. MILLER, 
 
 Captain, Troop H, 3rd Penn. 
 
 Cavalry. 
 
 Born at West Hill, Cumberland 
 Co., Penn. 
 
 CEDERAL and Confederate cavalry were hotly engaged 
 during the last day s fighting at Gettysburg, July 3d. 
 There were skirmishes, charges, counter-charges from 
 noon till nightfall during that most eventful day. Some 
 times it would seem as if the enemy would gain an advan 
 tage, when the Union cavalry would rally and with 
 renewed vigor wrest from them the victory which the 
 rebels believed to be already within their grasp. And 
 thus the fighting continued for hours with varying success, 
 until at dark the Confederate cavalry retired to a position 
 behind their artillery, leaving the Federals masters of the 
 contested field. 
 
 " Heavy skirmishing," says General Gregg, referring to this cavalry fight, "was 
 maintained by the Third Pennsylvania Cavalry with the enemy and was con 
 tinued until nightfall. During the engagement a portion of this regiment made a 
 very handsome and successful charge upon one of the enemy s regiments." 
 
 General Gregg s flattering mention of the "handsome charge," refers to the 
 gallant feat of Captain William E. Miller of Troop H, who by this deed became the 
 hero of his regiment and the recipient of the precious Medal of Honor. 
 The captain himself describes the charge as follows: 
 
 "Our regiment had been ordered forward, and my squadron was deployed along 
 the edge of the woods, with orders to hold that position. We had nothing to do with 
 the first part of the fight, but when a Virginia regiment approached, we opened fire 
 on them and succeeded in holding them in check. A flank fire also opened on them, 
 and they were obliged to fall back on their main body. 
 
 "Suddenly there appeared, moving towards us, a mass of cavalry formed in close 
 column squadrons. They rode with well aligned front and steady reins, their pol 
 ished sabres glittering in the sun. Shell and shrapnel tore through their ranks, but 
 they closed up the gaps and came on as steadily as ever. As they drew nearer, our 
 
248 
 
 artillery-men substituted canister for shrapnel, and horses and men went down by 
 scores. Still they came on, and our cavalry fell into line and prepared for a charge. 
 
 "As the columns approached each other, each increased its pace until they 
 came together with a crash like the falling of timber. So violent was the collision 
 that many of the horses were turned over, crushing their riders under them. The 
 clashing of sabres, firing of pistols, and the cries of the combatants filled the air. 
 
 " My squadron was still deployed, and I was standing with Lieutenant William 
 Brooke-Rawle on a little rising ground in front. Seeing that the situation was 
 becoming critical, I said to him: I have been ordered to hold this position, but I 
 will order a charge if you will back me up in case I am court-martialed for diso- 
 
 "WE BROKE THROUGH THE CONFEDERATE COLUMN." 
 
 bedience. The lieutenant enthusiastically promised that he would stand by me. As 
 soon as the line was formed, our men fired a volley from their carbines, drew their 
 sabres, and charged, striking the enemy s left flank about two-thirds down the column. 
 " We broke through the Confederate column, cut off the rear portion and drove 
 it back ; but in the charge my men became somewhat scattered, and were even 
 unable to capture an unsupported rebel battery which was standing only 100 yards 
 away. The flank attack demoralized the Confederate column, and it was driven 
 back to its former position, leaving us in possession of the field." 
 
244 
 
 A SMALL PARTY S 
 
 BRAVE DEED 
 
 "THE brunt of the Confederate onslaught, on 
 * the second day of the battle of Gettysburg, 
 was directed against General Sickles extreme 
 left, held by General Ward of General Birney s 
 Division, whose three brigades extended their 
 line from the Round Tops across the Devil s 
 Den to and beyond the Peach Orchard. At 
 first the Federals, after a bitter contest, were 
 forced to yield to the superior strength of the 
 enemy and retreated. Then the Union troops 
 received re-enforcements and made a stand 
 against the advancing Confederates near the 
 Little Round Top. Here a most terrible strug 
 gle took place. At all points the ground was 
 contested stubbornly. The odds were against 
 the Federals, but in the face of heavy losses 
 they fought with a bravery rarely equalled. In 
 this contest the Sixth Pennsylvania Reserves 
 was an important factor in General Birney s 
 Division to which it belonged. It not only 
 distinguished itself with the balance of the 
 Union Army during the heat of the battle, but 
 some of its individual members performed deeds 
 of daring and valor which contributed toward 
 the final success of that day as far as the attack 
 on this wing of the Union Army was concerned. 
 No more conspicuous deed was there, how 
 ever, than that which was performed by Ser 
 geant John W. Hart of Company D, Sergeant 
 George W. Mears of Company A, Corporals 
 J. Levi Roush and Chester S. Furman, the 
 former of Company D, the latter of Company A, 
 and two others, all members of the afore 
 mentioned gallant regiment. The occasion 
 was this : As the battle was raging at its 
 
 height, the Union troops stationed near Devil s Den, suffered especially from 
 a concentrated and well-directed fire, which was difficult at first to locate. It was 
 finally, however, traced to a small log house nearby. Here a number of sharpshooters 
 
 JOHN W. HART, 
 
 .-ergeant. Co. I),r>th Pa. Reserves. 
 Born in Germany. 
 
 J. L. ROUSH, 
 
 Corporal, Co. D, Oth Pa. Reserves. 
 Born in Woodlmry, Pa., Feb. 11, 1838. 
 
 GEORGE W. MEARS, 
 
 x mcuiit, Co. A. Gth Pa. Reserves. 
 
 Born in Bloomsburg, Pa. 
 
 CHESTER S. FURMAN, 
 
 Corporal, Co. A, Oth Pa. Reserves. 
 
 Born in Bloomsburg, Pa., Feb. 14, 1842. 
 
245 
 
 had fortified themselves and were pouring their volleys into the Union ranks with 
 deadly accuracy. The necessity to stop this source of destruction became imperative. 
 The colonel of the Sixth Pennsylvania Reserves placed his regiment at the disposal 
 of the commanders to accomplish this task. His offer being accepted, the colonel at 
 once asked for volunteers. Pointing to the log house in the distance he said : " Are 
 any of you men willing to drive those rebels out of that place there ? " He did not 
 have to wait long for a reply. The six men mentioned at once stepped forward and 
 volunteered. The colonel s face beamed with pride and satisfaction as he saw the 
 
 DEMANDED THEIR SURRENDER. 
 
 brave fellows respond to his call. Subsequently the six made an attack upon the log 
 house. Cautiously and slowly they crept up to the place, but did not get very far. 
 before they were discovered. Then they made a dash, a run, a break for the hut, all 
 the while facing a heavy fire from the rebels. However, they escaped injury and 
 reached the log house unhurt. They knocked down the barricades at the door with 
 the butts of their rifles, and then with levelled guns demanded the surrender of the 
 men on the inside. The Pennsylvanians gave their opponents no time for hesitation 
 or doubt. Determination was written on the face of each of the brave six. The 
 alternative was: immediate surrender or death. The rebels preferred the former 
 and thus became the prisoners of the gallant little band of Union heroes. 
 
246 
 
 A BAYONET CHARGE THE LAST HOPE 
 
 JOSHUA L. CHAMBERLAIN, 
 
 Colonel, 2()th Maine Infantry. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Brig.-Gen., U. S. V. 
 
 Born in. Brewer, Maine, Sept. 8, 1828. 
 
 \TEVER had a bayonet charge more effective 
 * ^ results than had that of the Twentieth Maine 
 Volunteers, on the slope of Little Hound Top, at 
 Gettysburg, July 2, 1863. It not only saved the 
 position of the Union troops, but compelled General 
 Lee to change his whole plan of attack. The 
 incident is thus described by Colonel Joshua L. 
 Chamberlain, commanding the Twentieth 
 Maine : 
 
 " My regiment held the extreme left of the 
 Union lines, at Gettysburg. The enemy was 
 shelling the whole crest heavily, and moving a 
 large force to seize this commanding height, 
 while we were rushing up to get the position 
 ourselves. We had scarcely got our troops 
 into something like a line among the rocks of 
 the southern slope, when the enemy s assault 
 struck us. It was a hard hand-to-hand fight, 
 
 swaying back and forth under successive charges and counter-charges, for an hour. 
 I had been obliged to throw my left wing back at a right-angle or more in order to 
 hold the ground at all. 
 
 "As it was a sort of echelon attack, the enemy was constantly coming up on my 
 left, and outflanking me. The losses in my regiment were very heavy. In the 
 center of the apex of the angle, made by throwing back the left wing, the color- 
 guard was shot ,away, the color-company and that next to it lost nearly half their 
 number, and more than a third of my regiment was disabled. We had, in the lull 
 of the fight, thrown together a low line of loose rocks that were scattered about the 
 ground, and the men were taking such shelter as they could behind these, though 
 they could do this only by lying down and firing over them. This helped us but 
 little ; it served chiefly to mark the line we were bound to maintain. 
 
 "At last I saw a heavy force that had just come up over the opposite slopes of 
 Great Round Top, coining on to envelop our left. They were close to us, advancing 
 rapidly, and iiring as they came. We had expended our last round of cartridges, and 
 had been gathering what we could from the cartridge-boxes of the dead and dying, 
 friend and foe. We met this fresh force with these cartridges, but at the critical 
 moment, when the enemy were within fifty feet of us, our fire fell to nothing. Every 
 round was gone. 
 
 "Knowing the supreme importance of holding this ground, which covered the 
 flank of Hazlett s Battery on the summit and gave a clear enfilading and rear fire 
 
"AND INSTANTLY HE SURRENDERED." 
 
248 
 
 upon the whole force holding Little Round Top, I saw no other way to save it, or 
 even ourselves, but to charge with the bayonet. The on-coining force evidently 
 outnumbered us three or four to one, but it was the last resort. 
 
 " Giving the order to charge, I placed myself beside the colors at the apex of our 
 formation, sent word to the senior officer on my left to make a right wheel of the 
 charge and endeavor to catch the enemy somewhat in flank on their right. Then we 
 sprang down the rocky slope into the presence of the astonished foe. I came directly 
 upon an officer commanding the center of the opposing line. He attempted to fire 
 a pistol in my face, but my sabre point was at his throat, and instantly he turned 
 the butt of his pistol and the hilt of his sword, and surrendered. His whole line 
 began to throw down their arms likewise. My officers were also in the line with the 
 bayonets. 
 
 " This charge was successful beyond all my hopes. We not only cleared our own 
 front, but, by the right wheel, cleared the front of the entire brigade on our right, 
 and also the whole ground between Little and Great Round Top. We took twice as 
 many prisoners as we had men in our ranks, and found 150 of the enemy s dead in 
 our front. These were of the Fifteenth, Forty-seventh and Fourth Alabama, and 
 the Fifth Texas regiments. 
 
 " The result of this movement, beyond question, was the saving of Hazlett s Bat 
 tery, and, in fact, Round Top itself, to our troops. It now appears that it also 
 changed Lee s plans for his attack of the next day which had been intended to be a 
 crushing blow on our left again, but was abandoned for Pickett s charge on the 
 center. The honors belong to my regiment." 
 
 THE JOKE WAS ON 
 
 THE OTHER FELLOWS. 
 
 A MONG the comrades of Company A, One-hundred 
 ** and eighth New York Infantry, Corporal William 
 H. Raymond s physique was the subject of a standing 
 joke. He was so lean and lanky, that it was observed 
 that he was altogether too thin to even cast a shadow 
 or offer sufficient surface for a decent target. These 
 jokes were good-naturedly borne by the corporal, until 
 an incident occurred during the battle of Gettysburg, 
 when Corporal Raymond accomplished a task, where 
 h e showed that his physique came in good stead and 
 besides displayed such courage and daring that ever 
 
 afterward the joke about his being "too thin" was on the other fellow. Corporal 
 
 Raymond s own words of the incident referred to, follow : 
 
 WILLIAM H. RAYMOND, 
 
 Corporal, Co. A. lOSth New York Infantry. 
 
 Born at penfieMonoe Co., N. Y., 
 
249 
 
 "Early in the morning of July 3d, my regiment, the One-hundred and eighth 
 New York Volunteer Infantry, was sent to the skirmish line in our immediate front. 
 Company A, to which I belonged, had eighteen men present in line for duty. 
 
 " The skirmish line, which was entirely destitute of anything in the way of pro 
 tection, which was also true of the ground between Ziegler s Grove and our line, 
 while the rebel skirmish line was behind and along a rail fence, not more than 
 fifteen or twenty rods in our front, from which we received a very hot fire while 
 going into position. Before reaching it the orderly-sergeant of my company was 
 wounded and Lieutenant Ostrander appointed me orderly-sergeant. 
 
 "I ARRIVED UNHURT." 
 
 "During the engagement our men were running short of ammunition and I 
 advised them to use the cartridges from the dead and wounded, but these did not 
 last long. I, therefore, reported to Lieutenant Ostrander, who told me to make a 
 detail and send for a fresh supply. This duty was extremely hazardous, and I 
 doubted whether it could be done without the sacrifice of life. 
 
 " Under such circumstances I hesitated to make the detail, and suggested a call 
 for volunteers. The lieutenant s reply came : I don t care how it is done, as long 
 as you obtain the ammunition. On calling for volunteers no one responded, where 
 upon I volunteered to go myself and started for our lines. Here I stated my errand. 
 
250 
 
 " Lieutenant- Colonel Pierce, who had command of the regiment, sent for a supply, 
 and upon its arrival, said. Raymond, you have taken your share of risk, let some 
 one else take this down to the skirmish line. I said that it might as well be myself 
 as anyone else. The chances were talked over rapidly, and appeared poor enough. 
 Nearly every officer present with the regiment, and many of the men bade me good 
 bye, the opinion being freely expressed, that I could not get back to the skirmish 
 line alive. However, I took a box of ammunition of 1,000 rounds, and carried it 
 down to the line, arriving there unhurt, though I had seven holes shot through my 
 clothing." 
 
 WITH BAYONET AND COBBLE STONES. 
 
 HENRY D. O BRIEN of Company 
 E, First Minnesota Infantry, received 
 his Medal of Honor for two acts of gallantry 
 at the battle of Gettysburg. On July 2d, 
 1863, the First Minnesota was ordered by 
 General Hancock to charge the Confederate 
 forces, who were driving in the Third Corps. 
 The regiment numbered 262, officers and 
 men, when it went into that desperate 
 charge, but when it came out, 215 had 
 been killed and wounded. The charge 
 had its due effect, however, for the enemy s 
 line was broken, his advance stopped, and 
 a large number of prisoners taken. While 
 the Minnesota regiment was withdrawing 
 from between the two fires, O Brien noticed 
 one of his comrades, E. R. Jefferson, drop, 
 shot through the leg. He picked up his 
 wounded comrade on his back, and was 
 carrying him to a place of safety, when a 
 
 ball struck his cartridge box plate, throwing him to the ground. Undaunted by 
 this, he sprang to his feet, raised the wounded man and carried him to the rear 
 without further injury. 
 
 On the following day, when Pickett made his gallant but futile charge, O Brien 
 had another occasion to display his heroism. The story is well told in the official 
 report of the commanding officer of the First Minnesota : "Corporal Dehn, the last 
 of our color -guard, then carrying our tattered flag, was shot through the hand, and 
 the flagstaff cut in two. Corporal Henry D. O Brien of Company E, instantly seized 
 
 HENRY D. O BRIEN, 
 
 Corporal, Co. E, 1st Minnesota Infantry. 
 Born at Colois, Maine, Jan. 21, 1812. 
 
251 
 
 the flag by the remnant of the staff. Whether the command to charge was given 
 by any general officer, I do not know. My impression was, that it came as a spon 
 taneous outburst from the men, and instantly the line precipitated itself upon the 
 enemy. O Brien, who held the broken staff and tatters of our battle flag, with his 
 characteristic bravery and impetuosity sprang with it to the front at the first sound 
 of the word charge/ and ran right up to the enemy s line, keeping the flag noticeably 
 in advance of every other color. My feeling, at the instant, blamed his rashness in so 
 risking its capture, but the effect was electrical. Every man of the First Minnesota 
 sprang to protect the flag, and the rest rushed with them upon the enemy. The 
 bayonet was used for a few minutes, and cobble stones, with which the ground was 
 well covered, filled the air, being thrown by those in the rear over the heads of their 
 comrades. The struggle, desperate and deadly while it lasted, was soon over. Cor 
 poral O Brien received two wounds in the final melee at the moment of the victory." 
 In this charge O Brien was twice wounded in the head and the left hand, but he 
 carried his colors through the fight. In the charge of the previous day, he received 
 a bayonet w^oimd in the side. 
 
 CAPTURED THE SHARPSHOOTERS IN THE BARN 
 
 T^HE Third Division of the Eleventh Corps was commanded by General Carl 
 * Schurz and known as "Howard s German Army." Attached to it was the 
 Forty-fifth New York Infantry, under command of Colonel George Van Amsberg, 
 composed of soldiers of German blood. This regiment distinguished itself during 
 the initiatory fighting at the battle of Gettysburg, every man displaying great 
 bravery and daring. Captain Francis Irsch, of Company D, especially manifested 
 such skill and intrepidity that a Medal of Honor was awarded him. 
 
 The regiment arrived at Gettysburg at 11 A. M., after a double-quick march of 
 several miles, some time in advance of the Eleventh Corps. Captain Irsch was im 
 mediately ordered to relieve Buford s Division, which was slowly retiring before 
 General Henry Heth s Confederate forces. 
 
 As Captain Irsch, in pursuance of his orders, was cautiously and steadily moving 
 forward, he came in contact with Major Blackford s Alabama sharpshooters and 
 two Confederate batteries planted on Oak and Benness Hills. The enemy s fire did 
 considerable execution and Captain Irsch was forced to seek cover and wait for 
 re-enforcements. When the balance of the regiment and Dilger s Ohio Battery 
 came dashing to his support, the attack on the two rebel batteries was renewed and 
 carried on effectively. General Ewell, however, observed the small number of the 
 Union troops and a large gap in their line and ordered O Neil s Alabama and Iver- 
 son s North Carolina Brigade to make a dash, break through the Union lines and 
 
252 
 
 gain possession of the town of Oak Hill and of the division of the two Union corps. 
 Iverson, however, either misunderstood the order or was belated, and O Neil s 
 stealthy movement toward the Mummasberg Road along a covered lane at the base 
 of Oak Hill, was discovered by Captain Irsch just in time to advise Captain Dilger s 
 Battery and the other regiments. Dilger s battery poured double shotted shrapnel into 
 the ranks of the advancing Alabamians who, at the same time, were received with a 
 galling fire from the Twelfth and Thirteenth Massachusetts, who, by that time, had 
 faced about to cover the breach and meet the attack. The Alabamians became dis 
 ordered and staggered back upon the rear regiments of the brigade. Captain Irsch 
 no sooner perceived the predicament of the rebels when he concluded that the time 
 for a bold stroke had come. He ordered a charge and soon drove the Alabamians 
 pell-mell again forward on the Twelfth and Thirteenth Massachusetts. The greater 
 part of three regiments of the rebel brigade surrendered with their battle-flags. 
 Another part had fortified itself in McLean s barn and from there kept up a galling 
 fire. Captain Irsch made a rush for the barn and stormed it, capturing about one 
 hundred more prisoners. Iverson s Brigade of North Carolinians arrived too late 
 and met with a similar fate. 
 
 When later in the day General Early turned the right of the Eleventh Corps 
 and was threatening Steinwehr s Second Division on Cemetery Hill, the general 
 break up of the First and Eleventh Corps came. The Union troops poured into 
 the town of Gettysburg, hotly pursued by the Confederates. Baxter s Brigade 
 of the First and Schimmelpfennig s of the Eleventh Corps frequently held the 
 victorious enemy at bay and carried their desperate resistance right into the 
 streets of the town. Gun carriages, ambulances, the wounded and the dead blocked 
 the way and made further resistance impossible. The regiments broke up into small 
 commands, each endeavoring to escape and reach Cemetery Hill as best they 
 could. Captain Irsch s Battalion remained intact till Chambersburg Street was 
 reached, which they cleared to the right and left almost up to Market Square, where 
 a portion of the Forty-fifth with the colors ran through an alley just as the enemy 
 was planting a battery on the square. Captain Irsch already had taken possession 
 of a block of houses from which he and the remainder of his regiment kept up an 
 incessant fire upon the Confederates. Many Union soldiers sought refuge in the 
 same block, so that within a short time there were no less than 600 men barricaded 
 in these houses. The street defense in that section of the town lasted several hours. 
 Toward sundown the Confederates demanded the surrender of the gallant little band. 
 Captain Irsch was permitted to leave the temporary defense under a flag of truce 
 and satisfy himself that no succor was in sight and that further resistance was use 
 less. He was escorted to the outskirts of the town and was soon convinced that 
 nothing could be gained by further bloodshed. After a consultation with the other 
 officers the men were ordered to destroy their arms and ammunition and surrender. 
 Captain Irsch was sent to Libby prison. He made one escape, was recaptured and 
 sent back again behind the walls of this dismal place of confinement. 
 
253 
 
 TEN CAPTURE A FORTIFIED STOCKADE 
 
 GEORGE K. MARSH, 
 
 Servant, Co. D, 101th Illinois Infantry. 
 Bom at Brooklield, La Salic Co., 111., is:js. 
 
 Rosecrans campaign against Bragg, in Ten- 
 nessee, Sergeant George K. Marsh commanded 
 the " forlorn hope " of ten volunteers, sent to capture 
 the rebel stockade at Elk River, Tenn., July 2, 1863. 
 It had been reported to General John Beatty, com 
 manding the Union troops, that the rebels had burned 
 the bridge over the Elk River and taken position with 
 their artillery and infantry on the bluffs beyond. Gen 
 eral Beatty describes the situation as follows: 
 
 "Riding forward, I discovered the enemy s cavalry 
 and infantry across the river, and his artillery in 
 position ready to open on us whenever the head of 
 our column should make its appearance in the turn of 
 the road. Seeing that it would be useless to expose 
 
 my infantry, and that artillery alone would be effectual in dislodging him, I hurried 
 forward Captain Hewett s four guns, and sent back a request for another battery, 
 upon which Captain Schultz Battery was sent forward. Without exposing my 
 horses and men, so as to draw the enemy s fire, I succeeded in getting ten guns in 
 position, before he was aware of it, and opened fire. The enemy replied vigorously, 
 but so well were the guns of Captains Hewett and Schultz served, that after about 
 forty minutes the enemy retired his artillery double-quick. I then sent forward my 
 regiments to the river, shelled the sharpshooters and cavalry from the hills on the 
 opposite side, sent a few men to occupy a stockade near the bridge, and drive away 
 a few troublesome sharpshooters, who were still concealed in the bluffs." The bal 
 ance of the interesting story is best told by Sergeant Marsh himself. He says: 
 
 "We had skirmished all the morning with a light battery supported by infantry, 
 who were defending their retreating baggage trains. As we advanced we came 
 suddenly to a clearing, on the opposite side of which was a stockade fort plainly 
 visible from our position. A short distance to our right the enemy had crossed 
 the Elk River on a bridge which they burned to prevent our following. Also, in 
 case we should make an attempt to construct a pontoon bridge, they had planted 
 a small battery on the opposite side of the stream, and stationed a squad of infantry 
 to support it. 
 
 "Our commanding officer saw, that if we were in possession of the stockade, we 
 could better cope with the advances of the enemy. He asked me to lead a squad to 
 reconnoiter, and if possible, take the stockade. I called out: All who are not afraid, 
 fall in! 
 
 " Many offered to go, but I took the first ten who stepped forward, and started 
 for the fortification. We deployed and covered the field at a double-quick under a 
 
254 
 
 heavy fire of musketry and artillery from the other side of the Elk River, and at first 
 from the stockade. 
 
 "None of us returned the fire until we had forced an entrance into the stockade, 
 then we emptied our rifles into the Confederates, who, upon seeing us enter the fort, 
 climbed the stockade on the opposite side and ran up the bank. No one who saw 
 
 WE DEPLOYED AND STARTED FOR THE FORTIFICATION." 
 
 us go into the fight expected to see us come out alive, but we did, and without the 
 loss of a man." 
 
 Of the ten men who followed Sergeant Marsh in this brilliant charge, the names 
 of only six could be obtained. They were John Shapland, Oscar Slagle, Reu 
 ben Smalley, Charles Stacey, Richard J. Gage and Samuel F. Holland. Each of 
 these was rewarded with a Medal of Honor. The records state that Sergeant Marsh 
 received his "for having led a small party at Elk River July 2, 1863, captured a 
 stockade and saved the brigade." 
 
255 
 
 HOLTON, 
 
 Mich. Cavalry. 
 Born in Potter, Yates Co., N. Y., May 25, 1838. 
 
 A DARE-DEVIL CHARGE. 
 
 OERGEANT CHARLES M. HOLTON, Company 
 ^ A, Seventh Michigan Cavalry, won his 
 medal at the battle of Falling Waters, by 
 capturing a flag of the Fifty-fifth Virginia, in 
 one of the most dashing charges in the annals 
 of the war. He thus describes the incident : 
 "On the morning of July 14, 1863, Oust 
 er s Michigan Brigade came face to face with 
 four brigades of rebel infantry strongly en 
 trenched and supported by artillery. This 
 was a division of Lee s army which had failed 
 to cross the Potomac. Although greatly 
 inferior in numbers, the Michigan men 
 formed up and attacked them with great 
 fury. Our skirmish line was rapidly ap 
 proaching the enemy s battery, where Gen 
 eral Kilpatrick ordered a charge by the First Battalion of the Seventh Michigan, 
 which had been left to support Pennington s Battery. The little battalion which 
 comprised only seventy sabres, formed in column of fours, and charged up a lane 
 which was occupied by the right of the Confederate line. They dashed through the 
 enemy and into the field beyond, where the rebel reserve was drawn up. Unheeding 
 the storm of bullets that assailed them, the undaunted little troop dashed into the 
 enemy s ranks and cut its w r ay through. 
 
 "Seeing the color-sergeant of the Fifty-fifth Virginia fall wounded, I sprang 
 from my horse and seized the colors. As I remounted, I heard the wounded color- 
 bearer say : You Yanks have been after that old fiag for a long time, but you 
 never got it before. While we were forming up to charge them again from their 
 rear, the Confederates threw down their arms, and we marched 400 prisoners from 
 the field. 
 
 " General Kilpatrick examined the captured flag, and found on it the names of 
 all the great battles of the Army of the Northern Virginia. The guard ordered me 
 to join his staff with it for the balance of the day, and in the evening Adjutant 
 Briggs wrote an inscription on the margin of the flag, telling how it had been cap 
 tured by me." 
 
 Falling Waters, Va. The Confederates under Lee drawn up in line of battle on the crest of a hill, one 
 mile and a half from Falling Waters, were attacked July 14, 1863, by Kilpatrick s Third Brigade of the Army 
 of the Potomac, and after two hours fighting, completely routed. The rebels lost 1,500 men in killed, 
 wounded and prisoners; the Union loss was nominal. 
 
256 
 
 INSUBORDINATION REWARDED 
 
 T T is not often that the government of a great nation 
 
 CARLE A. WOODRUFF, 
 
 Lieutenant, Horse Battery M, 2d U. S. 
 
 Artillery. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Lieut-Col., U. S. A. 
 Born at Buffalo, N. Y., Aug. 8, 1841. 
 
 grants the highest military distinction in its power 
 "for distinguished gallantry," when the conspicuous 
 service rendered was an act committed in direct diso 
 bedience of orders. 
 
 This was done in the case of Lieutenant Carle A. 
 Woodruff of Battery M, Second U. S. Artillery, and 
 Captain Smith H. Hastings of Troop M, Fifth Michi 
 gan Cavalry. 
 
 The facts of the interesting occurrence are given 
 in Lieutenant Woodruff s language as follows : 
 
 "Early on the morning of July 24th, we marched 
 from Amissville, through Newby s Cross-Roads, and 
 struck the flank of one of the corps of Lee s army 
 marching from Chester Gap towards Culpepper Court 
 House. Our cavalry w 7 as at once deployed, and Bat 
 tery M was brought into action to shell the retreat 
 ing columns. Some movements on the part of the 
 
 enemy caused General Custer to hastily withdraw his command, and order a return 
 to Amissville. Colonel George Gray of the Sixth Michigan Cavalry, with two troops 
 of his regiment, two of the Fifth Michigan Cavalry, commanded by Captain S. H. 
 Hastings, and my section, two guns of Horse Battery M, constituted the rear guard. 
 As we retired Colonel Gray led the way with his squadron, and that of Captain 
 Hastings brought up the rear. 
 
 "The enemy saw a chance to cut off our small com- 
 mand and pushed General Benning s Brigade around a 
 hi}} an( j U p ^} ie ^d O f a dry stream, which crossed the 
 only road in our rear. Here they concealed themselves 
 waiting for our approach. General Benning thought 
 that the trap laid for the Union soldiers was complete. 
 He felt confident of capturing not only the guns of my 
 batteiy, but also the two squadrons of cavalry. 
 
 " I now thought the rebel general w T rote to General 
 Longstreet we had their cannon and cavalry secured as 
 there w r as no possible way to Amissville but the road 
 occupied by my brigade, all others being excluded by 
 s. H. HASTINGS, th e mountain and its spur. General Benning s cal- 
 
 Captain, Troop M. 6th Mich, cavalry. /"nla+irm nii<f"irviprl for thp trail wliir h IIP liar! O 
 
 Highest rank attained: Col. U.S.V. CUiatlOllS llllhdlll Xi, I 
 
 Born at Quincy, Mic-h., Dec. 27. 1SK!, 
 
257 
 
 carefully planned and set failed of its purpose. As soon as Colonel Gray s squadron 
 came within their range the rebels rushed forth from their place of hiding and fired 
 a volley at point-blank range. The squadron came dashing back upon us, and in the 
 confusion of their flight carried the team of the leading gun with them. The 
 horses turned around so sharply that the gun was almost upset. Colonel Gray 
 called to me: Cut your traces, abandon your guns, and follow me. I replied: 
 I will never leave my guns. 
 
 "We unlimbered and opened fire with canister. Just then Captain Hastings 
 came up with his squadron and asked : What do you intend to do, Woodruff ? How 
 can I help you? I answered: Dismount some of your men, and support me. 
 Another officer galloped up to me at this moment. Colonel Gray, he said, orders 
 you to cut your traces and abandon your guns, and we will try to charge through 
 the enemy s lines. Again I refused to leave my guns, and turning to my command, 
 said : Men, I have received orders to abandon our guns. They all shouted : Never 
 lieutenant, we will stay with you, and we will all go to Richmond together. 
 
 "I kept our gun firing while I moved the other with ten horses and the assistance 
 of dismounted cavalry, over a piece of marshy ground to my left. Then we opened 
 fire with that gun, while we returned with the horses for the other. The pieces were 
 moved alternately to the left, a little at a time, until we got them on the flank of 
 the enemy, and commanding the bed of the stream they occupied. After about two 
 hours of this work, we succeeded in reaching the main body of our command, having 
 held off a whole brigade of the enemy. 
 
 "When I reached General Custer, I dismounted, and reported that my men and 
 guns were safe. The general, who was lying down at the time, sprang to his fest 
 and embraced me. He told me he had sent the First Michigan Cavalry and Hamil 
 ton s section of Horse Battery M down the road to try and open communication 
 with us. Colonel Gray and his command reported to General Custer after I did, 
 having in his retreat described a much larger circle than we." 
 
 Captain Smith H. Hastings of Co. M, Fifth Michigan Cavalry, who shares in a 
 large measure in the success of the engagement and likewise was decorated with the 
 Medal of Honor, has little to add to Lieutenant Woodruff s version : 
 
 "I heard Woodruff reply to Colonel Gray," says he, "that he would never abandon 
 his guns, and rode up to him, asking whether I could help him. 
 
 "Lieutenant Woodruff ran ahead to assist Sergeant Flood in unlimbering our 
 gun and shouted, that he wished me to dismount my men and help him out. I did 
 not hesitate a moment, but immediately decided to stand by the brave lieutenant." 
 
 Success crowned the united efforts of both officers. Speaking of General Custer, 
 to whom Captain Hastings reported, he says : " The general was a mighty pleased 
 soldier that evening, because, by disobeying orders, Lieutenant Woodruff, myself 
 and our brave comrades had preserved intact the record of General Custer s brigade 
 never to have permitted the enemy to capture from it a single piece of artillery." 
 
-258 
 
 THE FLAG NEVER TOUCHED THE GROUND. 
 
 noon," writes Private 
 
 William H. Carney of the Fifty-fourth Mas 
 sachusetts Volunteers, "we began to draw near Fort 
 Wagner under a tremendous cannonading from the 
 fleet. When within about a thousand yards of the 
 fort we halted and lay flat on the ground waiting 
 for the order to charge. 
 
 "The order came, and we had advanced but a 
 short distance, when we were opened upon with 
 musketry, shell and canister, which mowed down 
 our men right and left. When the color-bearer was 
 disabled, I threw away my gun and seized the colors, 
 making my way to the head of the column, but 
 before I reached there, the line had descended the 
 embankment into the ditch and was advancing upon 
 Fort Wagner itself 
 
 " Going down the embankment our column was 
 stanch and full. As we ascended the breastworks 
 
 the ranks showed dreadful gaps made by the enemy s fire. Tn less than twenty 
 minutes I found myself alone struggling upon the ramparts, while all around me lay 
 the dead and wounded piled one upon another. As I could not go into the fort 
 alone, I knelt down, still holding the flag in my hands. The musket balls and grape 
 shot were flying all around me, and as they struck, the sand would fly in my face. 
 I knew my position was a critical one and wondered how long I should remain undis 
 covered. 
 
 " Finding at last that our force had renewed the attack farther to the right, and 
 the enemy s attention was drawn thither, I turned to go, when I discovered a bat 
 talion coming toward me on the ramparts. As they advanced in front of me I 
 raised my flag and was about to join them, when I noticed that they were enemies. 
 
 WILLIAM H. CARNEY, 
 
 Private, filth Massachusetts Infantry. 
 Born at Norfolk, Va.. Feb. 2<i, isio. 
 
 Fort Wagner, S. C. The assault upon Fort Wagner, Morris Island, was a feature of the operations 
 against the harbor and islands ad joining Charleston, undertaken by Admiral Dahlgreen with the fleet, co-oper 
 ating with General Gillmore in charge of the land forces. 
 
 On the 9th of July, Morris Island was attacked by Strong s Brigade. The Confederates were driven 
 from all the batteries south of Fort Wagner, and most of the island abandoned to the Union men. On the 
 next day an attack upon the fort was made, which resulted in a repulse. Bombardment by the fleet and 
 the batteries on the adjacent islands commenced on the morning of the 18th, and, in the evening, a storm 
 ing party, led by Colonel Shaw, (Fifty-fourth Massachusetts) succeeded in carrying the fort, with a loss of 
 1,500, among whom was the colonel. One hundred and seventy-four of the fort s defenders were killed or 
 wounded. 
 
259 
 
 Instantly winding my colors around the staff, T made my way down the parapet into 
 the ditch, which, when I had first crossed it, had been dry, but was now filled with 
 water that came to my waist. 
 
 "All the men who had mounted the ramparts with me, were either killed or 
 wounded, I being the only one left erect and moving. 
 
 "Upon rising to determine my course to the rear, I was struck by a bullet, but, 
 as I was not prostrated by the shot, I continued my course. I had not gone very 
 far, however, before I was struck by a second ball. 
 
 I KNELT DOWN, STILL HOLDING THE FLAG IN MY HANDS " 
 
 "Soon after I met a member of the One-hundredth New York, who inquired if I 
 was wounded. Upon my replying in the affirmative, he came to my assistance and 
 helped me to the rear. While on our way I was again wounded, this time in the 
 head, and my rescuer then offered to carry the colors for me, but I refused to give 
 them up, saying that no one but a member of my regiment should carry them. 
 
 " We passed on until we reached the rear guard, where I was put under charge 
 of the hospital corps, and sent to my regiment. When the men saw me bringing in 
 the colors, they cheered me, and I was able to tell them that the old flag had never 
 touched the ground." 
 
260 
 
 A BRAVE BUGLER 
 
 JOSEPH C. HIBSON, 
 
 Private, Co. C, -ISth New York Infantry. 
 Born in London, England, August :;, IM:J. 
 
 OUGLER JOSEPH C. HIBSON of Company C, 
 *-* Forty-eighth New York Infantry, was 
 only twenty years old, when he earned his 
 Medal of Honor. It was awarded to him for 
 risking his life to save his comrades from 
 being shot down by their own supports, and 
 afterwards, when his arm had been shattered, 
 saving the regimental colors from falling 
 into the hands of the enemy. 
 
 "On the evening of July 18th, after an 
 all-day bombardment by the army and navy, 
 the assault on Fort Wagner was made. 
 We crossed the moat and engaged in a hand- 
 to-hand fight with the Thirty-first North 
 Carolina in their outer works. They soon 
 weakened, and we drove them from the 
 southeast bastion, which we held under a 
 terrible cross fire. Re-enforcements were sent 
 
 to our support, but by some blunder, they mistook us for the enemy and poured a 
 destructive volley into us. We could not live under the three fires, and something 
 had to l>e done to stop the fire in our rear. I ran down into the moat and told our 
 men there of the terrible blunder they were making and on this errand was shot in 
 the elbow. 
 
 "Having stopped the fire in our rear, I returned to the crest of the fort to find 
 Color-Sergeant George (I. Sparks, severely wounded, the color staff shot in two, and 
 all the color-guard either killed or wounded. I picked up the colors with my unin 
 jured hand, but just at that moment the Confederates made a determined assault 
 on us. We managed to repulse the assault, but I received two additional wounds; 
 the bone of my left forearm was completely shattered, and I was wounded in the 
 head by pieces of a shell that burst near me. My scalp was torn and the blood was 
 running into my eyes. 
 
 " Lieutenant James Barrett took command of the regiment, all the other officers 
 being killed or wounded, and ordered a retreat. I gave the colors into safe hands, 
 and, my mission ended, went into the hospital." 
 
 HIBSON recounts another incident which occurred prior to this, on the evening of 
 July 13th. He says: 
 
 " During the bombardment of Fort Wagner, I, a musician, was not required to 
 become actively engaged, but went about seeking excitement. I volunteered to take 
 
-261- 
 
 the place of a sick comrade who had been allotted to a vidette. Shortly after mid 
 night some indistinct forms sprang up out of the darkness, and Daniel Kane, my 
 comrade on guard, was stabbed with a bayonet. A voice hissed in my ear the word 
 Surrender, but instead of doing so, I brought my rifle to the Shorten arms and 
 fired without tak- ing aim. The rebel fell at my feet. I rammed another 
 
 charge of powder v_ into my rifle, but the bullet slipped through my fingers 
 and the other V Confederate, who, by this time had risen, charged upon 
 
 me. I turned / ^fil and ran for our rifle pits with the Confederate close 
 
 behind me, Jdfl until one of my comrades brought him down. 
 
 I PICKED UP 
 THE COLORS 
 WITH MY 
 UNINJURED 
 HAND." 
 
 "The following night a volunteer was called for to accompany Lieutenant 
 Edwards on a reconnoitering expedition. I volunteered and was accepted. After 
 we had gone a short distance, I lost the lieutenant, who wandered off in the darkness 
 and strayed back to our lines. I kept on by myself, taking an oblique course. I was 
 constantly falling headlong into shell holes and tripping over obstacles, and I had 
 finally to go down on hands and knees and crawl. Presently I heard some faint 
 voices ahead, and stopping to listen, heard the Confederates shovelling a little 
 ahead of me and to my left. At the same moment I heard in my rear three or four 
 of the enemy s pickets conversing in low tones. I started to crawl back the way I 
 had come and nearly dropped into one of their rifle-pits. I succeeded in avoiding it, 
 and got away without being detected. When I returned to my regiment with my 
 information the men gave three cheers and a tiger for The little bugler. " 
 
262 
 
 ALL FOR HIS MESSMATE 
 
 HENRY C. SLUSHEK, 
 
 Private, Troop P, 22d Penn. Vol. Cavalry. 
 Born in Washington Co., Penn., May 10, 1846. 
 
 PRIVATE HENRY C. SLUSHER, while a member 
 of Troop E, of Ringgold s Independent 
 
 Volunteer Cavalry, made a desperate attempt 
 
 single-handed to rescue a wounded comrade 
 
 from a strong party of Mosby s Guerrillas in 
 
 the Alleghany Mountains. He tells of his ad 
 venture in the following words : 
 
 "On September 11, 1863, the rebels, 300 
 
 strong, under Captain McNeil, surprised the 
 
 Yankee camp of 260 men under Major Stevens, 
 
 on Cemetery Hill, at Moorefield, W. Va. At 
 
 three A. M., twenty-five men of Company E 
 
 were ordered out on the Lost River Road, up to 
 
 the South Fork of the Potomac, We met the rebels two miles south of Moorefield, 
 
 carrying off all the camp equipage and 146 prisoners. We took a position on the 
 
 west side of the river on a bluff 
 some thirty feet higher than the 
 road a ad the river, dismounted, 
 and commenced to shoot down 
 the horses in the ravine, killing 
 twenty of them, and eight or ten 
 men of the rebel force. At this 
 time I caught sight of my mess 
 mate, William P. Hagner, who 
 had been wounded early in the 
 day, taken prisoner, and placed in 
 in an ambulance. When we shot 
 the horses he threw up his hands 
 as a signal for help. To see him 
 in such a predicament was too 
 much for me. I at once crossed 
 the river. My aim was to rescue 
 him at all hazards, and I reached 
 the vehicle under a heavy fire. 
 In a hand-to-hand fight close by 
 by the ambulance, I was wounded 
 and captured and had to share 
 "MY AIM WAS TO tne ^ G of my comrade in Libby 
 
 RESCUE MY COMRADE." Prison." 
 
263 
 
 THIS BUGLER CHECKED 
 A ROUT 
 
 W. J. CARSON, 
 
 Musician, Co. E, 15th United States Infantry. 
 
 DUGLER W. J. CARSON S story is in- 
 teresting, because it furnishes a 
 fine example of personal bravery, and 
 in addition, shows to what extent a 
 bugler can become an important fac 
 tor in battle. 
 
 " On September 19, 1863, our bri 
 gade consisting of the First Battalion 
 of the Fifteenth and Sixteenth United 
 States Infantry, the three battalions 
 of the Eighteenth United States In 
 fantry, two battalions of the Nine 
 teenth Infantry and Battery H of the 
 
 Fifth United States Artillery, was ordered to advance to a position one mile east of 
 Kelley s Field, Chickamauga," Bugler Carson narrates. "Just as our battery was get 
 ting into position, a battery and two brigades of the enemy opened fire on us. The 
 short, but sharp, engagement resulted in he death of First Lieutenant H. M. Burnham, 
 and twelve men, the capture of thirteen men and the entire battery. In addition, 
 two lieutenants and sixteen men were wounded, while nearly every horse was 
 either killed outright, or fatally injured. 
 
 " Our infantry made a grand and noble effort to recapture the battery, but were 
 driven back by the greatly superior force of the enemy. As bugler, I did all in 
 my power to rally and lead the men to the charge, going to the flags and sounding 
 to the colors. The brave fellows rallied, and, with the assistance of the Seven 
 teenth and Ninth Ohio, the battery was retaken. 
 
 " On the following morning, our brigade was engaged with Breckenridge s Corps 
 in a most desperate and deadly conflict. Our battalion of 262 men were lying down 
 100 yards in the rear as reserves. I had picked up a gun, as was always my custom, 
 
 Cliiekainaiiga. During the summer of 1863, General Rosecrans having succeeded in forcing Bragg 
 into Georgia, took a position at Chattanooga, on the Tennessee. Bragg, strongly re-enforced by Johnston 
 arid Longstreet, attacked the Federal Army, September 19, at Chickamauga Creek. The first day s battle 
 was undecisive. On the 20th, the Confederates advanced, Longstreet on the left, Polk on the right, Ewell 
 and Johnston in the center. The Federal left wing was commanded by General Thomas, the center by 
 Crittenden, the right by McCook. 
 
 After the fight had lasted several hours, the Union battle-line was opened by General Wood, acting 
 under mistaken orders, and the Confederate general, forcing a column into the gap, cut the army in two 
 and drove the right wing from the field. General Thomas held the left until nightfall, then withdrew to 
 Chattanooga. 
 
 The Union losses in these two days amounted to 15,851 ; the Confederate loss, 17,804. 
 
264 
 
 and was giving the enemy every shot I could, 
 when I saw one of the officers of the Eigh 
 teenth skulking back from tree to tree. I 
 went through the rows of our men and sent 
 him back at the point of the bayonet. 
 
 "The conflict began, when Beattie s Bri 
 gade gave way and was driven back by an 
 overwhelming force of the enemy. The left 
 of our brigade became exposed and likewise 
 gave away. Finally the whole line was com 
 ing back in disorder. Try as they would, the 
 officers were powerless to check the rout. I 
 threw down my gun, rushed out some thirty 
 yards to the color-bearer of the Eighteenth 
 and said to him : Let us rally these men, 
 or the whole left is gone. The brave fellow 
 stopped and waived his flag. I sounded to the 
 colors. The men cheered. They rushed into 
 line. Still sounding the rally, I passed back and 
 forth in front of the forming line, and what a 
 few minutes before seemed like a hopeless 
 and disastrous rout, now turned out to be 
 a complete victory. The retreat had been 
 checked and the enemy driven back with 
 awful slaughter. So severe was their repulse, 
 that within a few minutes we were firing to 
 wards our rear into the enemy who were 
 pressing Beattie s troops back. I noticed a 
 color-bearer of the Second Ohio running with 
 his men out of the woods on the north side of 
 Kelley s Field. I headed him off and ex 
 horted him to stop, which he promptly did. 
 Then I once more sounded to the colors and 
 many a brave soldier halted, but as the en 
 emy appeared at the edge of the timber and 
 poured a deadly volley into us, all broke and 
 ran like good fellows. We sought shelter at 
 the east of the timber and fired into the en 
 emy from a temporary defense of logs and 
 rails. After two hours of hard fighting and 
 
 receiving re-enforcements our lines were once more formed and straightened out. 
 I took an inventory of myself and found ten bullet holes in my clothes; three 
 
 I SOUNDED TO THE COLORS " 
 
265 
 
 bullets had pierced my hat and one had struck and slightly wounded my left 
 arm. We held our position until the last cartridge was gone, and at about 6:30 
 o clock were taken prisoners." 
 
 It was not known till long afterwards that the Fourteenth Corps owed its de 
 liverance from annihilation to Bugler Carson. General Bragg had ordered a charge 
 on the Federal position at 3:30 o clock in the afternoon, and if it had been de 
 livered at that time the rebels could have broken the left of the defense and got in 
 the rear of General Thomas men who were holding Snodgrass Hill. The destruc 
 tion of the Fourteenth Corps would have been inevitable, for both McCook s and 
 Critlander s Corps had been swept from the field. But the rebels were deceived by 
 the bugle calls, and thought they signalled the arrival of heavy re-enforcements, so 
 they delayed the final blow till they had collected all the forces at hand. This took 
 nearly three hours, and by the time the final charge was delivered, and the little 
 defending force crushed by weight of numbers, the Northern Army was well on 
 its way to Chattanooga. 
 
 PLANTED THE COLORS AND RALLIED THE 
 
 REGIMENT 
 
 "\ X /"HEN General Bragg, the commander of the 
 * * Confederate Army at Chickamauga, was 
 making a desperate effort to gain possession of the 
 State or Lafayette Road, " Sergeant George S. 
 Myers relates, "the One hundred and first Ohio 
 Regiment, was fighting with its brigade on what 
 was then the right flank of the Union Army, which 
 rested on the Vineyard Farm. An irresistible force 
 of the enemy bore down upon this point, crushing 
 the right of the One hundred and first Ohio, killing 
 and capturing many men of the right companies, 
 and compelling the entire line to fall back in some 
 confusion. 
 
 "All of the color-guards were killed, wounded or 
 captured within a few minutes : the color-bearer 
 went down with a bullet through his head, and the 
 
 colors were thus almost in the hands of the enemy. I sprang back, secured the 
 precious flag, and, instead of continuing the retreat, ran boldly forward and planted 
 the colors on a knoll in the face of the Confederate line. The regiment responded 
 
 GEORGE S. MYERS, 
 
 Sergeant. Co. F, 101st Ohio Infantry. 
 Born at Lancaster, Ohio, Jan. 2C>. 1S43. 
 
266 
 
 to my initiative and the enemy was temporarily repulsed. I was wounded, how 
 ever, and, after turning over the colors to Colonel Messer, was taken from the field. 
 
 " To illustrate the fierceness of the battle on that part of the line, it may be 
 added that after the engagement, all that was left of Company A, of this regiment, 
 was Captain Bryant and three men. Company F, of which I was a member, had 
 only two men left to answer to the roll call." 
 
 Sergeant Myers gallant act was characterized by his superiors as one of the 
 bravest in their experience. 
 
 CAPTURED A CONFEDERATE MAJOR 
 
 WILLIAM E. RICKEY, 
 
 Si-wan t. Co. A, 10th Ohio Inf. 
 Horn in Athens Co., O., June 1,1841. 
 
 OERGEANT WILLIAM E. RICHEY, of Company A, Fifteenth 
 ^ Ohio Infantry, was the hero of a rare occurrence at 
 the battle of Chickamauga, to-wit : the capture of a rebel 
 major on the immediate front of the enemy s lines. The 
 story is told by Sergeant Richey as follows : 
 
 "At the beginning of the battle of Chickamauga, General 
 R. W. Johnson s Division was ordered to support General 
 Thomas, whose corps constituted the left of the Union line 
 of battle. The march of Johnson s men to the position of 
 Thomas was a rapid one; the men going almost on a run, 
 their steps being quickened by the sound of artillery and 
 small arms, as the battle had just begun on the left. 
 
 "Johnson s men had been inarching over mountains, 
 
 hills and valleys for more than a month, and now, weary, foot-sore and covered with 
 dust, they were hastening to the scene of conflict on the banks of the historic Chick 
 amauga. 
 
 "The division went into battle about noon, September 19th, at Kelly s farm, facing 
 toward the east, Willich s Brigade constituting the right of the division. 
 
 "Advancing through the woods, the division soon became engaged and furiously 
 assaulting the enemy s lines, drove the rebels about a mile and captured five pieces 
 of artillery which had been doing much damage. 
 
 " The division continued to drive the enemy until Willich s Brigade halted near a 
 small field. The division had advanced so far that there was no connection or sup 
 port on either the right or left. Firing had ceased and the enemy disappeared. It 
 was now late in the afternoon. However, a little before dark, the rebels, largely 
 re-enforced, made another furious attack on Johnson s Division, which met a deter 
 mined resistance. The air was rent with cannon balls, shells, canister, grape and 
 bullets and the twilight was lurid with the fire of battle. This terrible conflict had 
 
267 
 
 the effect of throwing 
 the regiments of Wil- 
 lich s Brigade into one 
 solid line, sending death 
 and disorder into the 
 Confederate ranks, 
 where firing soon 
 ceased. For a while 
 then there was a lull in 
 the battle. At this 
 time I was sent to the 
 front with a party of 
 comrades, to observe 
 the enemy and learn, if 
 possible, the exact situ 
 ation on our front. 
 
 " Subsequently I ad 
 vanced and was soon 
 between the lines of 
 battle of the two armies. 
 Presently I saw an offi 
 cer on horseback ap 
 proaching me from the 
 right, only a short dis 
 tance from me. We 
 
 were no sooner side by side, than I discovered that we were enemies. As quickly as 
 I could, I said to the man on horseback, in a loud, bold tone : You are my prisoner; 
 surrender, or I will blow out your brains. 
 
 " Instantly the officer reached for his pistol, but, pointing my weapon at him, I 
 repeated my demand with increased determination and ordered him to dismount. 
 He complied and became my prisoner. 
 
 "He was a rebel major, who had been endeavoring to arrange the Confederate 
 lines of battle. While doing so, he had ridden outside of his lines and come in con 
 tact with me, supposing his men to be on the ground which his captor occupied." 
 
 Sergeant Richey brought his prisoner to his lines, where he was highly com 
 mended for his bold and brave act. 
 
 "YOU ARE MY PRISONER." 
 
INDISCRETION BROUGHT ARRESTBRAVERY 
 SECURED RELEASE 
 
 A. H. REED 
 
 1st Sergeant, Co. K. 2nd Minnesota 
 
 Vol. Infantry. 
 Born in Hartford, Oxford Co., Me., 
 
 March 13, 1835. 
 
 "OERGEANT REED, you are under arrest !" 
 
 ^ With these words a sergeant of the guard ap 
 proached First Sergeant A. H. Reed, who, with a com 
 rade, was at supper under a "pup-tent" fly. Sergeant 
 Reed at first considered the remark a joke, but the other 
 soon convinced him that he was in earnest by placing 
 him under arrest. It appeared, that, while encamped at 
 Winchester, Tenn., July, 1868, Sergeant Reed had pub 
 licly and indiscreetly criticised the food of the Union 
 soldiers. This constituted a breach of discipline and 
 w T as punished accordingly. Sergeant Reed was arrested. 
 He asked for a speedy trial. Instead, he was deprived 
 of arms and accoutrements, and was marched off with 
 his regiment over the Cumberland Mountains across 
 the Tennessee River to the plains of Chickamauga, where 
 Bragg s Confederate forces were concentrating. An all- 
 night march brought them close to the enemy early Saturday morning, September 19. 
 The regiment unslung knapsacks, put them in a pile and left them under guard with 
 the prisoners, of whom Sergeant Reed was one, while the regiment itself hurried 
 off to meet the enemy. 
 
 "Soon the musketry began to rattle and cannons to boom," Sergeant Reed in 
 telling of his interesting experience narrates, "I said to the guard and another 
 soldier under arrest, that I felt as though we ought to be at the front helping the 
 boys. If the officers are foolish enough to place me under arrest, I propose to stay 
 where I belong in the rear, the other replied. I observed, that, in my opinion, the 
 Government had fed, drilled and paid us for just such an occasion as this, and 
 should not be blamed for the actions of a few foolish officers. At any rate, I in 
 tended to take part in the fray. At first I attempted to persuade the guard, an old 
 Prussian soldier, to give me his gun, but he said : Oh no, I keep my own gun. 
 And the old fellow remained firm in his refusal. 
 
 " I then started out alone, following the ambulance and sound of guns, until I 
 found my regiment, lying down and under fire. I did not have to wait long before 
 
 Bristol Station. Early in October, General Meade, whose force was about 68,090, formed a plan of 
 attack against Lee, who, with an inferior force, was also preparing for action. On the 14th, Lee advanced 
 from Warrenton, Va., in two columns. Hill, on the left, was ordered to strike the railroad at Bristol 
 Station. When he reached this point, all of Meade s army had passed it, with the exception of Warren s 
 Corps, with which he at once engaged in action. Hill was driven back, with a Joss of 4~> J men, taken 
 prisoners, and five guns. 
 
269 
 
 a man was wounded some distance to my right. I ran up to him, got his gun, and 
 returned to my company. Soon our lieutenant was wounded, which left but one 
 commissioned officer with the company It now became my duty to act in his place, 
 which I did, but nevertheless I used the musket throughout the two days fight." 
 
 In recognition of this proof of true devotion to duty General Thomas issued 
 a special order releasing him from arrest and restoring him to duty. 
 
 AT the storming of Missionary Ridge, November 25, 1863, Sergeant Heed s regi 
 ment was placed in the front line covering Van Dever s Brigade, of Baird s Division, 
 Fourteenth Army Corps. In the absence of a commissioned officer, he was placed in 
 command of his company, which was the center and color company of the regiment. 
 
 "We were to move forward," Sergeant Reed goes on to tell, "on the first line of 
 the enemy s works at the foot of the ridge, at the signal of the firing of three can 
 nons. This was done and the line of works were carried without much trouble. 
 
 "Where the remnant of my company went over the works, two cannons were 
 captured. I ordered the pieces turned on the fleeing enemy, but no ammunition 
 could be found. I dashed off to the left in an oblique course and soon came upon two 
 rebels who had just hitched four iron gray horses to a caisson. I demanded their 
 surrender, but was refused, and aiming at a man on one of the horses, fired. As I 
 was reloading, a Minie ball shattered my arm from elbow to shoulder. I fell and 
 lay within a few rods of where the horses and caisson stood, until firing ceased, and 
 the enemy fled, when I got a wounded soldier to help me put a tourniquet on my 
 arm to stop the flow of blood, and then walked to the foot of the ridge, from 
 where I was taken to a hospital in Chattanooga, Tenn. 
 
 AMMUNITION FROM THE DEAD 
 
 WILLIAM G. WHITNEY, 
 
 Lieutenant, Co. B, llth Mich. Inf. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Captain. 
 
 Born in Allen, Hillsdale Co., Mich.. 
 
 Dec. 13, 1840. 
 
 T IEUTENANT WILLIAM G. WHITNEY, of Company B, Elev- 
 * enth Michigan Infantry, tells of a unique way of re 
 plenishing the empty cartridge pouches of the men of 
 his company as follows : 
 
 "Noon of the 20th of September, 1863, found our 
 brigade Stanley s Negley s Division, Thomas Corps, 
 on Snodgrass Hill, a part of Missionary Ridge. We were 
 about 120 yards east of the Snodgrass House. The bri 
 gade consisted of the Nineteenth Illinois, Eighteenth Ohio 
 and Eleventh Michigan, about 700 men, placed in line of 
 battle as follows: Nineteenth Illinois on the right, 
 Eleventh Michigan on the left, and the Eighteenth Ohio 
 in reserve. We were expected to repel the assault 
 of Preston s and Kershaw s Divisions of Confederate 
 
270 
 
 infantry. Their losses alone during the afternoon were twenty per centum more than 
 the whole number of our brigade. During a lull in the storm of battle we threw 
 up a temporary breastwork of stone, rails and logs. About 5 P. M., after repulsing 
 five successive charges of the enemy, we found ourselves without ammunition. The 
 enemy were about 100 yards in our front, preparing for another charge, and their 
 sharpshooters were firing at every man who showed his head above our light works. 
 Their dead and wounded lay in great numbers, right up to our works. They were 
 
 I HURRIEDLY PASSED ALONG THE FRONT, CUTTING OFF 
 
 armed with Enfield rifles of the same calibre as our Springfield rifles. I don t know 
 what prompted me, but I took my knife from my pocket, stepped over the works, 
 and, while my company cheered and the rebels made a target of me, I hurriedly 
 passed along the front, cutting off the cartridge boxes of the dead and wounded, and 
 threw them over to my company. Thus I secured a few rounds for each of my men. 
 The enemy made one more charge and was again repulsed. Darkness settled down 
 on us, and ended the terrible battle of Chickamauga." 
 
273 
 
 . . 
 
 PICK OFF THE ARTILLERISTS!" 
 
 "PHE battle of Wauhatchie, Term., on October 
 
 MOSES VEALE, 
 
 Captain, Co. F. loath Pennsylvania Vol. Inf. 
 Highest rank attained : Major. 
 
 28, 1863, was fought by General J. W. 
 Geary, commanding the Second Division of the 
 Twelfth Army Corps, against General Longstreet s 
 Division of General Lee s Army Corps. 
 
 General Geary had at his disposal, about 1,500 
 men, all told. 
 
 The presence of the rebels was well known to 
 General Geary, but his position was difficult to 
 ascertain. The first information on this score 
 was furnished by a woman who told one of the 
 officers that the rebels were gathered at the foot 
 of Lookout Mountain. General Geary ordered 
 pickets to be placed and enjoined the utmost 
 vigilance upon the regimental commanders. 
 
 Shortly after midnight the Union outposts 
 gave the alarm and the entire command was put 
 
 under arms at once. A fitful moon cast but a dim light, sufficiently only to see a 
 body of men at a distance of no more than 100 yards, and during the subsequent 
 fierce fight the whereabouts of the combatants could be revealed only by the flashes 
 of the firearms. The Federal position was not a very favorable one. No pro 
 tection was offered, except a fence, which, was improved under fire, into a rude 
 breastwork. For three hours the contest raged along the whole line. 
 
 "Pick off the artillerist!" the rebels exclaimed. Captain C. A. Atwell, who 
 commanded one section of artillery, fell, mortally wounded ; Lieutenant E. R. 
 Geary, commander of the other section, son of the general, was killed. The men 
 and horses fell so rapidly that only two guns could be worked after the attack, 
 Still the men refused to yield to the rebel onslaught. General Geary s men stub 
 bornly maintained their ground and held the enemy at bay by a death dealing fire. 
 
 Among the most gallant of the leaders was Captain Moses Veale of Company F, 
 One hundred and ninth Pennsylvania Infantry, who was in the thickest of the fight. 
 He and his men fought near one gun of the battery at the most critical period of 
 the battle. General Geary speaks of his coolness, zeal, judgment and courage in the 
 most flattering expressions. The Captain was struck four times by the enemy s 
 bullets, one ball passing through his right shoulder. His horse, too, was shot from 
 under him, but, nevertheless the brave soldier refused to give up or leave his post. 
 He remained at the head of his company, directing its telling fire, until the enemy 
 realizing their numerical strength availed them nothing as against such bravery 
 and valor, retired and left the victors of that bloody night. 
 
274 
 
 HE SAVED HIS GUNS 
 
 WILLIAM MARLAND, 
 
 Lieutenant, 2nd Independent Bat 
 tery. Mass. L. A. 
 Highest rank attained : Brevet- 
 Major. 
 
 Born at Andover. Mass., 
 March 11,1839. 
 
 A N INSTANCE where light artillery charged a body of 
 * cavalry and mounted infantry, and scored a com 
 plete success, occurred at Grand Coteau, La., 1863. The 
 Second Independent Battery, Massachusetts Light Artil 
 lery, accomplished this extraordinary feat. How it was 
 done is told by Lieutenant William Marland. 
 
 " In obedience to orders," he narrates, " to report to 
 General Burbridge with two pieces of artillery, I har 
 nessed up at 4 A. M. on November 3, 1863 ; remained so 
 for fully seven hours, when I was ordered to unharness ; 
 the pickets firing all the while. About two hours later, 
 at 12:45 P. M. the firing became general. Hearing the 
 cavalry buglers blow boots and saddles I began to harness up on my own responsi 
 bility, but was attacked in camp before I could get harnessed. The enemy being 
 within 400 yards of me, I opened on them with canister and percussion shell, which 
 checked their advance and drove them to the right. I limbered to the front and ad 
 vanced to the fork of the road, which is about 100 yards, went into battery and fired 
 a few shots until all my support had left me. Finding it too warm, I limbered to the 
 rear and moved about 300 yards. Discovering the enemy in my rear and on my 
 right, I fired to the right about fifty shots and was charged upon on three sides. 
 Thus we were completely surrounded. To add to the seriousness of the situation, 
 I discovered that my support had left me and been captured. 
 
 "Here we were a mere handful, surrounded by an overwhelming force of 
 mounted troops! I sent my orderly to see if the enemy held the bridge. He came 
 back and reported that they did. I moved to the edge of the timber and found the 
 enemy drawn up in line. Only one course was now open to us to cut our way 
 through their lines. My mind was quickly made up. I gave the order: Limber to 
 the rear ; caissons to the left of pieces ; cannoners in line with lead drivers ; draw 
 revolvers and charge ! We made straight for the rebels. Strange to say, they broke 
 right and left. We dashed through the gap thus made and cut our way with only 
 two of our men taken prisoners. The enemy drove us two miles till we reached the 
 commands of Generals Cameron and McGinnis, who were hastening to our support." 
 
 (wraiul Cotoau, La. On the morning of November 3, 1863, the Confederates attacked the Third Divi 
 sion, Thirteenth Army Corps, under command of General Burbridge, in overwhelming force. The impetus 
 of the rebel attack at first, drove the Union men back in some confusion. The timely arrival of re-enforce 
 ments enabled General Hut-bridge not only to check the further advance of the enemy, but to drive them 
 off the. ground already gained. The Union loss though slight, was somewhat greater than that of the enemy. 
 
275- 
 
 No more fitting tribute to the gallantry, vim and determination of Lieutenant 
 Marland can be paid than is expressed by General C. C. Washburn, who, in his 
 official report, reports the incident thus: "The bringing off of the section of Nim s 
 battery, commanded by Lieutenant Marland, after the regiment sent to its support 
 had surrendered, extorted the admiration of every beholder." 
 
 "WE DASHED THROUGH THEIR LINES." 
 
 A MURDEROUS FIGHT IN THE DARK 
 
 /CAPTAIN WALTER G. MORRILL of the Twentieth Maine Infantry, won his Medal of 
 ^-- > Honor at the battle of Rappahannock Station, November 7, 1863. 
 
 The Confederate position at that point was skillfully chosen. It w r as a fortified 
 semi-circle on the north bank of the Rappahannock, just above the point where the 
 old Orange and Alexander Railroad crosses the river. The Confederate right of these 
 entrenchments was at the bank of the river upon a sharp bluff, within a few yards 
 of the railroad itself ; thence following the crest of hills along the river these en 
 trenchments swept off up-river until they again reached the bank of the water 
 course a third of a mile further up. In front of the position, and on all sides, the 
 ground was open for three-quarters of a mile, with absolutely nothing to cover the 
 approach of troops. The main body of General Lee s army was immediately south 
 
276 
 
 WALTER G. 
 
 MORRILL, 
 
 Captain, 20th Maine Infantry. 
 Highest rank attained: Lieut. - 
 
 Colonel. 
 
 Born at Williamsburg, Me , 
 Nov. 13, 1840. 
 
 of the Kappahannock ; the Third, Fifth 
 and Sixth Corps of Meade s army ap 
 proached the position from the north and 
 east. Back of . the Confederate entrench 
 ments the river was too deep to ford, but 
 the position was reached from the south 
 bank by a pontoon bridge, where Confed 
 erate artillery was trained to sweep the 
 approaches to the works, which were held 
 by two brigades of General Jubal A. Ear- 
 ly s Division. 
 
 The Union forces, across the open 
 ground, were compelled to approach this 
 position cautiously, and with skirmishers 
 
 only. Over the vast plain down the river and below the railway, came the skirmish 
 line of the Fifth Corps, those nearest the works of the enemy being men from the 
 Twentieth Maine, commanded by Captain Morrill. They approached the right flank 
 of the Confederate position. Directly in front of the works were skirmishers from 
 the Sixth Corps, consisting of five companies of the Sixth Maine who joined their 
 line at the railway. Slowly the Confederate skirmishers were pressed back until they 
 were driven into the works, over a bare and bleak field. A road about 150 yards 
 from the entrenchments was reached by the Sixth Maine, and under the cover of a 
 shallow ditch a long halt was made. Captain Morrill advanced his men and kept 
 in touch with the other troops at the railwa} T . As darkness approached, the 
 skirmish line of the Sixth Maine was doubled with the other five companies, and 
 General D. A. Russell, commanding, sent word along the line thus formed that they 
 were to assault and carry the enemy s works in front. The undertaking was 
 perilous to the last degree, and impossible except in a wild transport of sublime 
 heroism. There were no orders for Captain Morrill s men to join in this assault and 
 share its perils and glory. Though it promised the destruction of all who engaged 
 in it, Captain Morrill could not see his comrades lead such a forlorn hope and not 
 go with them. He explained the situation to his men and called for volunteers 
 to support the "Old Sixth." About fifty responded and he held them in readiness 
 for the advance when it came. In the flank of the enemy s works towards him, 
 just across the railway and next to the river, was an open passage for a road. Cap 
 tain Morrill with a quick eye and keen judgment, selected this weak point for attack. 
 When the dusk had deepened so that the real numbers of the assaulting line 
 could not be seen by the Confederates, General Russell set his little force in motion, 
 and with his staff, joined in the terrible charge. The Sixth Maine s double line of 
 skirmishers did not number three hundred, all told. But with a yell and a "tiger" 
 which rent the skies and told of a force fourfold as large, they rushed to the fray. 
 In an instant the works in their front were a sheet of solid flame ; the air was hot 
 
277 
 
 with the hiss of Minie balls ; grape and canister tore and decimated their lines ; 
 wilder and fiercer their yells rung upon the night as they rushed upon the foe. 
 They reached the works however, and at points drove out brave men far more num 
 erous than themselves ; at other points they seemed swallow r ed up in the masses of 
 their unfaltering adversaries. Gathering themselves together they kept up the fight 
 in groups, but it seemed as if no human courage and valor could conquer the 
 works they had reached. They began to sweep along the works at last and gained 
 
 THEY RUSHED UPON THE FOE. 
 
 momen 
 tum as they 
 went. Captain 
 Morrill and his 
 little band insured 
 success. Dashing up 
 on the enemy s flank 
 through the open roadway, 
 no storm of lead and iron 
 
 could turn them back. The enemy feared that a great force was hammering his 
 flank and rear, and gave way, completing the confusion and defeat. Sweeping 
 along the works he so gallantly helped to empty, Captain Morrill soon joined the 
 "Old Sixth," and the entrenchments beyond the point where the pontoon bridge 
 was laid were wrested from the enemy. This cut off their own retreat and brought 
 new peril to the now greatly reduced Union force which had won unparalled 
 victory. Gathering themselves together in the upper portion of their works the 
 
278 
 
 Confederates by counter attack sought to open a way to the bridge. Minutes were 
 as ages to the little band which repulsed these attacks and still held their ground. 
 The Fifth Wisconsin came up to the support of the Sixth Maine, and then, then 
 victory was plucked from the "jaws of death and the mouth of hell." 
 
 Other forces then advanced and received the surrender of the penned up enemy 
 with little further fighting. There were captured eight battle flags, four pieces of 
 artillery and 1,600 men. 
 
 "FORM ON ME" 
 
 FREDERICK W. SWIFT, 
 
 Lieut-Col., 17th Mich. Infantry. 
 Highest rank attained: Bvt. Brig-Gen. 
 
 r.s.v. 
 
 Mansfield Center, Conn., Jan. 30, 1831. 
 
 T lEUTENANT-CoLONEL F. W. Swift, of the Seven- 
 * teenth Michigan Infantry, won his medal by 
 seizing the colors after three color-bearers had been 
 shot down, and rallying the regiment, which had 
 become demoralized and was in imminent danger 
 of capture. The incident occurred on November 16, 
 1863. General Burnside, who was in command of the 
 Union forces in Eastern Tennessee, was being forced 
 back by General Longstreet, who had from twelve to 
 fifteen thousand men, more than double Burnside s 
 force. Burnside had moved his little army to Huff s 
 Ferry below London, with the intention of prevent 
 ing Longstreet from crossing the river. The Union 
 Army was ordered to retire towards Knoxville, which it 
 did, closely followed by Longstreet. Before daybreak on the 16th, orders were given 
 to destroy all the army supplies at Lenoir, and more than one hundred wagons and 
 their contents were burned, the animals being used to drag the guns as the roads 
 were very heavy. After the destruction of the stores and ammunition, the Seven 
 teenth Michigan was detached to act as rearguard of the brigade, and Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Comstock was ordered to keep a strong line of skirmishers on the rear and 
 flanks of the regiment. In this order, the Union Army moved back to Turkey Creek, 
 a small stream six or eight miles east of Lenoir Station. The rest of the story is 
 best told by Major Swift. He says : 
 
 " Here the advance guard of the enemy came up and opened tire on our line of 
 skirmishers, advancing rapidly with the intention of cutting us off from the rest of 
 the command. Our men began to fall back, and Colonel Comstock, who had been 
 directed to hold the line of the creek as long as practicable to enable the brigade to 
 choose ground for the defense, hung on to his position until the enemy began cross 
 ing the creek above and below and enfiladed us. I urged the colonel to move the 
 
regiment across the creek and up the slope on the east side, but he understood his 
 orders to mean that he must hold the creek at all hazards. The men became 
 demoralized, and were already crossing the creek without orders. 
 
 " Fearing a stampede, I assumed the responsibility of moving the regiment across 
 the creek and up to the top of the hill on the other side. One of the color-guard was 
 killed, another had his eye shot out, and a third was seriously wounded. Seeing the 
 colors fall, I snatched them up and called to the men: We have fallen back just 
 far enough; we will form here. 
 
 " Some one asked : Who shall we form on ? and I replied : Form on me. 
 
 " The men obeyed and formed rapidly in order, 
 and were able with a well directed tire to check 
 the advance of the enemy, who had crossed the 
 ravine, and were now advancing at the charge. A 
 counter charge was made by our regiment, and 
 the enemy fled precipitately, after which we re 
 sumed our retreat slowly and in good order. 
 
 "Sergeant Morgan Bowling, who was taken 
 prisoner in the old distillery, where we had left 
 a party of sharpshooters to check the enemy s 
 advance, told us afterwards that our charge 
 had produced a wonderful result. He said 
 that the enemy had run 
 back in a panic, and did 
 not stop till they had 
 recrossed the creek. 
 
 "At the time our 
 charge was delivered, 
 General Longstreet had 
 alighted on the further 
 bank of the creek to 
 question the prisoners 
 and when he saw his 
 men running in con 
 fusion, he galloped off 
 and ordered up the re 
 serves. A moment after 
 he had ridden away, a 
 shot from our cannon 
 struck the exact spot 
 where he had been 
 standing." "WE WILL FORM HERE. 
 
280 
 
 RISKED THE DEATH OF A SPY 
 
 CORNELIUS M. HADLEY, 
 
 Sergeant. 9th Michigan Cavalry. 
 Born at Sandy Creek. Oswego Co., N. Y., April 27, 1838. 
 
 SERGEANT CORNELIUS M. HADLEY, of the Ninth 
 Michigan Cavalry, earned his Medal of 
 Honor by a bold and venturesome trip into the 
 enemy s country in the disguise of a Confed 
 erate to deliver dispatches entrusted to him. 
 Had he been captured in this disguise, his fate 
 would have been that of a spy hanged at the 
 gallows. 
 
 Sergeant Hadley, in recalling the incidents 
 of his journey, says : 
 
 "General Wilcox was commanding the 
 forces in and around Cumberland Gap, in 
 November, 1863, when he received a dispatch 
 from General Grant at Chattanooga, to be forwarded to General Burnside, who was 
 besieged at Knoxville, Tenn., with all his communications cut. The dispatch read : 
 
 I shall attack Bragg on the 21st, and if successful, will start immediately to the relief of Knox 
 ville, if you can hold out. GRANT. 
 
 "General Wilcox instructed Brigadier-General Gerrard to choose two sergeants of 
 the Ninth Michigan Cavalry, and two from the Seventh Ohio, to carry the dispatch 
 into Knoxville. Sergeant Rowe and I were sent for. When we arrived at head 
 quarters, we found the two Ohio sergeants. The general read the dispatch and 
 asked us if we were were willing to run the risk of carrying it into Knoxville. We 
 consented, and were sent on our mission without further instructions. A disguise 
 and meeting at the Clinch River was agreed on. My bunkmate, brought, me a Con 
 federate uniform that we had captured a few days before, and as I started off in 
 the rain and dark, he said : I shall never see you again. What shall I tell your 
 relatives ? I replied : Tell them that I never showed the white feather. 
 
 " We met at Clinch River, a mile out of camp, and I was disappointed to see that 
 the Ohio boys were wearing full uniform. They could not get a disguise, and neither 
 could Rowe. We crossed the mountains and Holston River together and then 
 separated, the Ohioans taking one road and Rowe and I another. 
 
 "Hard riding had used up my horse at 2 P. M., and I had to borrow another 
 from a stable near by, the owner protesting. At four o clock we passed New Market, 
 and were now within sound of our artillery, but with two rivers and one range 
 of mountains to cross, and twenty thousand rebels to pass. We succeeded in cross 
 ing Bull Mountain and French Broad River, then going south of the city, we reached 
 our lines near Knoxville. Here Sergeant Rowe was taken sick, and T rode alone 
 into the city, reaching General Burnside s headquarters at 9 P. M., after having been 
 continual! v in the saddle for nineteen hours. 
 
281 
 
 " I expected to remain in Knoxville until the siege was raised, and was surprised 
 when General Burnside asked me to undertake to return with dispatches at four 
 o clock in the morning. Taking me into a private room, he produced four dispatches 
 written on tissue paper, one to General Wilcox, one to General Grant, one to 
 the Secretary of War, and one to Mrs. Burnside, in Rhode Island, and placing them 
 in my revolver, he said : Sergeant Hadley, if captured, be sure to fire off your revol 
 ver before surrendering. 
 
 "After passing the last picket, I found Sergeant Rowe better and determined to 
 return with me. 1 cannot tell how long we manoeuvred before we got through the 
 enemy s lines, but all at once, about two o clock in the morning, as we were descend 
 ing Clinch Mountain, we discovered the camp fires of some rebels, and had gone out 
 but a few steps when we were ordered to Halt. We turned to retreat, but a volley 
 was fired at us. Our horses being jaded, the rebels gained on us, so we determined 
 to dismount, and foot the rough mountain. 
 
 "Rowe thought he could evade the rebels by lying down, but they stumbled over 
 him, and he was captured and sent to Andersonville. As for me, I could take no 
 chances, for I was wearing a Confederate uniform and I knew I would be executed 
 as a spy if I was caught. I kept on around the side of the mountain till I was 
 exhausted and could not go a step farther. I found a big hollow log that had been 
 split open, and I lay down in that with my revolver under my head. 
 
 " When I awoke it was daylight and I could hear the rebel pickets talking close 
 by me; they had captured our horses and were looking for me. I was relieved when 
 I heard their officers calling them in. Watching my chance I crept down the 
 mountain, passed between their pickets, and crossed the road about eighty rods from 
 their main camp. 
 
 "I came to a house which fortunately was occupied by a Union woman. She 
 told me that her husband was hiding in the mountain, and that the rebels had 
 searched her house for him three times that morning. She pointed out a ravine, by 
 following which I could get across the valley without being seen, and strike the 
 timber. I followed her directions and came to a road at the other end of the timber. 
 While I was considering which direction I should take, a rebel horseman came rid 
 ing slowly along. I dropped on one knee and drew my revolver on him, but he 
 passed within ten feet of me without seeing me. 
 
 "I got to the Clinch River at last and found it too high to swim across. There 
 was no ferry and no one was willing to row me across, as one bank was lined with 
 rebels and the other with Northern troops. Finally I got a man to attempt it, and 
 as we got to the other shore, a squad of Union soldiers came down to meet us. I 
 told them who I was, and they gave me a horse. I rode to General Wilcox s head 
 quarters, where I delivered my dispatches. 
 
 " I was completely exhausted, for I had ridden and walked over 100 miles and 
 had tired out two horses, but was thankful to have escaped with my life, and accom 
 plished the purpose of my journey." 
 
282 
 
 THOUGH SICK, BRAVELY LED HIS MEN 
 
 TT was for an act of superlative bravery, performed 
 1 altogether outside of the line of his duty, that the 
 Medal of Honor was conferred on Lieutenant John J. 
 Toffey, of Company G, Thirty-third New Jersey Volun 
 teers. At a time when he ought to have been in the 
 hospital, he rushed into almost certain death to lead a 
 storming party, the officers of which had all been shot 
 down. He thus describes his feat : 
 
 "For several days prior to the battle of Chattanooga 
 I had been excused from duty on account of illness, and 
 the night before the battle the surgeon of the regiment 
 ordered me into hospital, telling me that I was not able 
 to take part in the engagement that we were expecting. 
 I was determined not to be deprived of my share of the 
 excitement, so I tore up the permit he had given me and 
 
 marched with the regiment. We were ordered to charge a very strong position on 
 the extreme right of the rebel line. It was well fortified and surrounded by dense 
 woods, while in front there was an open field over which we had to charge. 
 
 " Companies I and A, as they emerged into the open, were met with a murderous 
 fire from the entrenched enemy and the swarms of sharpshooters in the woods and 
 buildings that commanded the front of the position. They were directing their 
 attention to the officers, and at the first fire, Captain Waldron, of Company I, was 
 shot down, with a bullet through his head, and Captain Boggs, of Company A, was 
 mortally wounded. 
 
 "Seeing their officers fall, the men became demoralized. The line wavered and 
 began to fall back in disorder. As these two companies held the key to our position 
 
 JOHN J. TOFFEY, 
 
 1st Lieutenant, Co. G, Sad N. J. Inf. 
 Born at Quaker Hill, N.Y., June 1,1844. 
 
 Chattanooga. After the battle of Chickamauga, Rosecrans, in a state of siege at Chattanooga, Tenn., 
 Was re-enforced by Hooker with two corps, General Sherman witli a division, and General Grant, who, at 
 this time in command of the western armies, took the direction of affairs at Chattanooga. 
 
 The left wing of the Confederates rested on Lookout Mountain, the right on Missionary Ridge. 
 
 On the 23d of November, Hooker s Corps gained a position at the mouth of Lookout Creek, facing the 
 mountain, and, on the 24th, the assault was made between eight and nine o clock in the morning. In two 
 hours, the rebel riflepits were carried. The charge was continued up the mountain in the face of a terrific 
 fire, and, at two o clock, Hooker held the position on the summit, the Confederates retreating to Mission 
 ary Ridge. 
 
 The following morning Hooker renewed the battle at the southwestern end of the Ridge, General 
 Sherman gained a lodgement on the northeastern declivity, while General Thomas waited at Orchard 
 Knob. At two o clock, General Grant gave the order for a general assault. The Union soldiers charged to 
 the summit of Missionary Ridge, and the rebels were completely routed. 
 
 Bragg withdrew his force into Georgia, having sustained a loss of nearly 10,000. The Union killed, 
 wounded and missing were 5,616. 
 
283- 
 
 and were intended to lead the attack, something had to be done. Colonel George 
 W. Mindil ordered me to hasten to the right and take command of that part of the 
 line, all the officers being killed or wounded. 
 
 "I ran across the open field and reached the advance line in time to prevent it 
 from breaking. I reformed the line and we again charged the almost impregnable 
 position in the face of an accurate and deadly tire. Just as we were carrying the 
 position I received a severe wound, which disabled me permanently, and my military 
 career was brought to a close." 
 
 Colonel Mindil stated in his report to the Secretary of War, that "the superla 
 tively brave conduct of First Lieutenant John J. Toffey, saved the position, and 
 enabled us on the following morning to press forward the entire line, and to unite 
 the lines of the Army of the Cumberland, with those of General Sherman s Army at 
 the mouth of the Chickamauga." 
 
 RISKED HIS LIFE FOR HIS COMRADES 
 
 OERGEANT JOHN KIGGINS, Company D, 
 ^ One hundred and forty-ninth New 
 York Volunteers, won his Medal of 
 Honor by risking his life to save his 
 comrades, who were being fired upon 
 by their own batteries, at the battle of 
 Lookout Mountain, Tenn., November 
 24, 1863. Captain George K. Collins 
 thus describes the incident : 
 
 "Our regiment had charged the 
 enemy on the heights above the Craven 
 House, when a Union battery in the 
 valley below, opened a damaging fire 
 upon us, mistaking us for the enemy. 
 Sergeant Kiggins. color-bearer of the 
 regiment, advanced to a point between 
 the two lines, got up on a stump and 
 waved his flag to attract the attention 
 of the artillerymen, thus averting what 
 threatened to be a serious disaster. In 
 accomplishing this brave deed, he drew 
 the enemy s fire upon himself, and nine 
 
 bullet holes in his clothing, besides one through his cap, which left its mark upon 
 his scalp, and one through his thigh, attested the accuracy of the enemy s fire." 
 
 
 
 JOHN KIGGINS, 
 Sergeant, Co. I), 14lth X. Y. Inf. 
 
284 
 
 PHILLIP GOETTEL was a corporal of the One hundred and forty-ninth New York 
 Infantry. At the battle of Lookout Mountain, November 24, 1863, his regiment 
 
 made a charge over fields and fences, through woods and 
 against a severe fire of the enemy. The Confederates 
 fidence and great in strength. They assailed 
 Union line with almost irresistible fierce- 
 was met with an unwavering front. A 
 was poured into the ranks, and the enemy 
 
 In the face of a steady outpouring 
 ter, Corporal Goettel rushed 
 ceeded in capturing a Confeder- 
 quite a daring feat, but still 
 to keep the trophy 
 
 swamps and 
 were full of con- 
 the center of the 
 ness, but the onset 
 steady, telling fire 
 soon gave ground, 
 of grape an canis- 
 forward and suc- 
 ate flag. This was 
 more difficult it was 
 and carry it back 
 to his own lines. 
 The rebels were not 
 willing to lose their 
 colors without making 
 at least a desperate attempt 
 to save them, and thus Cor 
 poral Goettel became a verit 
 able human target as he 
 rushed back to his ranks. 
 However, he escaped injury and 
 was at once made the recipient of 
 many congratulations from his 
 comrades and warm praises 
 from his superiors. A week 
 lapsed before Corporal 
 Goettel turned the cap 
 tured flag over to his 
 quartermaster. In the heat 
 of engagements and fights he 
 had forgotten his own brave act 
 and the importance of his prize. 
 
 T the same battle another Confederate 
 
 SIGNALLING TO CEASE FIRING. i v fl a g was captured by Private Peter 
 
 Kappesser, of Company I), of the same 
 
 regiment. A Confederate camp in a hollow was surprised at breakfast. A brief 
 but extremely sharp struggle ensued. The rebel color-sergeant, with his color-guard, 
 
285 
 
 was attempting to retreat under cover of some rocks. Private Kappesser boldly 
 rushed upon them and demanded their surrender. The rebel sergeant and his guard 
 were panic stricken and handed him the colors. Private Kappesser quickly tore the 
 flag off the staff and thrust the bunting under his coat. He then hastened to the 
 rescue of a comrade, who was wounded and writhing in pain, and taking him upon 
 his back, ear-riiitl comrade and flag to his own ranks. During the intensely cold 
 night the daring soldier wore the Confederate flag as a scarf around his neck, and 
 used it for this purpose until the battle of Missionary Ridge was over, when he gave 
 it to the commanding officer of his regiment. 
 
 L 1 
 
 SIMEON T. JOSSELYN, 
 
 lieutenant. Thirteenth Illinois Infantry. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Captain. 
 
 Born at Buffalo, N. Y., Jan. 14. 1842. 
 
 IEUTENANT SIMEON T. JOSSELYN performed the 
 extraordinary feat of capturing, single- 
 handed, a rebel battle flag at Missionary Ridge, 
 November 25, 18(53, and the whole color-guard 
 with it. He gives this account of the incident : 
 " We had formed line of battle at the foot of 
 Missionary Ridge, and after waiting a few min 
 utes we received the order to advance at double 
 quick. We crossed an open field and a creek 
 before we came in full view of the rebel lines, 
 near the top of the ridge. With never a chance 
 to regain our breath, we were pushed on under a 
 
 heavy fire. The order came to my company and another, to advance as skirmishers. 
 "We had approached within a short distance of the enemy s line when they 
 broke. I caught sight of the rebel colors with the guard, who kept well together, 
 and I determined to have them at any cost. My company was back of me and I 
 knew that, although they were somewhat scattered, the men would follow me. I 
 pushed on and captured a rebel, from whom I took a Springfield musket and car 
 tridges, before ordering him to the rear as a prisoner. 
 
 "With the captured musket, I opened fire on the color-guard, and brought down 
 the color-bearer. When the flag came down, the men disappeared in the tall grass 
 and weeds. I reloaded quickly, and rushed to the spot, where I found nine men. I 
 was about to fire upon them again, when they waved their hats and shouted : " We 
 surrender 
 
 "I seized the flag, which was that of the Eighteenth Alabama Infantry, and they 
 handed me the belt and socket. Some of my men coming up at this moment, I 
 
286 
 
 placed them as a guard over the prisoners. I then pushed forward in the direction 
 of General Bragg s headquarters near the summit of the ridge, carrying the flag 
 with me. The remnant of the rebel army was in full retreat, and our day s work 
 was done. The belt and socket 1 still have in my possession as a relic." 
 
 ^M^^^^lttMl^KI^^^^AttfciJialudMMM " 
 
 vWRMV|VV|k / 
 
 "THEY WAVED THEIR HATS AND SHOUTED: WE SURRENDER. " 
 
 VICTORY CROWNED HIS GALLANTRY 
 
 THE effects of the battle of Chattanooga on the 25th of November, 1863, were keenly 
 felt from Nashville to Knoxville and from Chattanooga to Mobile and Savan 
 nah; it was a struggle, conducted for the Federal side by General George H. Thomas, 
 commander of the Army of the Cumberland, and handsomely won by him and his 
 brave and gallant troops. 
 
 In this battle the Thirtieth Ohio Infantry was attached to the Second Brigade of 
 the Third Division of the Fourteenth Corps of the Army of the Cumberland. 
 
 The morning of the 25th of November opened clear and bright with General 
 Thomas at his headquarters on Orchard Knob, commanding a full view of the 
 entire field. 
 
 The Third Division of the Fourteenth Corps had for two days been in camp three- 
 quarters of a mile in front of Fort Phelps, with its left resting on the Moon Road and 
 its right near Turchin s Brigade. About eight o clock the Thirty-fifth Ohio, Lieu- 
 
287 
 
 HENRY VAN N. BOYNTON, 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel, 35th Ohio Infantry. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Bvt. Brig-Gen., 
 
 U.S.V. 
 
 Born at West Stockbridge, Mass., 
 July -22. 1835. 
 
 tenant-Colonel Henry Van N. Boynton, commander, was 
 deployed along the front and advancing about a mile, 
 strongly opposed. The enemy had drawn in its pickets 
 so that upon the approach of the Ohio men, several small 
 observation parties retired in haste. Shortly after, the 
 regiment rejoined its brigade and moved with the divi 
 sion to a position about half a mile north of the Bald Hill, 
 facing and 1,200 yards distant from Missionary Ridge. 
 Here the Thirty-fifth Ohio was placed in the center of 
 the brigade on the first line. Up to four o clock in the 
 afternoon this force was engaged in skirmishing with 
 the enemy on the far side of the woods, when an advance 
 was ordered, and under a heavy fire from the enemy s 
 artillery on the ridge and from musketry from the lower 
 works, the brigade dashed forward at double-quick with 
 out firing a shot. When within one hundred yards 
 
 from the rifle pits the Confederates were retreating as rapidly as they could up the 
 precipitous ridge behind them. 
 
 Still the Thirty-fifth Ohio, with the other regiments of the brigade, moved on 
 steadily under a very heavy direct and enfilading fire until they were partly under 
 cover of the first line of works. Then the division commander ordered a charge to 
 the crest of the ridge, and with cheers and great energy the Third Division of the 
 Fourteenth Corps began a bloody ascent. The steep surface, the enemy s sharp 
 shooters in front, a terrific enfilading artillery fire on both flanks did not lessen their 
 eager haste, so that, at last it became practically a race between the first and second 
 lines of the division. After numerous hand-to-hand conflicts the colors of the Second 
 Brigade, Third Division, Fourteenth Army Corps, were planted on the summit of the 
 ridge, such of the Confederates as could do so fleeing precipitately. As the men 
 of the Thirty-fifth Ohio sprang over the works, cannoneers, caught loading their 
 pieces, were driven away, or, refusing to run, were bayoneted before they could fire 
 their pieces. At this point the Thirty-fifth captured three guns, after which they 
 joined in the pursuit of the enemy, who had retreated to the left, for nearly half a 
 mile. 
 
 It was during this fight that Lieutenant-Colonel Boynton fell, severely wounded, 
 and because of his day s experience, that officer now wears the Congressional Medal 
 of Honor, " For leading his regiment at Missionary Ridge, Tenn., November 25, 1864, 
 in the face of a severe fire of the enemy, where he was severely wounded." 
 
 It had been a fight before the strongest portion of Bragg s army and resulted in 
 a capture of one of the strongest positions in the zone of the battle. Furthermore, 
 it was a vindication of General Thomas and the Army of the Cumberland; and the 
 signal for the immediate relief of Burnside at Knoxville. 
 
288 
 
 CAPTURED BATTLE-FLAGS 
 
 ROBERT B. BROWN, 
 
 Private, Co. A, 15th Ohio Vet. Vol. Inf. 
 Born at New Concord, Ohio, Oct. 2d, 1844. 
 
 "Pwo incidents occurred at the battle of Missionary 
 Ridge, November 24 and 25, 1863, which stand 
 out prominently among the many gallant deeds of 
 the Union soldiers engaged in that battle. In both 
 instances Ohio men were the heroes, and in both, 
 too, the capture of the Confederate colors was the 
 prize of courage and daring. 
 
 Private Robert B. Brown, of Company A, Fif 
 teenth Ohio Infantry, secured the standard of the 
 Ninth Mississippi and took the standard-bearer 
 along with the trophy as his prisoner. Corporal 
 George Green, of Company H, Eleventh Ohio Infan 
 try, was one of the first to scale the enemy s works, 
 and after a fierce hand-to-hand struggle with the 
 rebel color-bearer, likewise carried off the Confed 
 erate flag of another rebel regiment. Both incidents are highly dramatic. Private 
 Brown s regiment was part of the Union force, which, on November 24, was ordered 
 to make a demonstration on Missionary Ridge. The line advanced to Orchard Knob 
 and rested there until two o clock on the next day, when orders were given to take 
 the rifle pits at the foot of the ridge. The troops made the advance, and, without 
 meeting with serious opposition, continued up the ridge. Just as the Fifteenth Ohio 
 reached the crest, Private Brown espied a Confederate color-bearer. His mind was 
 at once set upon the possession of the rebel flag. Not heeding the severe fire, con 
 centrated upon him, he ran up to the color-bearer. 
 
 " Surrender ! " he shouted with a threatening gesture, which so impressed the 
 rebel, that he hastened to comply. Brown took the flag and the prisoner to his 
 commander, who was proud of the private s achievement. 
 Private Green s regiment, on November 25, was or 
 dered out on the Rossville Road to support a section 
 of artillery sent to shell the camp of the enemy at 
 the base of Missionary Ridge. Nothing was encountered 
 there and the regiment subsequently returned and re 
 joined the brigade. Later it moved with the brigade 
 and took a position in front of Fort Wood. Having 
 been formed in double column at half distance, the 
 regiment deployed, and, at a run, moved across the 
 
 open ground up Missionary Ridge and against a GEORGE GREEN, 
 
 severe fire of musketry and artillery. The breast- private, co. H. nth Ohio infantry. 
 
 Born in Elsham, England, 1840. 
 
289 
 
 works of the enemy on the top of the ridge had to be taken by storm. The Eleventh 
 Ohio made a bold dash for the guns. They met with a most decided resistance and 
 many a brave fellow lost his life in the attempt to be the first one to scale the rebel 
 works. Corporal Green f ought with undaunted courage. Though he su\v a number 
 of his comrades killed at his side, he bravely approached the works, and with one 
 daring leap, bounded into the rebel fortifications. He was soon joined by others and 
 then a fierce struggle ensued. Green grappled with the bearer of a Confederate 
 battle-flag and wrenched from him the colors. The fight ended in a complete vic 
 tory for the Ohioans. 
 
 SOONER FIGHT THAN BEAT THE DRUM 
 
 T 
 
 5 WAR DEPARTMENT found Drummer 
 John S. Kountz. of Company G. Thirty- 
 seventh Ohio Infantry, guilty of disobedience 
 to orders in throwing down his drum and 
 joining in the charge at Missionary Ridge, 
 but for his gallantry on this occasion he was 
 awarded the Medal of Honor. When the 
 order was given to advance from the tem 
 porary works from which the enemy had 
 been driven that morning. Kountz. who was 
 only seventeen years of age. threw aside his 
 drum and joined in the attack, urging and 
 encouraging his comrades. Twice the bri 
 gade charged upon the Confederates in their 
 entrenched position, and twice the shattered 
 column was driven hack. On the second 
 assault. Kountz was shot through the leg 
 and very dangerously wounded close to the 
 enemy s lines. 
 
 When the brigade got back to its old position. Captain Hamm. of Company A, 
 told the boys of Company G, that Kountz was lying in the front severely wounded, 
 and asked : "Who will go and get him out ? " Private William Schmidt shouted : "T 
 will," and made for the front, advancing as far as he could under cover of the hill. 
 When he came to the point where cover was no longer available, he made a dash for 
 the spot where Kountz was lying, the enemy pouring a heavy fire upon him. Kountz 
 shouted: "Save yourself. 1 am a goner anyhow." but Schmidt picked him up on 
 his back and in spite of all protests, carried him back to the Union lines. Kountz 
 leg was so badly shattered that it had to be amputated the same night, When he 
 was picked up, he was nearer the rebel works than any other man of his regiment. 
 
 JOHN S. KOUNTZ, 
 
 Drummer. Co. <i . 37th Ohio Inf. 
 
 Born in Lucas Co., Ohio, March 25, 1846. 
 
290 
 
 "NOW YOU HAVE SURRENDERED!" 
 
 T 
 
 
 JAMES C. WALKER, 
 
 Private Co. K,31*t Ohio Inf. 
 
 Born at Harmony. Clark Co., Ohio. 
 
 Nov. :). lS4:s. 
 
 HE conduct of soldiers like that of Private James C. 
 Walker, of Company K, Thirty-first Ohio Infantry, 
 contributed a large share to the final success of the Union 
 cause. It was at the battle of Missionary Ridge that 
 Private Walker distinguished himself. Though wounded 
 he could not bear to see the colors of his regiment 
 drop and seized them just as the color-bearer, mortally 
 wounded, fell to the ground. Throughout the engagement 
 he carried the stars and stripes, the possession of which 
 inspired him to a degree of courage akin to heroism. 
 
 Private Walker himself tells a graphic story of the 
 thrilling events of that day, as far as he was concerned, 
 as follows : 
 
 " Tin-chin s Brigade was drawn up in two lines to attack the Confederate position ? 
 but as the second line overlapped the first, our regiment was taken out to form a 
 third line. On arriving at the Confederate breastworks at the foot of the ridge, we 
 found them filled with men of the first and second lines, which left us without 
 protection from the enemy s musketry fire. It was less dangerous to advance than 
 to retreat, and Colonel Lister rode over the breastworks, shouting: Forward Thirty- 
 first. We swarmed over and the whole brigade followed. We made no attempt 
 to keep in line ; it was everyone for himself, each striving to be first to gain the top 
 of the ridge. The Thirty-first started up the ravine to the left of the spur known as 
 De Long s Point, but we found that this would lead us into an angle of the rebel 
 line, so we turned to the right and came out on the top of the spur. 
 
 "George Wilson, of Company G, and I were among the first to get to this point. 
 We laid down at the foot of the Confederate breastworks, and Sam Wright of Com 
 pany K, came up and asked us : What in hell are you going to do next ? We 
 told him to wait and see. As the other boys came up, they dropped alongside of us 
 until we numbered twenty all told. I then called out : Boys are you ready ? and 
 they replied : Yes, go ahead. We climbed to the top of the works and looked 
 down upon- the Confederates, formed in tw r o lines, one kneeling in the trench with 
 fixed bayonets, and the other lying down behind them. With a yell we jumped 
 down into the trench on top of them, and a hand-to-hand fight followed, with mus 
 kets, bayonets, and even fists. We had broken the Confederate line, and as our 
 men came up to support us, we faced right and left, and kept widening the gap. 
 
 "One of the Confederates who had thrown down his musket and held up his 
 hands in token of surrender, fired at us after we had passed and hit one of our boys on 
 the knee. I turned on him with the butt of my gun, but before I could strike, Sam 
 Wright pushed me to one side, and said : Let me fix him. Placing his musket 
 
291 
 
 against the man s breast, he fired, literally tearing him to pieces. Looking at the 
 mangled body, he said : Now damn you, you have surrendered. 
 
 "As I turned to push on, I was struck in the right breast with a Minie ball which 
 knocked the breath out of me and stunned me, making ten holes through my 
 blanket, blouse and shirt. Our color-bearer, Corporal George W. Franklin, of Com 
 pany K, had been struck in the arm by a piece of shell as he came over the works, 
 and was on the point of falling from loss of blood when I came to my senses. I 
 jumped up and caught the colors just in time to save them from going down. 
 
 DRIVING OFF 
 THE REBEL 
 GUNNERS. 
 
 "A rebel battery 
 a short distance to the 
 left, opened a terrible fire 
 of grape and canister upon us. 
 T rushed forward to the first gun of the 
 battery, got in between the piece and the wheel, and 
 
 with my left hand pulled the fuse out of the gun, just as the cannoneer jerked 
 the lanyard. Sam Wright got in on the other side, rested his musket on the wheel, 
 and shot the officer in command of the battery. As the officer fell, his sword flew 
 out of his hand and came end over end to the feet of Captain A. S. Scott, of the 
 Thirty-first. 
 
 "We drove off the rebel gunners, slewed the guns around and poured their con 
 tents into their late owners. After capturing the battery, we swept on until the 
 Confederates, being re-enforced, made a desperate charge and drove us over the 
 
-292 
 ^ 
 
 breastworks. The ridge at this point was so steep that we could fall back no fur 
 ther, and we were compelled to hold our ground. Here we fought for about twenty 
 minutes with the breastworks between us, and the only thing that saved us was 
 that we were on lower ground and the rebels overshot us. 
 
 "Our troops attacked the flank and rear of the enemy s line, while we leaped 
 over the breastwork and charged them from the front. 1 noticed the color-bearer 
 of the Forty-first Alabama, about twenty paces in front of me, endeavoring to rally 
 his regiment. 1 rushed at him and caught hold of the flag, but in the struggle we 
 fell and the staff was broken. The rebel surrendered and I rolled up his flag and 
 carried it under my left arm till I met Sam Wright and gave it to him. Our own 
 colors I continued to carry throughout the fight and brought them out with 
 eighty-nine bullet holes in them and ten in the staff." 
 
 A PRIVATE S INGENUITY 
 
 "THE quick 
 1 wit and 
 action of 
 Private 
 Martin E. Scheibner, 
 of Company (I, Nine 
 tieth Pennsylvania Infantry, 
 prevented a disaster at the 
 battle of Mine Run, Novem- 
 26 and 27, 1863. The fighting in 
 that locality consisted of a series 
 of operations between the forces of Gen 
 eral Meade and General Lee with en 
 gagements at Racoon Ford, Bartlett s 
 Mills, Robertson s Tavern, Kelley s Ford 
 and New Hope. During these short, 
 but sharp contests, the Federal forces consisted of 
 five corps of infantry and artillery and two divisions 
 of cavalry. The Ninetieth Pennsylvania was part of 
 these troops. 
 
 The incident, which furnished Private Scheibner 
 an opportunity to distinguish himself, when Lee took a strong position at Mine 
 Run, shortly after being defeated by General Sedgwick s Corps at Kelley s Ford. 
 
 MARTIN E. SCHEIBNER, 
 
 Private. Co. G, 90th Pennsylvania Inf. 
 Born in Russia. 
 
293 
 
 The Confederates were shelling the Union forces and doing considerable damage, 
 so that General Meade decided upon an energetic course of action. Company G 
 of the Pennsylvania regiment was ordered to charge across the Run and up-hill to 
 the fortifications of the rebel army. 
 
 Simultaneously with the order, came a shell from the enemy directly in the 
 midst of the infantrymen. The unexploded weapon of death with its rapidly burn 
 ing fuse caused consternation amounting almost to a panic within the Union ranks. 
 The line formation in the immediate vicinity, where the shell had fallen, was 
 instantly and completely shattered. Some of the men threw themselves flat upon 
 the ground, with eyes shut; some of them running to the nearest shelter, how 
 ever inadequate the protection offered might be. A panic, the result of which 
 might have been disastrous indeed, was imminent. Private Scheibner glanced at the 
 rapidly burning fuse. He noticed the men running in all directions. One thought 
 rlashed through his mind. He decided to take his chances. Quickly removing the 
 stopper from his canteen, he poured the contents, coffee, on the fizzing, burning 
 fuse. The glimmering fire was extiguished and all danger averted. A second or so 
 later and the explosion would have been inevitable. The fuse had just about reached 
 the shell. Many of his comrades had watched him with abated breath and cheered 
 loudly when they perceived his success. The men now came back, reformed and 
 made the charge as ordered. It was the deed of less than a half minute that accom 
 plished this result. 
 
 A Medal of Honor was the appropriate reward for this act of presence of mind 
 and courage. 
 
 A COLOSSAL BLUFF 
 
 PRIVATE JOSEPH S. MANNING of the Twenty- 
 ninth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, 
 had the singular good fortune to capture a flag 
 from the midst of two hundred rebels. He 
 gives the following account of it : 
 
 "My regiment was w r ith General Burnside 
 at Knoxville, East Tenn., from November 
 17 till December 5, 1863, and during all that 
 time we were continually under fire from the 
 rifle-pits of the enemy, which were being drawn 
 closer to our earthworks day by day. On the 
 night of November 28th a furious assault was 
 
 made upon the left of our line, and our pickets were driven in, contesting the 
 ground step by step. My regiment was ordered to the rear of our principal-earth- 
 
 JOSEPH S. MANNING, 
 
 Private, 29th Massachusetts Vol. Infantry. 
 Born at Ipswich, Mass., April 13, 1845. 
 
294 
 
 work, Fort Sanders, where we remained nearly all night. Just before daylight the 
 enemy made a demonstration at the extreme left of our line and my regiment was 
 hurried off to strengthen that point. 
 
 " It was a bit- ? terly cold night, and I had gone to the rear to warm myself 
 at a fire there, ^f\ and when I came back 1 found that the regiment had gone. 
 
 Just then 
 
 "WITH MY 
 BAYONET AT HIS 
 BREAST I DEMAND 
 ED HISSURRENDER" 
 
 the enemy opened a fierce fire of artillery and musketry on 
 the fort, as a prelude to our assault, so I stayed where I was. 
 The rebel infantry poured in upon us, scaling the parapet 
 and climbing through the embrasures, but as fast as they 
 did so, we shot them down, and they rolled back into the 
 ditch which surrounded the fort. One color-bearer planted 
 his flag upon the parapet, but immediately it was 
 snatched away, and he was shot dead. Never in my 
 life did I experience such a savage feeling. It 
 seemed to me that I could not load and fire 
 fast enough, and although my fingers were 
 numb with cold, I was in a fever of excite 
 ment. 
 
 "This assault was repulsed, but an 
 other was immediately made by fresh 
 troops. Three of the enemy s colors 
 were planted upon the parapet, 
 but were quickly shot 
 away, and a hand-to- 
 hand fight followed, 
 the officers using their 
 swords, the men their 
 bayonets and the butts 
 of their guns. Even 
 the artillery-men took 
 part, using their axes 
 and the rammers of 
 the guns as weapons, 
 the enemy being final 
 ly obliged to withdraw, 
 after losing heavily 
 
 "The retreating rebels 
 took a position a short 
 distance from the fort, and for a 
 time kept up a scattering fire, 
 aided by their artillery. General 
 Ferrero, who commanded the fort, 
 
295 
 
 called out : There are lots of them in the ditch. Go out and get them. A detail 
 from our regiment was sent to the left, and one from the Second Michigan to the right 
 to sweep the ditch. The first detail entered the ditch from the rifle pits on the left 
 and passed around the salient of the fort. I wanted to go with them but was quite 
 a distance away when they started, and as I saw I could not catch up by following, 
 I adopted another plan. 
 
 "Waiting until I thought they had entered the ditch, I jumped upon the parapet, 
 slid down the outside of the fort and landed among the rebels. I was the only 
 Yankee in sight. Hearing the detail from my regiment cheering to the left, I de 
 manded the surrender of those about me, and they threw down their guns. I 
 pushed towards a color-bearer who was attempting to hide his colors and with my 
 bayonet at his breast, I demanded his surrender. He handed over the colors, 
 which were those of the Sixteenth Georgia, and 1 took him prisoner. Our detail 
 arrived just then, and turning my prisoner over to them, he was marched back 
 along with some 200 others, through the ditch into the works. We also recovered 
 another rebel flag from under the dead body of the color-bearer. 
 
 "A wounded rebel in the ditch asked me to take him inside |the works as he 
 was in danger of being shot where he lay. I made him climb over the dead and 
 wounded who lay in great numbers at this angle of the fort. I passed up the colors 
 to him and told him to stand where he was till I climbed up. Then I placed the 
 colors and my gun over my left shoulder and supported him with my right arm, thus 
 exposing him to the rebel fire. They seemed to recognize him, for not a shot was 
 fired at us, as we walked a distance of over a hundred yards along the front of the 
 rebel line. When I got the wounded man into our works, I turned and waved the 
 colors to the rebels, who saluted me with a volley, and the bullets whistled about 
 my ears. I did not stop there any longer than was necessary, but got down behind 
 the earthworks. 
 
 "On arriving at headquarters, General Burnside received the colors, took me by 
 the hand and complimented me in the most flattering language." 
 
 Knoxville. On the 4th of September, 1863, Burnside witli about 12,000 troops entered Knoxville, 
 Tenn., and immediately began to strengthen the defenses around the city, so that by the 17th of November 
 he had shut himself up. He held the city and the surrounding country, though the nearest Union forces 
 were in the vicinity of Missionary Ridge. 
 
 Burnside being thus isolated, Bragg sent Longstreet against him with 20,000 troops, and on the 29th 
 of November Longstreet began a terrific artillery fire upon the Union works. Burnside, however, held 
 his fire until four Confederate brigades advanced to charge upon the parapet, when lie opened up with his 
 guns with such deadly effect that Longstreet was compelled to withdraw, leaving behind more than 1,000 
 killed and wounded, while his own loss was less than twenty. 
 
 Sherman s army, which had in the meantime been ordered to the relief of Burnside, had forced its 
 marches in order to arrive at Knoxville before it was too late, but was met by an officer of Burnside s staff, 
 who announced that Longstreet had been utterly repulsed. 
 
 When Sherman entered the city he was greatly surprised to find that the garrison was not starved 
 and demoralized but that Burnside s army was well supplied with rations, furnished by Union sympa 
 thizers in the South. 
 
 Burnside s loss during the Knoxville campaign was about 600 ; Longstreet s was more than 1,000. 
 
-296 
 
 BRUNER S BRAVE RIDE 
 
 
 
 LOUIS J. BRUNER, 
 
 Private, Co. IT, 5th Iml. Cav. 
 Burn in Monroe Co., Ind., Oct. 0, I,s:j4. 
 
 on the most precarious and interesting situations 
 in the War of the Rebellion was furnished by the 
 investment of Knoxville, where General Burnside and 
 his army were cooped up for a considerable time, very 
 much to the alarm and anxiety of President Lincoln 
 and his cabinet, as w r ell as that of General Grant. On 
 the other hand Burnside confirmed his previous record 
 as an able soldier by maintaining his position intact, in 
 the face of a bitter siege, conducted by General Long- 
 street. 
 
 With the Chattanooga situation taken well in hand 
 General Grant began the campaign for the relief of 
 General Burnside, and soon General Longstreet was 
 forced to raise the siege in order to turn his attention to 
 the Federal cavalry, who were harrassing his rear. 
 
 This brigade consisted of the Fifth Indiana and Four 
 teenth Illinois Cavalry, the Twenty-first Ohio Battery, the Sixty-fifth, One hundred 
 iind sixteenth and One hundred and eighteenth Indiana Volunteers, under command 
 of Colonel Graham. At Walker s Ford on the Clinch River, December 2, 1863, the 
 Sixth Indiana Cavalry, under Colonel Thomas H. Butler, was suddenly attacked at 
 daylight, many of the cavalry being still asleep. The Confederates had, during the 
 night, captured the outer picket post at the gap entrance to the mountain, where 
 the Manordsville Road leads toward Walker s Ford and they had done this without 
 discovery. Then, just at dawn, they drove in the reserve pickets and so reached the 
 Indiana men, who occupied the elevated ground north of the Clinch River. The 
 Confederates rested their right a few hundred yards to the southwest, close to an 
 area of timber, where they had been driven by the Indiana cavalry. A hot struggle, 
 lasting five hours, followed, Colonel Butler contesting stubbornly every inch of 
 ground. 
 
 The Confederates had just made a spirited attack on the right wing of the 
 cavalry, driving it back, when Private Louis J. Brunei 1 , Company H, and acting 
 orderly of Colonel Butler, was dispatched with orders to Major Mell H. Soper to 
 occupy some timber on the left, extending to the mountain. 
 
 Major Soper at once began executing the move, when the Confederates made a 
 spirited attack on the right wing of the cavalry and drove it back for some distance 
 though they failed to break the Union lines. Then by a quick move they extended 
 their lines to the mountains, cutting off the major and his batallion. Curiously 
 enough neither the major nor the rebel commander realized the importance of the 
 situation; Major Soper was ignorant of the danger from capture, the Confederates 
 
297 
 
 did not know that they had the Union men at bay. Colonel Butler, however, fnlly 
 appreciated the seriousness of the situation, and at once consulted with the officers 
 of his staff. " Soper might extricate himself by making for a small ravine in the 
 mountain," he suggested. Just then Brunei- rode up to the group of officers. Salut 
 ing the colonel, he placed himself at the latter s disposal for any service which 
 might l)e required to accomplish the rescue of Major Soper. Colonel Butler accepted 
 the offer and without losing time Brunei* rode away, toward the lines of enemy, 
 hidden from their view by high banks and bushes. Presently he reached a road lead 
 ing to the Confederate line and quite close thereto. The distance from the position 
 
 DASHING THROUGH THE REBEL LINES. 
 
 they occupied to the timber which Bruner desired to reach, was very slight. He 
 plied his spurs, and lying close to the back of his mount, dashed to and through the 
 Confederate line to safely reach the timber two or three minutes later." 
 
 So unexpectedly and suddenly had Bruner made his appearance that the Confed 
 erates were too much dazed to understand the situation until it was too late. They 
 fired very few shots at the daring rider, who got through their lines without injury. 
 Once among the trees, Bruner made his way to Major Soper, told him of his precarious 
 position and pointed out the ravine as a means of escape. The major immediately 
 dismounted his battalion and accompanied by Bruner, reached and entered the 
 ravine and so returned safely to Colonel Butler s line. 
 
298 
 
 A SINGULAR PREDICAMENT SKILLFULLY HANDLED 
 
 FRANCIS S. HESSELTINE, 
 
 Lieut.-Col., 13th Maine Infantry. 
 Born at Bangui 1 . Maine, Dec. 10, 18*! 
 
 the close of 1863 and the opening of 1864, 
 Major-General C. C. Washburn, in command 
 of the coast expedition with headquarters at 
 Decrow s Point, Texas, ordered Brigadier-General T. 
 E. G. Ransom to order a reconnoissance of the Mata- 
 gorda Peninsula. Accordingly, General Hansom sent 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Frank S. Hesseltine, command 
 ing the Thirteenth Maine Infantry, at Fort Esper- 
 anza, to carry out the mission. 
 
 Colonel Hesseltine and 100 members of his 
 regiment embarked on the gunboat Granite City on 
 the evening of December 28, 1868, and during that 
 night proceeded along the shore of the Matagorda 
 Peninsula to a point seven miles distant from its 
 head. In the morning a landing through the surf 
 was effected, the intention being to simply make the 
 
 reconnoissance ordered. A strong southerly wind rose piling up so strong a surf 
 that all communication with the gunboat was cut off and as far as immediate sup 
 port was concerned the little band was put upon its own resources. 
 
 Meanwhile Lieutenant Hamin, who had been sent with a small force on a scout 
 up the peninsula, returned. Thereupon Colonel Hesseltine deployed a line of skirm 
 ishers nearly across the neck of land and moved his force down under convoy of the 
 gunboat, thus driving back and cutting off the Confederate pickets. Because of 
 the numerous bayous, the force had made but seven or eight miles advance at two 
 o clock in the afternoon, and Colonel Hesseltine was obliged to shorten his skirmish 
 line. Just then, too, he was warned by the steam whistle of his convoy, of danger 
 in the rear. The colonel, by using his glasses, discovered the van of a body of cav 
 alry (they were two regiments under command of the Confederate Colonel A. Buchel) 
 moving down the peninsula. Under a heavy fire from the thirty-pound Parrott of 
 the Granite City, the enemy moved in until within half an hour their skirmishers 
 were close up to the Maine soldiers. When they were within range, Colonel Hessel 
 tine commanded the rear line to face about and gave Buchel s force a volley, with 
 good effect. Then the Confederates attempted a rapid flank movement, but Colonel 
 Hesseltine quickly assembled his force by countermarching, formed his line face to 
 the foe and in line of battle extending across the narrow neck of land, only two 
 hundred yards wide at this point because of the setting in of a bayou. 
 
 The enemy again changed direction, and attempted, by wading the bayou, to 
 gain the rear of the Yankees. At this, Hesseltine ordered a backward movement, 
 quick time, and riding ahead selected a capital defensible position, where he halted 
 
299 
 
 his force. Giving the order promptly, his men, as if by magic, and while Buchel 
 was forming his force for attack, threw up a barricade of driftwood, logs and 
 branches, projecting and forming an ugly looking redan, its pan coupe on a sand 
 ridge, its gorge out in the surf. Then the men wheeled in on the beach and were 
 ready. The Confederates, already formed, advanced, hesitated, halted. A small 
 party rode up to reconnoitre and moved back again; then they moved the force 
 obliquely for a fierce charge on the left. They halted and while they were deliber 
 ating, darkness came with a heavy mist. Finally they withdrew while the Yankees 
 rang out three cheers and a tiger. 
 
 
 REPULSING THE CHARGE. 
 
 Two bonfires at the right and left of Colonel Hesseltine s position, told the gun 
 boat Scioto, coming in from a reconnoissance up the coast, of the whereabouts of 
 the Maine men, and the Granite City went back for re-enforcements. Expecting an 
 attack in the morning, Hesseltine kept his men at work on the barricade all night, 
 but beyond a few shots from the southern pickets, but little trouble \vas experienced. 
 A foggy morning prevented any serious demonstrations, hut at noon the Confederate 
 gunboat J. G. Carr ran down inside and to a point opposite and began shelling the 
 hastily constructed fortification. At 3 P. M., being without food or water and con 
 cluding that the enemy had beaten back all re-enforcements sent from Decrow s 
 
sou 
 
 Point, Colonel Hesseltine moved his hundred men cautiously and began making his 
 way down the peninsular. At ten o clock that night the party was struck by the 
 severest norther of the winter and at one o clock in the morning the bivouac was 
 made. Resuming the march in the morning they plodded along until 2 P. M., when 
 twenty miles from the fort they were discovered by the Sciota and with great 
 difficulty were taken aboard. Not a man or equipment was lost during the entire 
 experience. 
 
 CAPTURED GENERAL VANCE 
 
 EVERETT W. ANDERSON, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. M, 15th Penn. ("av 
 
 Born in Chester Co., Pa., July 
 
 12, 1839. 
 
 FTER the battle of Chickamauga, the Fifteenth Penn 
 sylvania Cavalry was sent out to the Sequatchie 
 Valley to forage for the relief of the Army of the Cumber 
 land, penned up at Chattanooga. 
 
 On the 14th of January, 1864, while campaigning 
 along the French Broad River, word w r as received that 
 General Robert B. Vance had captured a wagon train 
 of Union supplies at Sevierville, besides 200 infantrymen 
 and numerous Union citizens, and that he was retreat 
 ing towards Ashville. 
 
 Colonel William I. Palmer, commanding the Fifteenth 
 Pennsylvania Cavalry, started after Vance, whose passage 
 being blocked by large trees thrown across the road by 
 
 Northern sympathizers, was soon overtaken. Colonel Palmer detailed a party of 
 twenty men to charge through the enemy s rear, which w r as done successfully, and 
 then the general charge followed, resulting in a total surprise of the enemy and the 
 recapture of all the property. A small squad commanded by Sergeant Everett W. 
 Anderson, of Company M, was looking after the wounded, and thereby became 
 scattered. Thus it happened that Sergeant Anderson, while dismounted and caring 
 for the wounded, had his attention called by a comrade, to the approach of five 
 Confederates. Quickly mounting his horse, Anderson w r heeled about and faced Gen 
 eral Vance, two aides and two orderlies. Covering the General with his revolver, 
 Anderson demanded their surrender. Seeing that his captor was fingering the trig 
 ger of his gun suggestively, General Vance threw his revolver to the ground, at the 
 same time objecting to surrendering to an enlisted man. He said that he would 
 surrender only to a commissioned officer. Anderson thought differently, however, 
 and completed the capture of the five men before his comrades had reached the 
 prisoners and their keeper. 
 
 News of a capture brought Colonel Palmer to the scene, and saluting, he extended 
 his hand with : "I am happy to meet you, General Vance." The reply of the 
 prisoner was: "Much more so than I am, under the circumstances." 
 
301 
 
 A REAR GUARD S HEROIC WORK 
 
 THEODORE S. PECK, 
 
 First Lieutenant. CD. II. !>th Vermont 
 
 I n fa n t ry . 
 
 Highest rank attained: Bvt. Maj-Gen. 
 Burn at Burlington, Vt., March ->2, 1843. 
 
 N February 2, 1864, at Newport Barracks, North 
 Carolina, the Union troops, comprising some 
 seven hundred and fifty men, with one piece of 
 artillery, were attacked by the Confederates under 
 General Martin, who had about two thousand 
 infantry, fourteen pieces of artillery and four 
 hundred cavalry, and who had outflanked the 
 Federals from the commencement of the engage 
 ment. The left of the Union line lay near the 
 river, w r hile the right was in the woods, and com 
 manded by First Lieutenant Theodore S. Peck, 
 Company H, Ninth Vermont Infantry. 
 
 The line was contin 
 ually pressed back by 
 the enemy, and made 
 eleven different stands 
 before reaching the 
 Newport River, over 
 which there were two 
 bridges, one a railroad 
 bridge, and the other 
 
 called the county bridge, 
 located about a quarter of 
 a mile above the former. 
 
 The location of tbe 
 county bridge was at a nar 
 row point of the Newport 
 River; which was very deep 
 just there. The bridge \vas 
 about forty feet long and 
 with one approach down a 
 hill not very steep, but with 
 
 bluffs upon either side and woods down the bank. 
 On the opposite side of the river was a marsh full of 
 rushes, dead and dried, and with a level road leading 
 through it from the bridge to the railway crossing. 
 
 The Confederates pressed so closely that there was 
 barely time to fire the railroad bridge with turpentine 
 and tar. Lieutenant Peck with his men was ordered 
 
 to fire the county bridge, and was told that he would find on the opposite side 
 of the river, near the bridge head, two companies of cavalry, with plenty of 
 
 JOSIAH C. LIVINGSTONE, 
 
 First Lieutenant and Adjutant, 
 
 .ith Vermont Infantry. 
 Highest rank attained: Captain. 
 Born at Walden, Vt., Feb. 3, 1837. 
 
 ERASTUS W. JEWETT, 
 
 First Lieutenant. Co. A.Hth Vermont Inf. 
 Born at St. Albans.Vt.. April 1. is: .! . 
 
302 
 
 turpentine and tar for his use as soon as he had crossed, but the bridge must be 
 burned at all hazards, and the enemy prevented from crossing, for it was well known 
 throughout the entire command that its salvation depended upon the burning of 
 both these bridges. Should either one be left undestroyed and the enemy permitted 
 to cross, the chances were that what was left of the Union forces would be captured. 
 
 Lieutenant Peck had made a desperate light all the afternoon, and had been the 
 farthest out toward the enemy the entire time, holding them in check until they 
 had broken through the line on his left. At this time the Union troops had mostly 
 crossed the railroad and county bridges, and were rapidly falling back down the 
 county road toward^Beaufort, while Lieutenant Peck s rear guard was hotly engaged 
 with the Confederates, who were close at his heels. 
 
 He had sent a non-commissioned officer to the bridge to see if everything was in 
 readiness to fire the same after he had crossed it. The sergeant had just reported 
 that there was no tar, no turpentine, and no cavalry; in fact there was nothing all 
 had fled. Lieutenant Peck, leaving one-half of his men with their officers, fighting 
 the enemy, ran with the other half down the hill to the bridge and determined to 
 destroy the same, if possible. Finding that some of the planks were not spiked 
 down, he had these torn up, and, being fortunate in finding plenty of dry grass in 
 the vicinity, which his men pulled from the ground, he had the same placed in readi 
 ness for burning the bridge, then ordered his men, who were fighting, to stop firing 
 and rush across. This order was instantly obeyed, although some were killed and 
 wounded in leaving the enemy, who came forward on the run, increasing their 
 musketry fire. 
 
 As soon as the men from the hill had crossed the bridge, they commenced firing 
 upon the enemy, while the others of the party ignited the dead grass. The Confed 
 erates brought up a battery and poured in grape and canister. 
 
 In the rush, Sergeant Charles F. Branch was wounded and left behind, a fact 
 which, instantly it became known to Peck, caused him to rush back across the. now 
 burning bridge, to the sergeant, and half carrying him in his arms, succeeded, in 
 spite of a hot shower of bullets and shell and in momentary danger of death from 
 the flaming bridge, in carrying him safely across to the main body of his forces. 
 
 Meanwhile the little band fought the enemy across the river until both ends of 
 the bridge fell, a mass of burning embers, when the retreat was taken up. As the 
 
 Newport Barracks On February 2, 1864, a large force of Confederates, under General Martin, made 
 an attack upon the Union lines at (wales Creek, N. C. Though vastly outnumbered, the Federals repulsed 
 the rebels twice, but were finally compelled to fall back. The Confederates then advanced upon Newport 
 Barracks, throwing their right flank across the railroad to prevent a retreat. After some severe fighting, 
 the small Union forces retired across the railroad and county bridges toward Newport Village. Tin- 
 bridges were destroyed by the retreating Federals. From Newport, a further retreat was made to More- 
 head City, where the further advance of the Confederates was checked. The losses during the several en 
 gagements were small, though those of the Federals were somewhat heavier than the enemy s, because the 
 Union men were mostly raw recruits. 
 
THE RESCUE OF SERGEANT CHARLES F. BRANCH BY LIEUTENANT F. S. PECK. 
 
304 
 
 Confederates were obliged to build a new bridge before crossing the river, the Union 
 forces gained an advantage of three hours and so made good their escape. 
 
 At the time Lieutenant Peck was holding and burning the county bridge, at New 
 port Barracks, Lieutenant Erastus W. Jewett was given command of a picket squad 
 of about seventy men, with orders to hold and burn the railroad bridge, which, as 
 stated before, was some three-quarters of a mile below the county bridge. He also 
 was to prevent the enemy, who had a large force on the other side, from crossing 
 and capturing Newport Barracks and its defenders. Relative to this deed Lieu 
 tenant Jewett says: "We held the bridge and twice drove the enemy back to the 
 cover of the woods. They then shelled us with a battery at about 600 yards, for 
 fifteen minutes, but as soon as they stopped, we were at them again with our 
 muskets, and succeeded in keeping them back from the bridge till it was burned, so 
 that they could not cross the river. No doubt it was some of the hardest rear 
 guard work ever performed, and my men well deserved all the praise that was be 
 stowed upon them later." 
 
 At the outset of the enterprise assigned to Lieutenants Peck and Jewett, Lieu 
 tenant Josiah C. Livingstone volunteered his services, which offer was accepted. 
 His was no mean share in the enterprise. He personally supervised the burning of 
 the bridge and was among the last to fall back. In retiring he passed a wounded 
 comrade who was unable to move. Lieutenant Livingstone came to his assistance 
 and helped him to reach the Union lines in safety. It was for such loyal duty 
 that Lieutenant Livingstone s superior officers recommended him for the Medal of 
 Honor. 
 
307 
 
 WITH ELEVEN MEN HELD AN ARMY AT BAY 
 
 ABRAM P. HARING, 
 
 First Lieutenant, Co. G. 132d New York Inf. 
 Born in New York in 1838. 
 
 February 1, 1864, at 2:30 o clock in the 
 morning, General Pickett, of the Army )~ 
 of Virginia, attacked the outposts of the Union 
 forces at a point where the Neuse Road crosses 
 Batchelder s Creek, about eight miles from New 
 Berne, North Carolina. At that point the Federal 
 force consisted of only eleven men under Lieutenant 
 Abram P. Haring, of Company G, One hundred and 
 thirty-second New York Infantry. The evident pur 
 pose of the rebels was the capture of New Berne, 
 which was stocked with ammunition, clothing 
 and general stores in large quantities. General 
 Pickett led his force divided into three columns 
 and chose a most favorable time for his attack, 
 for a fog and a light drizzling rain covered their 
 advance, besides cutting off all Union signal 
 communication. The strength of the Confederates was estimated as high as 11,000. 
 
 "The location of our small reserve," Lieutenant Haring narrates, "was in a 
 naturally strong position. The creek was fifty feet wide in front, with breastworks 
 on either side about fifty feet long. During the preceding night we had taken up 
 the bridge, and with the timbers and planks we constructed a small but strong 
 breastwork, behind which we stationed ourselves. 
 
 "About 3:30 o clock in the morning during a heavy fog, the Confederates at 
 tacked us in force, but were unable to dislodge us. I immediately dispatched a 
 messenger to headquarters informing the commanding officer of the situation. In 
 the meantime the enemy, feeling conscious of their strength, made a second at 
 tack, which like the first proved futile. We were keeping up a steady fire during 
 this attack, and now our ammunition was pretty well exhausted, but the little we 
 had left we used to good advantage." 
 
 Thus did Lieutenant Haring and the eleven men of his command hold the pow 
 erful army of the rebel general at bay for several hours. All attempts to dislodge 
 the Spartan band from the bridge and free the way for further advance, failed. 
 Then batteries of artillery were brought up, but still Lieutenant Haring and his men 
 refused to yield. In the meantime the defenders of the bridge were re-enforced by 
 150 men from the One hundred and thirty-second New York, and the rebels seeing 
 that further attempts to dislodge them were useless changed their plan of attack, 
 constructed a bridge across the creek at a point some distance below, and there at 
 tacked Lieutenant Haring s little force from the rear, thus driving them out of their 
 stronghold. 
 
308 
 
 This is the praise which Captain Charles G. Smith, Lieutenant Haring s superior 
 officer, in his official report, bestows upon the hero : 
 
 "I feel it my duty to mention several instances of coolness and heroism, partic 
 ularly that of Lieutenant Haring s brave defense of the Neuse bridge, which is 
 worthy of especial commendation." 
 
 Still more flattering is the following official reference to the incident by Colonel 
 Claassen : 
 
 "First Lieutenant Abram P. Haring commanded the reserve at the attack at the 
 Neuse bridge and with eleven men heroically held that all-important point for 
 hours, against thousands of the enemy." 
 
 CAPTURES HIS CAPTORS AND ESCAPES 
 
 D 
 
 ,URING the last three months of 1863 and the first 
 three months of 1864, the Army of the Potomac 
 had no great battles, the cavalry being chiefly engaged 
 in raiding under Generals Custer, Smith, Gregg, Merritt 
 and Kilpatrick, while the centers of general interest were 
 Chattanooga and other points on the way to Atlanta. The 
 situation along the Potomac had been extremely unsatis 
 factory. President Lincoln had just issued a call for 200,000 
 additional men, which, with the promotion of General 
 Grant to lieutenant-General in command of the Federal 
 Armies, entirely restored confidence in the north. Mean 
 while the several brigades of cavalry in the east had been 
 riding through the entire territory from Harper s Ferry to 
 the James River. 
 
 On the 16th of March, 1864, Corporal Andrew Traynor, 
 of the First Michigan Cavalry, was detailed with one pri 
 vate on scout duty in the vicinity of Mason s Hill, Virginia. He says : 
 
 " The Confederates were very numerous in the neighborhood, and in fact that 
 whole section of the country was filled with men from both sides, looking for each 
 other. My companion arid 1 were making our way cautiously through a bit of level 
 country covered with pine, in an effort to locate a considerable force of the enemy. 
 We had just wormed our way into a dense thicket and out again, when we were sur 
 prised and captured by four heavily armed guerrillas. We were taken a short dis 
 tance to another spot in the woods, where there was a civilian who, with his team 
 and wagon, had been captured. Leaving two of their companions to guard the 
 captives, the other two guerrillas went back to the woods to return again very 
 
 ANDREW TRAYNOR, 
 
 Corporal, First Michigan Cavalry. 
 Born at Newark, X. J., Feb. 9, 1843. 
 
309 
 
 shortly with three more prisoners, stragglers from the Union lines. Again leaving 
 the party under guard of two companions, the other two returned to the road for 
 further prizes. 
 
 " Here it was that I communicated my intention to escape, telling my companions 
 to watch me closely and keep by my side. Selecting an opportune moment, I sprang 
 at the two guards, and, before they could fire their guns or otherwise give a signal, I 
 
 was engaged in a sharp 
 struggle with both. They 
 were able bodied and well 
 armed men, but my attack 
 had been so sudden and 
 well directed that almost 
 in an instant I had both 
 of their guns and had 
 handed one to the civilian, 
 who had kept right at my 
 elbow. Just then the 
 other two guerrillas re 
 turned hastily and before 
 they could realize the 
 situation the civilian and 
 I both fired, each one 
 dropping a man. At this 
 moment the two disarmed 
 guerrillas made their es 
 cape in one direction, 
 while my five companions 
 and myself made our 
 escape in an opposite 
 direction." 
 
 Upon getting clear of 
 the woods, Traynor and 
 his companion separated, 
 while the other soldiers 
 started toward the Union 
 lines. Traynor and his 
 companion resumed their 
 scout, but had gone only 
 
 "I SPRANG AT THE TWO GUARDS." 
 
 a short distance when they 
 
 were sighted by the escaped guerrillas and a squad of their companions and were 
 pursued for more than two miles. At last, however, they made good their second 
 escape by reaching the Union lines in safety. 
 
310- 
 
 CAPTURE OF A BUSHWHACKER OUTPOST 
 
 BENJAMIN THAKRAH, 
 
 Private, Co. H, 115th New York Infantry. 
 Born in Scotland in 184.5. 
 
 JUST after the battle of Olustee, Fla., between 
 y the Federal forces commanded by General 
 Seymore, and the Confederates under Generals 
 Finnegan and Gardner which was engaged in 
 by 5,000 Union and as many more Southern sol 
 diers the town of Palatka was captured and was 
 placed under provost guard, Company H, One 
 hundred and fifteenth New York Infantry, with 
 . Captain S. P. Smith as provost marshal. All 
 through the last week in February and the month 
 of April, 1864, the town and its vicinity were 
 continually harassed by bushwhackers, who raided 
 plantations and dwellings, captured outposts, and 
 stole stock and other property. 
 
 Just before sunrise, April 1, 1864, Company H 
 was ordered out for roll call, after which the 
 
 captain asked for twenty-five volunteers for an expedition up the river, the object 
 being the capture of a Confederate picket known to be stationed about thirty-two 
 miles away. Twenty-five men stepped forward promptly, after which they were 
 ordered to get breakfast and put one day s rations into their haversacks. This was 
 done and as the sun came up over the horizon the volunteers marched to the land 
 ing and went aboard a small tug boat in waiting. Among their number was Private 
 Benjamin Thakrah, of Company H, who relates what followed : 
 
 "The picket guard we were after were well armed and mounted; thoroughly 
 acquainted with the swamp-ridden country and its people and their habits; and 
 were regularly relieved by details from the large force of cavalry which was in the 
 neighborhood. Indeed, the utmost vigilance and quiet were required during the boat 
 ride in order that the advance might not be discovered and reported in time to put 
 the picket on guard. And so, with our soldiers lying under cover in the engine 
 room, in the tiny cabin and in the wheel-house, the tug boat steamed along to 
 within three miles of our destination, when we were pulled in small boats to a point 
 near where the Confederate picket was .stationed. 
 
 "On reaching shore, our squad, deployed as skirmishers, were required to proceed 
 alternately through swamps with water to our waists and over little knolls which 
 were fairly baking under the intense heat of the tropical sun, until we reached a 
 house which stood half concealed by a hedge of small bushes and a board fence. 
 Keeping out of sight as well as possible, we extended our line until it surrounded 
 three sides of the place, feeling sure that the Southerners would not attempt to 
 escape by way of the river front, because of alligators. 
 

 
 WE PROCEEDED THROUGH SWAMPS ." 
 
312 
 
 "Working their way through the underbrush, the twenty-five Union men at last 
 reached the fence, and I straightened up to look over, to find myself in front of and 
 looking into the gun-barrel of a bushwhacker picket. With a quick movement I 
 knocked aside the threatening weapon, my comrades arose around the entire enclos 
 ure and the Confederate who had confronted me was on the run for the house. 
 
 "Then our twenty-five men, with a yell, dashed over the fence, closed in about 
 the house and demanded a surrender as the thoroughly astonished Confederates 
 came out to capitulate. One of the bushwhackers had an unfinished letter in his 
 hand, the last words written being : Everything is quiet along our lines. 
 
 " The entire picket with its arms, horses and supplies was captured without firing 
 a shot, and while doing this, a portion of our little party mounted some of the 
 captured horses and rode out two miles, making prisoners of a sergeant and one 
 man on vidette duty. By prompt use of the small boats all prisoners were placed 
 under guard aboard the tug boat, while the horses were made to swim across the 
 swamp and to the other side of the river. In doing this, two men row^ed in each 
 boat, two other men held the horses by the head as they were swimming, and a fifth 
 man stood in the stern with plenty of loaded guns to keep the alligators from 
 attacking them. 
 
 "After reaching the other side we made our way for a mile and a half through 
 the swamp, where, as we were afterwards told, no man had ever trodden before. 
 
 "At every house on our return we stopped in search for bushwhackers. Our 
 boys on the horses captured a mail carrier with what proved to be valuable letters, 
 and we reached Palatka about sunset. 
 
 " While we were swimming the horses across the river, all who could be spared 
 from that work were put on guard, and when the animals were over each told the 
 other to come in. One of the boys, unfortunately, did not hear the summons, and 
 we left him on guard, not knowing until roll call that he was missing. After three 
 days and nights he finally got into camp, having subsisted on wild oranges and 
 berries, during his wearisome march, and was very much weakened by his exertions. 
 He said we had not been away two hours before the Confederate cavalry were as 
 thick in that vicinity as hairs on a dog." 
 
313 
 
 ONE OF "SMITH S GUERRILLAS" 
 
 JOHN H. COOK, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. A, 119th Illinois Infantry. 
 Born at London, England, 1840. 
 
 ness 
 
 T ASKED Sherman for 10,000 of his best men and he 
 has sent me 10,000 damned guerrillas." 
 This severe criticism was expressed by General N. P. 
 Banks, at a review of the troops of General Smith s 
 Division, Sixteenth Army Corps, at Alexandria, in 
 March, 1864. 
 
 It was brought on by the apparent lack of discipline, 
 military drill, straggling manner and unsoldierly con 
 duct of the men of this division, and directed especially 
 to the One hundred and nineteenth Illinois Infantry, the 
 colonel of which did not consider "soldierly show busi- 
 
 a necessary qualification of a brave army. However, the general s opinion 
 clung to the division, and ever afterward to the end of the war the One hun 
 dred and nineteenth Illinois was designated as "Smith s Guerrillas." If this 
 sabre duel was intended as an expression of contempt, the regiment soon found an 
 opportunity to prove that it had been misjudged, and that its men were as valiant 
 as any in the Union Army. This opportunity presented itself at the fighting at 
 Pleasant Hill, La. After that "Smith s Guerrillas" in the Union ranks became a 
 title of pride. 
 
 The Federal troops had captured Fort DeRussy, March 14, 1864, and occupied the 
 surrounding territory. Nevertheless the situation was precarious because the 
 low water, rapid current, frequent eddies and sways of the Red River made the 
 handling of supplies a difficult and hazardous task. 
 
 On the morning of April 9, 1864 after fighting all the previous day near Sabine 
 Cross-Roads the Confederates found themselves confronted at Pleasant Hill with 
 the re-enforcement of Smith s Division, in which was the One hundred and nineteenth 
 Illinois posted in the woods on the extreme left. John H. Cook, sergeant of Com 
 pany A of that regiment, was on that day detailed as clerk at headquarters, and 
 in the following narrates what occurred : 
 
 " The thought of being a noncombatant was distasteful, and so, arming myself with 
 a Sharps rifle, I took my place as sergeant in the rear of my company. I was 
 without canteen, haversack or blanket, having only a good big plug of tobacco, my 
 rifle and forty rounds. 
 
 " The position assigned my regiment was on the extreme left of the line, my 
 company being posted in advance as skirmishers in the woods. We lay in this 
 position from early in the morning until about three o clock in the afternoon, wit 
 nessing from our commanding position the battle on the right and center. We 
 were ordered to hold our position at all hazards, as a flank movement of the enemy 
 was expected at any moment, which we must stubbornly resist before falling back. 
 
314 
 
 Our army had a disadvantage as to ground ; the position could be easily turned, 
 we could not occupy it long for want of water. About five o clock the Con 
 federates, having been heavily re-enforced, made a furious assault on us, hammered 
 in our center, doubled up our right, and fell vigorously on our left, which was the 
 weakest part of General Emory s position. There was nothing left to stop the 
 cyclone now but Smith s Guerrillas, and it seemed that we in the woods were to 
 be flanked and the w 7 hole army bagged. A sickening feeling came over me as I 
 took in the situation. 
 
 " It was not long after we began to move farther into the galling fire that we could 
 see our division in the center of the field advancing in a gallant charge. The rebels 
 were coming 
 through the 
 woods to flank 
 us. It looked 
 like ten to one 
 against us. 
 Brave Lieu 
 tenant Jack 
 Ware took 
 command of 
 our skirmish 
 line, and or 
 dered me to 
 lead the cen 
 ter of the line. 
 "Advancing 
 under a heavy 
 musketry fire, 
 and rapidly 
 firing, I turned 
 back to cheer 
 
 on the boys, when I saw John Mclntyre, a brave and sturdy Scotchman (he was the pet 
 and pride of Company A) throw up his left hand and fall forward. I ran back to him 
 and saw that he had been instantly killed. Then I was mad clear through. I ran for 
 ward again, rapidly firing my breech-loader. In a moment a musketry fire was focused 
 on me ; the bullets whizzed around me thick. One went through my hat, another 
 through my right coat-sleeve, and one so close to my cheek that I could feel it 
 burn. But I cared nothing for life or death I was in to stay. It seemed to me 
 just then that if our little company did not hold its ground we should be flanked, 
 and our army defeated, and that if I did not do my duty, and cheer our boys, they 
 might not stand. I had fired my forty rounds my last cartridge was gone. I 
 
 WAVING MY HAT IN MY LEFT, I RAN FORWARD." 
 
315 
 
 raised my empty breech-loader in my right hand, and, waving my hat in my 
 left, ran forward, cheering on the boys. I felt a good deal as General Corse ex- 
 expressed himself in his famous dispatch to General Sherman: I am out of pro 
 visions, I have lost an ear and part of a cheek-bone, but I can whip all hell yet! 
 
 "Well, our boys rallied. It was a sudden rush. We took a number of prisoners 
 and the rebs gave way. Re-enforcements came up, and soon our whole line ad 
 vanced, and Company A on the skirmish line shared fully in the victory of Pleasant 
 Hill." 
 
 A BATTLE BRIEF BUT BLOODY 
 
 "Pwo hundred Union men killed and wounded 
 within a few minutes ! 
 
 This is the record of the engagement at Cane 
 River Crossing, La., than which, considering its 
 brief duration, there was no fiercer or more 
 bloody struggle during the entire war. 
 
 The Confederates were in a strongly fortified 
 position ; the Union forces had orders to drive 
 them out. The two hostile bodies clashed April 
 24, 1864. 
 
 First Lieutenant William S. Beebe, of the 
 Ordnance Department of the army, \vas the 
 officer whose leadership won brilliant victory for 
 the Federals on that memorable occasion. He 
 led the One hundred and seventy-third New York 
 Volunteers, commanded by Colonel Conrady, and 
 so conspicuously distinguished himself that he 
 was brevetted a captain and awarded the Medal of Honor. 
 
 The details of the assault are told by Lieutenant Beebe hinself as follows : 
 
 "I was ordered by the Chief of Staff to join the assaulting column, to urge the 
 necessity of instant attack, as I knew our rear-guard was then engaged and we 
 had to lay a pontoon-bridge to cross Cane River. The division was deployed for 
 attack on Monett s Bluff; I stated the necessity of instant assault and offered to 
 lead it. The offer was declined, but on its renewal promptly accepted. I was the 
 first man on the bluff. The color-guard immediately behind me lost five men out of 
 eight, and the killed and wounded in an affair of ten minutes were about two 
 hundred." 
 
 WILLIAM S. BEEBE, 
 
 First Lieutenant, Ordnance Dt-pt., U. S. A. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Major. 
 Born at Ithaca, New York, in 1841. 
 
316 
 
 HE KEPT HIS COLORS FLYING 
 
 A BEAM J. BUCKLES was a sergeant in Company 
 ** E, Nineteenth Indiana Volunteers, which, with 
 the Twenty-fourth Michigan, the Second, Sixth and 
 Seventh Wisconsin, formed the Iron Brigade, 
 so-called, an organization composed of young farm 
 ers, lumbermen and sailors. A sturdier lot of sol 
 diers it was impossible to find in the whole Union 
 Army. This brigade was engaged in the battle of 
 the Wilderness, where it sustained its enviable 
 reputation. The Nineteenth Indiana especially 
 gave a good account of itself, and one of its mem 
 bers, the aforementioned Sergeant Buckles, became 
 a Medal of Honor hero on that memorable occasion. 
 Though wounded in the shoulder at Gettysburg, he 
 remained in active service. As to the fighting at 
 
 the battle of the Wilderness and the incident which links his name to the struggle , 
 Sergeant Buckles says : 
 
 "My regiment was on the first line, and, after executing some hurried movements 
 on the morning of May 5th, was finally drawn in line of battle on the edge of the 
 great wilderness. We were on the first line and were among the first engaged. 
 Expecting an attack momentarily, we had thrown up a formidable line of breast 
 works, and the exertions thus made had started some loose bones in my shoulder. 
 I sat down, stripped my clothes back and with a small pair of pincers I carried I 
 pulled the fragments of bone out. Just then we got the order to advance and away 
 we went down into the dense woods, and almost immediately striking the enemy s 
 line of battle, we struck them hard, Iron Brigade fashion, and drove them back 
 
 ABRAM J. BUCKLES, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. E, 19th Indiana Infantry. 
 Born in Delaware Co., Ind., Aug. 2, 1846. 
 
 The Wilderness. When Grant assumed supreme command of the Federal Army his objective was 
 Eichmond, Va., and the destruction of Lee s army. His forces, consisting of about 122,000 troops and 350 guns, 
 were confronted by Lee with a force of 62,000 men, and over 200 guns, at the Wilderness on May 5-7, 1864. 
 This battle, which included engagements at Brock Koad, Craig s Meeting House, Furnaces, Parker s Store, 
 and Todd s Tavern, was the first of the battles of the march to Richmond. 
 
 On the 5th, Grant had fairly crossed the Rapidan River, and, having met with no opposition, pushed 
 on through the wilderness, unconscious of the close proximity of Lee s Army. Lee, however, suspecting 
 Grant s movement, gave him battle in the dense forest, where the fight continued throughout the day. 
 
 Early on the morning of the 6th the fight was renewed, the desperate struggle being carried on in 
 the now burning woods. At the close of this day s battle the relative strength of the opposing armies 
 remained about as at first ; and the only decisive gain was a slight one on the Union side. 
 
 During the night of the 6th Lee s army had withdrawn, and as it showed no disposition to fight 
 again on the 7th, Grant gave orders to move toward Spottsylvania Court House. 
 
 The losses sustained during the two days fight were about 15,000 on each side. 
 
317 
 
 until we reached a cleared place, where our line stopped to reform. Meanwhile the 
 Johnnies crossed the clearing and posted themselves in a dense thicket. Up to this 
 time I had been unable, because of the bushes and trees, to unfurl my colors, but on 
 coining into the clearing I loosened its folds and shook the regiment s flag free to 
 the breeze. From their covered position the enemy had begun to pour a withering 
 fire into us, comrades were dropping at every hand and delay was fatal, while retreat 
 was never dreamed of. The only possible safety lay in a charge, and believing that 
 a short, quick rush with such a line as we had, a heavy one, would force the Confed 
 erates to fly, I ran to the front. Waving the flag above my head, I called on the 
 boys to follow. To a man they responded, and together we dashed toward the 
 troublesome thicket. We were going in fine style when I was struck, shot through 
 the body. I fell, but managed to keep the flag up until little John Divelbus, one of 
 the color-guard and as brave a man as ever lived, took it out of my hands, to be 
 killed a few minutes later. I believed I had received my death blow, but I realize 
 now that instead I won the Medal of Honor." 
 
 "OUR COLORS ARE DOWN!" 
 
 A T the battle of the Wilderness Company I of the 
 ** Sixty-second New York Infantry, known as the 
 Anderson Zouaves, held a position on the left center 
 of the regiment next to the color-guard. In the 
 absence of a commissioned officer, Sergeant Charles 
 E. Morse was in command of the company, which 
 consisted of but fifteen men. The regiment was 
 ordered to advance and charge the enemy, and 
 carried out the order so successfully that the Con 
 federates were driven back to their first line of de 
 fense. They were given no chance to rally and had 
 to retreat to their second line. Then they stopped, 
 made a stand, and by desperate fighting prevented 
 the regiment s further advance. All efforts to dis 
 lodge the rebels were futile ; they were posted too strongly on the ridge. At the 
 same time their fire became so destructive that the regiment was ordered to fall 
 back to the rifle pits. Though this movement was carried out in perfect order, the 
 Confederates concluded that the men were in full retreat and at once started in hot 
 pursuit. They failed to bring the lines of the New York regiment into disorder, 
 however, and the men continued to fall back, all the time loading, facing about and 
 firing. Presently the color-sergeant was struck by a ball. He staggered, reeled 
 
 CHARLES E. MORSE, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. 1, 62d New York Infantry. 
 Born in France, May 5, 1841. 
 
818 
 
 and dropped, covering the colors with his body. Then someone shouted : " The 
 colors are down ! " Consternation followed the outcry. Two men at once broke out 
 of the ranks and started toward the spot where the dying color-sergeant lay. The 
 rebels, too, were rapidly approaching the coveted spot. Who would be the first to 
 reach it, the enemy or the daring New Yorkers ? The latter were Corporal Deitzel 
 and Sergeant Morse. Morse was first at the side of his almost lifeless comrade and 
 in an instant secured the precious colors. He was soon joined by Deitzel and both 
 then retreated to their lines, holding the enemy at a safe distance by keeping up a 
 well-directed fire. In the retreat Sergeant Morse was shot in the knee, but notwith 
 standing the painful wound he pluckily remained with his company all during the 
 subsequent fighting, carrying aloft the banner he had so heroically saved. 
 
 THEIR HEROISM WAS INFECTIOUS 
 
 H 
 
 EROISM is a virtue under any circumstance, but to 
 l)e heroic in the hour of reverse and disaster is 
 the noblest kind of valor. During the battle of the 
 Wilderness, May 6, 1864, two Union soldiers furnished 
 examples of bravery which belongs to this latter 
 category. They are First Sergeant Edmund English, 
 of Company C, Second New Jersey Infantry, and 
 Sergeant Leopold Karpeles, of Company E, Fifty- 
 seventh Massachusetts Infantry. Both accomplished 
 the most unexpected and truly extraordinary results 
 at the most critical time of the battle, when the dis 
 integration of the Union forces had set in, demoral 
 ization prevailed and the Federals were fleeing in 
 wild disorder. During this mad rush for the rear the 
 Second New Jersey, along with other regiments, had 
 been ordered to fall back. The command aroused 
 Sergeant English s indignation. " Is there nobody to 
 
 make a stand ? " he exclaimed. " This is disgraceful ! " 
 
 He decided to act on his own responsibility, even though it be insubordination. 
 
 Quickly he seized the colors of his regiment, placed himself in front of the men, 
 
 waved the colors high in the air and shouted : "Here, boys ! Stand here ! At least 
 
 a few of us should stem the tide ! " 
 
 His bravery was infectious ; the men caught his spirit and one by one rallied 
 
 around the flag, till at last quite a little band was gathered about the sergeant. 
 
 They did not only " stem the tide," but repulsed and drove the Confederates back in 
 
 wild confusion. 
 
 LEOPOLD KARPELES, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. E, 57th Mass. Infantry. 
 Born at Prague, Bohemia, Sept. 9, 1838. 
 
319 
 
 While this was taking place at one point of the line of 
 battle, Sergeant Karpeles similar conduct brought about a 
 similar result in another place. He was the color-sergeant 
 of his regiment and keenly felt the humiliation of soldiers 
 deserting their colors. 
 
 "Our troops were rushing wildly to the rear/ the brave 
 sergeant narrates. " In vain did our colonel take a stand 
 and call the boys to rally. I joined our colonel, waved 
 the flag and likewise called on my comrades to halt and 
 form on us. We held our position until we had gathered 
 a sufficient force to make a charge. Presently the colonel 
 commanded : Forward, and he and I dashed ahead, I 
 waving our flag high in the air. Our advance was entirely 
 unexpected. It completely dazed the Confederates and brought their advance to an 
 end. We held our position till nightfall, when we fell back in good order and reor 
 ganized our forces." 
 
 EDMUND ENGLISH, 
 
 1st Sergeant, Co. C. 2d X. J. Inf. 
 
 Highest rank attained : Captain. 
 
 Born at Cappanhite, Ireland. 
 
 Nov. 10, LSI 1. 
 
 DETERMINED TO FIGHT THOUGH WOUNDED 
 
 
 
 N the first of May, 1864, the Eighty-third Penn 
 sylvania Infantry broke camp at Rappahan- 
 nock Station, Va., and started on the march. 
 Private Jacob E. Swap, a member of this 
 regiment, had been placed on the sick list and 
 ordered to report at the hospital, but declined 
 to do so, whereupon the surgeon allowed him 
 to follow the regiment on its march, in an 
 ambulance. Upon the third day of his ride, 
 while still convalescing, he determined to join 
 his company. He secured a gun and a car 
 tridge box and started to carry out his inten 
 tions, when a lieutenant of his company 
 observed him. He immediately took the gun 
 from Swap, who was again ordered to the 
 rear. This time he remained there until the 
 5th, two days later, when he again overtook 
 his company, just as they were unslinging their 
 
 knapsacks for a charge in the Wilderness. As he stepped into the ranks, armed and 
 ready, his lieutenant asked him where he was going. 
 "I m going with the boys," replied Swap. 
 "Remain here and guard these knapsacks," the lieutenant ordered. 
 
 JACOB E. SWAP, 
 
 Private, Co. H.83d Perm. Infantry. 
 Born at Coeymans, Albany Co , N. Y., August 12, 1840. 
 
320 
 
 Swap, after several fruitless entreaties, reluctantly obeyed, while his comrades 
 dashed away on the charge. They soon returned in disorder, and reformed for a 
 second charge. 
 
 "I then saw that I had an opportunity to get into the fight," says Private Swap, 
 "and I asked a group of my comrades whether there was one among them who 
 would let me have his gun. One of them immediately said : Here, take it, I ve 
 had enough of this, whereupon I joined in the charge. 
 
 " I was now permitted to stay in the ranks, and fought with the company on the 
 6th, 7th, and 8th, in the fights around the Wilderness. 
 
 "On the 8th, while we were charging on the breastworks at Spottsylvania Court 
 House, I was wounded five times, when within a few yards of the enemy, after which 
 I fired one more shot and then threw my gun over at the enemy. 
 
 "My wounds prevented me from gaining the rear, where I now wanted to be, 
 and I was captured and sent to Richmond." 
 
 SHOT THE REBEL COLOR-BEARER 
 
 THE repelling of Longstreet s charge and re 
 taking of the Confederate lines and bat 
 tery on the second day of the battle of the 
 Wilderness were among the most thrilling 
 episodes of the entire series of wild fights. 
 There had been charges and repulses all 
 forenoon and until afternoon, the Federals 
 and Confederates moving forward and falling 
 back alternately, until, with the ammunition 
 entirely exhausted, the cartridge boxes of the 
 dead soldiers were the chief resource. 
 
 At last the One hundred and forty-third 
 Pennsylvania Infantry of Wadsworth s Division 
 were able to halt, stack arms at the intersection 
 of the Brock and Plank Roads and prepare their 
 meals. Colonel Musser having been killed, Major 
 Charles Conyngham was in command. After 
 
 a rest of about an hour an order came from General Hancock directing the brigade, 
 in command of Colonel Irwin, to save the works at the Cross-Roads, upon which 
 Longstreet s forces were then advancing at a charge. Sergeant Patrick De Lacy, of 
 Company A of the aforementioned regiment, in command of the company, instantly 
 
 PATRICK De LACY, 
 
 First Sergeant, Co. A, 143d Perm. Volunteers. 
 
 Highest rank attained : Captain. 
 Born in Carbondale, Lackawanna Co., Pa., Nov. 25, 1834. 
 
321 
 
 led the right of the brigade and regimental line in the advance, his men answering 
 with a mighty yell, as they followed. As to what then happened a graphic descrip 
 tion by one of the participants is appended: 
 
 "Away we went, double-quick, toward the woods to the left of the Plank Road, 
 Longstreet s advance being eighty rods or so still farther to our left coming down 
 the Brock Road. On we pushed up toward the burned clearing, under a ter 
 
 rific fire and with our brave comrades falling on / every side. Still De 
 
 Lacy kept the lead until, when right up to the m works, with 
 
 the Con- 
 feder- 
 
 "DASHING 
 UP TO HIM 
 SEIZED THE 
 FLAG." 
 
 ates in 
 line along 
 the woods 
 and keeping up 
 their heavy fire, he made 
 a dash to our left of fifteen or eighteen 
 
 rods, right between the fires, to the edge of the works. There he found a rebel 
 waving his colors, and, dashing up to him, seized the flag and shot the color-bearer 
 down in plain sight of both sides. The colors dropped, and a panic followed among 
 the Southerners for a brief period, but long enough for our regiment and brigade to 
 reach the works and hold them. The charge had been a grand one all along the 
 line, but it was in a very great measure inspired and encouraged by De Lacy s 
 daring and heroism while under the concentrated fire of the enemy. His escape 
 was a miracle, his achievement one of those incidents in the history of actual war 
 fare which causes one to bubble over with admiration for the hero." 
 
322 
 
 A RESCUE UNDER DIFFICULTIES 
 
 the 9th of May, 1864," 
 narrates Sergeant 
 Stephen Welch, of Company 
 C, One hundred and fifty- 
 fourth New York Volunteer 
 Infantry, "the enemy was 
 found in a strong posi 
 tion at a place called Kocky 
 Face Ridge, near Dalton, Ga. 
 In the afternoon the brigade 
 
 STEPHEN WELCH, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. C. 154th New York Vol 
 unteer Infantry. 
 
 Born at Groton. Tompkins Co., X. V. 
 June 14, 1824. 
 
 CHARLES W. McKAY, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. C, 154th New York Vol 
 unteer Infantry. 
 Bom at Mansfield, N. Y., Jan. 25, 1847. 
 
 was got in readiness for in 
 spection of said ridge. A 
 few of my company were 
 detailed to act as skirmish 
 ers. We advanced slowly 
 
 and cautiously, covering ourselves as best we could till we got within four rods of a 
 perpendicular palisade crowning the top of the ridge. I found protection behind a 
 rock, from which point I could occasionally see three or four of the enemy on top of 
 the hill, and had a chance to discharge my gun in that direction. Meanwhile the 
 brigade came up, our regiment on the right. They all went up to the perpendicular 
 palisade of rock, some going up the crevices and to death. After about half an hour 
 the bugler sounded a recall, and the brigade went down that hill much faster than 
 it had gone up, but soon we got into proper order again. About this time the major 
 came along and told me that he had seen a wounded soldier of my company, 
 between the lines, adding that I had better get someone to help me go up and get 
 him. Taking a tent-mate, Sergeant Charles W. McKay, we started out under a 
 heavy fire, not only from the enemy, but also from our own lines. We found 
 George Greek, a corporal of the color-guard, badly wounded in both legs. The poor 
 
 Coincident with the beginning of Grant s campaign in the Wilderness began the great campaign best 
 known as Sherman s March to the Sea. On the 7th of May, 1864, with a force of 100,000 men, General Sher 
 man advanced from Chattanooga, forcing back the Confederate General, Johnston, who had an army of 
 60,000 men. Dalton, Itesaea. Dallas, Lost Mountain, the Great and Little Kenesaw Mountains were the 
 stands taken by the retreating Confederates, and were engagements in which they were outnumbered, out- 
 Hanked and defeated. On the 22d of June, General Hood made an attack on the Union center and was 
 repulsed with heavy loss. Five days later, General Sherman attempted to carry the Great Kenesaw 
 Mountain, but was repulsed, losing 3,000 men. He then resumed his former tactics, outflanked the enemy 
 and compelled him to retreat across the Chattahoochee. By the 10th of July, the whole Confederate army 
 had retired within the defenses of Atlanta. 
 
323 
 
 "THE POOR FELLOW HAD BEEN 
 TRYING TO DRAG HIMSELF 
 
 ALONG WITH HIS HANDS." 
 
 fellow had been trying to drag himself along with his hands, and had sunk down, 
 overcome by faintness and exhaustion. McKay revived him with a drink from 
 his canteen, after which the corporal, raising himself on his elbow, asked if the colors 
 were safe. We assured him that they were, and he dropped down again, satisfied 
 and happy. We rolled him on a blanket, picked him up, and with bullets whizzing 
 about us, managed to get him off the field." 
 
324 
 
 HE CHECKED THE PANIC 
 
 ROBERT S. ROBERTSON, 
 
 1st Lieutenant, 93d N. Y. Volunteers 
 Highest rank attained: Colonel, 
 
 U. 8. Volunteers. 
 Born at Argyle, April 16, 1839. 
 
 THE engagement at Corbin s Creek was preliminary to 
 the battle of Spottsylvania. Lieutenant Robertson 
 gives an account of the very creditable conduct of his 
 brigade as well as his own experience on this occasion : 
 
 " By a rapid march early in the morning of May 8, 
 1864, the Second Army Corps, to which I was attached as 
 aide-de-camp, gained the road which the Fifth Corps had 
 just passed. We reached Todd s Tavern, Va., our desti 
 nation, at nine, when our Corps was aligned on the Brock 
 Road and across the Catherpen, to prevent an expected 
 attempt on the part of Lee to cut our marching column 
 in two. 
 
 "Soon our brigade was pushed out through the hot pine woods to a valley, 
 through which runs Corbin s Creek. Here on a brow of the upland we halted for a 
 time and the picket line was posted to guard the approaches in that direction. 
 Hardly had it been posted in a road which runs down to the valley, separated from 
 us by a stream bordered with a dense growth of bushes and tangled vines, before it 
 was thought necessary to extend the line further to our right, to cover another by 
 way there. That duty fell to me. 
 
 "The work was done, and I was riding down the road to an opening in the 
 bushes where the stream could be crossed, when I found a line of battle moving 
 toward me and toward our position. There was no escape except through the gap 
 they were rapidly approaching, and no time was to be lost, for if they reached the 
 opening before me, my march would end in Richmond as a prisoner of war. 
 
 "They evidently believed I was coming to surrender, for they invited me to join 
 them in terms the politest of which were: Come in. you damned Yank, we ll take 
 
 Spottsylvania On the 7th of May, 1864, after the battle of the Wilderness, the Union Army began its 
 march toward Spottsylvania, Va. Grant, who, on his way to Richmond, had hoped to pass around Lee s 
 right wing, found on the 8th the whole Confederate Army massing about a mile to the north and east of 
 Spottsylvania directly in his front. Little was done by either army on this and the next day, except the 
 strengthening of works and the posting of troops. On the 10th Grant resolved to attack Lee, and accord 
 ingly ordered attacks all along the line, the most notable of which was Upton s storming party. The 
 armies rested on the following day, on the evening of which Grant ordered an assault for the next morning. 
 After a difficult night march, Hancock pressed on and in a hand-to-hand fight rushed upon the enemy s 
 breastworks and captured a whole division of Ewell s Corps. Lee hastened re-enforcements to Ewell and 
 at this point, the "Bloody Angle," the battle raged all day and until 3 o clock on the morning of the 13th. 
 The Confederates tried vainly to dislodge the Union troops by massing heavily on Lee s broken line, but 
 finally took a position in rear of his former one, and there entrenched himself. 
 
 This last twenty-four hours fight closed the eight days battle around Spottsylvania, the Federal 
 Army losing 8,000 men and the Confederates about the same number. 
 
326 
 
 good care of you. But the opening was reached and I showed my horse s tail, 
 and his speed as we galloped up the hill. Scattering volleys were fired, but the rebels 
 were too excited to aim well, and shot wildly. At the top of the hill was a rail fence. 
 The horse leaped it finely, but the saddle girth had become loose, the saddle turned, 
 and I fell. To mount again was only the work of a moment, for the dread of a 
 rebel prison almost gives one wings. The volleys meant for me had roused the 
 brigade, which greeted me with hearty cheers as I rode into the line with my saddle 
 under my horse instead of under me. 
 
 " The attacking column appeared, but halted to make proper dispositions for the 
 attack, and we were ordered to a better position a little to the rear. Shortly after 
 another rebel brigade was discovered moving on our right flank, and we had to pre 
 pare for an attack on our right and the one in our front at the same time. Re-en 
 forcements were sent for, and we prepared to defend ourselves as best we could 
 until they should arrive. 
 
 "The brigades in front moved steadily up the slope, their muskets at a ready. 
 Gallant Colonel McKeen, of the Thirty-first Pennsylvania, had charge of that part 
 of that line with his own regiment and the Twenty-sixth Michigan. He sat on his 
 horse, calmly speaking words of encouragement to his men, many of whom were 
 recruits who had never been under fire before. 
 
 " The ki-yi-yi of the Confederates was not answered until their line was close 
 upon us. Then a volley answered their triumphant yells, sending many to their 
 long home, but they closed their ranks and marched steadily on. McKeen met 
 them with another volley, which drove them down the hill. Now commenced hot 
 work on the right. Here were the Sixty-first New York and the One hundred and 
 fortieth and One hundred and eighty-third Pennsylvania, under General Miles in 
 person. The Confederates charged and nearly drove in our center (the One hun 
 dred and eighty-third Pennsylvania) which broke and drifted to the rear. The staff 
 tried to drive and coax the frightened men. I at once seized the colors from the 
 frightened guard and rode with them in the face of the enemy to their former 
 place. This checked the panic and inspired the men. The regiment rallied on its 
 colors ; the line was saved, and our little brigade was proud, for we had whipped 
 two brigades of Mahone s Division before any re-enforcements reached us, and we 
 were received with hearty cheers as we filled the trenches. We had lost nearly two 
 hundred men, and were obliged to leave our dead upon the field." 
 
327 
 
 RESCUED HIS COMRADE 
 
 MOSES A. LUCE, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. E, Fourth Michigan Infantry. 
 Born in Adams Co., 111., in 1842. 
 
 "THE battle of Laurel Hill, as it is termed, was 
 in reality a part of the battle of Spottsyl- 
 vania, and is so known historically," writes 
 Sergeant Moses A. Luce, of Company E, Fourth 
 Michigan Infantry. "Laurel Hill was a slight 
 elevation situated in front of the right of our 
 army, and occupied by the Confederate army 
 behind earthworks throw r n up by them 
 during the two previous days. Early in 
 the morning of May 10, 1864, our regi 
 ment, containing at that time about one 
 hundred men, and the Twenty-second 
 Massachusetts Infantry, were designated 
 to lead an assault on the works in front of 
 our line. We were supported by the divi 
 sion draw r n up in line at a short distance back of us. The morning was foggy. We 
 were advanced close to our picket line upon a slight elevation, leaving a small valley 
 between us and the enemy. Our muskets were unloaded, bayonets fixed, and we 
 thus awaited the order to charge. A light wind suddenly broke the fog in front of 
 us, when we were hastily ordered forward without any supports and were imme 
 diately observed by the enemy, who opened fire upon us from their picket line and 
 also from their artillery. Charging rapidly toward the enemy and receiving a fire 
 of canister and grape from their cannon, the greater portion of which, however, 
 passed over our heads, we broke through their picket line, and paying no further 
 attention to them pushed on to the foot of the main breastworks of the enemy. At 
 this point the musketry of the enemy opened upon us with terrible effect. Five out 
 of seven of my company, of which I was in command, were struck by this fire, and 
 the assaulting column, being unsupported, fell back in disorder. 
 
 "Although not wounded, I fell prostrate into a ditch running down the hillside, 
 where I remained possibly a minute listening to the whiz of the balls over my head 
 and the cries of the wounded and the yells of the enemy. I was in comparative 
 safety in the ditch, but if I remained I would be taken prisoner, and the horrors of 
 Andersonville were then pictured in dreadful detail. I concluded to run the risk of 
 escaping, and, rising with my musket in my hand, a ball struck the stock, which I 
 held, and another ball cut the skin just over my eye. With all the speed I had I ran 
 down the hillside and across the valley, under the fire of the enemy, and succeeded 
 in reaching the first rifle pit of our pickets and leaped into it. The enemy leaped 
 over their works, and with yells started to charge down the slope, but they were met 
 by such a heavy fire that they soon retired. The cannonading continued at intervals 
 
328 
 
 On both sides with the musketry fire in broken volleys. Hearing a cry for help from 
 some wounded soldier who lay very close to the picket rifle pits of the enemy, I 
 asked who it was. Upon hearing that it was Sergeant La Fleur, I at once responded 
 to his call, dropping my musket, however, and running forward toward the spot 
 where he lay. When I reached him he was lying prostrate on the ground, with his 
 leg broken below the knee by a grapeshot, and was bleeding profusely. He was a 
 smaller man than I, and I tried to lift him in my arms, but finding that impossible 
 I kneeled down and told him to get his arms about my neck and get on my back, I 
 remaining on my hands and knees. Then rising, and in a stooping position, I carried 
 him rapidly to the rear of our line. Here I found several men and one or two 
 officers, and having stanched the flow of blood I returned to our rifle pits." 
 
 "LET S SAVE OUR COMRADE!" 
 
 OERGEANT HOWELL B. TREAT, of Company I, 
 ^ Fifty-second Ohio Infantry, won the ad 
 miration of his comrades and of his superior 
 officers by his conduct during the engagement 
 at Buzzard s Roost, Ga., May 11, 1864. He was 
 on the skirmish line braving a most galling 
 fire. Many a brave Union soldier lost his life 
 or was wounded on that occasion. In almost 
 every instance it was possible to bring the 
 injured to the rear, but at one time during the 
 charge one of Sergeant Treat s comrades was 
 wounded and left on the field close to the rebel 
 works. 
 
 The sergeant could not endure the sight of 
 one of his men, covered with blood and unable 
 to move, being made a target for further shots from the enemy. 
 
 " Boys, let us save our comrade ! " he exclaimed. Immediately two men an 
 nounced their willingness to accompany the sergeant. 
 
 Unheedful of the shower of bullets and terrific fire of musketry, they started for 
 the rebel works, but had not proceeded far when the two privates were stricken 
 down by well directed bullets, leaving Sergeant Treat alone to carry out the mission 
 of mercy. Three times this brave soldier was struck by rebel balls, one passing 
 through his hat above the right ear, and two going clear through the blouse, each 
 bullet inflicting a painful though not serious wound. However he persisted in 
 reaching his wounded comrade and succeeded in assisting him safely back to the 
 Union lines, Cheers greeted the gallant rescuer and rescued as they returned. 
 
 HOWELL B. TREAT, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. I, 52d Ohio Infantry. 
 Born at Painesville, Lake Co., O., in 1833. 
 
329 
 
 ON the morning of May 26, 1864, Colonel Thomas C. Devin led the Second Brigade, 
 First Division, Cavalry Corps, from Pole Cat Creek to Mangohick Church, Va., 
 where a halt was made for several hours. The march was then taken up again and 
 the Pamunkey River reached at a point opposite Hanover Town, Va., at daybreak 
 the following morning. After crossing the pontoon bridge the Federals went into 
 position on the hill to the right and in front of Hanover Town. The Seventeenth 
 Pennsylvania thereupon was ordered to the right to support a regiment of the First 
 Brigade, which then was advancing upon and skirmishing with the enemy. While a 
 squadron of the Ninth New York was ordered to the extreme right to cover the 
 flank of the Seventeenth Pennsylvania, as the Confederates showed no disposition 
 to engage the Union forces and retired into the woods, Colonel Devin ordered 
 part of the squadron of the Ninth New York to charge the retreating rebels. 
 Their pickets were driven across the creek and over the opposite hill, where nearly 
 a whole brigade of South Carolina Cavalry was attempting to get into position. 
 
 First Lieutenant John T. Rutherford, of Troop L, Ninth New York Cavalry, led 
 the charging column. Upon finding that the bridge had been destroyed, he jumped 
 his horse into the creek, forded it, followed by his command ; and, attacking the 
 rebels, drove them back on their reserve, where they became entangled with their 
 train. Taking advantage of the enemy s confusion and disorder, Lieutenant Ruther 
 ford demanded the surrender of the whole brigade. This bold demand so stag 
 gered the Confederates that they were unable to gather enough energy to resist it, 
 and were about to comply, when one of their officers with more courage than 
 discretion called on his men not to be cowards and to form into line. 
 
 In a second Lieutenant Rutherford was at the officer s side and with one well-direct 
 ed shot, which killed his horse, had him lying on the ground. The officer regained his 
 feet, however, and Rutherford then struck at him with his now empty pistol. The 
 Confederate s sabre parried the assault, but the next moment Rutherford landed a 
 telling blow on his opponent s head and placed him hors de combat. The rebel sur 
 rendered and was sent to the rear. 
 
 In explanation of this unique duel it should be stated that while fording the 
 creek Lieutenant Rutherford broke his belt and lost his sabre and that, therefore, 
 the pistol was his only weapon. 
 
 Two weeks prior to this incident, Lieutenant Rutherford distinguished himself in 
 a like manner, when during an engagement between General Merritt s Federal and 
 General Stuart s Confederate Cavalry Divisions at Yellow Tavern, Va., he led his 
 squadron in a dashing charge on the rebels, completely routing them and capturing 
 ninety prisoners. 
 
 For both these brave acts he was awarded the Medal of Honor. 
 
HE STRUCK AT HIM WITH HIS EMPTY PISTOL. 
 
831 
 
 The capture of their officer dismayed the rebels and they offered no further re 
 sistance. Then the small body of Union cavalry found itself in a peculiar position. 
 How could they think of successfully bringing to their lines such large numbers of 
 prisoners ? 
 
 Not desiring to take chances or run any risk, they picked out some 100 prisoners 
 and fell back upon the brigade. 
 
 Colonel Devin smiled as he received the victorious New Yorkers. 
 
 " Did you intend to take the whole brigade ? " he asked Lieutenant Rutherford. 
 
 "I would, if I had enough men to guard them," was the reply. 
 
 "I believe it," the Colonel observed as he shook the brave lieutenant s hand. 
 
 HEROIC ARTILLERY WORK OF A VOLUNTEER 
 
 JOHN P. BEECH, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. B, 4th N. Y. Infantry. 
 Born at Derbyshire, Eng., May 1. 1844. 
 
 x the 12th of May, during the battle of Spott- 
 sylvania," says Sergeant John P. Beech of 
 Company B, Fourth New Jersey Infantry, "General 
 Upton ordered a battery of artillery to take a position 
 on his right to sweep the large open field in front of 
 the Bloody Angle. Lieutenant Metcalf s Section of 
 Battery C, Fifth New Hampshire, immediately ad 
 vanced into position, but the enemy s fire was so 
 heavy the men and horses fell like leaves in autumn. 
 " Both our regiment and the rebels on our left 
 were now advancing toward the clearing in front of 
 the Angle, the objective point for each being Met 
 calf s unlucky section. Upon seeing the critical posi 
 tion they were in and that all the men except Lieu 
 tenant Metcalf and Sergeant Lines had been killed or wounded, I laid down my 
 musket and volunteered to go and help work the gun. I received permission to go, 
 and upon reaching it proceeded to serve ammunition. We had but four charges of 
 canister left, when a Mississippi regiment came charging down upon us, but we 
 worked that gun as fast as it was possible for three men to work it. The rebels came 
 to within 100 feet of us, and after giving them our four charges of canister we fol 
 lowed that up with spherical case and shell, until our ammunition was exhausted, 
 when Lieutenant Metcalf ordered up the limber, but as it was coming forward the 
 horses were shot down. A well-directed fire from the infantry behind a crest pre 
 vented the Mississippi regiment s farther advance, and for eighteen hours the fight 
 continued at this point. In the meantime a body of our regiment finally got the 
 piece off the field, leaving the limber there until the next day." 
 
332 
 
 OBEYED AN ILL-ADVISED ORDER 
 
 H 
 
 LEWIS S. WISNER, 
 
 Captain. Co. K. 124th New York Infantry. 
 Born at Middleton, N. \ ., Aug. 11, 1841. 
 
 E who stands ready to sacrifice himself rather 
 than endanger the lives of those entrusted to 
 his care is a most illustrious hero. The conduct of 
 Captain Lewis S. Wisner, of Company K, One hundred 
 and Twenty-fourth New York Infantry, engineer 
 officer on General J. H. Hobart Ward s staff during 
 the battle of Spottsylvania, brings him within that 
 type of lofty military heroes. 
 
 About nine o clock in the morning of May 12 he 
 received written orders from the division engineer 
 officer to lower the breastworks near the "Bloody 
 Angle" eighteen inches in front of one of the Union 
 batteries, which was engaged in raking the tree-tops 
 to dislodge the rebel sharpshooters. 
 
 One side of these works was occupied by the Con 
 federate, the other by the Union troops, and so severe was the fire at this portion 
 of the line that a large oak tree was completely cut in two by musketry fire alone. 
 Captain Wisner proceeded to the breastworks, placed his men in a position of 
 safety and reported his orders to the commanding officer of the battery. The latter 
 received the captain with scorn. 
 
 "Lower the works ?" he exclaimed. "I ll train my gun upon the man, and blow 
 him to Kingdom Come, who dares touch the works." 
 
 Captain Wisner handed him his written orders and retorted : " Here are my 
 orders, sir. They will be obeyed, guns or no guns." And he at once proceeded to 
 carry out his instructions. 
 
 The top of the works was capped with a heavy log raised a few inches to make a 
 loop through which the infantry might fire. Placing two men at each end of the 
 log, the captain ordered it to be removed. Having been wired at each end to the 
 adjoining logs and also on the side where the Confederates were, the removal of 
 the log could not be accomplished. 
 
 Captain Wisner was fully convinced that instant death awaited anyone who 
 attempted to remove the obstruction, and refused to expose his men to any such 
 danger. " I ll do it myself," he said. Provided with an ax obtained from one of his 
 detail, he leaped to the top of the breastworks and, with one well-directed blow, 
 severed one end of the log. He ran quickly to the other end and cut the log at that 
 point. He escaped unhurt, but his clothes were riddled with bullets in many places. 
 Thus the breastworks were lowered, the order obeyed, but someone had blundered ! 
 The commander of the battery asked Captain Wisner if he would not replace the 
 log in its former position, and the brave captain, impressed with the necessity of the 
 request, complied. " You have accomplished the most heroic act I ever witnessed, 
 Captain," said the battery commander as he grasped Wisner s hand. 
 
"I LL DO IT MYSELF," HE SAID. 
 
334 
 
 AVENGED HIS COMRADE S 
 DEATH 
 
 WILLIAM W. NOYES, 
 
 Private, Co. F, Second Vermont Infantry. 
 Born at Montpelier, Vt., 1861. 
 
 of the most dramatic incidents of the battle 
 of Spottsylvania is summed up in the follow 
 ing words by General L. A. Grant : 
 
 "The struggle at the Angle was emphatically 
 a hand-to-hand fight. Scores were shot down within 
 a few feet of the death-dealing muskets in the very 
 face of the enemy. Some men clubbed their mus 
 kets, and in some instances used clubs and rails. 
 In this way the brigade was engaged for eight 
 hours. The slaughter of the enemy was terrible. 
 Behind their traverses and in the pits and holes 
 they had dug for protection, the rebel dead were 
 
 found piled up on one another. Some of the wounded were almost entirely buried 
 by the dead bodies of their companions that had fallen upon them." 
 
 Private William W. Noyes, of the Second Vermont Infantry, augments the fore 
 going description by the following pen-picture of the part he played in this battle : 
 "We had reached the Bloody Angle a pile of logs, with a slight embankment 
 on the inner side. There the Johnnies were, just over the pile, while we lay in 
 the slout in front. Muskets were pushed through the openings between the logs 
 and fired right into the faces of our men. Suddenly, right near where I was 
 lying, one of the Confederates raised a white rag or handkerchief fastened to the 
 end of his musket. Some of our men took it for a flag of truce and one of them 
 raised his head over the breastworks, when with a cheer the Johnnies emptied their 
 muskets into the poor fellow, killing him instantly. 
 
 "Infuriated beyond control by such treachery and determined upon revenge, I 
 called on the men near me to load their pieces as rapidly as possible and hand them 
 up to me. Then I jumped to the top of the breastworks and killed the rebel near 
 est to me in such short order that the others became, for a moment, completely be 
 wildered, and were unable to use their weapons. My comrades handed up their 
 guns so rapidly that I was constantly kept busy. The enemy did not seem to regain 
 their wits until I had fired five or six shots. They then began shooting at me, 
 but for some reason they proved to be poor marksmen, and I continued to fire 
 at them until a bullet knocked my hat off, when I jumped back to my former 
 position. John Grant, one of my comrades, then mounted the embankment and 
 fired a shot, but was immediately killed by a Confederate bullet which pierced his 
 heart. Upon counting afterward, we found that fifteen guns had been emptied 
 during this brief and peculiar assault." 
 
335 
 
 LOST IN THE WOODS -JOINED ANOTHER REGIMENT 
 
 WILLIAM H. WILCOX, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. G,9th New Hampshire Infantry. 
 Born in Lempster, Sullivan Co., N. H. 
 
 |N the night of May 11, 1864, the Army of 
 the Potomac was encamped facing the 
 entrenched works of the enemy at Spottsylvania, 
 and ready for a charge at daybreak. I was de 
 tailed on the picket line and took my position on 
 the extreme left." 
 
 The foregoing is related by Sergeant William 
 H. Wilcox, of Company G, Ninth New Hampshire 
 Infantry, who, recalling an interesting incident 
 from the battlefield, continues : 
 
 "At daybreak the charge was made, the pick 
 ets being instantly converted into a skirmish line 
 and sent in advance of the corps to ascertain the 
 position of the enemy s picket line. We located 
 the Confederates strongly entrenched just across 
 a creek in the woods and at once engaged their 
 pickets, who, in spite of a stout resistance, were 
 soon swept away by the advancing corps. 
 
 " During this conflict Lieutenant Rice, the only commissioned officer with my 
 company, my brother and several others were wounded. 
 
 "I stopped long enough to assure myself that my brother was able to walk and 
 take care of himself, and so, bidding him good-bye, started with a corporal and a 
 private to overtake my company, which I had seen entering the woods. 
 
 " We pressed on through the dense forest, where solid shot and exploding shells 
 were screaming over our heads, and cutting twigs, limbs and even great tree-tops, 
 which fell in showers about us. Thus marching for about an hour with the roar of 
 battle as our only guide, it dawned upon us that we were lost that we were sepa 
 rated from our regiment, away from our post of duty during the engagement and 
 without leave. Here we were, three able-bodied men idle, helpless, while our com 
 rades were fighting a great battle ! 
 
 " Naturally we were anxious to rejoin our regiment and share our comrades fate. 
 Presently we came upon the Sixth New Hampshire, which was brigaded with us. 
 I asked and received permission to fight with that regiment and we three were 
 determined to do our duty that day promptly and well. 
 
 "At night, when I asked the commanding officer to direct us to our regiment, he 
 not only complied, but added that, if we needed assistance in accounting for our 
 selves, he would gladly help us out. He subsequently paid us a high compliment 
 through the commander of our regiment." 
 
336 
 
 CAPTURED A WHOLE COLOR-GUARD 
 
 JOHN H. WEEKS, 
 
 Private, Co. II. 15 2d N. Y. Vol. 
 
 Born at Hampton, Windom Co., 
 
 Conn., March 15, 1845. 
 
 N the night of the llth of May," says Private John 
 H. Weeks, "we were relieved by the Fifth Corps 
 on Laurel Ridge, where we had been lying in line of 
 battle with the Pennsylvania Bucktails of the Fifth 
 Corps massed in our rear, expecting to charge the 
 enemy s works, which were in a strong position on a 
 parallel ridge. But the woods caught fire between our 
 line and the enemy s position, and thus caused a post 
 ponement of the charge. 
 
 " The fire had lighted up our skirmish line so brightly 
 that we had lost six or seven men in my company by 
 the enemy s sharpshooters. We lay in this position 
 until about 9 o clock P. M., when we were relieved by 
 some of the Fifth Corps, with orders to move to the 
 rear as silently as possible; not to allow our cups or bay 
 onets to rattle or make a-ny unnecessary noise. We marched all night through the 
 mud and rain, and I don t think I ever saw it any darker. 
 
 "About break of day on the morning of the 12th, we were halted in line of battle 
 with the orders: In place, rest. The report had been in circulation during the 
 night that we w r ere going to relieve the Sixth Corps on the reserve, that we might 
 have a chance to rest, as we had been under fire almost constantly since we crossed 
 the Rapidan, six days before. We were nearly worn out for want of sleep and food. 
 When we halted we could see the lights of camp-fires shining through the fog in our 
 front, w 7 hich I supposed belonged to the Sixth Corps. 
 
 "As soon as we were ordered to rest, I threw myself down into the mud and fell 
 asleep. In a few minutes I was awakened by the arrival of an aide with an order 
 for General Hancock, who happened to be near our regiment. I heard him give the 
 order, as near as I can remember, as follows : General Meade sends his compli 
 ments, and directs that you move your Corps forward and occupy those wwks. 
 
 "We were called to attention and ordered forward, and were in the second line 
 of battle following close behind the first. Soon the rebel skirmishers commenced 
 firing and then for the first time I began to realize that we had work before us. It 
 was now getting quite light, but the fog prevented us from seeing far in advance. 
 We soon came to an open field with a gradual ascent, on the top of which the heavy 
 timber .had been felled. The boughs were sharpened and wires were stretched 
 through the tree-tops. Beyond this obstruction were the enemy s works, which con 
 sisted of a ditch eight feet wide and nearly as deep, with a row of long poles set into 
 the ground in front, their sharpened points about breast-high. Immediately in rear 
 
337 
 
 of the ditch were the breastworks, which were formed of earth thrown up against a 
 facing of logs, thus making the distance from the bottom of the ditch to the top of 
 the works from twelve to fourteen feet, without the chance of a foothold. 
 
 "As soon as we came near to the top of the hill, the enemy opened upon us with 
 canister and musketry. Their artillery had been massed at this point with about 
 thirty guns, all double-shotted with canister. It did not seem that a line of men 
 could possibly reach those works and pass those obstructions alive. By the time we 
 reached the ditch there was no line of battle, but a rushing mass of yelling Yankees. 
 We succeeded in wrenching the sharpened poles from their places, and used them 
 in crossing the ditch and scaling the works. The point of the rebel works upon 
 which the charge was made was an angle in the shape of the letter V, projecting 
 out of their line. Our left struck the right wing of the angle, so that when we got 
 inside of the works we could see the rebels on the left wing opposing our men there, 
 and, as we advanced, it brought us in the enemy s rear. 
 
 "When we had sent our prisoners to the rear, we still advanced, but very slowly, 
 on account of our broken ranks. About this time I saw the enemy give way on the 
 left wing, and among the rest was a color-guard surrounding its flag. These men 
 fired their muskets at us in a volley and broke for their rear. They had to pass 
 down our front to get out of the angle. I had discharged my gun, but, making up 
 my mind to have those colors, I ran up to the sergeant and snatched the flag from 
 him, threw it on the ground and put my foot on it. I cocked my empty gun and 
 told them that the first man that moved out of his tracks would be shot, and ordered 
 them to throw down their guns and surrender. The sergeant said to them : Boys, 
 they have our colors ; let us go with them. They threw down their guns and 
 marched to the rear as my prisoners. I recrossed the works and started for our 
 rear, where I met General Hancock and his staff going to the front. When I saluted 
 him, he asked : What colors are those you have there ? I told him. Are these 
 your prisoners ? the general asked, glancing at the Confederates. I said they were. 
 The general looked at one of his staff, smiling a little incredulously, for there were 
 five or six lusty rebels, while I was only a lad about eighteen years old. Then he 
 said : Deliver your prisoners to the provost marshal ; write your name, company 
 and regiment with the date of the action, on a slip of paper, pin it on your colors 
 and turn them in to the adjutant of your regiment. " 
 
 A few months later Private Weeks received his Medal of Honor. 
 
338 
 
 AT THE "BLOODY ANGLE" 
 
 CHARLES H. TRACY, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. A, 37th Massachusetts Volunteers. 
 Born in Jewett City, Conn., Oct. 3, 1833. 
 
 OERGEANT CHARLES H. TRACY, of Company 
 ^ A, Thirty-seventh Massachusetts Vol 
 unteers, relates two brave adventures, as 
 follows : 
 
 "At the Bloody Angle, Spottsylvania, 
 May 12th, our corps, the Sixth, supported 
 the Second in the famous charge against 
 Johnson s Division of the Confederate Army. 
 During the thickest of the fight, Lieutenant 
 Wellman was badly wounded, and I was 
 ordered to take him to the rear. It was 
 about a mile to the hospital, and the shot 
 and shell came so thick and fast that it was 
 
 extremely hazardous to venture across with a wounded comrade, but I succeeded in 
 carrying out the order, and after placing the lieutenant in the hospital, I came 
 safely back through the fire. Upon reaching my company, Lieutenant Sparks con 
 gratulated me, saying : Tracy, I hope you will not have to cross that field on a like 
 errand again. Scarcely had he finished speaking, when a ball pierced his left breast 
 and he fell into my arms. We thought he was mortally wounded, but discovering 
 signs of life in him, decided to take him to the hospital, without waiting for 
 orders." 
 
 "At one o clock on the morning of April 2, 1864," continues Sergeant Tracy, "my 
 regiment broke camp near Petersburg, Va., and moved up to the enemy s front. 
 Brigade pioneers and sharpshooters were ordered to rush in advance of the brigade. 
 The pioneers were to remove all obstacles in front of the enemy s works, while the 
 sharpshooters covered the parapet. I was at that time detailed as sergeant of the 
 Third Brigade pioneers, and was second in command in the assault. The part of 
 the line we were expected to carry was made of enclosed works, connected by 
 breastworks of great strength with outer obstructions in the form of two lines of 
 chevaux de frise and two lines of abatis. It was impossible to take the works while 
 the enemy defended them, unless the several lines of obstruction were first removed. 
 "As Lieutenant Shiver was wounded early in the attack the command fell on 
 me, and in directing the removal of the first two lines of the obstructions I received 
 a shot over my ear and one in my left side ; and while removing the third line, a 
 bullet shattered my right knee-joint, costing me, subsequently, the loss of my leg. 
 Supporting myself on the abatis, I gave my orders to my men, and at last had the 
 satisfaction of seeing them carry away the obstruction, thus enabling General Ed 
 wards to rout the enemy and cut the railroad and telegraph. The flag of the 
 Thirty-seventh Massachusetts was the first to wave over the enemy s works." 
 
Painted by E. Packbauer. 
 
 Copyrighted 1901. 
 
 THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS. 
 
341 
 
 BETWEEN TWO LINES OF FIRE 
 
 ""THE battle of Resaca, Ga., May 13 to 16, 
 1864, occurred during Sherman s cam 
 paign in Georgia when General Sherman 
 had been confronted by General Johnston 
 at Dalton, and had forced him to fall back 
 upon Resaca. 
 
 During the engagement of the 15th an 
 act of most conspicuous gallantry was per 
 formed by Major H. Edwin Tremain. This 
 officer had not been assigned to duty in Sherman s 
 army, but w^as attached to the personal staff of 
 Major-General Sickles, who was visiting the 
 command under confidential orders from the 
 President. With his chief s permission, the major 
 volunteered for staff duty under General Butterfield, and 
 rendered important service in command of a brigade. 
 
 By an unfortunate accident or misunderstanding during 
 the battle, the brigade led by General Harrison was fired 
 upon by that of General Coburn, and was threatened with 
 the utter confusion and disaster which are the usual and 
 natural result of such a blunder. Major Tremain rode 
 between the lines in front of Coburn s command, knock 
 ing down the muskets of the front rank with his sword and hands ; he stopped the 
 firing, saved the brigade from destruction, and the assault from failure. 
 
 After the battle and as Major Tremain was about to leave, General Butterfield 
 gave expression to his appreciation of the major s services in the following letter : 
 "As you are about to leave us this morning to resume your tour with General Sickles, 
 with a feeling of sincere regret at losing your valuable services, it is a great pleasure 
 to thank you for them. Your devotion and energy in camp and on the march, your 
 gallantry at our assault of the enemy s works at Resaca, Ga., and your genial qualities 
 have endeared you to us all." 
 
 V 
 
 H. EDWIN TREMAIN, 
 
 Major and A. D. C.. U. A. Vols. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Bvt. 
 Brig-Gen. 
 
 Born in Xew York City. 
 
 Resaca, (*a., was one of the stands taken by the Confederates, under Johnston, who were retreating 
 southward before Sherman s Army on its march to the sea. The battle at this place, May 13-16, 1864, was 
 fiercely contested. 
 
 On the 13th Sherman deployed his line of battle against the town, and on the 14th he closed in, envelop 
 ing it. Skirmishing occurred all day, until late in the afternoon, when Schofleld s Corps was heavily 
 engaged and driven back some little distance. By a sharp movement, Sherman captured the town of 
 Calhoun, Johnston s base and reserves, six miles below Eesaca. 
 
 Heavy fighting continued on the 15th, in which McPherson s and Hooker s Corps were actively 
 engaged. Meanwhile Johnston arranged to make a strong attack on the Federal left ; but finding too strong 
 opposition, he abandoned the idea and left Resaca with his army on the night of the 15th. 
 
 The losses in killed and wounded were about 3,000 on each side. 
 
342 
 
 RESCUED BY A DRUMMER 
 
 WILLIAM LORD, 
 
 Drummer, Co. C. 40th Massachusetts Infantry. 
 Born at Bradford, England, Feb. 1, 1841. 
 
 "\ A /"HEN the order, "Every man for himself !" 
 " is given and organized action has ceased, 
 then has come the critical time for the soldier 
 on the battlefield. Deprived of the directing 
 hand of his superior officer the soldier finds 
 himself thrown upon his own wit and resources 
 to extricate himself from a generally desperate 
 situation. An incident like that occurred dur 
 ing the engagement at Drewry s Bluff, Va., 
 May 16, 1864. 
 
 Early in the morning the Union forces had 
 carried the bluff, captured the enemy s camp 
 and driven the Confederates into the woods. 
 The Federal brigade then formed line in an 
 open clearing extending from the top of the 
 bluff to the Centralia Road, a distance of about 
 500 yards. 
 
 The Confederates had planted a battery to the left of the Union line, and at this 
 point were able to greatly annoy their opponents. It became imperative to silence 
 this rebel battery, and three companies of the Fortieth Massachusetts Infantry were 
 sent under command of Major Jenkins to the Centralia Road to accomplish this 
 task. Subsequently the three companies took up a position opposite the battery on 
 this road, and from behind a hastily constructed breastwork of rails poured such 
 effective fire into the rebels they could neither load nor discharge their pieces. Pres 
 ently the Confederates changed their tactics and made a charge, and also sent a 
 large body of troops to flank the small force behind the breastwork. The firing 
 now became murderous. Soon the brave Massachusetts men found themselves short 
 of ammunition and had to rifle the cartridge boxes of their dead and wounded com 
 rades to obtain the necessary supply. The rebels charged the breastwork and en 
 gaged in a hand-to-hand fight with those on the other side. By that time the flank 
 ing rebels were approaching and the situation grew more desperate every minute, 
 especially since the Union men s ammunition was now about completely exhausted. 
 Realizing that further resistance would be folly, Major Jenkins gave the order : 
 "Every man for himself !" Then confusion reigned supreme. 
 
 A description of what followed is now given in the words of Drummer William 
 Lord, of Company C, who earned his medal on that occasion : 
 
 " It looked as if not one of us would be able to get away," he says. "Presently 
 Sergeant Weaver ran up to me, grabbed me by the shoulder and exclaimed : Bill, 
 come on or we will be captured or killed ! 
 
343 
 
 "We went. Over the fence and into the woods we ran toward our brigade, 
 stumbling over the bodies of our wounded and dead comrades. There were the 
 bodies of Privates Russel and Reed, friends of ours. Only the night before Reed told 
 me that he felt as if he would be killed soon. If I am, Bill, said he, go through my 
 pockets and send the few belongings I have to my family. There he was, poor fellow 
 dead ! I stopped long enough to carry out his request. I went through his pockets 
 and took charge of everything he carried. Weaver performed the same act for 
 Russell. A short distance farther on we ran across Rankin, a private in my own 
 
 "LYING ON THE GROUND WITH AN UGLY WOUND IN THE JAW." 
 
 company, who was lying on the ground with an ugly wound in the jaw. A rebel 
 had first shot and then tried to bayonet him. Though wounded, the brave fellow 
 parried the thrust and with one blow with the butt of his rifle smashed the skull of 
 the rebel and killed him on the spot. We took Rankin along with us. When we 
 reached the place where we hoped to find our brigade, we discovered that it had 
 been forced to retreat and that now we were between two lines of battle under 
 heavy fire. We paused a second or so to decide what course to pursue, when I 
 heard loud and agonizing cries for help. Looking about me I saw Colonel Eldridge 
 G. Floyd, of the Third New York, shot through both legs, utterly unable to move. 
 
344 
 
 The colonel complained bitterly that his men should leave and desert him in that 
 predicament. I lifted him on my back and carried him to the field hospital about 
 half a mile away. This place soon got within range of the rebel rifles and caught 
 fire. I quickly got a stretcher and with the help of Private Patrick Leriahan, of my 
 company, carried the colonel out of the blazing building over field and fences to the 
 Richmond and Petersburg Pike, where we halted. Here we had to do some of our 
 hardest fighting not against the rebels but with a disorganized mob of our own 
 men, who, in their mad haste to retreat before the advancing enemy, came near 
 tramping the wounded colonel to death. After many a hard struggle and more 
 than one narrow escape, we finally were successful in carrying off our wounded 
 officer, landing him safely at the hospital some miles in the rear." 
 
 A BRAVE COLONEL AND HIS BRAVE MARE 
 
 WHILE part of Sheridan s cavalry was being thrown 
 across the Greenbriar River, Va., May 22, 1864, 
 Colonel Henry Capehart, of the First West Virginia 
 Cavalry, performed a most daring rescue. 
 
 The enemy s sharpshooters were menacing the 
 passage of the army, and, with a view to dislodging 
 these sharpshooters, the command forded the river 
 just above the falls. 
 
 Being an expert rider, and having a mount well- 
 known in the army for its swimming qualities, Col 
 onel Capehart, whenever a fording was to be made, 
 invariably took up a station some hundred yards 
 below the proposed crossing, his experience being 
 that on such occasions both men and horses frequently 
 lost their heads, thus causing the loss of life, and on 
 more than one occasion his foresight in taking up 
 this position enabled him to help many an unlucky 
 rider. 
 
 A few moments after a platoon of Troop B had 
 entered the water, one of the men, Private Watson 
 
 Karr, was swept out of his saddle and down the swift stream. What followed is 
 told by Colonel Capehart : 
 
 "When I started, I did not know that the falls were so near, until I saw Karr 
 disappear over them. Being in the swift current, in the midst of a swollen river, I 
 
 HENRY CAPEHART, 
 
 Colonel. 1st West Virginia Cavalry. 
 Highest rank attained: Brigadier-Gen 
 eral, U.S. V. 
 Born at Cambria, Pa., Mar. 18, 1825. 
 
I REACHED OUT AND GRASPED HIM. 
 
346 
 
 had only to clutch my mare by the mane with the left hand and the pommel of the 
 saddle with my right, when we also took the plunge and oh, such a dive ! I thought 
 I should never reach the surface again ; when I did I had only time for a breath or 
 two before the second plunge. Either this was not so great a fall as the first or I 
 was becoming accustomed to deep diving ; at any rate I did not mind it so much as 
 the first. 
 
 "When I came up the second time I found I was close to Karr and also that 
 Minie balls were uncomfortably numerous. I reached out and grasped him, drew 
 him across my mare s neck, and turned her head towards the south shore. The 
 north bank was quite near to us, but so rocky and precipitous, with a heavy current 
 fretting against us, that I had no alternative but to swim my mare to the south side. 
 Fortunately, I struck a bar and drew my man along until we stood upon firm ground, 
 where we were a little under cover from the enemy s fire and could take a much 
 needed rest. After vomiting a great quantity of water Karr regained consciousness. 
 When I asked him some questions, however, he was not able to reply and could not 
 speak. After a few minutes I remarked : Watty, you have lost your hat. He 
 slapped his hands down upon his trousers. Yes, he said, and my pocketbook, too. 
 He had recovered his power of speech." 
 
 RESCUED HIS LIEUTENANT 
 
 DURING the hotly contested battle of Drewry s 
 Bluff, when the Union troops were compelled 
 to fall back, a small squad of Federal soldiers - 
 fifteen in all were left on the field. They were 
 members of Company C, of the Twenty-first Con 
 necticut Infantry, under command of Lieutenant 
 Button, who, having no orders to fall back, had no 
 choice but to brave the situation. Rapidly, how 
 ever, their position became more and more unten 
 able ; the enemy was fast closing in on the little 
 band ; already several of them had fallen under 
 the increasing murderous fire from the Confeder 
 ates. Lieutenant Button finally was forced to 
 order a retreat, but had no sooner uttered the words, * 
 
 than, struck by a bullet, he sank to the ground. Sergeant Robert A. Gray was 
 five rods away from him when he noticed the Lieutenant s absence, and, looking back, 
 saw that the officer was disabled and sure to fall into the hands of the enemy, who 
 were no more than twenty rods away from him. With a few leaps he was by his side 
 and found him shot through the leg. He helped him up and managed to retreat 
 with him. The brave sergeant assisted the wounded lieutenant to a place of com 
 parative safety and then hurried back to his regiment. 
 
 ROBERT A. GRAY, 
 
 Sergeant, Company C, 21st Conn. Infantry. 
 Born at Philadelphia, Pa., September 21, 1831. 
 
347 
 
 RESCUED COMRADES FROM A STRANDED TRANSPORT 
 
 GEORGE W. BRUSH, 
 
 Lieutenant, Co. B, 34th U. S. Colored Troops. 
 
 Highest rank attained : Captain. 
 Born at West Hill, N. Y., Oct. 4, 1842. 
 
 /"^OLONEL JAMES MONTGOMERY, commanding the 
 ^^ Thirty-fourth U. S. Colored Troops, was on 
 May 24, 1864, ordered to join an expedition under 
 General Hatch to make a demonstration at Ashe- 
 poo River, S. C., and to burn the railroad trestle 
 across the marsh at that point. The troop steamer 
 Boston, detailed to carry and land the regiment 
 at Mosquito Inlet, was of too deep draft for the 
 steamboat wharf and so the troops were ferried 
 to her in small boats. " When about two-thirds of 
 our regiment were aboard the steamer," writes Lieu 
 tenant George W. Brush, " orders were given to get 
 under way. I fastened my small boat to the stern 
 of the vessel and soon we were steaming up stream. 
 Mine was the only small boat taken along, the 
 balance of the regiment and all the other small 
 boats being left behind in the hurry to get away. 
 
 " In the fog and darkness of the night the pilot of the Boston carried us about 
 five miles beyond Mosquito Inlet, and the first thing we knew we were hard aground 
 on an oyster bed and at high tide. 
 
 " Soon the commander of a small Union gunboat, which we had passed about a 
 mile below r , hailed us, and suggested to our colonel that twenty-five well-armed men 
 be sent over to his boat, where they could do good work as sharpshooters to prevent 
 the Confederates from planting a battery and shelling us from opposite the point 
 where we were stranded. He also promised assistance by bringing into action his 
 heavy guns. 
 
 " The suggestion met with the approval of Colonel Montgomery and I was detailed 
 with twenty-five men from the Fourth Massachusetts Cavalry to board the gunboat. 
 In addition, we were joined by four volunteers, cavalry regulars, armed with Spencer 
 carbines. Hardly had we proceeded half way to the gunboat, when the Confederates 
 opened on the stranded Boston. The commander of the gunboat then suddenly 
 changed his mind, and said that he did not wish to take undue risks. As the last 
 one of my men clambered aboard his boat, I stood up in the small craft and called 
 for volunteers to return with me to rescue our 400 companions on the grounded 
 transport. Four cavalrymen at once answered my appeal and jumped into the small 
 boat with me, each taking a pair of oars, They were William Downey, John Duffy, 
 David L. Gifford and Patrick Scanlan, all privates of Troop B, Fourth Massachusetts 
 Cavalry, all soldiers, brave and noble. 
 
348 
 
 " While pulling toward the Boston, we could see some of the frightened soldiers 
 jumping overboard to swim ashore. As we came alongside the transport, the colonel 
 
 "BEFORE WE LEFT, WE SET FIRE TO THE CRAFT." 
 
 said to me : Lieutenant, everything now depends on you. Yours is the only boat 
 we have. I thought at first that my boat would be swamped, but the men behaved 
 well as soon as they realized that there was no need of hurry. Then we began the 
 
349 
 
 work of ferrying our comrades from the steamer to the south side of the river, taking 
 about thirty men to a load. Meanwhile the enemy continued their firing, with our 
 boat as their chief target. Now and then a shot would kill a man and several times 
 we came near foundering ; but at last we got them all safely ashore. Before we left 
 the Boston and the large quantity of stores which she carried, besides about eighty 
 horses, we set fire to the craft and saw her burn to the water s edge." 
 
 Lieutenant Brush and Privates Downey, Duffy, Clifford and Scanlan all received 
 the Medal of Honor. 
 
 CHARGED TO THE MUZZLES OF THE ENEMY S GUNS 
 
 PROM May 4 to June 4, 1864, the Army of the 
 Potomac had been fighting desperately from 
 the Rapidan to the Chickahominy, General Lee 
 moving on defensive, parallel lines, falling back 
 from one stronghold to another. Assault after 
 assault upon the field-works of the enemy, by di 
 visions and army corps, marked the line of the Fed 
 eral advance, while storming columns of picket 
 troops dashed themselves against the breastworks 
 of the Confederate Army. 
 
 By a series of strategic movements, always in 
 the face of the enemy, the army had moved from 
 the North Anna to a position south of the Pamun- 
 key River, confronting General Lee, with his army 
 strongly entrenched on the Chickahominy, behind 
 the outer defenses of Richmond. The field of oper 
 ations during the last days of May and the first 
 
 days of June covered an area of country diversified by open plains, running streams, 
 deep ravines, morass and wooded ridges. After crossing the Pamunkey at Hanover 
 Town, about twenty miles northeast from Richmond, the line of battle was formed 
 with the Sixth Corps on the right, the Second Corps in the center and the Fifth 
 Corps on the left, with Sheridan s cavalry as vanguard and rear-guard. The Ninth 
 Corps was left on the north side of the Pamunkey, to guard the wagon-trains. 
 
 A successful assault upon the enemy s cavalry, at Hawe s Shop Cross-Roads, on 
 May 28th, a few miles in front of Hanover Town, by the cavalry divisions of Gregg 
 and Custer, was followed by a reconnoissance in force on the following day, to 
 develop the position of General Lee. The right of the lines was pushed to Hanover 
 Court House, the center towards Totopotomy Creek, and the left was advanced three 
 miles forward on the Shady Grove Road. On May 31st, the Confederate cavalry and 
 
 EDWARD HILL, 
 
 Captain, Co. K, Kith Michigan Infantry. 
 Highest rank attained : Bvt. Col., r. S. V. 
 
350 
 
 infantry at Cold Harbor were driven from their entrenchments by Sheridan s cavalry 
 and the position held until re-enforced by the arrival of the Sixth Corps, which at 
 midnight was moved from its position on the right six miles southeast from Hanover 
 Court House, to the extreme left of the line, near Cold Harbor. 
 
 This apparent concentration of forces at Cold Harbor was detected by General 
 Lee at daylight and General R. H. Anderson s Corps was moved from the left to the 
 right of the Confederate line. As Anderson s troops, in the gray light of the dawn, 
 were seen passing in front of the Fifth Corps, on the Federal center, General War 
 ren was ordered to attack the marching columns in flank. The skirmish line of 
 Bartlett s Third Brigade, under Captain Edward Hill, Sixteenth Michigan, which 
 had been on picket duty through the night, occupying an advanced position on the 
 left of the Fifth Corps, nearest the enemy, charged swiftly and steadily through the 
 intervening timber and underbrush, up the slope to the enemy s works. As the line 
 reached and carried the rifle pits, a destructive fire of artillery and musketry opened 
 on front and flank, but the line pressed unfalteringly on, driving the enemy over 
 their line of entrenchments. 
 
 This spirited reconnoissance of the skirmish line having developed the presence 
 of the enemy in force behind his works, the attack was not pressed, but the regi 
 ments of the brigade that had advanced in close support of the skirmish line held 
 throughout the day, against the repeated assaults of the enemy, the ground so gal 
 lantly captured by Captain Hill s line, which was composed of gallant men detailed 
 from each regiment of the brigade. During this charge Captain Hill was severely 
 wounded, but he remained with his men until they fell back in the evening. 
 
 TUNNELED HIS WAY TO A WOUNDED OFFICER 
 
 "Two HUNDRED and seventy Union soldiers charged a Confederate force of 15,000 
 men ! It was at the battle of Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, 1864 Thirteen thou 
 sand brave Union lives were sacrificed on that bloody battlefield. 
 
 No fiercer struggle was there during the entire war, no more heroic deed than 
 that desperate charge. 
 
 To give an idea of the battle a description from the pen of a Confederate officer 
 is submitted in the following. It is the enemy who says : 
 
 "It was daylight. I had just finished a cup of coffee and was lighting my pipe 
 when someone shouted : Look ! Look at our pickets ! 
 
 " Our picket line was running toward us in wild confusion. I was completely 
 taken by surprise. Not a gun had been fired ; no enemy was in sight. A few 
 seconds later I realized what was going on. The Federals were approaching. In 
 five lines of battle they emerged from the woods at double-quick. Then the battle 
 began. The Georgia and Alabama brigades opened with musketry and artillery. 
 
351 
 
 The Federal first line wavered back upon 
 the second and both pressed back the third 
 line. Finally all five lines were in disorder. 
 The Union men retreated to the woods. A 
 second time they advanced. They had no 
 caps on their guns and were unable to fire 
 a single shot. On the other hand our 
 artillery fired double-shotted canister from 
 two rifled guns at a distance of a hundred 
 yards and was decimating the Federals as 
 they advanced at an awful rate, mowing 
 them down by the dozens. At every dis 
 charge of our guns, heads, arms, legs, guns 
 were seen flying high in the air. But we 
 were opposing a determined and gallant 
 foe. They closed the gaps in their lines as 
 fast as we made them, and on they came, 
 their lines swaying like great waves of the 
 sea. Thus one upheaval from the rear 
 would follow another and hurry nearer and 
 
 nearer to the murderous fire from our works. So terrible was the slaughter of the 
 brave Union cohorts that at some points their dead and wounded were piled upon 
 each other five or six feet high their blood literally drenched the field. For fully 
 an hour and a half the Federals charged again and again only to meet the same 
 fate. Never before did I see such invincible resolution. Finally the Federals passed 
 out of sight and we prepared for the next assault. 
 
 " Twenty minutes later it was reported that the battle was to be renewed. Look 
 ing out over the works I saw what I believed to be one regiment with a single flag 
 and a single officer with drawn sword in the lead calling on his men to follow him. 
 
 " It was the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts the only regiment which obeyed the 
 order to return to that bloody field. And, as I subsequently learned, there were 
 but two hundred and seventy men in that regiment at that. Not since the famous 
 charge of the six hundred at Balaklava has a more heroic act been performed. 
 
 ORLANDO P. BOSS, 
 
 Corporal, Co. F, 25th Massachusetts Infantry. 
 Born at Fitchburg, Mass., July 30, 1844. 
 
 Cold Harbor, Va. After the battle of Spottsylvania, General Grant placed his army across 
 the Pamunkey River and moved to Hanover Town. On the first day of June, 1864, he began the battle of 
 Cold Harbor, Va., a contest which he afterward acknowledged to be a mistake. 
 
 Lee s forces were strongly posted at Cold Harbor and the Federals were repulsed. On the 3d, Grant 
 renewed the attack and was again repulsed, losing nearly 13,000 men. In all of the engagements at and 
 around this point from June 1st to the 12th, the Union forces suffered a loss of over 14,000 men, while the 
 Confederate loss was about 1,700. 
 
 Thereupon Grant quickly changed his base to the James River with a view to the capture of Peters 
 burg and the conquest of Richmond from the southeast. 
 
352 
 
 "With this eulogy of the glorious conduct of the regiment from the Old Bay 
 State in mind, the writer is now acquainted with an incident which occurred during 
 the battle and centers around a member of the same regimental organization. 
 
 "It was after the bloody repulse of one of the attacks. The brigade had fallen 
 back to a line of earthworks about one hundred yards from the enemy s position. 
 
 Presently a 
 bullet whiz 
 zed through the 
 air and struck 
 Lieutenant Daly, 
 of the Twenty-fifth 
 Massachusetts, squarely in 
 the breast. He fell, mortally wounded, 
 to the ground about fifteen yards in 
 front of the Union lines. Half way 
 between the lines was a rifle pit, where Corporal Orlando P. Boss and Privates 
 Aldrich and Battles had taken up a position. 
 
 " The former saw the lieutenant fall and heard his piteous cries for water. Un 
 mindful of the terrific hail of bullets, Corporal Boss crawled out of his hole and 
 approached the wounded officer near enough to be able to throw him his well-filled 
 canteen. Returning to the pit he found that Aldrich had been wounded during his 
 
 "THEY USED JHEIR SPOONS. 1 
 
353 
 
 brief absence. To remain longer in the entrenchment was almost inevitable death ; 
 the plucky corporal therefore resolved to attempt to get over the breastworks. 
 
 " Don t leave us here, if you go/ the wounded soldier moaned. It had never 
 entered Boss mind to desert his comrade in the hour of peril. Yet the poor fellow 
 was so weak from loss of blood that he could not have walked a dozen paces 
 unassisted. 
 
 "Boss quietly took his wounded comrade upon his back and with his heavy 
 and precious burden staggered through the shower of bullets in front of three Con 
 federate lines of battle toward the breastworks. Miraculous as it may seem, Boss 
 accomplished his noble task and carried the wounded soldier off the field in safety. 
 Boss now determined upon the rescue of another life that of the wounded officer. 
 The permission to carry out the attempt was readily granted by General Stannard 
 and several men of the regiment volunteered to assist. It was impossible to bring 
 the dying officer over the breastworks with any assurance of success, and it was 
 therefore decided to first carry Lieutenant Daly to the rifle pit and thence to the 
 Union lines through a tunnel dug through the works. Accordingly, four men were 
 at once sent to work to do the digging, while Boss and Private William D. Blanchard 
 started on their extremely hazardous mission of mercy. They crawled over the 
 works and in the face of a murderous fire made a rush and a dash for the rifle pit. 
 From here they dug a trench to the place where the officer lay, a distance, as stated 
 before, of about fifteen yards. Having no other tools at their disposal they used 
 their spoons and worked for four long and weary hours before they had their arduous 
 task completed. The rebels could not fail to divine the object of their work and 
 hurled countless shots and missiles at heroic Boss and his no less heroic companion. 
 But a kind providence guarded their lives and crowned their efforts with success. 
 The lieutenant was safely reached and carried back to the rifle pit on a rubber 
 blanket. They then again called their spoons into service and excavated till they 
 met those who were tunneling from the inside of the works. In this manner Lieu 
 tenant Daly was brought to the Union lines. The heroic deed was performed, but 
 the officer for whom Boss and Blanchard had braved death succumbed to his 
 injuries shortly afterward." 
 
354 
 
 RESCUED THE COLONEL S BODY 
 
 I CANNOT order any man to such service. Is there any 
 
 LEROY WILLIAMS, 
 
 Sergeant, Battery G,8th New York H. A. 
 Born at Owego, N. Y., Aug. 1M, isu. 
 
 one in your company who will volunteer to make 
 the search ? " asked Lieutenant-Colonel Bates. 
 
 It had been a terrible day at Cold Harbor on the 2d 
 of June, 1864, and to none more so than to the Eighth 
 New York Heavy Artillery. Across a perfectly open 
 field they charged through grape and canister, Colonel 
 Porter leading on foot. In thirty minutes over 500 men 
 were lost. In a final effort Colonel Porter fell almost 
 under the enemy s guns. The attack was repulsed. 
 
 It was in discussing how to find and rescue the body 
 of the gallant colonel that Lieutenant-Colonel Bates 
 
 called for a volunteer to make the search. Sergeant LeRoy Williams, of Battery G, 
 Eighth New York Heavy Artillery, stepped forward. 
 
 The orders were: "Go to the outposts, sweep the enemy s front with a field- 
 glass, -and locate Colonel Porter s body if possible." 
 
 Easily ordered. It was a perfectly clear day, the field open, and sharpshooters 
 on all sides. However, fortune favored the scout. Though shot at fifteen or twenty 
 times, he completed his errand without a scratch. 
 
 Meanwhile volunteers were called for to rescue the body. When Williams re 
 turned and reported, Colonel Bates asked him: "Would you just as soon pilot a 
 detail to the body ? " 
 
 "Certainly." 
 
 " How many men will you need ? " 
 
 "The smallest number possible ; four are sufficient." 
 
 "Well, Sergeant, there is your detail ; take a stretcher and bring in the body of 
 Colonel Porter at all hazards." 
 
 " I took the first four men from the right of the detail," says Sergeant Williams, 
 " much to the disappointment of the rest of the volunteers. They were Galen S. 
 Hicks, John Duff, Walter Harwood and Samuel Traviss. 
 
 "In passing the extreme outpost in the night, a corporal reported an officer s 
 body directly in front, but very close to the enemy s line. 
 
 " Why, it s worth a man s life to go out there, he exclaimed. 
 
 " That is the body of our colonel and we must get it, was our answer. Keep 
 watch for us as best you can, and if the ball does open, give us a little chance to get 
 in. 
 
 " Falling flat on my stomach, I worked my way to the body. We were right ; it 
 was the body of the colonel. Traviss soon followed. Unable to move the body 
 
355 
 
 without attracting attention, I sent him back for a rope, while I remained with the 
 body to prevent its being rifled. During the hour or more I lay there I saw an 
 officer of the enemy taking observations. He was so close I could hear the rattle of 
 his side arms at every move. Finally the rope came. Traviss fastened it to the 
 feet of the body, and creeping away stealthily, we gradually drew the body to the 
 vidette post." 
 
 BRAVE AND DEVOTED TO HIS COMRADES 
 
 (te^fp ^^ A FTEE the three days fight at Cold Harbor, Com- 
 
 "~~~~ -^">^S*^^ "* / V _ A . _ J TT _ l 1 1 _ r\ 1 J J , .- 3 -. 
 
 panics A and H of the One hundred and forty- 
 
 EUGENE M. TINKHAM, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. H, 148th N. Y. Vol. Infantry. 
 Born at Sprague, Conn. 
 
 eighth New York Infantry, were detailed as skirm 
 ishers preceding a charge by the brigade. Sergeant 
 Eugene M. Tinkham, who was with his company in the 
 skirmish line, says that "the brigade advanced through 
 the woods and charged steadily and bravely across the 
 open field, but the odds, both as to men and position, 
 were too great, and back over the field, which was 
 strewn thickly with dead and wounded, we were 
 forced to retreat into the woods from which shortly 
 before we had emerged full of hope for victory."- 
 The sergeant continues : 
 
 "Knowing that many of our boys were on the 
 field in a helpless condition, I asked and received per 
 mission to attempt to bring some of them back to our 
 
 lines. By crouching and crawling on hands and knees I reached the side of Andrew 
 Grainer, who lay upon the battlefield with a shattered ankle. Rolling him on a 
 rubber blanket, I succeeded in hauling him back to his comrades. Then I made a 
 second trip and found John Bortle who was in a critical condition and utterly help 
 less from a shot in the head, arms, hip and leg. He was a heavy man, and after 
 getting him on a rubber blanket, I was forced to adopt a method of my own to drag 
 him along. Accordingly I sat down as far from the blanket as I could reach and 
 dug holes for my heels to get a brace to work against. Then reaching forward I pulled 
 at the corners of the blanket and dragged the wounded man to me. This process 
 I repeated until at last I reached the woods where the stretcher bearers were. 
 Both wounded men belonged to my company. They died three days later at the 
 hospital." 
 
356 
 
 A REBEL GENERAL THE MUSICIAN S PRISONER 
 
 JAMES SNEDDEN, 
 
 Principal Musician, 54th Pa. Infantry. 
 
 Born at Edinburgh, Scotland, 
 
 Sept. 19. 1844. 
 
 T N recounting his experience at the battle of Piedmont, 
 Va., Musician James Snedden, of the Fifty-fourth 
 Pennsylvania Infantry, says : 
 
 "On the 5th of June, 1864, after reveille and a hastily 
 cooked breakfast, we were ordered forward on the march, 
 which soon brought us within hearing of the enemy s fir 
 ing, whereupon our lines were hastily formed and skir 
 mishers advanced. During the formation of our line of 
 battle we were subjected to a terrific fire from a Con 
 federate battery of six twelve-pound guns, but on we 
 went until our skirmish line reached a protected posi 
 tion, where we were ordered to lie down. 
 
 " I was principal musician of the regiment, and our 
 colonel ordered me to take my musicians to the rear 
 and if possible keep the command in view, in order to 
 join them after the battle. As he spoke to me we both 
 
 observed one of our men on the skirmish line, as he fell, wounded, and I at once 
 offered to take his gun and go on the line. The colonel assented and immediately 
 thereafter I was in the ranks with my old company. 
 
 "In a few minutes the whole line was charging the Confederate defenses, which 
 were constructed of rails and fallen trees, and here both armies received their great 
 est losses. The two lines of battle were not more than seventy-five yards apart, 
 each pouring lead into the other with good effect. 
 
 "It was during this struggle that the Confederate general, William Jones, was 
 killed, and the loss of their gallant leader caused the Confederate line to waver and 
 then break. Thus far we had fought for every inch we traversed, but with the break 
 in their lines came renewed energy to our charge. Over the works we went, and in 
 a hand-to-hand fight drove the rebels slowly back, maintaining their line formation 
 until they reached Middle River, where we took 1,500 prisoners. 
 
 " On the banks of the river I encountered a Confederate brigadier-general and 
 demanded his surrender, whereupon he reluctantly handed me his sword and two 
 revolvers. I then inarched my prisoner to the rear and reported to the brigade 
 commander to whom I turned over the general and his sword." 
 
 Piedmont, Ya. General Sigel, commanding one of the two columns into which the army in the Shen- 
 andoah Valley was divided, advanced up the valley as far as Newmarket, where, after a fierce engagement, 
 he was relieved of his command by General Hunter, who immediately took up the offensive. On the 5th of 
 June Hunter encountered the Confederates at Piedmont, where he captured 1,500 prisoners and three 
 pieces of artillery. After this battle he formed a junction with Crook and Averell at Staunton, from which 
 place they moved toward Lynchburg by way of Lexington. 
 
357 
 
 COURAGE, ENERGY AND 
 MILITARY ABILITY 
 
 JULIUS STAHEL, 
 
 Major-General, U. S. Volunteers. 
 Born in Hungary. 
 
 N the fifth day of June, 1864, at daybreak 
 
 and shortly after General Hunter s Army 
 commenced to move on Staunton, Va., the 
 advance force of his cavalry was attacked by the 
 enemy and driven in. General Hunter was march 
 ing at the head of his army, and immediately ordered 
 General Julius Stahel, who was near him, to at 
 tack the enemy with his cavalry and to check their 
 advance. General Stahel charged the approaching enemy 
 and broke and drove them about two miles, where, meeting 
 a stronger force, he charged the enemy s line again with 
 the same results as before and pursued them as far as 
 Piedmont, where he found the enemy in great force, ad 
 vantageously posted in a wood behind a line of defenses 
 constructed of fallen timber and fence-rails. Having no 
 infantry, General Stahel did not attempt to attack them in 
 
 so strong a position, but kept them there with his cavalry until the arrival of Gen 
 eral Hunter with his force. The latter at once attacked the enemy s stronghold, 
 and ordered General Stahel, whose cavalry was somewhat exhausted, to form the 
 reserve. 
 
 The battle raged furiously for some time, each side holding its position, until 
 Hunter ordered a general advance all along the line and directed General Stahel to 
 dismount that part of the cavalry which was armed with Spencer rifles seven- 
 shooters and support the right wing. In compliance with this order, General 
 Stahel rapidly moved with his dismounted force to the extreme right, attacked the 
 enemy s entrenched position in the wood and dislodged them. During his charge 
 General Stahel was badly wounded ; but, wishing to follow up his success, he had his 
 wound quickly dressed to stop bleeding. As he was very weak and had the use 
 of but one arm he was helped on his horse and, with a portion of his cavalry, 
 which was in readiness, made a quick detour at the head of his column, charging 
 the enemy on the flank and turning it. Just at that time General Hunter with his 
 infantry attacked the whole line with great impetus, and Colonel Wyncoop with the 
 balance of the cavalry charged on the right flank. The enemy was now com 
 pletely demoralized and fled in great confusion, leaving over 1,000 prisoners, 
 including a large number of officers. General W. E. Jones, the commander of the 
 enemy s force, was killed and his body fell into the hands of the Union troops. Gen 
 eral Hunter pursued the enemy until night set in, capturing many more prisoners, 
 and the next morning occupied Staunton. 
 
" HE WAS HELPED ON HIS HORSE." 
 
359 
 
 The Confederate loss in this battle was estimated at nearly 3,000. General Hun 
 ter lost less than 800 men. 
 
 General Stand s courage was highly commended by his superiors and the vic 
 tories largely accredited to his gallantry, energy and military qualities. General 
 Hunter in his report of June 9, 1864, to General Halleck, wrote: "It is but justice 
 to Major-General Stahel to state that in the recent engagement he displayed ex 
 cellent qualities of coolness and gallantry, and that for the final happy result the 
 country is much indebted to his services." 
 
 A RIDE TO ALMOST CERTAIN 
 DEATH 
 
 E. W. WHITAKER, 
 
 Captain, Co. E, First Connecticut Cavalry. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Bvt. Brig-Gen. U. S. V. 
 
 Born at Killingly, Conn., June 15, 1841. 
 
 A FTER its raid against the Danville and South- 
 ^* side Railway, the Third Cavalry Division, 
 commanded by General James H. Wilson, on its 
 return march to join the Army of the Potomac 
 in front of Petersburg, found a large force of 
 rebel infantry, cavalry and artillery in position, 
 barring its passage at Ream s Station, Va., within 
 five miles of army headquarters. 
 
 Captain E. W. Whitaker, who was serving on 
 General Wilson s staff, took in the whole position 
 at a glance. Perceiving that it would be imprac 
 ticable for this column, jaded and almost worn 
 out by a week s incessant marching, working and 
 fighting, to force its way farther without assist 
 ance, he volunteered to take a squadron and charge through the rebel line and inform 
 General Meade of the division s perilous straits and that help must be sent at once. 
 
 General Wilson accepted Captain Whitaker s offer and directed him to proceed 
 immediately on his desperate mission. He was entirely ignorant of what had be 
 come of the Army of the Potomac, or where he should find it, or what perils he 
 would encounter on the way. It looked as though he were starting on a ride to 
 certain death. 
 
 Selecting Lieutenant Ford and forty troopers of the Third New York Cavalry, 
 he explained to them the hazardous character of the undertaking, and instructed 
 them that whoever should survive should make his way as rapidly as possible to 
 army headquarters and describe the position of the cavalry column he had left 
 behind. 
 
360 
 
 Not a man faltered, but the entire detachment dashed forward after their gal 
 lant leader, who, bearing to his left and striking the rebel right, broke through theii 
 line like a tornado, and galloped on to headquarters, where he arrived at an early 
 hour of morning with only eighteen of his gallant cavalrymen. They had cut 
 through the enemy s line which one of General Wilson s officers, after reconnoiter- 
 ing, had reported as "strong as a stone wall." 
 
 Captain Whitaker gave the necessary information and at once volunteered to 
 guide the Sixth Corps to the rescue, but its movements were so dilatory that it did 
 not arrive until long after the cavalry column, despairing of help, had made a great 
 detour by which it eluded the enemy, extricated itself and rejoined the army several 
 days later. 
 
 Captain Whitaker was highly commended by General Wilson, immediately pro 
 moted to the rank of major, and received the Medal of Honor for his services in this 
 notable charge. 
 
 A SUCCESSFUL ROUND-UP 
 
 k N the 15th of June, 1864, at the battle of Kenesaw 
 Mountain, a large portion of Johnston s Army 
 was in a well-defended position a few miles north of 
 Marietta, Ga. The Forty-sixth Ohio had been ordered 
 to make an assault on the works, supported by troops 
 from General Morgan Smith s- command, while troops of 
 General Logan s command were to make a feint to the 
 left to divert the attention of the enemy and draw his 
 fire. 
 
 " The carrying out of the plan was according to or 
 ders," says Private James K. Sturgeon, "and at the outset 
 the Forty-sixth Ohio made a charge over a hummocky 
 field. The breastworks were ably defended and during 
 our short plunge we were under heavy fire, but we were 
 not to be stopped and up over the works we went. At 
 once there was a scattering. Some of the Confederates 
 
 surrendered immediately, while others, running to the rear, concealed themselves in 
 the tall grass and underbrush of a ravine which they entered. Fortunately for us 
 most of the Southerners threw away their guns in their flight. While our regi 
 ment was busy securing the captives, three of my comrades and I went out beyond 
 the works and followed the fleeing Confederates. We picked up the frightened 
 Johnnies everywhere, from behind stumps and logs, in the grass and in the bush. 
 We continued this work until we had rounded up some thirty odd prisoners, when 
 we marched them back to our lines." 
 
 JAMES K. STURGEON, 
 
 Private, Co. F, 46th Ohio Infantry. 
 Born in Perry Co., Ohio, Nov. 5, 1846. 
 
361 
 
 UNDER SPECIAL PROTECTION OF PROVIDENCE 
 
 JOSEPH 0. GREGG, 
 
 Private, Co. F, 133d Ohio Vol. Infantry, 
 Born in Circleville, O., Jan. 5, 1841. 
 
 the morning of June 16, 1864, while General 
 Grant was crossing to the south side of the 
 James River, and General Lee was endeavoring to 
 reach Petersburg before Grant could occupy it in 
 force, the First Division of the Tenth Corps, com 
 manded by General Robert S. Foster, was pushed out 
 to destroy as much as possible of the Richmond and 
 Petersburg Railway, and delay the Confederate ad 
 vance led by General Pickett s Division, until Grant 
 could complete his crossing, and again get his army 
 together. 
 
 The One hundred and thirty-third Ohio, which 
 formed part of the division, was placed in support of 
 a battery which fired over the men as they lay in a 
 rifle pit lately occupied by the enemy, the division 
 holding it against repeated assaults by Pickett s forces 
 
 until about 3 o clock P. M. Heavy re-enforcements enabled the enemy to turn the 
 position of the Union forces, who were forced to fall back across the open, level 
 field about one-half mile to the edge of the woods, where they formed a new line of 
 defense. The enemy followed in close pursuit, and their skirmishers occupied the 
 abandoned works, while their main body began to form in their immediate rear for 
 another assault upon the Union lines. 
 
 It was then reported that Companies B, K and G, of the Ohio regiment, had not 
 returned with the main body, and were probably in imminent danger of capture by 
 the advancing foe. As a matter of fact, however, the companies mentioned had re 
 treated by a different route and were safely posted in another place in the new line. 
 Colonel Joshua B. Howell, of the Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania, commanding the 
 brigade, directed Colonel G. S. Innis, of the One hundred and thirty-third Ohio, to 
 procure a volunteer to go back in the direction of the abandoned position, make a 
 search for the missing men, and order them in. He insisted that the messenger 
 make haste, as another assault was imminent. 
 
 Private Joseph 0. Gregg of Company F, offered to go. The subsequent events 
 are narrated by Adjutant Alanson N. Bull, who issued the call for the volunteer : 
 
 "Gregg had been quite ill the night before. The surgeon had ordered him to 
 remain in his quarters, but when he learned that we had been ordered out to a pos 
 sible fight he disregarded the surgeon s orders and took his place in the ranks. 
 
 "I hesitated about accepting his volunteer service, as he looked frail ; but the ex 
 igency of the case required quick action and I directed him to discard everything 
 which might impede his movements, and without delay go out in the direction of 
 the abandoned breastworks a short distance and look for our missing men. 
 
362 
 
 " Through a misunderstanding of my instructions Gregg walked directly across 
 the field in full view of the Confederate lines, climbed upon the crest of the breast 
 works, then partly occupied by the foe, and stood looking about him as coolly as 
 if the battle lines of the enemy did not exist at all. He apparently paid no heed to 
 the rapidly advancing foe, whose skirmishers were already in part of the works 
 upon which he was standing. Our anxiety for the missing companies and the im 
 minently perilous mission of Gregg caused Colonels Howell and Tnnis and myself 
 to closely watch his movements through our field glasses. 
 
 hW.v-^-. 
 
 L 
 
 OTHERS WERE FIRING AT CLOSE RANGE." 
 
 " We saw him mount the breastworks, look about him for a moment, then run 
 along the crest about 100 feet to the left and suddenly spring from the embank 
 ment over which a large number of men in gray could be seen leaping in an effort to 
 head off his retreat, while many others were firing at close range at their active 
 young foeman, who, dodging with zig-zag rushes to avoid the blows aimed at his head, 
 quickly gained the lead and successfully made his escape to our lines, all the while 
 under a concentrated fire, several balls having passed through his cap and clothing, 
 but without injury to his person other than a few bruises. 
 
 " We considered it a truly remarkable exhibition of daring. Alone, surrounded 
 by hundreds of Pickett s best marksmen, surprised by finding himself in the midst 
 
863 
 
 of enemies instead of friends, and ordered to surrender, Gregg s quick decision and 
 prompt, bold action, together with his skill in keeping a portion of his pursuers be 
 tween himself and their marksmen, alone enabled him to escape with life and limb, 
 when to us who were watching his struggle there did not seem to be a chance in 
 his favor. 
 
 "We rode out to meet Gregg as he reached our line, and he reported to us that 
 he had seen men behind the breastworks and imagined them to be the companies he 
 had been sent after. He had also observed the rapidly approaching battle lines of 
 the enemy, and, fearing they would reach the men first and capture them before 
 he could warn them of their danger, had run along the crest of the embankment 
 and ordered them to fall back to the woods, as we were retreating, only discover 
 ing his mistake when a voice called to him : Surrender, you Yankee ! He 
 found himself surrounded and being fired at so closely that the powder almost 
 burned his face as he leaped from the embankment, dodging others who were strik 
 ing at him, and fighting himself clear of the crowd of pursuers, until he reached 
 our lines. After hearing his report the colonel commanding said to him : That 
 was bravely done ; you must have been under special protection of Providence. 
 
 " The enemy assaulted us a few minutes later, partly breaking our line, but were 
 driven back after a sharp fight." 
 
 THREE EXAMPLES OF SOLDIERLY DEVOTION 
 
 O ERGEANT JOHN BROSNAN was in command of Company E, 
 ^ One hundred and sixty-fourth New York Infantry, at 
 the battle of Petersburg, Va., June 16, 1864, because so 
 many of his superior officers had been either killed or 
 wounded. The struggle was desperate and, after repeated 
 charges, the Federal line began to waver. 
 
 Sergeant Brosnan sprang to the front and called on his 
 men to renew the charge. They did, but were forced into 
 a ravine, where they made a fierce rally. When night 
 closed in on the worn-out soldiers and they were shielded 
 from the enemy by the impenetrable darkness, they threw 
 up breastworks. Early the following morning, Brosnan s 
 attention was called to loud groans coming from a 
 direction exposed to a very heavy fire. Investigation 
 
 showed that a Union soldier had been wounded by concealed rebels. Sergeant 
 Brosnan decided to rescue him, although he fully realized the danger of the task. 
 Exposed to the fire of rebel sharpshooters, he succeeded in reaching the dying sol 
 dier, who proved to be Corporal Michael Carroll, of Company E. 
 
 "For God s sake, Sergeant, lie down or you will be killed," the moribund 
 whispered feebly. The plucky sergeant lifted his comrade upon his arms and with 
 
 JOHN BROSNAN, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. E, KUth N. Y. Inf. 
 Born in I ivlund, July 1,1816. 
 
364 
 
 great difficulty carried him out of reach of the enemy s 
 fire and behind the breastworks. During this heroic 
 rescue he himself was struck above the right elbow, 
 entailing the loss of the arm. Thus the sergeant be 
 came a cripple while saving a wounded comrade. 
 
 FRANCIS MORRISON, 
 
 Private, Co. H, 85th Penn. Inf. 
 Born at Ohiopyle, Pa., Jan. 15, 1845. 
 
 THE same day, when the Union forces had retired 
 from Petersburg to Bermuda Hundred, Private Francis 
 Morrison, of Company H, Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania 
 Infantry, performed a similar deed of heroic devotion. 
 
 The regiment was in full retreat under the mur 
 derous fire of General Pickett s advancing troops, 
 when Private Jesse Dial, of Morrison s Company, was 
 struck by a bullet and left behind. Private Morrison 
 saw his comrade fall and, with utter disregard of a hail 
 of bullets, advanced towards the enemy and was soon 
 
 at the side of his friend. As he tenderly raised him from the ground he discovered to 
 his dismay that Dial was dead. He then carried the corpse back to his regiment. 
 
 A month later, in a charge at Deep Bottom, Va., Private Morrison himself was 
 wounded, a musket ball passing through the breast and leaving a wound in his 
 back which the most skillful surgery failed to heal up. The award of the Medal of 
 Honor was the Government s graceful appreciation of such bravery and soldierly 
 qualities. 
 
 JOHN H. HARBOURNE, of the Twenty-ninth Massachusetts Infantry, also won 
 his medal in this action. In the heat of the conflict the entire color-guard of the 
 
 Twenty-ninth Massachusetts Infantry was killed, 
 whereupon Private Harbourne took the colors and 
 carried them at the head of the regiment. The 
 Confederates could not withstand the vigorous as 
 sault and soon the charging column was on the 
 breastworks and into the redoubt. Private Har 
 bourne with his flag was close to the Confederate 
 colors, lying at the side of their wounded color- 
 bearer, and in an instant had them stripped from 
 the staff and tucked safely under his blouse. A 
 moment after he was wounded in the foot and fell 
 to the ground, but upon recovering from the first 
 shock he found that the redoubt was taken. Al- 
 JOHN H. HARBOURNE, though he was suffering great pain from his wound, 
 
 Private, Co. K, 29th Mass. Inf. 
 
 Born in Birmingham, En g ., sept. e,i84o. he managed to capture three rebels and brought 
 
365 
 
 them into the Union lines, where he turned them and the Confederate flag over to 
 General Burnside. Next morning Private Harbourne was ordered to report at head 
 quarters and was there thanked and commended by General Burnside, and sent to 
 the hospital. 
 
 RECAPTURED COLORS AND TOOK TWO PRISONERS 
 
 PATRICK H. MONAGHAN, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. F, 48th Connecticut Inf. 
 Born at Mayo, Ireland, Nov. 4, 1843 
 
 the night of June 16th, the Forty-eighth 
 Connecticut Infantry of the Ninth Army 
 Corps," says Sergeant Patrick H. Monaghan, " of which 
 I was a member, crossed a marsh in single file, and 
 took position close to a portion of rebel ranks. While 
 in this position every man was instructed to make 
 no noise and be ready for a charge. 
 
 "Before daylight the order came, and we and the 
 Thirty-sixth Massachusetts dashed forward under a 
 heavy fire, leaped the enemy s breastworks and 
 captured four pieces of artillery, six hundred prisoners 
 and a thousand stand of arms. The enemy fell back 
 in confusion toward their next line, while our troops 
 occupied the one just taken. Other members of my 
 company and myself followed the retreating rebels. 
 Between the line just taken and the next the ground 
 was undulating. A small stream flowed in the hol 
 low. Clumps of trees and bushes lined either side of this stream and the enemy 
 made a stand here and delivered fire. As we dashed forward, I saw an officer near 
 the thicket and fired. He fell near the stream with his head almost in the water. 
 Immediately a tall rebel threw down his gun and ran toward him. I rushed up 
 swiftly and, leveling my empty gun, ordered both to surrender. The tall man cried 
 out : Don t shoot the Major ! 
 
 "I told the major to get up and we would help him back. But as I was speak 
 ing, I saw another group of rapidly retreating rebels, among them a private with a 
 gun in one hand and a flag over his shoulder. I jumped toward him and ordered 
 him to drop his gun and surrender. He dropped the gun and I ran forward, took 
 the flag and marched him to where my other prisoners were seated. 
 
 " By this time our troops in the line behind us had begun to fire over our heads, 
 and the Confederates opened a heavy fire from the line in front, but I ran back to 
 my own company with the colors. I got over the breastworks safely, and when I 
 unfurled the flag found that it belonged to the New York Heavy Artillery, who had 
 lost it in the fight of the previous day. My three prisoners were afterwards brought 
 in by some of my companions." 
 
366 
 
 THREE MEN CAPTURE TWENTY-SEVEN "JOHNNIES" 
 
 HENRY W. ROWE, 
 
 Private, Co. I, llth New Hampshire 
 
 Volunteers. 
 Born April 1840. 
 
 RIVATE HENRY W. ROWE, of the Eleventh New Hamp 
 shire Volunteers, gives the following interesting 
 description of how he won his Medal of Honor : 
 
 "On the night of the 15th of June, 1864, Burnside 
 with his Ninth Corps crossed the James River, and after 
 a twenty-four hour march arrived at the outposts of 
 Petersburg with the advance of his corps. At 6 P. M. 
 an advance was made in the face of a murderous fire, 
 and the Eleventh New Hampshire Volunteers, together 
 with the Second Maryland, succeeded in getting close 
 under a rebel battery. After several hours of continuous 
 firing, during which many men were killed and wounded, 
 the assault had to be given up. 
 
 "Not discouraged by this first repulse, Burnside 
 reconnoitered the lines and determined to make a 
 second assault. The point chosen for the attack was a 
 
 residence owned by Mr. Shand, a large two-story building shaded by buttonwood 
 and gum trees, with a peach orchard in the rear. Fifty yards from the front door 
 w r as a narrow ravine fifteen or twenty feet deep, with a brook flowing northward. 
 West of the house about the same distance was another brook, the two joining 
 twenty rods north of the house. A rebel brigade held this tongue of land with four 
 guns. Their main line of breastworks was along the edge of the ravine east of the 
 house. South, and on higher ground, was a redan with two guns, which enfiladed 
 the ravine. 
 
 " It was Burnside s idea to take this tongue of land, break the rebel line and com 
 pel the evacuation of the redan. General Potter s Division of the Ninth Corps was 
 selected to carry out his plan, and the attacking column was to consist of General 
 Griffin s brigade on the right, supported by Curtis on the left. Griffin s brigade con 
 tained, all told, only 260 men, and in the front line the Eleventh New Hampshire 
 found its place, including Company I with its remaining five privates. 
 
 "A little past midnight General Potter led his division into the ravine in front 
 of the house. The soldiers divested themselves of knapsacks, canteens and cups 
 everything which could make a noise and moved forward stealthily. All was still 
 and perfectly quiet. We reached the ravine, and there above us, not fifteen paces 
 distant, w^ere the rebel pickets. The night was warm and sultry. The sky was 
 flecked by only a few light clouds, the moon becoming full and clear. Not a sound 
 was heard, save the rumble of a wagon or a stray shot from the enemy s pickets. 
 
 "Finally, a little past three, as the dawn was beginning to light up in the east, 
 the command, Forward ! was passed along the line in whispers. 
 
ONE BOUND AND THE REBEL PICKETS WERE OVERPOWERED." 
 
368 
 
 " The men rose in a body from the ground ; not a gunlock clicked ; the bayonet 
 was to do the work. Forward we started with steady, noiseless step. One bound 
 and the rebel pickets were overpowered. Now toward the Shand House, and over 
 the breastworks ! At the right of the house, Comrade Batchelder, of Company I, 
 joined me, and soon we fell in with Sol Dodge, Sergeant of Company C. Passing 
 the second corner of the house, we heard the report of a musket from a rebel pit 
 about fifteen feet to the right. We ran around to the rear of this pit and shouted : 
 Surrender, you damned rebels! The Johnnies were rather rudely awakened 
 from their sleep, and although twenty-seven in number, dropped their guns. 
 Guarded by our attacking force of three, they were finally turned over to the Union 
 officers in the rear, together with a rebel flag captured by myself. The rebel line 
 was broken and Grant s lines were drawn closer around Petersburg." 
 
 CAPTURED, BUT THEIR COLORS WERE SAVED 
 
 XI \A/ HILE some ^00 men of the Fourth and Sixteenth 
 
 \ m * * Vermont Infantry were destroying the Weldon 
 
 __ifiiJMfc^ l 1 Railroad, Va., June 23, 1864, they found themselves sur 
 rounded by General Mahone s Division of 3,000 Confed 
 erates; but though they were so greatly outnumbered, 
 they nevertheless made a brave resistance. The enemy s 
 fire w 7 as doing terrible execution ; more than half of the 
 Union soldiers had been killed or wounded. 
 
 The commanding officer of the Vermonters, seeing 
 they could not extricate themselves, and that capture 
 was inevitable, stepped up to Sergeant James Drury, 
 of the Fourth Vermont Infantry, who had the colors, 
 and remarked that the regiment would lose its 
 standard. 
 
 Drury replied: "They will have to kill this 
 Irishman before they get it." 
 
 The officer pointed to a road which seemed to offer some chance as an avenue 
 of escape. 
 
 "Go that way and perhaps you may succeed in escaping the rebels," the officer 
 observed. Drury lost no time in following the advice. Wrapping the flag around 
 the staff, he said to his command : " Boys, I m going to save this flag or die in the 
 attempt." 
 
 Privates Brown and Wilson called out: "We ll be with you, Sergeant." 
 And then the three started across the open fields. They had not progressed far, 
 however, when the rebels shouted to them : " Halt, you damned Yankees ! " 
 
 JAMES DRURY, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. C. 4th Vermont Infantry 
 Born in Ireland in 1835. 
 
369 
 
 but the Yankees did not halt. A shower of bullets was sent after them. Poor 
 Brown fell. To their regret they had to leave the brave fellow behind. Sergeant 
 Drury and his remaining companion, Private Wilson, ran as fast as they could and 
 safely reached the timber. By this time darkness had set in and the fugitives were 
 able to conceal themselves in the woods till daybreak, when they found the Federal 
 pickets, and thus saved the flag from falling into the enemy s hands. 
 
 RETAINED COMMAND IN SPITE OF SEVERE WOUNDS 
 
 THE battle around Saint Mary s Church, Va., June 
 24, 1864, brought the Second Brigade of the 
 Second Division of Sheridan s Cavalry into a sharp 
 and deadly struggle with superior numbers of Wade 
 Hampton s Confederate Cavalry. 
 
 About three o clock in the afternoon, after irreg 
 ular skirmishing all morning, the enemy made an 
 attack in great force on the Second Brigade, to 
 which Colonel Charles H. Smith s First Maine Cav 
 alry was attached, and from that time until dark 
 the fight was carried on by the brigade with un 
 daunted vigor. The enemy, over-confident because 
 of their overwhelming numbers, charged time and 
 again, only to be met and held in check by the gal 
 lant brigade. There were no disengaged men in 
 the Union lines ; all worked with a fury, the cavalry 
 charging, while two batteries in the rear poured 
 
 load after load of canister into the staggering lines of the enemy. Colonel Smith, 
 at the head of his regiment, was wounded in the thigh, but, keeping his seat, led his 
 brave men into the thickest of the fight, where his horse was shot from under him. 
 Mounting another, he again was in the lead. Again his horse was shot from under 
 him, throwing him heavily to the ground. A third horse was secured, and in the 
 retreat, after two hours of the fiercest cavalry fighting, the colonel, although again 
 wounded, remained with his men, fighting the pursuing rebels until darkness put an 
 end to this unequal contest. 
 
 CHARLES H. SMITH, 
 
 Colonel, 1st Maine Cavalry. 
 
 Highest rank attained : Bvt. Maj-Gen., 
 
 U.S.A. 
 
 Born at Hollis, Me., Nov. 1, 1827. 
 
 The object of the Trevelian Raid, Va., June 7-24, 1864, was to go to Lynchburg and open communica 
 tion with General Hunter. That object was not accomplished and the cavalry returned via the White 
 House Landing, where a large train of wagons was packed awaiting escort to the James River. The cavalry 
 supplied the escort and crossed the Chickahominy at Jones Bridge. On the morning of the 24th, Gregg s 
 Division was sent to Saint Mary s Church as a flank guard, and, thus became separated from the main 
 cavalry corps. Hampton discovered this fact, and, as he despaired of capturing the train, concentrated all 
 his cavalry to capture or destroy Gregg s Division. 
 
370 
 
 HE PAUSED AT THE SIDE OF HIS DEAD CAPTAIN 
 
 NELSON W. WARD, 
 
 Sergeant, Troop M, llth Pa. Cavalry. 
 
 Born at Bollfont, Columbiana County, 
 
 Ohio, Nov. 20, 1887. 
 
 A SMALL force, part of which was the Eleventh Penn- 
 ^* sylvania Cavalry, was sent, June 25, 1864, under 
 command of Lieutenant-Colonel Stetzel, to destroy the 
 railroad bridge across the Staunton River, half a mile 
 south of Burk s Junction, Va. The enemy was strongly 
 entrenched on the south side of the river and on both 
 sides of the railway bridge. The approach to the bridge 
 and the Confederates position was flat meadow land, 
 destitute of cover for the advancing force, excepting 
 perhaps a slight depression caused by the dry bed of a 
 branch of the river. The Pennsylvania Cavalry was 
 ordered to advance on the bridge and entrenchments, 
 led by carbineers selected from each company. A 
 member of Troop M being suddenly stricken ill, the 
 captain called for a volunteer to take the sick man s 
 place, and Sergeant Nelson W. Ward, though he himself 
 
 had been on sick report for a day or two, volunteered and took his place in the 
 ranks. The story is continued by Sergeant Ward, as follows : 
 
 "Our troops moved forward in an irregular line, and, with the right resting on a 
 small trestle between the railway station and the bridge, took a position in the dry 
 bed of the stream. The fury of the fight was soon on, firing at short range from 
 both artillery and infantry sending death into our ranks with terrific swiftness. 
 With a salute to my captain, I asked : Isn t the colonel going to form the men in 
 line for a charge on the bridge ? at which Captain Gerard Reynolds replied, giving 
 the order: Forward, men, forward ! They were the brave officer s last words, for 
 he fell dead, shot as he uttered the last word of his command. 
 
 "Just then, too, from under the trestle, we heard the colonel ordering the captain 
 to move his men to the right, toward the railroad. Thus, with our company com 
 mander dead, our regimental commander skulking, it was not singular that the men 
 wavered under the shower of shot and shell. One of the men asked me : What 
 are we to do? I replied: Follow me, boys, and. swinging my carbine over my 
 head, I led in a charge against the bridge until every man but one had been shot 
 down." 
 
 Staimton River Bridge, Va. While operating in Virginia in June, 1864, General James H. Wilson, 
 commanding the Third Division of Sheridan s Cavalry Corps, ordered General Kautz s Division to attack 
 the enemy and destroy the bridge across the Staunton River. The attack was maintained for three hours, 
 but failed. The Federals suffered a loss of sixty in killed and wounded. 
 
371 
 
 " It was an awful slaughter and a hopeless effort. With but two of us left, we 
 started back for the dry bed depression. On the way I found the dead body of my 
 captain, and stopping, I knelt down to secure his money, watch, revolver and spur. 
 Although repeatedly urged by comrades across the railway and further back on the 
 line, I remained fully twenty minutes at his side, endeavoring to procure assistance 
 
 "FINALLY HAD TO RETREAT 
 TO THE MAIN FORCE." 
 
 * :-r 
 
 to carry the corpse off the field, but I waited and begged in vain, and finally had to 
 retreat to the main force without the body of our brave and beloved captain." 
 
 During this truly heroic effort, a bullet struck the heel of Sergeant Ward s boot, 
 and another bullet passed through the skirt of his blouse. 
 
 The money and other articles from Captain Reynolds were turned over to the 
 proper authorities. 
 
-372- 
 
 A MUSICIAN AS A SHARPSHOOTER 
 
 A LONZO P. Webber, of the Eighty-sixth Illinois Volun- 
 ** teers, Principal Musician of his regiment when it 
 was engaged at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., 
 June 27, 1864, distinguished himself by voluntarily ad 
 vancing as a sharpshooter. 
 
 Seeing the desperate situation of his regiment, with 
 no chance to advance, he obtained permission from 
 Colonel Fahnestock to "go in" as a sharpshooter. With 
 a Winchester rifle and 120 rounds of ammunition, he 
 succeeded in advancing to within twenty-seven feet of 
 the rebel line of battle, which was formed in V shape. 
 There he found shelter behind a tree, and although he 
 
 was at the apex, with the enemy on both sides of him, he stood his ground from 
 nine o clock in the morning until six o clock in the evening. Being an excellent 
 shot he brought down a number of the enemy, while the Union forces lay behind 
 him at the distance of a city block or more, unable to get closer to the enemy s line. 
 Webber s courage on that day won him the admiration of his whole regiment, 
 none of whom had expected to see him return alive from his dangerous position. 
 
 ALONZO P. WEBBER, 
 
 Principal Musician, 86th Illinois Vol. 
 Born March 16, 1828. 
 
 Kenesaw Mountain, Ga. Almost continuous fighting was engaged in from the 8th to the 27th of June, 
 1864, in the vicinity of Kenesaw Mountain, both sides sustaining serious losses. Sherman had moved his 
 army to a position in front of Allatoona, occupying the railroad from Allatoona and Acworth to Big Shanty, 
 in sight of Kenesaw Mountain, where he was joined by General Blair, with two divisions of the Seventeenth 
 Corps, thus making his effective force 100,000 men. On the 10th he moved his army to Big Shanty, repaired 
 the railroad and bridges, and had the cars running up to his skirmish lines. 
 
 Heavy fighting occurred on the 14th at Pine Mountain, near the Acworth and Marietta Road, in 
 which General Polk was killed by one of Sherman s volleys from a battery fired to keep up the appearance 
 of a bold offensive. Johnston concentrated his strength by the 20th and made his position strong, with the 
 Kenesaw Mountain for a salient. On the 27th, Sherman, after stretching his lines to the utmost, fell upon 
 Johnston s fortified position, the assault being made in the morning. At all points along the ten miles 
 over which Sherman s army extended the Confederates resisted the assaults, and by noon Sherman s 
 attempt was pronounced a failure. 
 
 Sherman s loss was about 2,500, while Johnston s was only 800. A truce was granted on the 29th of 
 June to allow the Federals to bury their dead. 
 
. 
 
375 
 
 LEFT TO THEIR FATE, BUT ESCAPED 
 
 GEORGE E. DAVIS, 
 
 First Lieutenant, Co. D, 10th Vermont Inf. 
 
 Born at Dunstable, Mass., Dec. 26, 1839. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Captain. 
 
 ENERAL LEW WALLACE, who was opposing Gen- 
 era! Early s advance at the Monocacy River, 
 Md., in July, 1864, placed a line of skirmishers on 
 the west bank of the river to defend a railroad 
 bridge and a wooden bridge that continued the 
 pike from Frederick City to Washington. 
 
 On the 9th the situation was critical. Early s 
 forces greatly outnumbered Wallace s. Ricketts 
 was engaged with the enemy and might be driven 
 back before the skirmishers could be retired. If 
 the skirmishers were retired the enemy would fol 
 low on their heels, thus allowing no time to destroy 
 the bridge. 
 
 General Wallace, seeing that it was useless to 
 further resist the overwhelming assault, decided to 
 destroy the bridge and sacrifice his skirmishers to 
 save Washington. 
 
 Lieutenant George E. Davis, of Company D, Tenth Vermont Infantry, who was 
 in command of the skirmishers, gives the following account of their brave resistance 
 of the enemy and of their ultimate escape : 
 
 "Early in the morning on the 9th, with one second lieutenant and seventy-five 
 men of our regiment, I was ordered to report as skirmishers to Captain Charles J. 
 Brown, commanding Companies C and K, First Maryland Regiment, near the block 
 house on the west bank of the Monocacy River. He and his two hundred men had 
 just entered the service for one hundred days, to repel this invasion of Washington, 
 and knew nothing of actual service. The lieutenant-colonel, nominally command 
 ing our skirmishers, w r as not present, so that when the enemy advanced along the 
 pike to Frederick City at about 8:30 A. M., Captain Brown insisted upon my taking 
 command, and ordered me to hold the two bridges at all hazards, and prevent the 
 enemy from crossing. 
 
 " I assumed command instantly, brought up my Tenth Vermonters to this point, 
 and after a severe fight of about an hour the enemy retired. Having just assumed 
 command, I knew nothing of the situation, or plan of battle, except as was apparent 
 
 After the battle of Piedmont, Va., General Hunter advanced toward Lynchburg, which he reached 
 on the 16th of June, 1864, but for want of ammunition he sought Harper s Ferry, which left the Shenan- 
 doah Valley uncovered. General Early took prompt advantage of this opening to cross the upper Potomac 
 into Maryland and threaten Washington. After rapid marches he crossed the Potomac on the 4th of July, 
 but was met by General Lew Wallace at the Monocracy River, who, in General Hunter s absence, made an 
 obstinate stand against the invaders. Wallace, with his small force, was unable to cope with the over 
 whelming force of the enemy, and retired, but not, however, until after he had held Early in check long 
 enough to notify Grant of the situation, whereupon the latter ordered Wright s Corps to push out and 
 to attack Early ; but the Confederates retired across the Potomac with but little loss. 
 
376 
 
 to the eye. The natural advantages of cover and position were in our favor. The 
 main body of the enemy moved around to our left and crossed the river at a ford 
 one mile southwest, compelling General Ricketts to change front to the left and 
 advance his line to the west of the pike. This left us a part of the main line of 
 battle, without any support in our rear, which gave the enemy the opportunity to cut 
 us off, take us prisoners, cross the railroad bridge and turn General Ricketts position 
 
 "WE 
 
 GAINED 
 THE 
 
 RAILROAD 
 BRIDGE AND 
 STARTED ACROSS" 
 
 "Anticipating a flank attack, I had, on assuming command, sent pickets up and 
 down the river, who warned me of this movement, which was entirely hidden from 
 my view. I drew back my men to the west end of the railroad bridge, faced to the 
 north, repelled the attack, then resumed my former position on the pike, which we 
 held until the final retreat at about five o clock. During all this time we were the 
 only troops on the west side of the river. 
 
377 
 
 " In the early part of this noon attack, the wooden bridge over the Monocacy 
 River was burned, without notice to me. At the same time the Ninth New York 
 pickets were all withdrawn, also without notice. 
 
 "The third and last attack began about 3:30 P. M. The situation was critical; 
 the enemy came upon us in such overwhelming numbers and with such desperation 
 that it seemed as though we should be swept into the river. The place of the Ninth 
 New York pickets at my left had not been filled : the force of the hundred-day men 
 was diminishing. Apprehending an advance at my left, I sent Corporal John G. 
 Wright through a cornfield to reconnoiter. He was killed at once. Immediately 
 the enemy were seen passing around my right, to cut us off from retreat by the rail 
 road bridge ; our division was falling back and we were obliged to do likewise at once 
 or succumb to the merciless fire. I gave the signal to retreat to my noble Vermont- 
 ers, who had stood the fire without wavering. We gained the railroad bridge and 
 started across, stepping from tie to tie. It seemed ages before we reached the other 
 side, though in reality it must have been only a few minutes. One poor fellow fell 
 through the bridge to the river, forty feet below, and several were taken prisoners, 
 for the enemy had been close at our heels all the way. Those of our number who 
 escaped rejoined our regiment at midnight." 
 
 THE CAPTURE OF FIVE CONFEDERATE CAVALRYMEN 
 
 CORPORAL GEORGE W. HEALEY, of Troop E, Fifth 
 Iowa Cavalry, who participated in General 
 McCook s Cavalry Raid during Sherman s Atlanta 
 campaign, says: "At Newnan, Ga., July 29, 1864, 
 our company was ordered out on the skirmish line 
 which was on the extreme left of our main line of 
 battle. The engagement lasted more or less all day. 
 In moving out we struck into low ground, timber and 
 heavy undergrowth It was difficult to keep our align 
 ment and intervals and consequently I soon discovered 
 that I was alone and unobserved. Suddenly I ran into 
 a body of Confederate soldiers. Their officer was giving 
 a command to mount and count fours. They did not 
 see me, so I began to retrace my steps and moved back 
 to find my command, when, to my surprise, I came 
 upon a Confederate who was seated on a log and ordered 
 him to drop his gun, which he did. I picked it up and 
 threw it into the creek. Just as I was about to move with 
 
 my prisoner I heard someone approaching us. Ordering the rebel to lie down, I sought 
 protection from behind a tree and waited. To my satisfaction I recognized in the 
 new arrival Private Oscar Martin, of my company, who was bareheaded and coming 
 
 GEORGE W. HEALEY, 
 
 Corporal, Troop E, Fifth Iowa Cavalry. 
 Born in Dubuque, Iowa, Feb. 22, 1842 
 
378 
 
 toward me at a quick pace. He had lost his way. Looking at my prisoner and 
 pointing to the direction whence he had come, he said : The woods are full of 
 em. Yes, I replied, pointing to where I had been, and over there, too. 
 
 " Martin scrutinized my prisoner and asked : What have you got in that bag ? 
 
 " The rebel answered : Chewing tobacco. 
 
 " Whereupon Martin compelled him to disgorge, and, I confess, it came in handy. 
 
 " As we were about to resume our march, we heard men talking. We got behind 
 a tree and the next minute four Confederates came, trailing in Indian fashion, 
 toward us. Martin and I stepped from behind the trees and covered them. I or 
 dered : Halt ! Drop those guns ! but had to repeat the command before they obeyed. 
 I then marched them some fifty feet, halted them, and ordered one man to advance 
 at a time, when Martin and I relieved them of their revolvers, holsters and belts. 
 Next, while Martin kept guard, I went back, removed the cartridges from the rifles 
 they had dropped and returned the empty guns to them. We moved toward our 
 lines and reached them without further interruption, where we turned our five pris 
 oners over to General McCook, who paid us a high compliment." 
 
 Corporal Healey received a Medal of Honor ; his companion died or he would 
 doubtless have been honored in a like manner. 
 
 THE COLONEL S WRATH WAS 
 APPEASED 
 
 A T THE BATTLE OF PEACH TREE CREEK, Ga., before 
 ** Atlanta, an act wa,s performed by Color-Sergeant 
 William Crosier, of the One hundred and forty-ninth 
 New York Infantry, of which an officer of his regi 
 ment says : 
 
 " It was one of superb bravery in action and of de 
 votion to the flag, which made him hold life as nothing 
 beside the safety of the starry banner." 
 
 This officer continues : " The field was covered with 
 woods, thick with undergrowth and trailing vines. The 
 troops of the line of battle were suddenly and unex 
 pectedly attacked by a superior force and routed. Our brigade, being in reserve 
 in column of regiments, was ordered forward, each regiment advancing as it became 
 
 WILLIAM CROSIER, 
 
 Color Sergeant, 149th N. Y. Infantry. 
 Born at Skaneatolos. N. Y.. August 30, 
 
 1843. 
 
 During the operations before Atlanta by the Union Army, the Confederate general, Johnston, was 
 relieved of his command by Hood, who at once engaged the Federals at Peach Tree Creek, Oa., July 20, 
 1864. He was repulsed with a loss of 4,796. Sherman s loss was 1,710. After several engagements in 
 which the Federals were victorious, Hood retired, September 2, to Lovejoy s Station, thirty miles away, 
 and Sherm an took possession of the town. 
 
879 
 
 deployed. This brought the regiments into action singly, and each in turn was 
 routed by overwhelming numbers. 
 
 " Our regiment crossed the enfiladed ravine at the center, with the colors and 
 about seventy-five officers and men, and ascended the woody acclivity thickly un- 
 dergrown with brush and vines, only to recoil under a withering fire full in our 
 faces." 
 
 Sergeant Crosier adds : " We were far ahead of the main line, trying to establish 
 the advanced position, when the fight began. The regiments were sent in, one at a 
 time, to check the advance of the enemy, and were literally wiped out as they were 
 struck. Then came movements never to be forgotten. My six color-guards having 
 all been shot down within six feet from where I stood, I found myself alone, un 
 armed, with Confederates storming all around me and demanding my flag. I cried 
 to them to take it, if they could, and, swiftly tearing the flag off the staff, stuffed it 
 under my shirt and retreated, leaving my flag-staff behind." 
 
 Out of the bushes Sergeant Crosier came staggering and covered with blood from 
 a serious wound, and empty handed. He met Colonel Barnum, the commander of 
 the regiment. " Where is that flag ? " he angrily demanded of the color-sergeant, 
 drawing his sword ready to cut him down. 
 
 Sergeant Crosier smiled feebly, unbuttoned his blouse and produced the flag. 
 
 MERITED PRESIDENT LINCOLN S ADMIRATION 
 
 "My grateful personal acknowledgment of the almost ines- 
 teemable service you rendered the country. * * * 
 
 " Your chivalry and daring described by the above generals 
 and so appreciated by them and by myself, which always win the 
 admiration of the world, are acts of absolute, indomitable courage, 
 not needing to be emblazoned by the correspondent s pen, as they 
 are written on the annals of the American history by your sword. 
 
 " Yours very truly. 
 
 "ABRAHAM LINCOLN. " 
 
 THE proud recipient of this flattering letter was 
 Captain M. R. William Grebe of the Fourth 
 Missouri Cavalry and aide-de-camp to Generals Mc- 
 Pherson, 0. 0. Howard, and Logan. 
 
 The generals to w 7 hom the President refers are 
 Generals Sherman, Sheridan, Logan, and Blair. 
 
 Interesting indeed must be the career of the sol 
 dier who earns the praise from these heroes of a great 
 nation ! Captain Grebe s career is highly fascinating, romantic, thrilling. 
 
 When the war broke out, Grebe, who is a native of the Province of Hanover - 
 then the Kingdom of Hanover was a lieutenant in the army of his country. The 
 
 M. R. WILLIAM GREBE. 
 
 Captain. Fourth Missouri Cavalry. 
 
 Born in Hildesheim, Germany, Aug. 4, 1838. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Major. 
 
380 
 
 struggle of the Union for freedom and liberty aroused in the young officer an 
 enthusiasm for the Federal cause which induced him to resign his rank, leave home 
 and country and cross the ocean to espouse a cause which had appealed to him so 
 strongly. 
 
 Upon his arrival here he at once joined the Union forces and was made a lieu 
 tenant of Troop T, Fourth Missouri Cavalry. His military training and excellent 
 soldierly qualities at once drew the attention of his superior officers to him and ere 
 long he found himself promoted to a captaincy in the same regiment. A little later 
 Major-General McPherson selected him as one of his aides-de-camp. 
 
 From the very outset of his military career on this side of the Atlantic, when he 
 first went into battle until a dramatic incident abruptly placed him back to a 
 civilian s life, Captain Grebe s conduct was one of inspiring brilliancy a succession 
 of extraordinarily daring feats, so much so that Congress in awarding him the Medal 
 of Honor found it impossible to particularize, but granted it for his general gallant 
 behavior. 
 
 On July 22, 1864, he was sent by General Mc*Pherson to deliver a message to 
 General Kilpatrick at Decatur, Ga. The Confederates were driving back the Union 
 cavalry in wild confusion and had successfully turned the Federal left wing. Captain 
 Grebe delivered his message and at once obtained permission to participate in a 
 cavalry charge with his orderly, Henry Wagner. He himself led this charge and 
 in a mad rush, which struck terror to the hearts of the Confederates, while it inspired 
 his own men, broke through the ranks of the enemy, completely routing them. 
 He caught up with the color-bearer, who had the flag fastened to his stirrup and leg, 
 thus allowing him to handle the reins and his revolver without hindrance. The 
 Confederate frequently fired at Grebe, two of the shots taking effect ; but that did 
 not deter the plucky captain, and when his horse was along side that of the Confed 
 erate s, he grasped the flag and cut the rebel down with a tremendous sabre blow 
 over the head. 
 
 Captain Grebe, however, did not escape unhurt. He was bleeding profusely from 
 two gunshot wounds in his legs, and upon his return to General McPherson was told 
 by this commander to seek medical aid at the hospital, but the captain declined and 
 in spite of his condition remained in the saddle all day. 
 
 During the afternoon of that same day General McPherson was shot and the 
 captain again became a leading figure in the battle. 
 
 He was riding to the place where he had only a short time before left the gen 
 eral, when, to his amazement, he observed his commander s horse coming riderless 
 from a thicket. Instantly Captain Grebe knew what had happened. 
 
 Dauntless and alone, not knowing whether he would encounter an army corps 
 or a corporal s guard, collecting a few cavalrymen on the way, Captain Grebe charged 
 into the thick underbrush. 
 
381 
 
 General Frank P. Blair says in his official report : " The fearless captain ran up 
 against the very rebels who had just killed General McPherson. The dead hero had 
 been robbed of his belt, field-glasses, watch, pistol and papers. The struggle took 
 place where the general had fallen. A rebel on horseback made a dash at Captain 
 Grebe, who shot him down. Two men on foot raised their guns at the Captain s 
 head. Wagner, the plucky orderly, put a bullet into one, while the captain himself 
 split the other s head with his sabre. Then the rebels fled, leaving the general s 
 body in the possession of Captain Grebe, who on this occasion captured a corporal 
 and numerous other prisoners." 
 
 "HE CUT THE REBEL DOWN WITH A TREMENDOUS SABRE BLOW." 
 
 Six days later, at Ezra Church, General Logan s Corps was engaged with the 
 enemy, who had made three furious assaults on his lines, only to be repulsed each 
 time. After the third repulse and countercharge by the Union troops, S. Houston, 
 of Company F, Fourth Missouri Cavalry, was missing. Some time later he was dis 
 covered midway between the lines of battle and held down by the body of his horse. 
 Captain Grebe instantly mounted his horse and dashed out toward the enemy s line, 
 some 700 yards distant. Reaching Houston s side he dismounted, cut him free from 
 
382 
 
 straps and stirrups and, getting him out from under the horse, helped him into his 
 own saddle. Then, mounting behind, he brought him back to be received with a 
 tremendous cheer along the whole Union lines." 
 
 At the battle of Jonesboro, August 31, 1864, Captain Grebe, at that time aide to 
 General 0. 0. Howard, volunteered to cross Flint river with a message to a dis 
 mounted cavalry regiment which was needed to re-enforce the line of battle at a point 
 which was seriously threatened. Away he started and after swimming the river and 
 crossing an old cotton field, continuously braving a terrific fire of musketry, grape 
 and canister, he reached the regiment and started with it in the return. As the re- 
 enforcement took position in the line of battle, Captain Grebe dismounted and, pick 
 ing up the gun of a fallen comrade, took his place in line. He was in a kneeling posi 
 tion, firing, with one knee for a "rest," when General Logan and his staff rode up 
 from behind. The general, recognizing his former aide, remarked jokingly: "Captain, 
 you re getting religious even in battle line and you will go to heaven ; but this is no 
 place for a camp meeting." 
 
 At this Captain Grebe jumped upon the earthworks and waving his gun, shouted : 
 " To hell with camp meetings, let s go to yonder hell first. Come on boys ! " Gen 
 eral Logan s bugler sounded the call and the whole line made a most successful 
 charge. As the Union forces met the Confederate line, which was turning to run, 
 Captain Grebe struck a color-bearer, who fell, dragging the colors down with him. 
 Then the captain got into a hand-to-hand fight with several Confederates and was 
 nearly overcome, when an officer of Osterhaus Corps came to his assistance. Cap 
 tain Grebe again sprang forward to wrench the flag from the fallen color-bearer, 
 when the sword of a hostile sergeant struck his left breast and he fell unconscious 
 upon the body of the rebel flag-bearer. Simultaneously, Wagner again came to his 
 captain s rescue, and with a slashing blow of his sabre cut the Confederate sergeant 
 down. 
 
 After the battle General Logan saluted Captain Grebe with a wave of his slouch 
 hat, saying: "Well done, Grebe ; the battle is won by your intrepidity and dash." 
 
 And now follows a dramatic incident. Captain Grebe, in recognition of his 
 unusually gallant services, was ordered to proceed to St. Louis, Mo., to be promoted 
 Colonel of the Fourth Missouri Cavalry. While in that city he one evening escorted 
 a lady to a theatre and was incensed at an insult to which he and the lady were sub 
 jected by Ferdinand Hansen, also a cavalry officer. A duel was the inevitable out 
 come. They fought with 45-calibre revolvers at a distance of twelve yards. Hansen 
 fell, shot through the breast, but eventually recovered. Captain Grebe was cashiered 
 from the army as well as all those who had any part in this affaire d honneur. 
 
 Thirty years elapsed before Captain Grebe s case, the duel and the cause which 
 led up to it, was investigated by Congress. Then not only was his honorable dis 
 charge ordered, but so greatly impressed were the nation s representatives with the 
 military record of this officer that they awarded him the Medal of Honor as a just 
 tribute of his unexcelled bravery. 
 
383 
 
 INTERRUPTIONS AT A REBEL BREAKFAST 
 
 EDWIN M. TRUELL, 
 
 Private, Co. E, 12th Wisconsin Infantry. 
 Born at Lowell, Mass.. Aug. 19. 1841. 
 
 AN assault was made by General Force s Brigade 
 ** upon rebel works at Bald Hill, near Atlanta, 
 Ga., July 21, 1864. The action opened early in the 
 morning by a bayonet charge up the hill, through a 
 cornfield and across a field of underbrush and small 
 trees felled in all directions to obstruct the advance. 
 The Twelfth Wisconsin formed part of the brigade, 
 and as it swept up the hill Private Edwin M. Truell, 
 of Company E, was severely wounded in the right foot 
 by a Minie ball. The wound was very painful and 
 caused the injured man to limp, but he could still 
 travel and bravely kept up in line. The regiment 
 took three lines of breastworks and captured many 
 prisoners. As the "Union soldiers bounded over the 
 earthworks at the first line, the rebels in the trenches 
 
 were completely taken by surprise. They were at their breakfast and left their corn 
 and cakes and bacon in tin pans on the ground as they sprang to their feet, guns in 
 hand. Private Truell struck three Confederates, who were so terror-stricken that 
 they, unable to recover their wits, cried: "We surrender! We surrender! Wliat 
 shall we do ? " 
 
 "Throw down your guns and go to the rear!" Private Truell shouted, and the 
 rebels fairly fell over each other in their haste to comply. The a,dvance continued. 
 Once over the last line, Private Truell took station behind a large pine tree, where 
 he tried to rally his comrades to his support. The order to retreat had been given, 
 however, and the breastworks on the right, which had not been captured, were now 
 pouring in an enfilading fire. For some few minutes Private Truell maintained his 
 position, but, finding it impossible to bring others forward and anticipating a charge 
 by the enemy in an effort to retake the works, he fell back across the road and 
 rejoined his comrades. The rebels did charge and during the subsequent severe 
 fighting the plucky private received a second shot close to the first wound and fell 
 exhausted from loss of blood to the ground. 
 
 His comrades ran to his assistance and offered to take him to the rear, but he 
 refused. Instead he crawled on hands and knees through a strip of w r oods, across 
 the field and dow r n the hill to a little creek, where he dressed and bandaged his own 
 wound with a handkerchief. He returned in the same manner, and, unmindful of 
 his own condition, directed his attention to his wounded comrades, whose thirst he 
 quenched from his canteen, and w r hose sufferings he endeavored to alleviate. It was 
 evening when he was taken off the field and conveyed to a field hospital, where, after 
 seven weeks of intense suffering, the leg was amputated. 
 
884 
 
 THE HERO OF FORT HASKELL 
 
 CHARLES H. HOUGHTON, 
 
 Captain, Co. L, 14th New York Artillery. 
 
 Highest rank attained : Colonel. 
 
 Born at Houghton Homestead, Macomb, St. 
 
 Lawrence Co., N. Y., April 80, 1842. 
 
 A X T"HEN General Meade changed General Burn- 
 * * side s plan of attack at the battle of the 
 Crater, Va., July 30, 1864, and ordered that one 
 division of white troops should lead the assault, 
 if fell by lot to the Fourteenth New York Artillery 
 to lead the charge. The mine extending from the 
 Union lines to a point under the Confederate strong 
 hold was ready to be sprung July 29. During the 
 night General Ledlie s Division, to which the Four 
 teenth New York Artillery belonged, marched out 
 through the covered ways and formed lines just in 
 rear of the most advanced Federal works, where it 
 awaited the explosion with no little anxiety, and as 
 the men had been without sleep all night many lay 
 down for a brief rest. 
 
 " No word could be uttered aloud ; orders were given in a whisper," says Captain 
 Charles H. Houghton, of Company L, Fourteenth New York Artillery. "After 
 hours of silent and anxious waiting we knew the time for the explosion had 
 passed and later learned that a lieutenant and a sergeant of the Forty-eighth Penn 
 sylvania had gone into the tunnel and found that the burning fuse had gone out 
 where it had been spliced. It was relighted and soon after, about daylight, it 
 reached the magazines. The effect was beyond description. The earth under us, 
 and for some distance back of us, seemed to be the brink of a volcano, or the 
 long roll of an ocean swell. Soldiers lying on the ground were almost lifted to a 
 standing position ; and then with a mighty power the earth opened, flames shot up 
 ward, carrying the earth, timbers, cannon, men, and everything within the fort, to 
 a distance of seventy-five or a hundred feet. The scene was magnificently sublime, 
 though it brought death and destruction to all within it, and to add to the reality of 
 this inferno some two hundred pieces of artillery in our works opened fire with 
 death-dealing missiles upon the enemy s line. Under this fire the charging columns 
 advanced, meeting at the outset a serious obstruction, as our works at the nearest 
 
 The Battle of the Crater (Petersburg, Va.) On the 25th of June, 1864, work was begun under the direc 
 tion of Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Pleasants, of the Forty-eighth Pennsylvania Infantry, upon the structure 
 known as the Crater. This work, approved by General Burnside, commander of the Ninth Corps, had the 
 disapproval of General Meade, commander, and Major Duane, chief engineer of the Army of the Potomac. 
 Accordingly Colonel Pleasants was forced to prosecute his work, under almost insurmountable disad 
 vantage. Then, too, General Burnside s plan of attack, submitted by request of General Meade, was 
 changed in several very material particulars. In the end, so far as the construction and explosion of the 
 mine were concerned, the effort was a success. Otherwise, and for very many reasons, it was a great 
 calamity to the Union Army. The Federal losses aggregated over 7,000 men, killed, wounded and missing. 
 
385 
 
 point, being lower down on the sloping ground, had to be built higher than usual and 
 had not been prepared for scaling. But ladders were quickly formed by some of 
 our men placing their bayonets between the logs and holding the butt end of the 
 muskets at hip and on shoulders, up which the others climbed, aided by officers 
 standing on top of the parapet. But as rapidity of action at such time was of the 
 greatest importance, Colonel Marshall, commanding the brigade, and standing below 
 within the works, ordered me to go forward with what men I had. We moved with 
 out waiting for the rest of our command, at double-quick, to the Crater, and planted 
 our flag first over its ruins, capturing many prisoners and two brass field pieces 
 which were in the left wing of the fort not damaged by the explosion. I decided 
 that the magazines must be near, and my men soon uncovered the entrance, which 
 had been filled with falling earth. One gun was soon prepared for action, and 
 silenced one of the enemy s guns which was giving us canister. Our first fire 
 brought in a number of prisoners forced to surrender or meet death. 
 
 " On reaching the Crater, an appalling sight was witnessed. We realized some 
 thing of the terrible effect which the explosion of so much powder, placed twenty- 
 five feet directly under the fort, must cause. We found an excavation some thirty 
 feet deep, sixty feet wide, and probably 130 feet long. One huge lump of red clay 
 was thrown on the surface facing our own works ; broken guns, timbers, sand bags, 
 men buried in every conceivable position, some with an arm, hand or head only 
 uncovered ; others with feet uppermost, and still others on top of the fallen earth, 
 with bones broken. One had fallen to the bottom of a shaft twelve feet deep, at the 
 entrance of a countermining tunnel, toward our lines. 
 
 " We were not able to learn, nor had we time to explore its extent, but were in 
 formed by a captured lieutenant that two such shafts had been sunk, tunnels 
 being worked at the time, and, had they gone deep enough, would have discovered 
 our own. 
 
 " We were forced to pass through the Crater, climb the opposite slanting wall, 
 and over the crest to traverses beyond, where our men received the fire of the Con 
 federates from whom, in a hand-to-hand encounter, we captured a Confederate 
 battle flag. 
 
 "But in the meantime the enemy had not been idle. A battery had been 
 brought up from the left to a position out of range of our artillery, and opened fire 
 with grape and canister on our troops, and sweeping the crest of the Crater, aided 
 also by the guns in the two forts on our right, and one on the left flank, re-enforce 
 ments having been thrown into the Confederate main line on both flanks, their 
 terrific and incessant fire concentrated upon that point rendered it impossible for 
 us to advance and deploy. 
 
 "A brigade of General Mahone s Confederate division advanced to a charge, 
 during which their battery had to withhold fire, giving us an opportunity to bring 
 into action one of the captured guns, and by turning it upon this column efficient aid 
 
386 
 
 was rendered to our infantry in repulsing this first effort to dislodge us. The 
 ammunition from the rebel magazine being nearly exhausted, and our gunners too 
 exposed in working it in plain view and range of the enemy, we were compelled to 
 discontinue its use, and soon thereafter Mahone s entire Confederate division 
 
 advanced and charged our colored troops, who had 
 done splendid fighting, and, being now compressed 
 to a small space with no protection on front nor 
 flank, were forced back, carrying the other troops 
 with them to our main line. 
 
 "A SHELL EXPLODED 
 AT HIS FEET." 
 
 "I passed through the Crater along the rear wall to the wing where I had left the 
 two captured guns in charge of a sergeant and detachment. The entrance, a narrow 
 passageway, was covered by rebel sharpshooters, and General Hartranft called 
 out quickly to me to drop down and crawl in. I and my orderly, Corporal Stanford 
 Bigelow, passed through safely. 
 
 "I found Generals Potter, Hartranft, Griffin, and one or two others; General 
 Bartlett was in the pit of the Crater, shot through his artificial leg, and unable to 
 
387- 
 
 walk, thus preventing his escape. The rebels were then on all sides, except that 
 fronting our lines, and firing into the Crater. Our men still within it were placed 
 along the rear and flank crest to keep them back ; several were thus killed, shot 
 through the head ; these would fall backward, and if they did not roll to the bot 
 tom of the pit, laid with head toward it, so that the blood ran down its sloping walls 
 in small rivulets to the bottom, where it formed pools before its absorption by the 
 red clay. 
 
 " At this time the pit and its sides were filled with dead and wounded who could 
 not escape capture or death. Intense suffering was being caused from want of 
 water and surgeons ; and unprotected from the sun, with not a breath of air stirring 
 in that hell hole, many must have died under the torture, and later, many more, 
 still living, it is believed, were buried therein by the Confederates. If the sight 
 was appalling to iron nerves, what must it have been to those inside, awaiting death 
 so heroically? 
 
 "Then we turned our gaze to the open field between the lines, over which we 
 had advanced at daylight, now strewn with the bodies of hundreds of our dead and 
 dying, white and colored, with the hot midday rays of a July sun beating mercilessly 
 down upon them, which was still swept by the concentrated cross-fire of the enemy s 
 artillery and infantry, over which it seemed impossible for one to pass and escape 
 death. After remaining there for some time in the stifling heat amid such scenes 
 of carnage and suffering, and realizing that a protracted stay would probably add to 
 the already numerous prisoners taken by the enemy, or lengthen our long death 
 roll, I decided to make an attempt to reach at the nearest point, our lines, over 
 which I could see my own regimental flag floating in the slight sultry breeze, in 
 dicating its direction, which was favorable to my plan already quickly formed of 
 releasing those general officers and all others not seriously wounded. On inform 
 ing them of my decision, they protested, and endeavored to convince me of the 
 great danger and almost certain death to go across that field under such a fire. I 
 replied that it was sure death or starvation in rebel prisons, to remain, and I pre 
 ferred to take the risk then. After watching the explosion of shell and noting the 
 point of its striking the ground, I gave word to my orderly that on the explosion of 
 the next I would make the start, he to follow a short distance in my rear, so 
 we should not be in line, and we could pass beyond that point before another 
 explosion and before the range could be changed. The rebels saw us right after the 
 start, but passing through showers of bullets we reached, with a bound, the crest of 
 our works and sprang from the parapet within, safe and unscathed. I immedi 
 ately ordered my men, who had received ammunition and were prepared to hold 
 these works, to open a hot fire on the enemy to the right of the Crater, who, ap 
 parently expecting another attack, replied vehemently, and very soon the field was 
 covered with smoke, through the pall of which every general left in the angle or 
 wing escaped in safety to our lines." 
 
388 
 
 Four months after this battle Captain Charles H. Houghton was assigned to duty 
 at Fort Haskell, Va., as commander of the post, the garrison consisting of 350 
 men, including several batteries of artillery. About this time printed copies of an 
 order of amnesty issued by General Grant, providing that deserters coming into the 
 Union lines, bringing their arms and accoutrements, would be paid a specified sum, 
 and, on taking the oath not to again take up arms against the United States, would 
 be furnished free transportation north, had been freely circulated along the Confed- 
 e rate lines. Through the operation of this very order, the Confederate general, 
 Gordon, succeeded in entering the Union lines in his night attack on Fort Sted- 
 man on the early morning of March 25, 1865 the last general assault by Lee s 
 army on the Federal intrenchments. 
 
 General Gordon decided to make his assault from Colquitt s Salient, a point not 
 more than 200 yards from the Federal lines, with a force of about 12,000 infantry 
 supported by a large cavalry force and with a heavy force in reserve. Shortly 
 after three o clock on the morning of the 25th when the darkness was intense, a file 
 of 100 picked men advanced from the Confederate lines and, utilizing the tenor of the 
 amnesty order, the first man called out : " Don t shoot ; we want to come in." In 
 this way the sentinel did not fire and was immediately killed by a noiseless bayonet 
 thrust. Aided by the darkness, and followed by detachments to cut away the abatis, 
 the force of the enemy grew until, haying the strength of an assaulting column, 
 they attacked that part of the unoccupied works to the right and rear of Battery Ten, 
 next north of Fort Stedman. Here they were met by a portion of the Fourteenth 
 New York Artillery, garrisoning the section of the line which was in position. Cap 
 tain Cleary, Lieutenant Thomson and Sergeant Delack hauled one gun to the sally 
 port and opened on the assailants, capturing several prisoners and the flag of the 
 Twenty-Sixth South Carolina Infantry. Lieutenant E. B. Nye, commanding the 
 section of artillery in Battery Ten, was shot down while gallantly defending his 
 guns. 
 
 Commandant Houghton, two days previous to Gordon s assault on Stedman, had 
 added 60,000 rounds of ammunition for all arms to his magazine supply, and on the 
 eve of the 25th had advised his officers to be ready to resist an attack very early the 
 next morning. When asked for his reasons for having such an opinion, he said his 
 premonition was strong and unexplainable and that he was advising extraordinary 
 precautions, as he felt that they were necessary. 
 
 About three o clock the next morning, Sylvester E. Hough, the last watch on the 
 outer post, saw blue lights flashing along the rebel picket pits and heard the sound 
 of chopping on the lines. He fired a signal gun, and as a more rapid fire than usual 
 was heard along the left front of Fort Stedman the men in Fort Haskell were form 
 ing in line and answering the roll call. Captain Houghton hurried to the banquette 
 on the right flank of his fort and at once saw that the enemy were on the left flank 
 of Stedman, between the two forts. Word came that the Confederates were stealing 
 along in the dark toward the front of Fort Haskell, at which the captain ordered his 
 
-389 
 
 men to their positions on the banquette of the front parapet. There, cautioning his 
 men to reserve their fire till he gave the command, the garrison stood silently in the 
 darkness, with one of Captain Werner s guns loaded with case shot, and trained on 
 the opening of the abatis through which the Union pickets passed in and out. 
 
 As Captain Houghton and his men stood there in enforced silence, the Confed 
 erate column in double rank reached the abatis and their commanders could be 
 heard cautioning the men to move more quietly and steadily, and, " we ll have their 
 works steady men, steady." 
 
 " Wait," whispered Captain Houghton, " wait till you can see them ; then fire." 
 
 " Steady, men, steady," again whispered the Confederate leader as the Union 
 soldiers waited breathless and with leveled muskets. 
 
 " Fire ! " shouted Captain Houghton, and a terrific volley from cannon and 
 muskets, heralded by a single, awful crash, swept along the ranks of the astonished 
 band. Surprised, almost demoralized, the enemy fell back a short distance to reform 
 and advance again up the slope. As before, they were received with a concerted vol 
 ley from cannon and musketry, to once more go reeling to the rear. Then what 
 were left quickly divided into small squads and attempted by making simultaneous 
 attacks at different points to carry the fort, but most of them were killed for their 
 folly. 
 
 As soon as it was light enough to see that the American flag was still flying over 
 Fort Haskell, all the artillery of the Confederate works and the captured guns in 
 Fort Stedman and Batteries Eleven and Twelve were turned in a concentrated fire 
 on Captain Houghton and his gallant garrison, while the Third New Jersey Bat 
 tery, in position at embrazures on the right flank and on parapet, was firing shell 
 and case-shot into the enemy. 
 
 The rebels made three furious attacks, but were driven back in confusion each 
 time. Up to this time the garrison had been fighting almost alone, but now they 
 had been joined by Major Randall and a few who had escaped from Fort Stedman, 
 and small detachments from other regiments had come in. However, on the other 
 hand, a Union reserve artillery battery near Meade s Station began firing upon Fort 
 Haskell, under the mistaken notion that the fort had been captured by the enemy. 
 Color-bearer Robert Kiley with colors and a guard was sent out under fire to the 
 rear to signal the battery to cease firing. Four of the color-guard were shot down. 
 
 During the second charge by the enemy on his right flank and rear Captain 
 Houghton, while standing near his colors on the banquette, had his right leg shat 
 tered by a fragment from a shell which exploded at his feet, while other frag 
 ments wounded his right hand severely. He was immediately carried to a bomb 
 proof facing the parapet, where he lay, watching and directing his men. The pro 
 posed capture of Port Haskell resulted in a complete failure. 
 
 Captain Houghton was removed to a field hospital and his leg was amputated at 
 the thigh. He recovered and rejoined his regiment at Fort Reno, to be honorably 
 discharged several months later. 
 
390 
 
 THE GALLANT COLONEL AND HIS BRAVE ADJUTANT 
 
 DELEVAN BATES, 
 
 Colonel, 30th U. S. Colored Troops. 
 
 Highest rank attained : Bvt. Brig-Gen. 
 
 Born in Schoharie Co., N. Y., in 1840. 
 
 A BOUT two hours after the explosion of the mine, Gen- 
 ** eral Edward Ferrero, who had expressed the 
 opinion that it would be inadvisable to take his division 
 of colored troops to the Crater, was peremptorily ordered 
 by General Burnside to lead his division at once into 
 the "hell s hole." In compliance with this order the 
 Thirtieth U. S. Colored Infantry immediately advanced, 
 led by its gallant commander, Colonel Delevan Bates. 
 The attack is described as follows : 
 
 "Under the range of a score of cannon with a per 
 fect maelstrom of rebel lead sweeping the area, the col 
 ored men went with a dash against the line of earthworks 
 filled with the veterans of many battle-fields. Their 
 bravery was of the highest grade and before the charge 
 was ended two hundred yards of breastworks, covered 
 ways and bomb proofs were captured in a hand-to-hand 
 
 combat and several hundred prisoners with a stand of colors W 7 ere sent to the rear. 
 "At this juncture there came orders for another charge on a Confederate battery 
 several hundred yards nearer the city of Petersburg. Again the Thirtieth, led by 
 its commander, was under way. Subjected to a galling fire from batteries on 
 the flanks and from infantry fire in front and partly on the flank, an attempt was 
 made to execute the order. Colonel Bates was shot through the head, dangerously, 
 but not fatally; Major Leeke was killed ; Captain Seagraves had his leg shattered by a 
 bullet but, refusing to surrender, killed and wounded six Confederates, and was found 
 
 with seven deadly wounds on his person. His men 
 fought for his body like tigers, but without success, 
 several of them being found dead by his side. The 
 color-guards were annihilated, one after another seizing 
 the flag as their comrades fell dead and, finally broken 
 up and in disorder, the rest fell back to the line from 
 whence they started. 
 
 "After Colonel Bates was wounded and Major Leeke 
 killed, Adjutant Andrew Davidson, assisted by the re 
 maining company officers, made a most heroic effort to 
 rally the broken ranks of his regiment from the desper 
 ate countercharge of the enemy and was the last officer 
 to abandon the recaptured position and fall back to the 
 Union line." 
 
 ANDREW DAVIDSON, 
 
 Adjutant, 80th U. S. Colored Troops. 
 
 Highest rank attained : Captain. 
 
 Born in Scotland in 1840. 
 
392 
 
 Eight company officers were killed or wounded and two were taken prisoners; 
 while 212 enlisted men of the regiment were killed or wounded. This was the 
 record of a body of troops never under heavy fire before, a regiment of heroes, led by 
 officers who know no fear. 
 
 A BAYONET CHARGE PUT THE REBELS TO FLIGHT 
 
 ALBERT D. WRIGHT, 
 
 Captain, Co. G, 43d U. S. Colored Inf. 
 
 Born in Elkland, T:oga Co., Pa., 
 
 Dec. 10, 1844. 
 
 A NOTHER body of colored troops, the Forty-third U. S. 
 * Colored Infantry, distinguished itself at the Mine, 
 and one of their officers, Captain Albert D. Wright, of 
 Company G, earned his Medal of Honor on that mem 
 orable occasion, which he himself recalls as follows : 
 
 "At the time of the explosion, our brigade was strung 
 out in the covered way leading to the fort, with the 
 Forty-third Regiment in advance. As our troops crossed 
 the space between our lines and the Confederates , at 
 this point not more than one hundred yards apart, they 
 were exposed to a scattering fire of musketry, and 
 instead of continuing through the Crater directly to 
 Petersburg, as planned, huddled into the Crater and 
 stopped, while the Confederates fled from the breast 
 works, expecting other explosions. When the rebels found that none followed, and 
 their lines were not occupied, except in the Crater, they rallied, and, manning their 
 guns, began a horrible slaughter of our men, by dropping shells into the Crater from 
 every battery within reach, and from a number of little Cohorn mortars in the 
 vicinity. 
 
 "Not quite an hour had passed when we were hurried to the ravine immediately 
 behind our works, massed and ordered to perform the same manoeuvre that the 
 white troops preceding us had been ordered to execute. The narrow space between 
 the lines was almost taken up by a line of abatis and one of chevaux-de-frise, in 
 front of and on each side of the breastworks. These lines were impassable, unless 
 the wires binding them together could be cut and the heavy timbers and tree-tops 
 removed, an operation impossible to perform in the face of a line of such men as we 
 had to meet. The break in our line was wide enough only for four men to pass out 
 abreast, while the break in the Confederate lines was only where the abatis and 
 chevaux-de-frise had been covered with earth from the explosion ; consequently we 
 were obliged to cross in column by fours, as if we were. marching along a road. 
 
 " The balance of the regiment could not remain exposed to the awful fire which 
 enfiladed them on both sides and for some reason they filed to the right and went 
 
393 
 
 between the Confederate lines and ours. In a very few moments I saw we were 
 simply being slaughtered without a chance of defense and, seeing a little path 
 through the Confederate lines of abatis and chevaux-de-frise, I crawled through to 
 the Confederate breastworks, lay down on the outside and began firing my pistol 
 alongside of every gun I could reach, as they moved them over to fire at our men. 
 The momentary sight I got of our fellows, bravely trying to rally, drove me frantic. 
 Six of my company had followed me through the little path, and turning to -them I 
 said: We cannot go back; they will kill us! If we lie here they will capture us, 
 and they say they will take no nigger prisoners or white officers with them. Let s 
 jump in. 
 
 "They replied: All right, Cap n. I told them to fix bayonets, gave the word, 
 and in we went. 
 
 "It was a surprise. We were stronger just there than they were. The colored 
 men killed everyone w r ithin reach, instantly. This created a panic, and, thinking of 
 our poor fellows in the field, we turned to the right, the men yelling like fiends and 
 bayoneting everyone they could reach. We simply cleaned out the breastworks for 
 the whole length of our regiment, the Confederates evidently mistaking our rush 
 for a charge by the troop they knew to be in the Crater. 
 
 " While rushing down the breastwork, I saw a flag sticking out of a hole behind 
 the works. Springing on top of the earth around the hole, and, pointing my empty 
 revolver down, I drove out the color-sergeant and guard of six men, took the flag 
 and sent it across to our line. This occupied only a moment, after which we con 
 tinued driving the enemy out of the works until we came to an angle around the 
 head of the ravine, the line on the opposite side of the ravine continuing straight 
 with the line we had cleared out. There it was that the enemy could see how small 
 our force was, and they at once opened fire on us. From where we were I could see 
 into Petersburg, there being no other works or men between ourselves and that city. 
 
 " While throwing sand-bags across the rifle pit to protect ourselves from fire, I 
 was wounded in the arm and went back to the hospital, and on my way back I had 
 the satisfaction of seeing what was left of our regiment crawling through the abatis 
 and coming into the rifle pits in safety." 
 
394 
 
 TOO YOUNG FOR ENLISTMENT, BUT SERVED 
 
 A 
 
 NATHANIEL McL. GWYNNE, 
 
 Private, Troop H, 13th Ohio Cavalry. 
 Born at Urbana, Ohio, July 5, 1849. 
 
 MERE BOY, Nathaniel McL. Gwynne, applied for en 
 listment at Cincinnati in the spring of 1864. 
 The recruiting officer looked at the 15-year-old, shook 
 his head and said : " You had better stay at home, my 
 boy ; you re too young." He was not disheartened by 
 this refusal, but went to several officers, then about to 
 take the field, begging for permission to go along. One 
 officer, a captain of Company H, Thirteenth Ohio Cav 
 alry, was so favorably impressed with the boy s desire to 
 serve his country that he permitted him to accompany 
 his command, and from that time on young Gwynne 
 regularly performed the duties of a private, participat 
 ing in all the engagements of the regiment, including 
 the one at Petersburg July 30. 
 
 When the regiment was about to make a charge on a battery holding a com 
 manding position on Fort Hill, the captain noticed young Gwynne in line, and said 
 to him : "Young man, remember you are not mustered in. You had better stay 
 behind." 
 
 " But that s not what I m here for ! " responded the boy. 
 
 Just then the bugler sounded the charge, and away went the troop, young 
 Gwynne with it, across a ravine, up the hill, straight to the mouths of the cannon, 
 where a hand-to-hand fight ensued, in which the color-sergeant of the Thirteenth 
 was shot down and the colors captured. The enemy were the stronger ; the attack 
 failed. The colors captured, a retreat followed. 
 
 Half the distance over which the charge had been made was covered in the re 
 treat when a horse wheeled out of line, his head toward the enemy, and charged 
 directly toward the battery. It was young Gwynne s horse. Those who saw the 
 dash at first wondered whether he had lost control of his horse ; then, whether his 
 reason had deserted him, for he was guiding his horse with a firm hand. On he 
 went, heedless of the shower of bullets from the infantry, supporting the battery, 
 riding into the midst of it, and directly to the point where his regimental colors 
 were held, all the time urging his horse to its utmost speed. Reaching the colors, 
 he seized them from their captor, and, turning his horse s head, started back to his 
 regiment. Immediately every gun of the enemy was trained on him. He had not 
 
 Fort Hill, or "Hell," as it was familiarly known to the Union soldiers, was one of the numerous 
 fortifications in front of Petersburg, where some of the fiercest fighting took place on the 30th of July, after 
 the mine explosion. 
 
"IMMEDIATELY EVERY GUN WAS TRAINED UPON HIM." 
 
396 
 
 gone far, however, before the arm supporting the flag was shot away, almost tear 
 ing it from its socket, and the flag went down. He stopped his horse, took the reins 
 in his teeth, picked up the flag and dashed away toward his regiment. Again he 
 was shot, this time in the leg, but pluckily he rode on until he reached his comrades, 
 whereupon he turned the flag over to them, and fell unconscious to the ground. 
 
 As a reward for his bravery, Gwynne was placed on the muster-roll of the Thir 
 teenth Ohio Cavalry, his muster-in to date from the time of his application for 
 enlistment. 
 
 CLEVER STRATEGY FOOLED 
 THE REBELS 
 
 THOMAS R. KERR, 
 
 Captain, Co. C, 14th Perm. Cavalry. 
 
 Born at Coleraine. Ireland, 
 
 April 24, 1843. 
 
 IN the extreme eastern part of West Virginia lies the 
 * little town of Moorefield. Here in the evening of 
 August 6, 1864, the Confederate general, McCauseland. 
 was resting his division, which was on its way back from 
 Maryland after the burning of the village of Chambers- 
 burg, and consisted of McCauseland s Brigade, Gen 
 eral Bradley Johnson s Brigade of Cavalry, Gilmor s 
 Mounted Battalion and the Baltimore Battery in all, 
 about 3,200 men. 
 
 At dark on the same day General William W. Averell 
 arrived with about 1,700 men of his division after a weary pursuit of 150 miles. This 
 division had been engaged since the spring of the year in long and toilsome expedi 
 tions twice to the Tennessee River and to Lynchburg, participating in many combats 
 and skirmishes, so that it was in poor condition for active movements, either on the 
 march or in battle. At the same time it was absolutely essential to a successful 
 attack upon the Confederates that they should be surprised and fought with the ut 
 most energy. Vigilant scouts guarded the front of Averell s force, preventing any 
 intelligence of its coming from reaching the enemy, and at the same time ascertain 
 ing McCauseland s position. 
 
 General Averell, learning that General McCauseland was retreating toward Moorefield, W. Va., pursued 
 and overtook him at Oldfields, three miles east of Moorefield, on the 7th of August, 1864, effecting a com 
 plete surprise, routing and dispersing the whole command and capturing 420 prisoners, four guns, large 
 quantities of small arms and 400 horses and equipments. The Federals lost twenty-eight in killed and 
 wounded ; the enemy s loss is unknown. After the engagement the enemy retreated by different roads 
 into the Shenandoah Valley, and General Averell returned to New Creek with his prisoners and captured 
 property, from which point he received orders to report to General Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley, 
 near Harper s Ferry. 
 
397 
 
 McCauseland s Brigade with Gilmor s Battalion and two guns of the battery 
 were encamped on the right bank of the Potomac, next to Moorefield, while a mile 
 away Johnson s Brigade and two guns w r ere encamped on the north side of the 
 stream. After dark Averell sent 160 men by a mountain road around the east of 
 Moorefield to blockade the highway and prevent the escape of the enemy toward 
 Winchester fifty miles away to rejoin Early. Accompanied by Captain Thomas 
 R. Kerr and a few chosen men, Averell proceeded on foot in the darkness, which was 
 deepened by a fog, and captured the enemy s mounted videttes, from whom was 
 learned the position of a Confederate picket and fifteen men under Lieutenant Carter. 
 Captain Kerr with fifteen mounted men made a wide detour, striking a road beyond 
 the picket. While returning toward them he was challenged and, answering 
 " Relief," he drew near, dismounted and in a minute had the picket disarmed and 
 under guard. Then General Averell sent Captain Kerr and his detachment to cap 
 ture and bring back into the Union line a picket that was expected to arrive soon. 
 About a mile away the captain was again challenged and replied : " Picket coming 
 in." After which he and his party at once surrounded the enemy s picket and com 
 pelled its surrender. The officer in charge, however, broke away in an effort to 
 escape, but Captain Kerr sprang after him and quickly subdued him with his sabre. 
 Thus the road to Moorefield was clear and not a shot had been fired. 
 
 When the head of General Averell s column had reached a point within 500 yards 
 of the enemy, it was not yet light enough to see clearly ten yards. Two Confed 
 erate troopers sent to recall patrol and pickets met General Averell in the road and 
 informed him that their brigade was saddled and ready to move. Quickly placing 
 one column in the road and one in the fields on each side, all following a line de 
 ployed in sets of fours, General Averell placed Captain Kerr with his company in 
 advance of the center column. Only one squadron could be left in the rear to guard 
 the prisoners. He then gave orders to ride over Johnson s Brigade, using only the 
 sabre, and to continue steadily on to the river, break through it and capture General 
 McCauseland himself. 
 
 The first part of the plan was executed, but the one squadron left behind could 
 not hold all the prisoners taken from Johnson s Brigade, so that a large number of 
 them escaped through the cornfields to the hills. There being but one ford at the 
 river a slight delay ensued, giving the enemy a little time to form on the opposite 
 side. 
 
 Captain Kerr and his company were at once across, however, closely followed by 
 the other troops. The early morning light was not yet clear enough to distinguish 
 individuals more than 100 yards distant so that Captain Kerr, challenged by the first 
 troops he met, promptly answered : " Gilmor s Battalion ; " but as that particu 
 lar body happened to be the challenging party, a hot fire was opened on Kerr s 
 Company as it charged. A bullet struck Captain Kerr in the face, another wounded 
 him in the thigh ; his horse was killed and fell on him, but his men went on. 
 
399 
 
 The captain extricated himself from the fallen horse, ran to the color-bearer of 
 the Eighth Virginia Confederate Regiment, who was striving to get to horse, struck 
 down the man, took his colors and horse, mounted and rejoined his company through 
 the fleeing remnants of the enemy. 
 
 The sun was just up when all was over ; more than 150 of the enemy were killed 
 and wounded. Three stands of colors, the battery, nearly 500 officers and men with 
 nearly 1,000 horses and small arms were captured, and the enemy were dispersed to 
 the mountains. 
 
 "WELL DONE, TAYLOR" 
 
 r the morning of August 18, 1864, at 
 the Weldon Railroad, Private Joseph 
 Taylor, of Company E, Seventh Rhode Isl 
 and Infantry, was detached from his company 
 on detail as mounted orderly at brigade head 
 quarters and ordered to escort Adjutant-Gen 
 eral Peleg E. Peckham through some near-by 
 timber. 
 
 "The day was very hot and the country had 
 been fairly flooded by rains," Private Taylor 
 narrates. " We were riding quite rapidly and 
 when we reached the woods I found them so 
 dense and so filled w r ith underbrush that it 
 was with great difficulty I followed the general. 
 Every now and then the limbs and branches 
 of the brush pushed aside by my leader would 
 
 spring back, striking my horse in the face so that I could not make it keep its gait. 
 Thus, not being able to keep up with the general, I undertook to skirt the edge 
 of the wood. In a short while I lost sight of him, but, believing that I would soon 
 see him again, continued on, as I thought I could hear his horse going. 
 
 " Suddenly, to my entire surprise, I ran against a Confederate picket post of three 
 infantrymen, who appeared to be as greatly surprised as myself. Immediately draw 
 ing my revolver, I commanded them to surrender and get out to the rear as quickly 
 as possible, as a cavalry charge was to be made right over the ground where we were 
 standing. 
 
 " I did not know whether there was any cavalry within ten miles, but the thought 
 came to me and I simply said it. 
 
 JOSEPH TAYLOR, 
 
 Private, Co. E, 7th R. I. Inf. 
 Born at Pascoag, R. I., Feb. 6, 1817. 
 
400 
 
 "The three men had 
 stacked arms, which 
 I ordered them to 
 carry, when I felt 
 a sharp pain, caused 
 by a fourth Confed 
 erate, whom I had 
 overlooked, lunging 
 his bayonet through 
 my right arm. I 
 at once emptied 
 a chamber of my 
 revolver into his 
 left breast and he 
 dropped. Knowing 
 that my shot would 
 give an alarm, I 
 ordered my three 
 prisoners forward, 
 and, revolver in 
 hand, at their rear, 
 I rode rapidly to 
 ward our line. 
 "As I reached head 
 quarters with my cap 
 tives, General Curtin asked 
 with much surprise where I 
 captured these men. Up in 
 
 the brush, general, I answered. Where is General Peckham ? asked the general, 
 and I replied : I don t know, general ; I lost him in the brush. 
 
 "Just then Doctor Blackwood, of our staff, came up and asked: What s the 
 matter with your arm, Joe ? Nothing, except it feels a little warm. Then I saw 
 that the blood of the bayonet wound had run to my hand and over my revolver, 
 which I was still holding. Just then General Peckham rode up to us and, being 
 questioned by General Curtin as to where I had captured the rebels, he said : I do 
 not know while riding through the brush with Taylor following me, as I supposed, 
 I suddenly missed him. Two or three minutes later I heard a shot to my left and 
 rear, and, thinking that by getting too far out of the woods Taylor had been hurt, I 
 immediately returned to see about the matter. 
 
 "General Curtin ordered the prisoners disarmed and said to me: Well done 
 Taylor, you will get a Medal of Honor for this. " 
 
 I EMPTIED A CHAMBER OF MY REVOLVER INTO HIS BREAST." 
 
401 
 
 EQUAL TO THE EMERGENCY 
 
 T NCLUDED in the operations against Petersburg was General Grant s effort to cut off 
 * the line of supplies for the Confederates by destroying the Weldon Railroad. 
 General Warren, to whom this task was entrusted, was twice fiercely assaulted by 
 General Lee s army, but succeeded in holding his position and carrying his mission 
 to complete success. During one of the attacks an incident occurred of which 
 Private Soloman J. Hottenstein, of Company C, One hundred and seventh Pennsyl 
 vania Infantry, became the hero. 
 
 The Union corps had, on August 18, 1864, made a descent on the Weldon Rail 
 road at Yellow House, driving in the Confederate pickets. When, however, the enemy 
 appeared in force, the One hundred and seventh Pennsylvania was thrown out and 
 deployed as skirmishers to meet them. Then the fighting became general and very 
 intense, and so continued until darkness had set in. Still the Federals held the 
 road and, under cover of night, threw up breastworks. 
 
 At 2 P. M. the following day another attack was 
 made, with partial success, and again, two hours later, 
 the enemy made still another attack, flanking General 
 Crawford s Division, taking many prisoners and com 
 pelling the Union forces to retreat. In this series of 
 alternating charges and countercharges, attacks and 
 retreats, the two forces became badly intermingled, and 
 at times the mix-up was so bad that it would have 
 been a difficult matter to discern the men of the two 
 
 hostile armies. At one time, however, a large body SYLVESTER H. MARTIN, 
 
 of Confederates had part of the One hundred and ueutenant.co.K.ssthpenn. infantry. 
 
 Highest rank attained : Captain. 
 
 seventh Pennsylvania surrounded and virtually cap- Bom in Chester co.,pa., Aug. O.IMI. 
 tured. Still considerable confusion reigned, especially 
 
 in the ranks of the Confederates, who at this particular point seemed to lack the 
 hand of a leader, who could bring order out of the chaos and take advantage of the 
 predicament of the Union men. On the other hand there was one soldier among 
 the surrounded Federals who proved to be fully equal to the emergency he was 
 Private Soloman Hottenstein. He recognized that he was in a locality which he 
 had passed and became thoroughly familiar with the day before while foraging. 
 Utilizing this very opportune knowledge, he decided to resort to a ruse, which was as 
 clever as it was desperate, to extricate himself and his comrades from their pre 
 carious position. Espying a Confederate color-bearer, he ran up to him and said : 
 "Give me that flag!" 
 
 The rebel complied. 
 
 Then waving the Confederate colors aloft, he shouted : " Come on boys ; follow 
 me ! " And for the Union lines he headed followed by his comrades and several 
 
402 
 
 hundred Confederates, who fairly fell over each other in their effort to fall into line 
 and follow their flag. Bewildered by the general confusion, the hail of shot and 
 shell from all directions, misled by the very boldness of Private Hottenstein s move, 
 they marched right into the arms of the Federal troops, realizing their fatal mistake 
 when it was too late and when they could do nothing but submit to capture. 
 
 During the same engagements the Eighty-eighth Pennsylvania and Ninety- 
 seventh New York Infantry regiments found themselves in the same position as the 
 one from which Private Hottenstein and comrades escaped. 
 
 " We were," says Lieutenant Sylvester H. Martin, of Company K, Eighty-eighth 
 Pennsylvania Infantry, " between two lines of the enemy and entirely isolated from 
 our corps, and after a consultation among the officers of both regiments, the col 
 onel of the ninety-seventh being in command, decided that we should fight our way 
 out. Having accomplished this, we reached our rear in an open field, but were 
 immediately ordered to re-advance and recover our former position. 
 
 "The missiles were now coming from our front. Men were falling fast ; among 
 them was the commander of our regiment, pierced through the face. The colonel 
 in command of the two regiments then called for an officer to take in a skirmish 
 line, and send word back to him whether it would be safe to advance the line. 
 
 " I moved forward with men of my company as skirmishers, reconnoitered the 
 position and made it possible to re-establish the line, which we held during the re 
 mainder of that action." 
 
 TWO OF SHERIDAN S SCOUTS 
 
 thrilling adventures of two of General Sheridan s 
 scouts form an interesting chapter of the episodes 
 of the War of the Rebellion. One of the scouts was Joseph 
 E. McCabe, a sergeant in the Seventeenth Pennsylvania 
 Cavalry ; the other, Archibald H. Rowand, a private in 
 Company K, First West Virginia Cavalry, the former 
 being the general s chief scout. 
 
 Among the many achievements of these two men, the 
 capture of the Confederate general, Harry Gilmor, and 
 staff was the most brilliant and consequential. The oc 
 currence dates at the time when General Sheridan had 
 his headquarters at Winchester during the winter of 1864. 
 It was Rowand who first got onto the trail of the Confed 
 erate general, who in a mansion near Moorefield, W. Va., was nursing his wounds 
 received at the battle of Winchester. He imparted his information to General Sheri 
 dan, who at once formulated plans for the capture of the wounded commander. The 
 
 JOSEPH E. McCABE, 
 
 Sergeant, 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry. 
 Born at Bridge-water, Pa.. June 6, 1841. 
 
403 
 
 task was entrusted to McCabe, chief scout, Major Henry H. Young with a detachment 
 of thirty cavalrymen, and Rowand, who acted as guide. After a ride of forty 
 miles the party all dressed as Confederates reached the general s place of abode 
 at daybreak. Approaching the house cautiously, Rowand went ahead, overpowered 
 the sentinel and made him prisoner. McCabe and Major Young followed and de 
 manded the surrender of the general and his staff. Resistance being out of question 
 the order was readily complied with, and thus the two daring scouts were able to 
 report the complete success of their mission to General Sheridan and turn over to 
 him the Confederate commander. 
 
 McCabe was the leading scout in still another important capture that of Gen 
 eral Rufus Barringer. 
 
 It was on the morning of April 6, 1865, when McCabe and five companions, all 
 attired in Confederate uniforms, were riding along on their way to Danville, Va. 
 Presently they met a group of four Confederates, whom they halted and engaged in 
 conversation. The Confederates said they belonged to a North Carolina brigade, 
 and McCabe and his comrades pretended to be men of the Ninth Virginia. They 
 rode along together till they were joined by a Confederate officer of apparent high 
 rank. He revealed himself during the course of the conversation as General Bar- 
 ringer. McCabe drew from the unwary rebels much valuable information, when, 
 without any previous warning, he presently informed the general and his men of his 
 identity and demanded their surrender. His determined attitude completely non 
 plused the Confederates, who were too greatly surprised to make even a show of 
 resistance. Only one rebel escaped. For this clever capture of General Barringer 
 McCabe was awarded the Medal of Honor 
 
 Rowand s other great feat was the delivery of a message from General Sheridan 
 to General Grant in 1865. 
 
 Sheridan had been ordered to pass around to the west of Richmond and effect a 
 junction with Sherman in North Carolina, but owing to heavy rains and swollen 
 streams he had been delayed until the Confederates had time to throw a heavy force 
 in his front and prevent his advance, a fact of which it was important that Grant 
 should l)e notified. Rowand and his comrade, James A. Campbell, volunteered to 
 deliver the message, and shortly thereafter, dressed as Confederates, they each re 
 ceived a copy of the message written on tissue paper and tightly rolled in the form 
 of a small pellet inclosed in tin foil. Their orders were to deliver the message, but 
 in case of capture to swallow the pellets before giving them up to the enemy. 
 
 The journey began on horseback and for forty-eight hours they were in the 
 saddle, during which time they entered the Confederate lines and were within 
 eight miles of Richmond. They met and conversed with a chief of Confederate 
 scouts and were within five miles of the James River when some of the scouts of 
 the enemy recognized them and gave chase. Rowand and Campbell put the spurs 
 to their horses and reached the river ahead of their pursuers. Here they abandoned 
 the horses and plunging into the river seized a floating skiff and with their hands 
 
404 
 
 paddled so rapidly, going diagonally with the cur 
 rent, that they reached the opposite shore just as the 
 enemy reached the south bank. The fugitives were 
 ordered to halt and shots were sent after them, but it 
 only stimulated McCabe and his comrade to greater 
 exertions. And so, with the enemy coming behind, 
 the two made a run, afoot, of about ten miles, when 
 they reached the Union lines. 
 
 The lieutenant in charge of the picket refused to 
 accept their statement that they were messengers 
 from Sheridan and was inclined to treat them as 
 spies. Finally, however, he consented to take his 
 prisoners to the Colonel, who at once forwarded them, 
 under escort, to Grant s headquarters. While sitting 
 at Grant s desk waiting for the general to appear, 
 they both fell asleep the first time in over two days. 
 
 Grant coming in, awakened Eowand by tapping him on the shoulder, and after re 
 ceiving and reading the dispatches ordered that every attention be paid to the two 
 young soldiers. 
 
 AN IMPROVISED BODYGUARD 
 
 ARCHIBALD H. ROWAND, Jr., 
 
 Private, Co. K, 1st W. Va. Cavalry. 
 Born in Allegheny City, Pa., March 6, 1845. 
 
 WHEN on the 30th of July, 1864, the Confederate works at Petersburg were con 
 verted by the explosion of Lieutenant-Colonel Pleasants mine into the hor 
 rible "Crater," Company H, of the Second New York Mounted Rifles, dismounted, 
 was posted about 100 feet away from the enemy s works and with the crash and 
 tumult of the explosion they received the order to charge with the remainder of 
 the brigade across a small rise of ground and take position at the first line of the 
 Confederate defenses. Second Lieutenant Harlan J. Swift, of Company H, a medal 
 winner in this affair, relates : 
 
 "Of course it was hot work, but was in no way a surprise, because our entire line 
 had been waiting long for just such an experience. We reached the objective point 
 in short order, to see the enemy going pell-mell toward their second line of defense, 
 a considerable distance away on the Jerusalem plank road. As we reached the top 
 of the first line I could see several Confederates not far off, and, calling my company 
 to halt, I sprinted on after the fugitives. I was very good on my feet and soon 
 overhauled four of the men who, with guns loaded and bayonets fixed, had given me 
 such a stubborn chase. 
 
 " Placing the muzzle of my revolver against the temple of one of the Johnnies 
 while still running, I ordered the four to surrender, which they did instantly, fancy 
 ing, I suppose, that 1 had my whole company at my back. Then I formed them on 
 either side and in front of me as a protection against possible shots from their 
 more speedy companions and so marched them back to our line." 
 
405 
 
 A WOMAN CAPTURED BY CHAMP FURGESON 
 
 DR. MARY E. WALKER, 
 
 Assistant Surgeon, U. S. Army. 
 Born at Oswego, N. Y. 
 
 DOCTOR MARY E. WALKER is the only woman up to 
 the present time who ever received the Medal 
 of Honor. She was one of the very few women who 
 at that time held a diploma from a medical college, 
 and five years prior to the war had a general medical 
 and surgical practice in Oswego, New York, her native 
 city. When the war broke out, and with that self- 
 reliance which is one of her strongest characteristics. 
 Dr. Walker traveled alone to Washington, and at the 
 War Department tendered her services as a physician 
 and surgeon. There was nothing to prohibit such 
 service and Dr. Walker, young, vigorous, unconven 
 tionally masculine in attire and demeanor, was 
 accordingly appointed assistant surgeon without pay. 
 After a time she was made assistant surgeon in the 
 regular army, which carried with it the rank of first 
 lieutenant. She was detailed for duty with Sher 
 man s armies and, possessed of a strong constitution, 
 
 a stern will and good knowledge of her profession, her services were invaluable on 
 the march, in the field and in the hospital particularly in the latter, where her 
 executive ability proved of great advantage. While the division to which she was 
 attached was operating around Gordon s Mills in the effort to flank Joseph E. 
 Johnston s army, an epidemic of sickness prevailed among the people of that vicin 
 ity, who had no doctors, all the local physicians being with the Confederate armies. 
 Accordingly an appeal for medical aid was made to the Union forces, and Dr. Walker 
 volunteered her services. 
 
 The country was overrun with Wheeler s cavalry, while Champ Furgeson s 
 infamous bushwhackers were a terror to both armies alike. Dr. Walker began mak 
 ing her visits to the afflicted people, accompanied by an armed escort of two officers 
 and two orderlies; the doctor herself carrying revolvers in her holsters. Eventually, 
 however, and in spite of repeated narrow escapes, she dispensed with her escort and 
 arms and rode alone to her patients. Champ Furgeson had often declared that he 
 would kill every "blue-coat" he captured, so the Union men understood that no 
 quarter would be given by him. 
 
 One day in April, 1864, Dr. Walker was riding her horse alone and unarmed, on 
 her way to see patients at Gordon s Mills. As she turned at a bend in the road, she 
 suddenly found herself confronted by a group of mounted men wearing nondescript 
 uniforms of gray, butternut and blue, and was told to surrender. Looking squarely 
 into the eyes of the man who gave the order, she replied : " Certainly sir, as I am 
 unarmed ; but will you kindly escort me to the bedside of a dying woman, whom I 
 am going as a physician to attend?" 
 
408 
 
 The chief captor seemed puzzled by his prisoner s voice and sangfroid, and, after 
 scanning her face and figure closely for an instant, said : " Oh, you re the doctor takin 
 care of the folks over yon way. All right, pass on." Retaining her nerve entirely, 
 Dr. Walker thanked the man and went her way unmolested. Upon her return to 
 the Union camp she reported the episode to her brother officers and Colonel Dan 
 McCook suggested that she had been "held up" by Champ Furgeson. The other 
 
 DR. MARY WALKER AT WORK ON THE FIELD 
 
 officers declared that impossible, because she had lived to tell 
 the story. Later on in the war Dr. Walker was captured and 
 
 was held prisoner at Castle Thunder, Richmond, for four months. Then she was 
 exchanged for Dr. Lightfoot of Tennessee. It was not until after all this experience 
 that she was shown a portrait of Champ Furgeson and at once recognized the 
 features of the man who had been her captor for a few moments. 
 
409 
 
 YEARNED FOR LIBERTY AND 
 GAINED IT 
 
 JAMES MADISON DRAKE, 
 
 Captain, Co. K,9th N. J. Infantry. 
 Highest rank attained : Bvt-Brig- 
 
 General, N. J. Vols. 
 Born in Washington Valley, N. J., 
 in 1837. 
 
 /CAPTAIN JAMES MADISON DRAKE, of Company K, Ninth 
 ^^ New Jersey Infantry, had the honor of being the 
 first man to unfurl the Union flag on the Confederate 
 soil, and was the first to enter the enemy s works at 
 Newbern, North Carolina. He commanded the Union 
 advance from Bermuda to Point of Rocks, Virginia, May 
 6, 1864, and at Drewry s Bluff, May 16th, drove the enemy 
 within his works. It was at this last engagement that 
 he was taken prisoner. The story of his escape from 
 captivity reads like a romance : 
 
 " I passed a fortnight in Libby Prison," Captain Drake 
 says, "and was transferred to Macon and then to Savan 
 nah. I was constantly devising plans for regaining my 
 
 liberty, and with other prisoners spent weeks of toil in constructing tunnels for 
 escape. Though frequently baffled by treachery in promising enterprises for re 
 gaining freedom, I never ceased to cherish the hope of escape. The prospect was 
 gloomy indeed. Confined in fetid strongholds, and surrounded by sleepless sentinels, 
 the boldest at times were ready to despair. But even the horrors of the Charleston 
 jail-yard did not discourage me from seeking a favorable means of escape. Our life 
 in Charleston was not by any means without incident and excitement. Only the 
 day after our arrival at the jail-yard shells from our batteries on Morris Island 
 fired a dozen buildings near the jail, entirely destroying them. Frequently we were 
 in danger from fragments of exploding shells from the Union batteries on the 
 harbor islands. 
 
 " The Confederacy was now in danger of an overwhelming disaster. Sherman 
 was prepared to pursue his triumphant march from the mountains to the sea, and 
 desperate measures were adopted by the Southerners. Among other precautions 
 taken was the transfer of several hundred Union captive officers to Columbia, where 
 it was believed they could be securely guarded. The proposed change was hailed as 
 an excellent opportunity for escape, and four of us, Captain Harry H. Todd, Eighth 
 New Jersey Volunteers, Captain J. E. Lewis, Eleventh Connecticut Volunteers, Cap 
 tain Albert Grant, Nineteenth Wisconsin Volunteers, and myself, resolved to take 
 our lives in our hands and leap from the train. 
 
 " The train reached the southern end of the long, rickety bridge over the Con- 
 garee River shortly before dark. During the afternoon I had succeeded in removing 
 the percussion caps from the rifles held by the sergeant and six privates who 
 guarded our car, and as the box-car in which we were riding crossed the bridge 
 
410 
 
 my three chosen comrades and I leaped from the rapidly moving train. Fortunately 
 none of us was injured. 
 
 " The train came to a stop a mile or so away, and men and dogs started after us. 
 We sought refuge in a heavy cypress swamp, in order to baffle the bloodhounds 
 which were on our trail within an hour. We remained in the swamp all through 
 that dreary, rainy night and next day. At sunset we started on our way, and for 
 days wandered on through the woods, living on corn from the fields, berries and 
 grapes. We were w r eak and faint from hunger and exhaustion. Our only solace 
 was the kindness of some darkies whom we came upon one day working in the 
 fields, and who provided us with food and shelter in their cabins, treating us as 
 their friends and benefactors. 
 
 " Crossing the Catawba River, we ran across some deserters from the Confederate 
 Army, men who, impressed or driven into service, had escaped, and now defied the 
 whole power of the Confederate Government. In Caldwell County we met hundreds 
 of this class of persons. They were associated with another class called lyers out, 
 who had long lived in caves and other retreats on the mountain, resisting the con 
 scription. Although but poorly armed with old Kentucky rifles and squirrel guns, 
 they managed to keep at bay all forces sent against them. 
 
 " We lived with these men in their caves for several days, and persuaded a hun 
 dred or more to accompany us to Knoxville, Tenn., the nearest point to the Union 
 lines, promising to use our influence in procuring them arms, ammunition, cloth 
 ing, etc. 
 
 "We had a narrow escape from guerrillas at Crab Orchard, Tenn., and evaded 
 them only by making a wide detour to Bull Gap, at the foot of the beautiful Cum 
 berland Valley. The rebels, Keith and Palmer, with their bands of irregulars, got 
 upon our trail on Higgins Ridge, and came within an ace of gobbling us as we were 
 climbing Big Butt Mountain, from the summit of which we beheld the valley, the 
 promised land. Only fifteen miles from the foot of this hill, said my friend Bill 
 Estes, a refugee from North Carolina, and we shall be safe. That exclamation 
 urged me to renewed vigor. 
 
 " I had almost given up hope of reaching our lines, my feet being in terrible con 
 dition. Suddenly the unmistakable roaring of artillery and musketry in the valley 
 halted the whole party, and looking toward the gap we saw the smoke rising from 
 a battle in progress. The fight came to a sudden termination at nightfall, and we 
 ascertained that Breckenridge had defeated General Gillem at Blue Lick Springs, 
 the Union men being in full retreat upon Knoxville. Just at this moment a moun 
 taineer, breathless with excitement, came up, declaring that the guerrillas were hot 
 on our trail. We lost no time in seeking cover in a ravine between two mountains, 
 where, we flattered ourselves, there would be comparative safety. Captains Todd 
 and Grant, with a mountaineer, went down to a hamlet to obtain rations and to 
 procure for me a pair of shoes, or some covering for my feet, for I was suffering 
 greatly. 
 
411 
 
 " During their absence we were surprised by a furious attack of guerrillas. Our 
 camp was thrown into a state of violent confusion. For a moment my senses were 
 bewildered, but whizzing bullets and demoniac yells speedily brought me to a real 
 izing sense of the situation. In the darkness I could see nothing but the lurid 
 flashes from the firearms of the guerrillas, who, having at last caught us napping, 
 were now carrying on their awful work, firing and slashing wildly as they rode in 
 upon us. 
 
 " I started running, some 
 times falling on the frost-cover 
 ed ground, intent only on wid 
 ening the distance between my 
 self and the enemy, from whom, 
 if recaptured, I well knew 1 
 could expect no favors. On I 
 went, my movements being of 
 course greatly accelerated by 
 the whizzing of bullets over 
 my head. Faint and al 
 most exhausted, and ap 
 parently out of im 
 mediate danger, I sat 
 down to extricate a 
 piece of stick which 
 had been forced into 
 the fleshy part of my 
 heel. 
 
 I sat there con 
 templating my condi 
 tion and the manifold 
 dangers which surrounded 
 me, until daylight. I had 
 no money, no knife or other 
 weapon, no blanket, no utensil 
 in which to cook, nothing to eat, 
 I did not know in which direction 
 to turn, and was ignorant of the fate 
 and whereabouts of my companions. 
 
 "I was on the brink of despair when I 
 
 heard sounds of an approaching party, and soon I recognized Major Davis, of Kirk s 
 Third North Carolina Infantry, Captain Lewis and a score of others. Grant and 
 Todd were missing, neither having been seen or heard from since they departed to 
 
 "WE REMAINED IN THE SWAMP 
 
412 
 
 search for food. I was affectionately greeted, having been given up for dead. We 
 hastened away, keeping under the shadows of the mountains. We managed to 
 make between twenty and thirty miles a day, and in less than a week were safe 
 within the Union lines at Knoxville, about seven weeks after our escape from 
 Charleston." 
 
 CHARGED OVER A BURNING 
 BRIDGE 
 
 LLEWELLYN G. ESTES, 
 
 Captain and A. A. Gen. Volunteers. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Brigadier-General. 
 
 Born at Oldtown, IVnobscot Co., Me., 
 
 Dec. 27, 1843. 
 
 TT was late in August, 1864, that General Sherman 
 1 began a grand wheel of his armies with Schofield s 
 force at the pivot, and Howard s Corps on the out 
 side making a radius of twenty-five miles and aiming at 
 Jonesboro, while General Thomas and his army moved 
 between the two. The object was to seize both southern 
 railways leading out from Atlanta and to destroy all 
 stations, bridges, culverts, rails and ties, thus forcing 
 Hood out of Atlanta. Preceded by Kilpatrick, who 
 was handling the irrepressible annoyance from Wheel 
 er s Cavalry, General Howard was moving with reason 
 able speed, and on the 30th of August his forces had 
 been fighting all day as they advanced. At the same time Kilpatrick s Cavalry had 
 also been kept busy. 
 
 At the request of General Kilpatrick his chief of staff and adjutant-general, Cap 
 tain Llewellyn G. Estes, had taken command of the advance brigade of cavalry with 
 instructions to keep well up with the skirmish line of the infantry and to protect 
 their right flank. At about five o clock in the afternoon of the 30th they had 
 reached a point about four miles from Flint River, where General Howard had been 
 ordered to camp for the night. Captain Estes halted his cavalry brigade and was 
 waiting for the movement of the infantry on his left when one of General Howard s 
 aides appeared and said that the general wished to see him. Accordingly the cap 
 tain rode over and met General Howard, who remarked: "Estes, I am directed by 
 General Sherman to halt my army here for the night. There is no water here for 
 my troops, the enemy is harassing me all the time and I want to know if you can 
 drive them across the Flint River." Captain Estes replied that he could do it and 
 the general said : "Try it." 
 
 Thereupon Captain Estes rode rapidly back to the head of his command and with 
 the Ninety-Sixth Illinois Cavalry charged the barricade of the enemy, rode over 
 and through them before they had time to form again and pushed on to Flint River 
 
413 
 
 at a gallop. So surprised were the Confederates that they simply scattered in every 
 direction, some six or eight of their companies racing along in front of the Federals 
 down to and across the river. Within an hour from the talk with General Howard 
 Captain Estes had forced the enemy across the river, and, General Howard following 
 immediately behind Estes, came up and complimented him very highly for the 
 work performed. 
 
 "ESTES, ARMED 
 WITH A REVOLVER, WENT 
 AHEAD WITH A RUSH." 
 
 Then Captain Estes asked : " Do you 
 want me to take the bridge ? " The gen 
 eral responded: "Can you do it?" And 
 when the young cavalry leader said "Yes" 
 the general replied : " All right, go ahead." 
 
 Estes hurriedly dismounted the Ninety- 
 second Illinois and the Tenth Ohio, which General 
 
 Kilpatrick had promptly sent forward at his request, and moved down the bank of 
 the river, where these two regiments, armed with Spencer carbines, kept up such a 
 constant fire on the enemy s barricades on the opposite side of the river that Estes 
 was enabled with two companies of the Tenth Ohio Cavalry to charge across the 
 bridge on the stringers, the planking having been removed by the enemy, and drive 
 
414 
 
 the Confederates back. At the time of this charge the bridge was burning in 
 several places, but Estes, armed with a revolver, went ahead with a rush, brim 
 ful of confidence in the men at his back, as they were enthused by the valor and 
 dash of their leader. After driving the foe from the river Estes and his men re 
 placed the planking, thus enabling Howard s Army to cross. It was a triumph 
 belonging jointly to the commander and his men, and probably the most pleased 
 man in the whole of Sherman s Army that evening was General 0. 0. Howard, to 
 realize that so much had been accomplished in so short a time with a loss of but 
 six men ; four killed and two wounded. 
 
 The Union force was then within one mile of Jonesboro, through which the rail 
 road passed on the line between Atlanta and Macon. It was a position with abun 
 dant water at hand and one which the general had not expected to reach except by 
 virtue of a great battle involving an entire corps and at a great loss of life. In re 
 ferring to Captain Estes deed General Howard gave official expression in the follow 
 ing : 
 
 "* * * All the circumstances surrounding tms action made it striking and im 
 pressive ; the necessity of securing water for my army and a lodgment on the east 
 ern bank, the burning bridge and the barricades of the enemy, the charge across the 
 burning timbers and the relief given by its success, not only impressed me but 
 all others present at the time. * * * The action was phenomenal ; and the prompti 
 tude and gallantry of General Estes and his men under a very sharp fire were 
 unsurpassed." 
 
 Captain Estes at the time of the above achievement was only twenty-one years 
 old. One month after the Flint River engagement he was promoted major, a few 
 months later lieutenant-colonel, and on September 30th, nine months after his 
 twenty-first birthday, he received his commission as brigadier-general of volunteers. 
 
415 
 
 HEROIC AND HUMANE 
 
 GEORGE H. MAYNARD, 
 
 Private. Co. D.. 13th Massa 
 chusetts Infantry. 
 Highest rank attained : 
 
 Bvt-Major. 
 
 Born in Waltham. Mass., Feb. 
 2, 1836. 
 
 PRIVATE GEORGE H. MAYNARD, of Company D, Thirteenth 
 Massachusetts Volunteers, distinguished himself through 
 exceptional courage in several of the great battles. 
 
 At the attack on Antietam, September 17, 1862, Maynard 
 and one of his comrades remained at the front skirmishing 
 after their regiment had been withdrawn. He assisted two 
 of his comrades who were wounded, off the field, and when 
 fresh troops were pushed on to the attack he attached him 
 self repeatedly until at the end of the day he had served 
 with no less than six regiments. 
 
 Three months later his regiment participated in the charge 
 at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862, and suffered heavy loss. 
 Maynard, who was in the skirmish line, went to the assist 
 ance of his wounded comrades and did not leave them till he 
 had them in a place of safety. After his regiment had been 
 
 removed to another position he learned that one of his friends had been left 
 wounded on the field. Regardless of the great danger he ran, he returned to the 
 spot under a heavy fire, found the wounded man, and carried him safely to the rear. 
 
 One of the most interesting incidents, however, in his military career occurred in 
 the month of September, 1864. A mounted expedition under command of General 
 Asboth and composed of detachments from several regiments, six hundred strong, 
 left Pensacola, Fla., to capture or destroy the Confederate military stores at Mari- 
 anna, Fla., a distance of 300 miles. After five days of rapid marches the destination 
 was reached, but the enemy, having been advised of the approach of the detach 
 ment, was found to be prepared to offer a stout resistance. 
 
 The main road entering Marianna was narrow, with houses on both sides of 
 the street. About 300 yards from where the detachment halted a barricade of 
 wagons and carts of all descriptions was thrown across the street. 
 
 Maynard had been promoted after the battle of Fredericksburg and assigned to 
 duty in Florida and Louisiana and held the rank of Captain in the Eighty-second 
 U. S. Volunteers at the time, and was acting provost-marshal of that expedition. 
 He and Captain Young, of the Seventh Vermont Infantry, acting assistant adjutant- 
 general, w r ere at the head and to one side of the column. Presently General Asboth 
 gave orders to charge and two companies of cavalry advanced about two-thirds of 
 the way to the barricade, when the rebels opened fire and drove the charging 
 Federals back in disorder. 
 
 General Asboth was greatly disappointed and cried " For shame ! For shame ! " 
 as the retreating cavalry rushed past. The men, however, soon re-formed and an 
 other charge was ordered. 
 
 " This charge," says Maynard, " was led by the general, Captain Young and myself. 
 
CAPTAIN MAYNARD PREVENTING A GENERAL MASSACRE. 
 
417 
 
 "As our horses leaped the barricade, all three bunched together, the enemy fired, 
 wounding General Asboth in the face and arm, and instantly killing Captain Young 
 I drew rein, faced a blacksmith shop full of Confederate soldiers, and fired, shooting 
 their major through the shoulder. Our cavalry was detained by the barricade, and 
 General Asboth s horse ran away when he was shot, so, for the time being, I was 
 alone. When the cavalry came up I quickly directed as to the whereabouts of the 
 general, and the location of the enemy. As soon as Colonel Zulavsky of the Eighty- 
 second U. S. Volunteers had dismounted some of his men and they were apprised of 
 the situation an active firing began. 
 
 "The enemy were posted behind houses on one side of the street, and behind the 
 sheltering stones of a burial ground on the other, in the blacksmith shop, and in 
 the church. Theirs seemed an impregnable position, but after an engagement of 
 three-quarters of an hour they made overtures to surrender. No sooner had the 
 Union troops ceased firing than they immediately reopened fire, killing one of our 
 boys, which infuriated us. 
 
 " Shortly after, the rebels surrendered a second time, but our troops were so en 
 raged at the previous treachery that they began an indiscriminate attack upon the 
 Confederates as they were being captured. 
 
 "I at once dismounted and rushed into the graveyard, just in time to knock away 
 a musket placed at the head of a prisoner, and threatened to blow out the brains of 
 the first man who dared to shoot a prisoner. This course prevented a general mas 
 sacre of our captured foes, numbering 108." 
 
 SEIZED HIS OPPORTUNITY 
 
 |N the morning of September 13, 1864," says 
 Corporal Isaac Gause, of Company E, Second 
 Ohio Cavalry, " I was sent forward with seven men 
 to reconnoiter the enemy s position on the north 
 side of the creek near Berryville, Va. After we 
 had crossed the creek we captured the Confederate 
 outposts, from whom we learned that the troops in 
 camp were the Eighth South Carolina. Sending 
 our prisoners to the rear in charge of two men, I 
 rode rapidly, expecting my five remaining comrades 
 would follow me around the woods which were 
 at the top of the ridge half a mile beyond the 
 creek. Presently I discovered that I was alone, my 
 comrades having left the pike, going to the left 
 around the south side of the woods. I also saw that 
 
 our main force under General Mclntosh had followed them and had attacked the 
 enemy, who were on a hill to the west. Just at this time I reached the slope on 
 
 ISAAC GAUSE, 
 
 Corporal, Co. E, Second Ohio Cavalry. 
 Born in Trumbull Co., Ohio, Dec. 9. 1843. 
 
418 
 
 the east and north of the woods, when I was fired at from a thicket, whereupon I 
 rode into a ravine at the west of the pike and jumped my horse over a ditch to get 
 under cover. As my horse landed on the other side of the ditch he went to his 
 knees and I thought he had been hit ; but he came up all right and I followed the 
 ravine until I got back to the pike, where I met General Mclntosh and his staff and 
 reported to him that the enemy had a cavalry reserve north of the woods and that 
 they were getting ready to come to the assistance of the troops on the hill and 
 in the woods. But, I said, we can get around the woods and intercept them. 
 Accordingly Company E of my regiment, under command of Major Nettleton, 
 was ordered to the place directed. Our movement was quickly made, and sure 
 enough we reached the northwest corner of the ravine which I had before visited, 
 entering a larger one running north just in time to intercept the Confederates mov 
 ing north toward their cavalry. The heads of our columns were not more than fifty 
 yards apart. We charged at them and were met by a withering fire, but this did 
 not stagger us, and their line began to break. Come on boys ! I yelled, and with 
 wild whoops we doubled our speed. Just then the cavalry reserve began to pop at 
 us from the rear, but at this time also our main force came up from the south and 
 west, and the Confederates between our lines began to flee in every direction. In 
 the mix-up that followed I captured the color-guard and a stand of colors, and this 
 won for me the Medal of Honor." 
 
 INCIDENTS FROM WINCHESTER S BLOODY 
 
 BATTLEFIELD 
 
 TT HE stars and stripes and a rebel flag at the battle of Winchester, Va., Sep 
 tember 19, 1864, made heroes of two brave Union soldiers Color-Sergeant 
 Alphonso M. Lunt, of Company F, Thirty-eighth Massachusetts Infantry, and of 
 Corporal Gabriel Cole, of Company I, Fifth Michigan Cavalry. Their stories stand 
 out prominently among the many remarkable incidents of the war. 
 
 The brigade to which Sergeant Lunt s regiment belonged was ordered to ad 
 vance about 800 yards and halt. The impetus of the charge carried the troops 
 
 Winchester, Va. On the 19th of September, 1864, Early, after having thrown the bulk of his army to 
 Bunker Hill, and having reconnoitered as far as Martinsburg, was attacked by Sheridan at Winchester (or 
 the Opequon), Va. After a most stubborn and sanguinary engagement, which lasted from early morning un 
 til 5 o clock in the evening, the Confederates were completely defeated and driven to Winchester, closely 
 followed by the Federal troops. Night prevented farther pursuit, and Sheridan rested with 2,500 prisoners, 
 five pieces of artillery and nine battle-flags as his trophies of victory. The rebel General Kodes and 
 General Godwin were killed and several other general officers unarmed. The Federal losses were severe, 
 among them General D. A. Russell, commanding the First Division of the Sixth Corps, who was killed. 
 
 Early did not halt in his retreat southward until he reached Fisher s Hill, thirty miles from Sheridan, 
 and which commanded the narrow Strasburg Valley, between the Shenandoah River and North Mountain. 
 
419 
 
 Corporal, Co. I, Fifth Michigan Cavalry. 
 Born at Beaver Dams, N. Y., March 22, 1831. 
 
 way beyond the desig 
 nated place and brought 
 them into uncomfortable 
 proximity with a much 
 superior rebel force. 
 
 Because of the long, 
 rapid advance over 
 ploughed fields, fences, 
 and rough broken coun 
 try generally, the Union 
 line was in no condition 
 to face such an assault and 
 began to waver. At this 
 Sergeant Lunt, who car 
 ried his colors aloft thus 
 
 ALPHONSO M. LUNT, 
 
 Color-Sergeant. Co. F, 38th Mass. Infantry. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Captain. 
 
 Born at Berwick, Me., 1837. 
 
 far through the fight, see 
 ing that a rally must be made, waved the flag and with a yell rushed ahead about 
 200 yards in advance of the line and shouted: "Dress on the colors!" Inspired 
 by his bravery, the men of Company F at once responded, to be followed immedi 
 ately by others, until about 100 men were supporting him, and there they stood 
 facing a Confederate line of battle until the overwhelming numbers of the enemy 
 forced them to retreat. No less than twenty-two bullet holes were counted in the 
 folds of the flag which Sergeant Lunt had defended so bravely. 
 
 Corporal Cole was at another point of the battlefield participating in those fierce 
 cavalry charges led by General Custer, which to a large extent decided the battle in 
 favor of the Union cause. During the last great charge, which culminated in a 
 desperate hand-to-hand fight between the opposing foes, Corporal Cole, who was in 
 the thickest of the fray, espied a Confederate color-bearer. He dashed up to him, 
 swung his sabre over the rebel s head and w r ould have killed him with one blow had 
 the man not ducked in time and dropped the flag. Corporal Cole seized the colors, 
 but just at that instant his horse was shot in the shoulder and leg and fell. While 
 trying to help the poor animal the brave corporal was himself wounded in the left 
 leg. Still carrying the flag he limped along till a Union officer came to his assist 
 ance. It was not long before Corporal Cole took possession of a riderless horse and ? 
 mounting it, rejoined his regiment and stayed in the fight till the battle was ended. 
 
 ANOTHER episode from the battle of Winchester. The rebels, in full retreat be 
 fore a furious cavalry attack, were being closely followed by the Federals. 
 During this charge Andrew J. Lorish, Commissary Sergeant of the First New 
 York Dragoons, made a dash for the colors of a Confederate regiment. He was at 
 
420 
 
 his side just as the color-bearer, struck by a shot 
 from his own ranks, stumbled and fell. Heedless 
 of the Confederate color-guard of some six or seven 
 men, the bold dragoon grabbed the standard and 
 whirled his horse around to rejoin his comrades. 
 At this the wounded color-bearer raised himself on 
 his elbow and yelled : " Boys, shoot that damned 
 Yankee ! He s got our nag ! Pie s got our flag ! 
 Shoot him ! " 
 
 Already several of the color-guard were raising 
 their muskets to fire, but Sergeant Lorish Avas 
 equal to the emergency. 
 
 "Quick as a flash," says he, "with my arm up 
 lifted, I wheeled my horse around and, dashing 
 directly at the five men, commanded : Drop those 
 
 guns or I ll send every one of you to hell ! As they dropped their guns I again 
 wheeled and putting spurs to my horse dashed down the hill, to hear, when I was 
 fifteen or twenty rods away, the bullets singing thick and fast above my head. But 
 I escaped with the flag and was unhurt, to be greeted with cheers from my com 
 rades as I joined them. 
 
 " The mark of a Minie ball on the visor of my cap furnished proof of the perilous- 
 ness of the situation I had encountered." 
 
 ANDREW J. LORISH, 
 
 Commissary Sergeant. First X. Y. Dragoons. 
 Born in Dansville, N. Y., November 8, 1832. 
 
 SWIMMING UNDER HEAVY FIRE 
 
 "THE Union soldiers accomplished a brilliant achievement 
 at Bayou Alabama, La. General Granger was pur 
 suing a body of Confederates under General Taylor and 
 on September 24, 1804, had forced the enemy to offer 
 battle or surrender. The two forces were separated only 
 by the river, which was not more than fifty yards wide. 
 General Granger s cavalrymen dismounted and began to 
 
 C . . 1KA . mu ... LUMAN L. CADWELL, 
 
 tight at 150 teet range. I he struggle was indecisive and sergeant, GO. B, second New York 
 could only be brought to a successful close by an attack on Bom m Nanticoke springs, N. Y., 
 the other side of the stream. How to cross the river, how 
 ever, was a difficult problem just then, heavy autumn rains having swollen it and 
 created a rapid current. A large flat-bottom scow was lying close in shore on the 
 Confederate side. 
 
421 
 
 A call was made for volunteers to swim the river and secure the scow. Lieu 
 tenant Westinghouse and Sergeant Luman L. Cadwell, of Company B, Second New 
 York Cavalry, volunteered. They started on a run for the river, plunged in 
 and swam directly to the enemy s line. It was an extremely dangerous undertak 
 ing, the rebels pouring a shower of bullets at them, while balls from their own com 
 rades were flying over their heads to the other side. However, miraculous as it 
 may seem, the two brave swimmers reached the object of their heroic effort un 
 hurt. After untying the scow and reaching deep water, they kept on the side more 
 
 "THEY KEPT ON THE SIDE REMOTE FROM THE HOSTILE SHORE. 
 
 remote from the hostile shore and shoved the boat successfully to the other side of 
 the river. 
 
 " Bullets whistled about us like hail, hitting the boat and pattering in the water 
 all around," Sergeant Cadwell says, in recalling the occurrence. Again, however, 
 he and the lieutenant remained uninjured and thus were able to furnish the much 
 desired means by which soon afterward the Union forces crossed the river. 
 
 Lieutenant Westinghouse was killed a few months later, while Sergeant Cadwell 
 lived to receive the precious medal for the heroic feat. 
 
422 
 
 1 i 
 
 LET S GO FOR THE GUNS!" 
 
 SYLVESTER D. RHODES, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. D,6lst Perm. Inf. 
 
 Highest rank attained : Captain. 
 
 Born in Luzerne County, Pa., 
 
 December, 1842. 
 
 THE capture of the Confederate artillery by the Fed 
 erals at Fisher s Hill, Va., on September 22, 1864, 
 was an achievement which was accomplished largely by 
 the personal courage of Sergeant Sylvester D. Rhodes, of 
 Company D, Sixty-first Pennsylvania Infantry, who during 
 that engagement was acting as captain of his company. 
 The rebels had been driven back to their breastworks and 
 attempted to direct their artillery fire on the advancing 
 Union men. Owing to the hilly nature of the country, the 
 guns behind the breastworks could not be depressed suffi 
 ciently to strike the troops at the foot of the hill. 
 
 Sergeant Rhodes, with quick perception, took advan 
 tage of the situation. Stepping to the front of his com 
 pany, he exclaimed, pointing to the rebel breastworks : 
 
 " Now boys, let s go for those guns !" 
 
 The men replied with a cheer and started up hill. Company F was the color 
 company. " And," says Sergeant Rhodes in telling about the event, " when our colors 
 moved the entire regiment followed with alacrity. 
 
 " I was the first man over the breastworks. I jumped in right between tw r o guns, 
 loaded and ready to fire, grabbed the hand-spike of one and turned it on the rebels , 
 who were forming some fifty yards in the rear. By this time a number of comrades 
 had come to my assistance and the gun which had been turned on the enemy was 
 fired. The shell struck the top log on the works behind which the rebels were 
 forming. They were panic-stricken and fled. Their artillery attempted to keep up 
 with them and get way, but I shot one of the lead horses of the first piece and thus 
 blocked the narrow road. The confusion which followed made it rather easy for us 
 to capture the entire battery of seventeen pieces." 
 
 Fisher s Hill, Va. Following close upon the defeat of Early at Winchester came his almost utter 
 annihilation at Fisher s Hill, Va., on the 22nd of September, 1864. Sheridan achieved a most signal victory 
 over Early at this place, and was prevented from totally destroying the enemy s army only by darkness- 
 which made further operations impossible. 
 
 Early was posted in an almost impregnable position on the North Fork of the Shenandoah and ex 
 tending across the Strasburg Valley. After a great deal of manoeuvreing during the day the left of the 
 enemy s line was furiously attacked and driven from their works. In the meantime the Sixth- and Nine 
 teenth Army Corps attacked the rebel front, and the whole rebel army was forced back in utter confusion, 
 retreating to the lower passes of the Blue Eidge, closely pursued as far as Staunton by Sheridan, who then 
 returned and took position at Cedar Creek, Va. 
 
 The Confederates lost about 400 in killed and wounded, and 1,100 men taken prisoners, while the 
 Union losses were about 600 in killed and wounded. 
 
423 
 
 THE BONDS OF COMRADESHIP 
 
 WILLIAM G. HILLS, 
 
 Private, Co. E, Ninth New York Cavalry. 
 Born at Conewango, N. Y., June 26, 1841. 
 
 A N illustration of true soldierly comradeship is pre- 
 ** sented in the story of Private William G. Hills, of 
 Company E, Ninth New York Cavalry, who saved the 
 life of Sergeant Joel H. Lyman, of Company B, of 
 the same regiment. How it was done the latter de 
 scribes in these brief but pointed words : 
 
 " During our campaign in the Shenandoah Valley 
 we reached Harrisburg, Va., on September 25, 1864, 
 and on the day following we met the enemy s cavalry 
 and drove them to the North Fork of the Shenandoah. 
 When we arrived at the brow of the hill overlooking 
 the river, which was quite narrow and fordable, we 
 could see Early s Infantry drawn up in line on the 
 
 opposite side. Supposing that our object was to capture the enemy s train, I gal 
 loped down the slope, but had not gone twenty rods when I was knocked from my 
 horse by a musket ball from the rebel rifle pits, which were hidden from my view 
 by the willow trees bordering the opposite bank. 
 
 " The regiment had been ordered back and I found myself alone and helpless, the 
 enemy s bullets ploughing up the ground and throwing dirt all over me. Seeing my 
 dangerous position, William Hills drove the spurs into his horse and galloped to the 
 spot where I lay. Then coolly dismounting he lifted me to my saddle, mounted his 
 own horse and supported me from the field, amid a veritable hail of bullets. It 
 seemed as if the whole rebel army had concentrated its fire upon us. 
 
 " For genuine pluck and comradeship I never in my three years of active service 
 saw anything to compare with this deed." 
 
 A SINGLE-HANDED CHARGE 
 
 T^HE following account of a single-handed cavalry charge is graphically told by 
 Captain George N. Bliss, Company C, First Rhode Island Cavalry : 
 
 " About three o clock in the afternoon of September 28, 1864, I received an order 
 from Major Farrington to ride to Waynesborough, Va., and give orders to the provost 
 guards to prevent soldiers from entering the houses, as the entire cavalry force was 
 about to pass through the town to water their horses in the Shenandoah. 
 
 "It was a perfect day of early autumn. I rode into the town, gave my orders, 
 and was about to return when my attention was attracted by the efforts of a 
 
424 
 
 Vermont cavalry regiment to destroy the railroad bridge ; the woodwork had been 
 burned, and one span of the iron work had fallen. While watching this proceeding 
 I heard shots in the distance across the river, and looking in that direction saw the 
 enemy about a mile away, driving in our pickets ; but when the reserve 
 was reached a charge of our men sent the rebels back again. At first 
 I thought it was only a trifling picket line skirmish, but soon the 
 reserve was hurled back, and I saw that it was an attack 
 in force. 
 
 "I at once rode to Captain Willis C. Capron, of the 
 First Rhode Island Cavalry, who had command of 
 about a dozen men as provost guard in the little vil 
 lage, and ordered him to form his men in line across 
 the main street and allow none but wounded men to 
 pass to the rear. This was promptly done, and I was 
 about to return to my squadron when Captain Capron 
 said to me : 
 
 " I wish you would take command here ; you 
 know I have never been in a fight ! 
 
 " At first I refused, but the men looked at me as 
 though they really desired it, and I said to Captain 
 Capron : 
 
 " Very well, take your place in the rear of the 
 line as junior captain, and, drawing my sabre, I took 
 my place in front. 
 
 " Our picket line was on the opposite side of the 
 river fighting stoutly, but the force of the enemy was 
 
 too strong for them and the firing was rapidly approaching us, when, having rallied 
 about thirty men, it occurred to me that a charge across the river by us, accom 
 panied by vigorous cheering, might produce the impression on our men and upon 
 the enemy that re-enforcements had arrived, check the advance, and give our main 
 body more time to form for action. 
 
 " It was accordingly done, and with the effect that I had anticipated. I had 
 nearly reached the front when a major rode up to me and said : Colonel Lowell 
 wishes you to take your command to the ford of the river and stop all stragglers. 
 
 " The order was promptly obeyed, and I was in time to stop about one hundred 
 and fifty men. There were some lieutenants with them, who under my orders had 
 just about succeeded in getting their men into line when a rebel battery commenced 
 
 Captain. Co. C, First R. I 
 
 Cavalry. 
 
 Born at Eagleville, R. I. 
 July 22. 1837. 
 
 Waynesborongh On the 27th of September, 1864, General Torbert moved his command to Waynes- 
 borough, Va., and on the following morning proceeded to destroy the railroad bridge across the South Fork 
 of the Shenandoah River and burned the depot and government buildings. Late in the afternoon the 
 enemy, under General Early, attacked the Union cavalry in strong force with infantry, cavalry and artil 
 lery. They were held in check until after dark, when General Torbert, learning that the enemy were 
 attempting to cut him off from the main army, fell back to Spring Hill without delivering battle. 
 
425 
 
 dropping shells among them, and away they went, sweeping my small force bodily 
 across the river. In the town I again got some of my men together and endeavored 
 to build a barricade across the main street. It was about half done when I saw 
 that it could not be completed in time to be of any service, and we again fell back 
 until we came to the Third New Jersey Cavalry, drawn up in column of squadrons 
 in the western suburb of the town. Looking again towards the enemy I saw Colonel 
 Charles Russell Lowell, who had been in command of the picket line, riding toward 
 
 "A BULLET INTENDED FOR ME, STRUCK MY MOUNT." 
 
 us with his horse on a walk, the last man to fall back before the advance of the 
 enemy. The Confederate bullets were whistling about him, and frequent puffs of 
 dust in the road showed where they struck right and left of this brave soldier. 
 Putting spurs to my horse I rode forward and had the following conversation with 
 him : 
 
 " Colonel Lowell, I had but a few of the provost guards, and did what I could 
 with them to help you. 
 
 " Well Captain, we must check their advance with a sabre charge. Isn t that 
 the best we can do ? 
 
 " I think so, Colonel. 
 
-426 
 
 " By this time we had come up to the Third New Jersey Cavalry, known in the 
 army as the " Butterflies," on account of their gay uniforms, and Colonel Lowell 
 said to the officer in command : Major, let your first squadron sling their carbines, 
 draw their sabres and charge. 
 
 "The order was given, Forward, but not a man moved. They were completely 
 disheartened by having seen the other troops driven back. 
 
 "The captain in command of the squadron said: Corporal Jones, are you 
 afraid ? and the corporal made no reply. 
 
 " The men wavered, and Colonel Lowell said : Give a cheer boys, and go at 
 them, and spurred his horse at a gallop toward the enemy, followed by myself, 
 both of us waving our sabres. The squadron at once cheered and followed. After 
 going a short distance, Colonel Lowell drew out to one side, to be ready to send 
 other troops to the support of the squadron, and I was left to lead the charge. I was 
 mounted on a large, strong sorrel horse, and was soon 100 yards in advance of the 
 squadron. Reaching the partly constructed barricade, I pulled up my horse. Looking 
 back, I saw my men coming on with a splendid squadron front; looking forward, I saw 
 the enemy in columns of fours, turning to retreat. The ground was down hill towards 
 the enemy ; I had never seen a better opportunity for a sabre charge, and as the 
 squadron neared me, I shouted : Come on boys, they are running, and jumping my 
 horse over the low barricade, dashed in among the rebels, only to find myself making 
 the attack single-handed. 
 
 "I had ridden past a dozen of the enemy before I discovered my desperate situ 
 ation. They were retreating in loose column of fours, and as I rode in among them 
 there were three files on my left hand and one on my right. I felt that death was 
 certain. Like a lightning flash my whole life seemed to pass in review before me, 
 closing with the thought, and this is the end. There was but one chance. Fifty 
 men behind me were shouting, Kill that damned Yankee ! 
 
 " To turn among them and retrace my steps was impossible, but my horse was 
 swift and I thought if I could keep on until I came to a side street I might dash 
 into that and by making a circle again reach our lines. As I rode I kept my sabre 
 swinging, striking six blows right and left. Two of the enemy escaped by quickly 
 dodging their heads, but I succeeded in wounding four of them Captain William 
 A. Moss, Hugh S. Hamilton, color-bearer of the Fourth Virginia Cavalry, and two 
 others unknown to me. 
 
 "The first side street reached was on the left. Keeping my head close to my 
 horse s neck I then broke through the three files on my left and reached the side 
 street in safety, fully twenty yards from the nearest horseman. 
 
 " For a moment I thought I was safe, when suddenly a bullet, doubtless intended 
 for me, struck my mount and he staggered under the shock. With rein and spur I 
 urged him on, but it was in vain ; he fell with a plunge that left me lying upon the 
 ground. Before I could rise two of the enemy reined in their horses by me and leaning 
 
427 
 
 over in their saddles struck at me, one with a carbine, the other with a sabre. I 
 could parry but one, and with my sabre stopped the crushing blow from the carbine 
 at the same instant that the sabre gave me a cut across the forehead. I at once 
 rose to my feet and shouted to the soldier who had wounded me : Tor God s sake 
 do not kill a prisoner ! 
 
 " Surrender, then, he said. 
 
 " I do surrender, I replied, whereupon he demanded my sword and pistol, which 
 I gave to him, and had scarcely done so when I was struck in the back with such 
 force as to thrust me two steps forward. Upon turning to discover the cause of this 
 assault, I found that a soldier had ridden up on the trot and stabbed me with his 
 sabre, which would have passed entirely through my body but for the fact that in 
 his ignorance of the proper use of the weapon he had failed to make the half-turn of 
 the wrist necessary to give the sabre smooth entrance between the ribs. I also 
 saw at this moment another soldier taking aim at me with a revolver. 
 
 "My chances seemed gone, but a sudden impulse took possession of me and 
 I called for help and protection as a Free Mason. Captain Henry C. Lee, the 
 acting adjutant-general of the enemy s force, heard my cry and at once came to 
 my assistance, ordering a soldier to take me to the rear and see that my wounds 
 were dressed. The soldier in whose charge I was despoiled me of my watch and 
 pocket-book, and with some assistance, being weak from loss of blood, I mounted 
 behind my guard, and later in the evening I w^as put into an ambulance with Cap 
 tain William A. Moss, at that time a lieutenant, and driven several miles to a small 
 house in the mountains. I found Captain Moss to be a brother Mason and he did 
 everything possible for my comfort, although he had received a severe sabre cut 
 from me." 
 
 UNDER A MUSCADINE GRAPE 
 VINE 
 
 THREE millions of rations, vast quantities of ammu 
 nition, guns and all other supplies of warfare 
 stored at Allatoona, Ga., were the tempting objects of 
 a bold and unexpected movement of General Hood, 
 the Confederate Commander. Once in possession of 
 the fort, with its costly stores, he would have robbed 
 the Union Army of its base of supplies and forced it JOSEPH s. KEEN, 
 
 to retreat. He would have frustrated Sherman s sergeant. c<>. i>. mu .Mu-h. infantry. 
 
 . Born in Stanford, England, July 24, 184. 
 
 march to the sea and - - But all this is mere specu 
 lation. Hood did not capture the coveted treasure ; the Union Army did not lose 
 its base of supplies ; it did not retreat, and Sherman s march became a historical fact. 
 
428 
 
 One of the reasons, and perhaps the principal one, for the failure of Hood s plan, 
 was that Sherman was in time advised of the enemy s movements and put on 
 his guard. That this view is shared by the great Union Army leader himself ap 
 pears from his own statement. "There was great difficulty," General Sherman 
 says, "in obtaining correct information about Hood s movements from Palmetto 
 Station. I could not get spies to penetrate his camps, but on the 1st of October I 
 was satisfied that the bulk of his infantry was at and across the Chattahoochee 
 River near Campbellton. On that day I telegraphed to Grant : Hood is evidently 
 across the Chattahoochee, below Sweetwater. If he tries to get on our road this side 
 of the Etowah I shall attack him. * * * " 
 
 Hood did try to get "on our road." 
 
 And over the heads of the Confederates Sherman signaled his celebrated mes 
 sage to Corse at Allatoona : " Hold the fort ; I am coming." 
 
 The man who furnished General Sherman with the information in October, and 
 upon wiiose report the important subsequent action was based, was Sergeant Joseph 
 S. Keen, of Company D, Thirteenth Michigan Infantry. So valuable was his infor 
 mation that a Medal of Honor was awarded Sergeant Keen in appreciation of the 
 
 service. 
 
 How Keen was enabled to learn the details of Hood s movements and impart 
 them to the Federal commander forms the text of a peculiarly interesting story which 
 he himself tells as follows : 
 
 "At the battle of Chickamauga, Ga., I was wounded, taken prisoner and sent to Rich 
 mond, where I was kept about three months. On December 12th we were shipped to 
 Danville, Va. Five months later, on May 12, 1864, 1 was transferred to the prison at 
 Andersonville, Ga., from where, on September 9, 1864, with several others, I made 
 my escape. That day we were put into box cars and early in the afternoon reached 
 Macon, some sixty miles north. Here we had to wait for other trains to get out 
 of our way. Our train was standing on the outside track but one, upon which 
 there was a long train of box cars. I noticed several prisoners were allowed to get 
 out of the car and stand near the door conversing with the crowd that had been at 
 tracted there by our arrival. I watched my opportunity, carelessly left the car and 
 for a w r hile stood close beside it. A casual look at the guards in the doorway showed 
 me at that moment that they were both looking inside. Quicker than a flash I 
 dropped and dodged under the train and fortunately was not observed. While yet 
 crawling across to the other side, the outer track, I heard the guard ordering all to 
 get back inside. I put my head out the other side of the train and looked to the 
 right and left its whole length ; no one could see me. I then crawled under the 
 train of box cars on the outside track and, gaining the other side, rolled down the 
 embankment into the ditch. 
 
 "I worked my way along this ditch until I reached a culvert, into the darkest part of 
 which I crawled, camping in about one foot of water. My loneliness was soon relie ved by 
 the arrival of eight others who had taken the same means of escape. We kept hiding 
 here till darkness broke in, when, the lower part of our bodies resembling a lot of 
 
429 
 
 par-boiled tripe, we crawled out of the culvert. We made our way to a little grove 
 on the outskirts of Macon and then separated ; six going one way and I and two 
 others, S. W. Ludden and John Hord, taking another direction. Our plan was to 
 
 march twenty-five miles west, 
 then gradually swing around, 
 go 100 miles due north and 
 thence follow an easterly course 
 which, according to our calcula 
 tions, would bring us in rear of 
 Atlanta. It was a simple plan, 
 indeed, it looked so easy ; a pleas 
 ure trip we thought as we 
 started out. But we were soon 
 disappointed and for twenty- 
 one days we wandered about, 
 aimlessly sometimes, tired and 
 worn out always, with nothing 
 but the moon and stars to guide 
 us and the hope of eventually 
 reaching our troops to keep up 
 our strength and courage. We 
 learned more about astronomy 
 during these twenty-one days 
 than we ever knew before Jupi 
 ter, Saturn, Mars, Venus, all 
 served us a good turn. Slowly 
 and amidst untold hardships 
 we worked our way to the Chat- 
 tahoochee River, which we 
 crossed and followed till we 
 struck the Western & Atlantic 
 Railroad. 
 
 " Our appearance at this time 
 was anything but inviting. Our 
 clothes were torn to shreds and 
 partly bound up by fine bark 
 strings from young saplings, and 
 our shoes were tied up in the 
 same manner. The lower parts 
 
 of our legs were bound around with pieces of bark. Our best time was usually made 
 just before and after daylight early in the morning, as fewer people were around in 
 those hours. Thus we plodded along the river bank until one day we saw Confeder- 
 
 GENERAL HOOD WAS CROSSING HIS ARMY. 
 
430 
 
 ate soldiers in large numbers on the opposite side of the river. The large cornfields 
 on the hills seemed literally alive with forage teams, presenting quite an animated 
 scene. Our position, close to the wood-skirted bank of the river, seemed safer than 
 any other within view, so, keeping under cover, we kept working our way forward in 
 a very cautious manner. A short distance in front, across a cornfield and on the 
 edge of a piece of woods, could be seen column after column of rebel infantry march 
 ing from the river directly back into the country. After watching them for a time 
 we proceeded to hide ourselves on the river bank, and after crawling around the 
 rather thin growth of brush and grass got into a fairly good place, and when sitting 
 up had a splendid view of the pontoon bridge on which General Hood was crossing 
 his army. This was about ten o clock in the morning, and from that time until 
 night the rebel army poured across the bridge in one constant stream infantry, 
 artillery, cavalry, generals and staffs, all marching in regular order ; no confusion, no 
 noise, but with a military precision imposing in its magnificence that won even 
 our admiration. Presently two rebel officers in a rowboat came floating down the 
 stream on our side. As we- did not want them to know our opinion of the grand ex 
 hibition of military splendor of their army, we thought it best not to hail them, but 
 lay flat on the ground, expecting that they would soon drift beyond us. Now it so 
 happened that we had selected a very poor hiding place, from the fact that a large 
 muscadine grape-vine grew near this spot and branched out in every direction, part 
 of its branches extending over to and hanging nearly into the river, and it was at 
 this time loaded with grapes, and no doubt presented a tempting appearance from 
 the river. Naturally it attracted the two officers to this particular spot, who com 
 menced gathering grapes and hanging on to branches to prevent drifting away. 
 
 " Every time the branches were pulled the grapes would come pattering down 
 on our heads some twenty-five feet from the officers position, and almost in plain 
 view, had they looked in our direction. They were looking at the top of the vine 
 for the large grapes, completely overlooking the richer fruit at the roots. They 
 were talking about the flank movement their army was executing and expressed the 
 utmost confidence in its success. 
 
 " Sherman will be obliged to evacuate Atlanta, one said and the other assented. 
 
 "We were intensely interested in their conversation; not to that extent, however, 
 as to forget our exposed position. What I feared most was that they would hear the 
 beating of my heart. The suspense became dreadful. But finally the officers 
 had their fill ; they let go of the branches and the boat and its occupants drifted 
 down the stream. 
 
 " Three minutes later we were in good hiding in a shock of cornstalks in 
 
 the adjoining field, and from this time on about four o clock until dark we 
 
 kept very quiet. After dark we walked boldly up to the road and at the first break 
 
 that occurred in their column we got over the fence, crossed the road and entered 
 
 the woods on the other side. We had great difficulty in making our way in the 
 
431 
 
 darkness of the night and decided to halt for fear of running against some of the 
 rebel pickets. 
 
 "At break of day we resumed our journey. Toward morning a fog commenced 
 to gather and soon got so thick that we could not see forty feet ahead of us. That 
 was our opportunity. We pushed ahead, and for a time were simply mixed up with 
 the rebels. They were just getting breakfast and all seemed bustle and confusion. 
 We lost no time in putting ourselves outside of their lines and were at least two miles 
 away when the fog cleared up. We marched all day and night and by seven o clock 
 the following morning discovered our troops on the other side of the Chattahoochee 
 River. We crossed the stream and once more we were among our own troops, our 
 friends, our comrades. 
 
 " We were at once brought to General Kilpatrick, who questioned us sharply 
 concerning our identity, and, having satisfied himself, discussed with us the details 
 of the enemy s operations, of which we had been eye-witnesses. The information 
 thus obtained was forwarded to General Sherman, who arranged his plans accord 
 ingly. 
 
 "We made our escape at Macon 103 miles south, September 10, 1864 ; it had 
 taken us twenty-one days to make this apparently short distance, but I think we 
 must have traveled 300 miles at least." 
 
 THE FALL OF FORT HARRISON 
 
 /CAPTAIN CECIL CLAY, of Company K, Fifty-eighth Penn- 
 ^^ sylvania Infantry, was awarded the Medal of Honor for 
 leading the attack on Fort Harrison, Va., bearing the flag of 
 another regiment which he had picked up by the way. The 
 attack was made, and the fort carried, by the first division of 
 the Eighteenth Corps on September 29, 1864. Captain Clay 
 writes : 
 
 " We were drawn up about three-quarters of a mile from 
 Fort Harrison, and before us was a stretch of open ground. 
 Our skirmish line advanced alternately firing and halting to reload, while before 
 them the rebel skirmishers retired with equal deliberation. As soon as our advance 
 
 CECIL CLAY 
 
 Captain, Co. K, 58th Penn. 
 
 Infantry. 
 Highest rank attained: Bvt- 
 
 Brig-General U. S.V. 
 
 Born in Philadelphia, Pa., 
 
 Feb. 13, 1842. 
 
 From September 28 to 30, 1884, the Army of the James was engaged in the neighborhood of New 
 Market Road, Va. The capture of Forts Harrison and tiilmore, and the engagements at Chapin s Farm and 
 Laurel Hill were included in what is generally known as the battle of New Market Heights. The Union 
 Army lost 2,429 in killed and wounded and the Confederates about 2,000, but the result of the battle was in 
 favor of the Federals. 
 
432 
 
 Commenced the rebel guns opened upon us all along the line. We lost a large num 
 ber of men crossing the open space, but I could see no signs of wavering. When 
 we reached a point about 100 yards from the fort, where we were protected from 
 
 steepness of the ground, we halted to get 
 in our line. We lay down for a moment, 
 a few hundred yards away what appeared 
 works by fours. We thought at 
 trying to get in ahead of us, but 
 rebels. 
 
 rode up to us, his old- 
 
 the fire of the enemy s guns by the 
 our breath and close up the gaps 
 and as I looked to the right I saw 
 to be a brigade moving into the 
 first that it must be the Tenth Corps 
 it occurred to me that they w r ere 
 
 " At that moment Colonel Roberts 
 fashioned black stock twisted around 
 until the big bow was at the back of 
 his neck. Grasping a revolver by the 
 muzzle, and, waving it as one would a 
 war club, he shouted : Now men, just 
 two minutes to take that fort! 
 Just two minutes, men ! 
 
 "We sprang to our feet 
 and dressed our line in an 
 instant. Forward ! rang out 
 from the officers, and away 
 we went. 
 
 " We struck the works on the 
 north face, where the ditch was fully 
 ten feet deep. The rebels fired at us 
 and threw at us anything they could lay 
 their hands on while we were jumping into 
 the ditch. The first Sergeant of my company 
 was hit on the head by a fuse mallet and 
 knocked down. He jumped to his feet, mad 
 as a hornet, and exclaimed : Damn a man who 
 will use a thing like that for a weapon. A rebel 
 officer mounted on an old gray horse rode out of a 
 sally port near by, and pulling up on the bridge 
 which spanned the ditch blazed away at us with his 
 revolver. One of my men, named Johnson, who had 
 been shot through the right arm, took his revolver in 
 his left hand and emptied it at the rebel, but every shot 
 went wide, and Johnson was left with an empty 
 revolver. 
 
 "Billy Bourke, a sandy-haired Irishman, had picked up the blue State flag of the 
 One hundred and eighty-eighth Pennsylvania, the bearer of which had been shot at 
 
 GAVE ME THE COLORS 
 AND HOISTED ME UP." 
 
433 
 
 the edge of the ditch. Side by side we two climbed the parapet, until we could 
 look over into the fort. No sooner had we raised our heads than a ball struck 
 Bourke, cutting a gash across his forehead. He knocked against me, and we rolled 
 back into the ditch together. Bourke was unable to see, as the blood was running 
 into his eyes, so he gave me the colors and with the aid of a sword which I had 
 plunged into the embankment as a footstep he hoisted me up on the parapet once 
 more. Meantime Johnston had also climbed up, and was shot through the left arm be 
 low the elbow as soon as he appeared on the parapet. Disregarding his wounds he 
 jumped on the banquette, leveled his empty revolver at two wounded officers who 
 were crouching there and made them surrender to him. Just then a little fellow 
 fired at Johnson with a revolver and knocked him over. In the meantime the 
 division was stubbornly fighting its way into the fort and the rebels were beginning 
 to retreat when one of them turned and fired two shots at me, drilling a couple of 
 holes in my right arm. Shifting the colors to my left hand, I continued to lead the 
 advance until that hand was shot through also, and I had to stop and lay the colors 
 up against the parapet. Some of the One hundred and eighty-eighth came up at 
 this moment and I handed them their flag, which I had carried throughout the en 
 tire charge." 
 
 Captain Clay s wound proved to be so serious that it shortly afterward entailed 
 the loss of the entire arm. 
 
 A MESSAGE DELIVERED 
 
 UNDER DIFFICULTY 
 
 WITH two dangerous wounds in his body Lieutenant 
 Samuel B. Home, of Company H, Eleventh Con 
 necticut Infantry, was carried off the field at Cold Harbor, 
 Va., June 3, 1864, and sent to a hospital. Though his 
 recovery proceeded slowly, he could not bear to be con 
 fined to his bed and three months later returned to his 
 regiment, though still an invalid. Ten days later, at 
 Chapin s Farm, Va., September 29, 1864, he won his medal 
 by a display of courage almost superhuman. It happened 
 thus : Upon his return to the regiment he was attached 
 to the staff of General Ord as aide-de-camp, and during the 
 attack on Fort Harrison was sent to deliver a verbal mes 
 sage to the colonel of one of the advancing regiments. 
 
 " Though my injuries still pained me very much I obeyed the order cheerfully," 
 Lieutenant Home goes on to tell. " I spurred my horse forward and soon came 
 within range of the enemy s guns. While going at full gallop my horse was killed 
 
 SAMUEL B. HORNE, 
 
 Lieutenant, Co. H, llth Conn. 
 Infantry. 
 
 Born in Tullamore, Ireland, 
 March 3, 1843. 
 
43-1 
 
 by grape shot and fell upon me with crushing weight, cracking some of my ribs, 
 injuring me internally and pinioning me to the ground. Here I lay perfectly help 
 less and suffering intense pain, until Colonel Wells rode up and relieved me from 
 my precarious position. Still the message had to be delivered and although lacer 
 ated, in great pain and partly denuded, I proceeded on foot to carry out my mission. 
 I could only advance slowly and with difficulty and had to pass under the very guns 
 of the fort before I reached the colonel of the advancing regiment. I reported to 
 General Ord and was with him when he was wounded on the parapet and with him 
 was taken to the rear." 
 
 THOUGHT ONLY OF SAVING 
 THE FLAG 
 
 k T 
 
 CHRISTIAN A. FLEETWOOD, 
 
 Sergeant-Major, 4th U. S. Colored Troops. 
 
 attack upon the rebel works at New Market 
 Heights, Va., September 29, 1864, one of 
 the most stubborn in the history of the war, was 
 delivered by the Fourth and Sixth U. S. Colored 
 Troops, who lost more than half their men in that 
 bloody charge. An account of the occurrence is 
 given by Sergeant-Major Christian A. Fleetwood 
 of the Fourth U. S. Colored Troops, as follows : 
 
 "Our regiment lined up for the charge with 
 eleven officers and 350 enlisted men. There was 
 
 but one field officer with us, Major A. S. Boernstein, who was in command. Our ad 
 jutant, George Allen, supervised the right, and I, as sergeant-major, the left. When 
 the charge was started our color-guard was complete. Only one of the twelve 
 came off that field on his own feet. Most of the others are there still. Early 
 in the rush one of the sergeants went down, a bullet cutting his flag -staff in two and 
 passing through his body. The other sergeant, Alfred B. Hilton, of Company H, a 
 magnificent specimen of manhood, over six feet tall and splendidly proportioned, 
 caught up the other flag and pressed forward with them both. 
 
 "It was a deadly hailstorm of bullets, sweeping men down as hailstones sweep 
 the leaves from the trees, and it w r as not long before he also went down, shot 
 through the leg. As he fell he held up the flags and shouted : Boys, save the 
 
 colors ! 
 
 "Before they could touch the ground, Corporal Charles Veal, of Company D, had 
 seized the blue flag, and I the American flag, which had been presented to us by the 
 patriotic women of our home in Baltimore. 
 
 "It was very evident that there was too much w r ork cut out for our regiments. Strong 
 earthworks, protected in front by two lines of abatis and one line of palisades, and in 
 
435 
 
 the rear by a lot of men who proved that they knew how to 
 shoot and largely outnumbered us. We struggled through 
 the two lines of abatis, a few getting through the palisades, 
 but it was sheer madness, and those of us who were able 
 had to get out as best we could. Reaching the line of our 
 reserves and no commissioned officer being in sight, I rallied 
 the survivors around the flag, rounding up at first eighty- 
 five men and three commissioned officers. During the day 
 about thirty more men came along all that was left. 
 
 "I have never been able to understand how Veal and I 
 lived under such a hail of bullets, unless it was because we 
 were both such little fellows. I think I weighed then about 
 125 pounds and Veal about the same. We did not get a 
 scratch. A bullet passed between my legs, cutting my boot 
 leg, trousers and even my stocking, without breaking the skin." 
 
 The brave sergeant-major and his no less brave comrades, Sergeant Alfred B. 
 Hilton, of Company H, and Corporal Charles Veal, of Company D, were awarded the 
 Medal of Honor. 
 
 At the same battle First Sergeant Alexander Kelly, of Company F, Sixth U. S. 
 Colored Troops, also distinguished himself and was awarded with the medal for 
 saving the flag of his regiment after the color-bearer and most of the company had 
 been either killed or wounded. 
 
 ALEXANDER KELLY. 
 
 First Sergeant, Co. F, Sixth U. S. 
 
 Colored Troops. 
 
 Born in Indiana Co., Pa., April 
 
 7.1S46. 
 
 THE STORY OF A YOUTHFUL HERO 
 
 "THE narrator of the following story, Corporal William L. 
 * Graul, of Company I, One hundred and eighty-eighth 
 Pennsylvania Infantry, was a mere boy of eighteen when 
 he earned his medal for an act of distinguished bravery and 
 dash at the storming of Fort Harrison, Va., September 29, 
 1864. He writes : 
 
 " On the night of the 28th of September we were ordered 
 
 -r, . T . T WILLIAM L. GRAUL, 
 
 to cross the James Kiver on a muffled pontoon bridge at 
 
 Corporal, Co. 1, 188th Pa. Infantry. 
 
 Akren s Landing. Just at the break of the next day we Bom at Reading, pa.,joiyw, 
 
 1846. 
 
 commenced a cautious advance upon the enemy, whose 
 
 pickets were soon encountered and driven back, and pushing on at quick time 
 through a wood with tangled undergrowth we at last emerged upon open ground in 
 front of the rebel works, which were only a few yards away. Fort Harrison, 
 strongly built and bristling with cannon, was in our immediate front, and we were 
 ordered to charge. A long stretch of open ground was passed at a run, and though 
 
436 
 
 the enemy brought all their guns and small arms to bear they failed to get a good 
 range on our advancing troops, firing for the most part too high. 
 
 " At a point within fifty yards of the fort was a slight ravine, stretching along in 
 its front, and affording some protection. Here the line was re-formed and the men 
 took breath. We were now under a desperate fire and an advance was sure to entail 
 heavy slaughter, but pausing only for a moment the word was again given to 
 charge, and without flinching the line sprang forward. A terrible volley swept our 
 ranks and many a brave man fell. For an instant we seemed to waver, but only for 
 an instant, and recovering we dashed on and up the hill. 
 
 " I was on the color-guard, and when about half way up the color-bearer, William 
 Sipes, was killed and the regimental flag fell on me. I at once threw my gun away 
 and seizing the colors ran up the hill, jumped into the ditch of the foe, then climbed 
 up on the flag-staff and placed the colors of the One hundred and eighty-eighth 
 Pennsylvania alongside of the rebel flag. 
 
 " I saw that the enemy were weakening, and cheered our men on. We captured 
 Fort Harrison and then advanced on Fort Gilmore under the fire of the rebel gun 
 boats. We were compelled to fall back in the evening, however, and in our retreat, 
 the color-bearer of the Fourth New Hampshire being hit, I brought their colors 
 back with me." 
 
 A SERGEANT WHO WISELY DIS 
 BELIEVED 
 
 GEORGE P. DOW, 
 
 T^VURING the operations before Richmond, Va., in Octo- 
 *-^ ber, 1864, the Seventh New Hampshire Infantry 
 was stretched out in a single line in order to ascertain 
 accurately the strength of the enemy s defenses. Com 
 pany C was at the extreme left and had a rather peculiar 
 experience, which Sergeant George P. Dow, who was in 
 command, describes as follows : 
 
 u i i i i i Sergeant. Co. C, 7th N.H. Infantry. 
 
 "Advancing we came to a large stream and a bridge B oraat Atkinson, N.H., Aug. T.IS/O! 
 over which I led my company. We marched on, but the 
 
 cannonading was so terrific that we could not hear the bugle from which we were 
 to take orders. Still we advanced till we came to a clearing and presently found 
 ourselves in front of the rebel breastworks mounted with guns and large bodies of 
 infantry lying behind them. For some reason or other the enemy did not open on 
 us. We halted and it was then that I made the startling discovery that my com 
 pany had been separated from the regiment, which, as I afterward learned, had 
 stopped at the stream. There was but one way out of our dangerous situation ; we 
 
437 
 
 had to retreat. I gave the order, but in the roar of cannons and the smoke of firing 
 we became confused and we missed the bridge and had to swim the stream. After 
 thus crossing the water we marched for some distance and finally arrived at a farm 
 house, where we found a woman apparently only too willing to help us find our way. 
 
 " Which direction has our line of battle taken ? I asked her. 
 
 " She pointed toward Richmond. I knew she was not telling the truth and took 
 my company in an opposite direction. A little later we met one of our aides, who 
 warned us that we were in danger of being gobbled up by the enemy s cavalry, so we 
 started at a double-quick and found the regiment drawn up in the woods. 
 
 "My company in this advance had got nearer to Richmond than any Union 
 troops had yet done, and the information we brought back was of great importance 
 to the Army of the James. 
 
 REACHED THE CAPTAIN JUST 
 IN TIME 
 
 T^ 
 
 JOHN S. DARROUGH, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. F, 113th Illinois 
 
 Infantry. 
 Born at Maysville, Ky.. April 6, 1841. 
 
 deed of Sergeant John S. Darrough, of Company F, 
 One hundred and thirteenth Illinois Infantry, was a 
 truly noble one. 
 
 In a bad plight himself and in want of help, he forgot 
 his own serious predicament when he saw an officer 
 in danger and hastened to his rescue. The story is told 
 by the sergeant in these simple words : 
 
 " Our regiment had dwindled down to 300 men, when 
 it was dispatched from Memphis, Tenn., to cut the com 
 munications at Eastport, by tearing up the tracks and de 
 
 stroying the bridge. The transports, convoyed by small wooden gunboats, pro 
 ceeded up the Mississippi and Tennessee Rivers, and landed us about three miles 
 below Eastport, on the south side of the river. 
 
 " Our force was partly landed when a masked battery in a clump of trees opened 
 fire on us at close range, doing great execution. Steam-pipes were cut and many of 
 the men scalded. The boats backed out from the bank without waiting to haul in 
 their gang-planks. Most of our men made their way to a point down stream where 
 they were partly out of range, and one of the gunboats dashed in and took them off, 
 while the other engaged the battery. 
 
 "Those of us who were unable to get to the point in time to be taken off were 
 left to shift for ourselves. A deep bayou prevented us from going farther down 
 the bank, and our only means of escape seemed to be by swimming the Tennessee, 
 which was a mile wide at this point. 
 
439 
 
 " I made up my mind at once that the Tennessee was by far preferable to either 
 being shot to death or made a prisoner, and concluded to swim across the stream. 
 How to carry my gun and clothes was the next perplexing question, and I com 
 menced to look for a log or limb to float them on, when, to my great joy, I presently 
 discovered a canoe hidden in a canebrake. I quickly launched and boarded 
 the boat and, making vigorous use of the one oar it contained, paddled out into the 
 river, where I could see the bend. Our boats were quite a distance away and under 
 headway, though the gunboat and battery were still carrying on their cannonading. 
 I felt satisfied that I would either overtake the boats or cross to the opposite side of 
 the river and have a chance at least to join the Union forces some fifty or a hundred 
 miles away. 
 
 " Then something occurred which, for the time being, changed my entire plan. 
 Looking ashore in the direction of the rebels, I noticed one of our men in a helpless 
 condition. He had crossed the bayou and advanced quite a way down the river, 
 when his strength had apparently given out. There remained but one thing to do : 
 to get to the rescue of my comrade. 
 
 " I confess, it was not a pleasant task to paddle back toward the rebels, but I 
 hastened ashore and. then discovered the comrade to be Captain A. W. Becket, of 
 Company B. He was faint and exhausted and about to give out completely. I 
 placed him in the canoe and succeeded in reaching the other shore safely." 
 
 A DISPLAY OF COOLNESS AND 
 NERVE 
 
 A MONG the Union forces at Baton Rouge, La., in 
 ** October, 1864, was Captain Mack s Black Horse 
 Battery of Rochester, N. Y., officially known as the 
 Eighteenth Independent Battery of New York. On 
 the 11 th of October the officer in command of the bat 
 tery directed Corporal Champany to repack the limber 
 chest belonging to his gun. It contained sixteen cart 
 ridges, each one holding two pounds of powder and 
 thirty-two twenty-pound shell and shot. About twenty 
 of the shells were what are known as fuse shells, filled 
 to the nozzle with powder and iron bullets, tow being 
 
 put in to keep the powder from spilling out. The remainder of the missiles were 
 
 solid shot, percussion shells and canister. 
 
 Having completed the repacking, Corporal Champany found that he could not 
 
 close the lid without help and called to Private Charles White to assist him. The 
 
 THOMAS GILBERT, 
 
 Private, 18th Ind. Battery, N. Y. 
 Born in Scotland, 1835. 
 
440 
 
 violent pressure they together put upon the lid in some way caused a terrific ex 
 plosion, killing Champany almost instantly, throwing White seventy feet away, 
 where he landed in a mud puddle, and blowing the chest to atoms. The first man 
 to reach the scene of the tragedy was Private Thomas Gilbert, who narrates what 
 happened as follows : 
 
 "I ran to poor Champany, who, horribly burned and mangled, was still breathing, 
 but just as I reached him I noticed that the tow of some of the unexploded shells 
 was burning. Seizing a pail of water from a gunner near by and calling loudly for 
 more water, I dashed the contents of the pail on the burning shells. Then, another 
 pail of water having been brought, I picked up the twenty shells and dipped the 
 burning end of each into the water. By this action the caissons of the entire bat 
 tery and the lives of many men who had quickly gathered about, to say nothing of 
 my own life, were saved. The explosion was heard miles away and it became 
 necessary to surround the battery with guards to keep the curious away." 
 
 ROUNDED UP FORTY REBELS 
 
 A NOTHER interesting incident at the battle of 
 ** Chapin s Farm, Va., September, 30, 1864, was Pri 
 vate Franklin Johndro s gathering in of forty rebels. 
 The battle had raged for some time. The second 
 charge of Longstreet s Army had been repulsed by 
 the Union forces and the Confederates were falling 
 back. The One hundred and eighteenth New York 
 Volunteers held a position about twenty rods from 
 the foot of a slight hill, which was occupied by the 
 enemy. Every charge thus far made had been im 
 mediately repulsed by this regiment countercharging 
 as soon as the enemy appeared in force on the hill 
 This manoeuvre checked every assault at the foot of 
 
 the hill. Many of the rebels found temporary protection there, but could not retreat. 
 The captain of Company A saw quite a number of these unfortunates. He pointed 
 out to Private Johndro the danger these fellows were putting his men in, and then 
 induced this brave soldier to at once fix his bayonet and charge all alone on these 
 skulkers. A heavy fire was concentrated upon him by the enemy s sharpshooters, 
 but he succeeded in driving in no less than forty rebels as his prisoners. 
 
 A few months later when the Medal of Honor was pinned to his breast for this 
 deed, his colonel remarked: "Johndro, if I owned this Medal of Honor and had 
 won it in the way you did, I should think more of it than I do of the eagles that I 
 carry on my shoulders." 
 
 FRANKLIN JOHNDRO, 
 
 Private, Co. A, 118th New York Vols. 
 Born at Highgate Falls, Vt. 
 
443 
 
 TWO RIDERS ON ONE HORSE 
 
 HENRY H. CROCKER, 
 
 Captain, Co. F, 2d Mas?. Cavalry. 
 
 Born at Colchester, Conn.. Jan. 
 
 20, 1840. 
 
 A \ 7 HEN Longstreet and Early planned to annihilate 
 Sheridan s Army in the Shenandoah Valley, the 
 Federal forces were at the little village of Middletown, 
 Va., and around the immediate neighborhood, between 
 the village and Cedar Creek. The Confederate attack 
 made at early dawn, October 19, 1864, was a complete 
 surprise, and came so unexpectedly that many of 
 the Union soldiers had no time to put on their clothes. 
 About ten o clock in the forenoon General Sheridan 
 reached the scene of action, and the battle of Cedar 
 Creek which continued throughout the day was 
 transformed from defeat, rout and confusion to order 
 and victory. 
 
 The Second Massachusetts Cavalry, Lieutenant-Colonel Caspar Crowninshield 
 commanding, was attached to Lowell s Brigade and was stationed near the village 
 of Middletown. Captain Henry H. Crocker, of Company F, a part of the so-called 
 California Battalion attached to this regiment, refers to the battle as follows : 
 
 "We were aroused early in the morning by the attack of the enemy. As the 
 enemy came upon us with force we were compelled to fall back slightly, but as we 
 did so we inclined toward the pike at our right, thus keeping our line of communi 
 cation open. It was a bitter contest, the enemy coming at us in several distinct 
 charges, in each of which they were repulsed. Colonel Lowell, our brigade com 
 mander, who was killed later in the day, rode up and down our line encouraging the 
 men to stand together, and assuring them that General Sheridan would soon be on 
 the field with re-enforcements. 
 
 " About this time a body of the enemy was seen to emerge form the woods and 
 advance upon our front. My mind was immediately set upon checking those fel 
 lows, so I rode up to Colonel Crowninshield and asked permission to charge them. 
 The colonel gave his consent, but cautioned me not to advance too far, and if pos 
 sible, he added, come back with a few prisoners. 
 
 Cedar Creek, Va. Afterhis victory at Fisher s Hill, Sheridan proceeded to lay waste to the Shenandoah 
 Valley. Frequent cavalry combats took place between Sheridan s and Early s forces at Cedar Creek, 
 but no decisive movement occurred until the 19th of October, 1864. Soon after midnight of the 18th Early 
 surprised General Wright, who in Sheridan s absence was in command of the Union Cavalry. The Federal 
 .troops were completely demoralized and were falling back toward Winchester. Sheridan had returned to 
 the latter place from Washington the night before, and upon hearing the artillery firing he started in the 
 morning on a dashing twenty-mile ride, and arrived on the field of battle in time to check the retreat and 
 turn it into one of the most brilliant victories of the war. The Federal loss was 5,995, while the Confed 
 erate loss was 4,200. 
 
4.44 
 
 "I hurried back to my company and told the boys, very much to their satisfac 
 tion, of the work before us. We waited until we knew that the advancing force 
 could give us but one volley before we could reach them, then I gave the command: 
 Forward ! Trot ! Gallop ! Charge ! and away 
 we went with sabres flashing in the sunlight. 
 The expected volley was received, saddles 
 were emptied and horses went down, but on 
 we went. In less time than it takes to tell it 
 we were among them, their line was broken 
 and we demanded their surrender. Many ran 
 back into the woods where we could plainly 
 see the enemy in force, but they 
 did not fire upon us for fear 
 of hitting their own men. 
 We brought back 
 fourteen prisoners 
 on the run. 
 
 "In the heat of 
 our charge I had felt 
 a dull, throbbing pain 
 in my left leg and 
 knew that I had 
 been wounded, 
 but that did 
 not pre 
 vent me 
 from stop- 
 ping, on 
 
 our return, to pick up Lieutenant Mclntosh, whose horse had been killed and who was 
 loosening the cinch from his saddle. When he had completed his task he mounted 
 my horse behind me and thus we rode back to our lines just as General Sheridan 
 came dashing along the road on his famous ride from Winchester." 
 
 The prisoners captured by Captain Croker in this charge were, according to the 
 statement of Colonel Crowninshield, the first rebels captured that day, and therefore 
 of great importance to General Sheridan, who had them questioned closely as to the 
 strength and formation of the opposing army. They also gave the valuable and as 
 suring information that General Longstreet had not united forces with General 
 Early, as had been believed by the leaders of the Union forces. This was informa 
 tion of such importance that it naturally changed arrangements of manoeuvres and 
 the expected defeat of the morning was changed into a grand victory by evening. 
 
 AS GENERAL SHERIDAN CAME 
 DASHING ALONG." 
 
445 
 
 "FORWARD!" HIS VOICE RANG OUT 
 
 "PHE loss of some guns was one of the most unfortunate incidents to the Union 
 forces during the early part of the battle of Cedar Creek. The circumstances 
 of the occurrence are referred to by General Warren J. Keifer, of the Tenth Ohio 
 Infantry, who commanded the Third Division, as follows : 
 
 " A number of guns belonging to the Sixth Corps were posted on the hills .on my 
 left. The guns under the command of Captains McKnight and Adams and under the 
 direction of Colonel Tompkins, Chief of Artillery of the Sixth Corps, were admirably 
 handled and rapidly fired, although under a heavy and close musketry fire of the 
 enemy. After over 100 artillery horses had been shot, the enemy succeeded in cap 
 turing a portion of the guns, having approached under cover of the smoke and fog 
 from the left, which was unprotected. A charge was ordered and the guns were 
 retaken, three of which were drawn off by hand; others were left in consequence of 
 being disabled, but were subsequently recaptured. Great gallantry was displayed 
 in this charge by officers and men. The rebels were fought hand-to-hand and driven 
 from the guns." 
 
 The saving of the guns was the proud achievement of Colonel W. W. Henry, of 
 the Tenth Vermont Infantry. He undertook the task when no one else would, and 
 at a time when courage and heroism were most needed. 
 
 When Captain McKnight, pressed by the enemy, was forced to abandon his guns, 
 great confusion followed within the Union lines and the entire brigade fell back 
 some 300 yards. General Ricketts, the division commander, succeeded in stopping 
 a further retreat, re-established the lines and ordered the capture of the abandoned 
 guns. But in spite of the order not a regiment stirred. Vexed and annoyed, Gen 
 eral Ricketts exclaimed : " Is there not some officer of the First Brigade who will 
 lead the charge ? " 
 
 Instead of an answer Colonel Henry stepped in front of his regiment. 
 
 " Forward ! " his voice rang out. 
 
 And at the head of the color-guard he marched his men against the rebels. A 
 wild rush for the guns was made, and while some of the Vermonters engaged the 
 Confederates in a hand-to-hand fight others busied themselves about the guns and 
 hauled them off. The arrival of the balance of the brigade prevented the rebels 
 from pursuing the daring colonel and his brave regiment, and Captain McKnight s 
 captured guns were brought back unmolested to General Ricketts. 
 
" 
 
 HALT I ! WANT YOUR FLAG!" 
 
 HARRY J. PARKS, 
 
 Private, Troop A, Ninth New York 
 
 Cavalry. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Captain. 
 Born at Warsaw, N. Y., Feb. 24, 1848, 
 
 WHEN General Sheridan s forces, late in the afternoon 
 of the battle of Cedar Creek, made their last 
 charge and completely routed the enemy, it was fol 
 lowed by some confusion within the Union ranks them 
 selves. Many companies became separated from then 
 regiments, regiments from their divisions. This hap 
 pened, among other troops, to the Ninth New York 
 Cavalry, which, at the end of the battle, when night 
 fall came, was completely broken up. 
 
 Troop A of that regiment had charged the enemy 
 through Stiasburg, and while following the fleeing 
 Confederates to Fisher s Hill had been separated from 
 the main body, and, dissolved into small squads, was 
 gathering prisoners, capturing wagons, ammunition, etc. One member of that troop, 
 Private Harry J. Parks, in his ardor to head off the Confederate supply train, had 
 galloped far in advance of his comrades and was, before he realized it himself, in the 
 very midst of a large body of rebel soldiers. However, darkness shielded him from 
 being recognized, and the plucky private s own story shows how he preserved his 
 presence of mind and extricated himself from the dangerous situation in a manner 
 which reflects great credit upon him. He says : 
 
 " I pushed on rapidly and presently came upon a Confederate who was carrying 
 a stand of colors and an overcoat on his arm. 
 
 " Halt ! I exclaimed, I want your flag ! 
 
 "The rebel made a quick jump behind my horse, drew his revolver and made a 
 dash for the river. 
 
 " I wheeled my horse, pulled my own gun and fired at him. I must have scared 
 him badly, for he threw up his hands in despair and shouted : 
 
 " I surrender ! Don t shoot again ! 
 
 " And now prisoner and flag were mine. I marched the Johnny at the side of 
 my horse till some time later, when I met one of our men, to whom I turned over my 
 prisoner. I advanced still farther, and at the foot of Fisher s Hill encountered two 
 teamsters in charge of three wagons. I stopped and ordered them to Turn around, 
 quick ! Drive the other way ! Follow me ! 
 
 " In the darkness they mistook me for one of their own men and obeyed my 
 directions without hesitation. I led them to our own lines and within safe distance 
 disarmed them and brought them in as prisoners. The wagons contained loads of 
 choice eatables, cigars and tobacco, and for several days following our boys lived 
 high and in luxury." 
 
447 
 
 FREDERICK A. LYON, 
 
 Corporal. Co. A. 1st Vt. 
 
 Cavalry. 
 
 Born at Willianislnirg 
 Mass.. June f>, lM:i. 
 
 WHILE it may be true that, as Corporal Frederick 
 Lyon, of Company A, First Vermont Cavalry, 
 states, the "luck" or "opportunity" of distinguishing 
 oneself in the cavalry, in a measure, depends on the 
 mount, the corporal s own achievement as brilliant as 
 any during the war cannot be cited in proof of the asser 
 tion. Presence o f mind, quick decision and boldness rather 
 than the mount were the elements of this cavalryman s " luck," 
 which is shown by Corporal Lyon s own story : 
 
 "It was at the battle of Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864. On 
 account of being surprised the left of our line fell back during 
 the day nearly four miles. About four or five o clock in the afternoon General 
 Merritt s Division of cavalry charged that branch of the rebel force on the Dirt 
 Road which ran parallel to the Pike nearly four miles distant, and we saw nothing 
 more of them during the engagement. It was nearly night when General Custer s 
 Division was ordered forward. Upon reaching Cedar Creek we found that the enemy 
 had all crossed the stream. Sergeant Haskell, of Company H, of my regiment, and 
 myself were the first to cross at some distance above the bridge, but we were not long 
 without company, the whole command coming in a body. The ground w r as level for 
 some distance after leaving the creek and many prisoners were taken and sent to 
 the rear under their own escort. At the top of a sharp hill we halted for a moment 
 and made some pretense of forming a line. This delay, however, was of short dura 
 tion. It was getting so dark now that we could not distinguish our own men. 
 Knowing that General Merritt had routed the enemy s entire cavalry force, and as 
 we had no infantry on that side of Cedar Creek, it was obvious that every dis 
 mounted man we met belonged to General Early s command. 
 
 " We had only charged a short distance around the curve in the pike when we 
 came upon the whole retreating army, infantry, artillery, ambulance, baggage 
 wagons, etc. The charge as a command was at an end. It was every one for him 
 self, and the longest pale knocked off the largest persimmons. All was excitement. 
 The fun for us at least was unlimited. I never saw such a stampede. Whole com 
 panies surrendered to half a dozen mounted men. Some of us galloped forward 
 seeking diversion nearer the front. The only way was to call your horse out on 
 one side of the pike, ride past half a dozen wagons, or pieces of artillery, command 
 the leading rider to halt, shooting down a horse if necessary to force obedience, and 
 order all to the rear. 
 
 " I was getting well to the front of the retreating column. Even a rebel bugler who 
 had been near me continually sounding the charge was ordered to the rear. It was 
 
448 
 
 dark ; I began to feel as if I was away from home, among a strange people. Jump 
 ing my horse upon a bank to the right, I rode past a number of wagons, and halted 
 an ambulance that was about to cross the bridge at Strasburg. A voice from out 
 the darkness replied : General Ramseur is inside and he ordered us to move on/ 
 "Now I had seen considerable of generals, but to order one to halt, and a major- 
 general at that, after he had given the order to move on/ was considerably out of 
 my line. It was reversing things. I fortunately maintained my presence of mind 
 and a second time requested their delay, informing them that I was a member in 
 good standing of the Federal Army. What from the ambulance are you a 
 
 GENERAL RAMSEUR IS INSIDE 
 
 Yank? I 
 replied that I 
 belonged to the 
 First Cavalry, and my 
 questioner, a major on 
 General Ramseur s staff, ap 
 preciated the situation at 
 once. 
 
 "The conference was brief and ended in the ambulance turning around and start 
 ing back toward Cedar Creek and Winchester. On the return I met General William 
 Wells, commanding our brigade, who advised me to take my prisoners to General 
 Custer s headqurters. The ambulance contained the general, a major, driver and a 
 battle-flag. Generals Custer and Ramseur knew each other well, having been class 
 mates at West Point." 
 
 Within a week after this incident, Corporal Lyon received orders to report to 
 Washington, and was there presented with a Medal of Honor by President Lincoln 
 in presence of his cabinet. 
 
449 
 
 STORIES OF THE FLAG AT 
 CEDAR CREEK 
 
 T 
 
 JOHN WALSH, 
 
 Corporal, Co. D, 5th New 
 
 York Cavalry. 
 
 Born in Co. Tipperary. 
 
 Ireland, Dec. 4, 1841. 
 
 ERI D. WOODBURY, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. E, 1st Vt. C;iv. 
 
 Born at Francotown, N. H., 
 
 May 30, 1839. 
 
 following tell of interesting episodes 
 centering around the colors, Federal 
 and Confederate, at the long-drawn-out 
 and bloody battle of Cedar Creek. 
 
 Early in the engagement the standard 
 of the Fifteenth New Jersey Infantry had 
 been captured by the enemy. The loss 
 became quickly known among the Union 
 troops and several unsuccessful attempts 
 to recapture the flag were made. Corporal John Walsh, of Company D, Fifth New 
 York Cavalry, during one of the subsequent fierce charges, had the good fortune to 
 succeed where so many others had failed. During the heat of a hand-to-hand strug 
 gle he noticed a Confederate color-bearer carrying a flag which he at once recognized 
 as the one taken from the New Jersey boys. With a sudden rush he made for the 
 rebel guard, overpowered him and wrenched the trophy from him. All of this was 
 done on the spur of the moment and so quickly that the Confederate color-guard 
 and his comrades hardly realized what had happened until it was all over and the 
 daring corporal with his precious prize was back within the Union lines. 
 
 It was an impressive scene when, after the battle, the New Jersey regiment was 
 called out on parade, and in presence of General Sherman received back its colors 
 at the hands of Corporal Walsh. 
 
 The last decisive charge was made in the afternoon between three and four 
 o clock. It was by far the bloodiest of the entire battle and 
 put the individual bravery of the Union soldier to its highest 
 test. The conduct of Private Martin Wambsgan, of Com 
 pany D, Ninetieth New York Infantry, furnishes a good 
 illustration. While on the advance the color-bearer of his 
 regiment was killed, shot through the head. He fell forward 
 on his face and landed squarely on the flag, which was rid 
 dled with bullet holes, while the staff had been shot in two. 
 
 When this occurred Private Wambsgan was only a few 
 feet away from the unfortunate flag-bearer. With one leap 
 he was at his side, pulled the colors from under him, and, 
 yelling as loudly as he possibly could, waved the flag over his 
 head. Then he ran to the front of his regiment, where he 
 took post during the remainder of the fight, holding the colors aloft, the piece of 
 pole and his arm serving as a flag-staff. At the time the color- bearer was killed 
 
 MARTIN WAMBSGAN, 
 
 Private, Co. D. 90th N. Y. Inf. 
 
 Born in Bavaria, Germany, 
 
 August 9, 1839. 
 
450 
 
 and the colors went down the regiment showed signs of wavering, but Private 
 Wambsgan s quick action renewed the energy and courage of the men and contrib 
 uted materially to the success of the charge. 
 
 During the same charge, when the enemy were already in full retreat, Sergeant 
 Eri D. Woodbury, of Company E, First Vermont Cavalry, encountered four Confed 
 erate infantrymen retreating toward a small knoll. He drew- his sabre and ordered 
 them to surrender. The rebels hesitated, but did not raise their rifles. The actions 
 of one made Woodbury suspicious, and scanning him more closely he perceived that 
 he was trailing behind him a flag rolled on his staff. 
 
 "Give up that flag ! " Woodbury demanded. 
 
 Naturally, the Confederate objected, but the determination of the Union cavalry 
 man soon convinced him that resistance would be folly and reluctantly he handed 
 over his colors. The brave sergeant then rode proudly back to his regiment, where 
 he handed over his prisoners and captured colors and received the commendation of 
 his superior officers. 
 
 CAPTURE OF GENERAL MARMADUKE 
 
 T 
 
 HE capture of a general officer in battle is a note 
 worthy event, but when the officer is one of promi 
 nence the act becomes of great interest, and especially 
 when the capture is made single-handed by a private 
 soldier; thus the capture of Confederate General 
 Marmaduke by Private James Dunlavy, Company 
 D, Third Iowa Cavalry, necessarily takes a high place in 
 the annals of history. 
 
 Amid the heavy roar of cannon, on the open plains of 
 Kansas, the two contending forces met to do battle for 
 supremacy at Little Osage Crossing on the morning of the 
 25th of October, 1864. The Confederate artillery was playing 
 on the Federal forces with fearful effect, but notwithstanding 
 
 this incessant and terrific fire the Federal infantry never wavered. The safety of 
 the Federals lay in a charge by which the enemy s guns could be captured. The 
 
 JAMES DUNLAVY. 
 
 Private, Co 1), Third Iowa Cav 
 
 Born in Decatur County. Ind. 
 Pel). 4, 1844. 
 
 Early in the spring of 1864 it became known to General Rosecrans, commanding the department of 
 Missouri, that the Confederate General Price intended a great invasion of Missouri, which is historically 
 known as Price s Missouri Expedition (Aug. 29-Dec. 2, 1864), and included skirmishes, engagements and 
 battles in Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas. At Little Osage Crossing, Kansas, on the 25th of October, the 
 Federals under General Pleasanton routed the Confederates, capturing 1,000 prisoners, military arms, 
 ammunition, and Generals Marmaduke and Cabell. 
 
-451 
 
 movement was begun slowly at first, but increased in velocity until it swept on 
 resistless as an avalanche. The crash of musketry, the scream of shell, the buzzing 
 of canister and ball enthused the dashing cavalry. The charge was successful, the 
 rebels being routed. At this juncture Private James Dunlavy was severely wounded, 
 his arm being shattered by a piece of shell, which also struck his horse, making him 
 wheel suddenly to the rear. Undaunted, the plucky rider headed him in the direc 
 tion of a brigade which he thought was his own, but which proved to be the enemy. 
 
 He noticed a Confederate officer riding among the 
 excited soldiers and exhorting them to make a 
 stand. Dunlavy raised his carbine, aimed at 
 him and fired. The shot missed its mark, but 
 had served to attract the officer s attention 
 to the doughty soldier, and dashing up to 
 him he asked in an angry tone : 
 "What do you mean, shooting 
 at your own officer ? Give 
 me that revolver." 
 
 "Surrender, or 
 I ll fire ! " 
 
 To say that the 
 Confederate officer 
 was paralyzed with 
 surprise at finding him 
 self at the mercy of a 
 Union soldier is ex 
 pressing it mildly. 
 But he offered no 
 resistance and 
 handed over his 
 revolver. Just then 
 a comrade ran up to 
 Dunlavy. " My horse has been shot. Give me that of your prisoner," he said. 
 
 Dunlavy made the officer dismount and accommodated his comrade. Then the 
 two started for the rear, Dunlavy on horseback, the prisoner trotting along at 
 double-quick. 
 
 The latter was far from relishing the hurried march and soon asked for a 
 slower tempo. "I am very tired and worn out. Have been up all night," he 
 
 said. 
 
 Good naturedly the cavalryman slowed down. The Confederate made still 
 
 another request. 
 
 "Can t you get me a horse ? I d like to ride." 
 
 "HE ASKED FOR A SLOWER TEMPO." 
 
452 
 
 But Dunlavy was not inclined to make further concessions. Why should I give 
 him a horse ? he thought. And his reply to the question was a curt " No." 
 
 Again the silence was broken by the prisoner. 
 
 " Will you take me to General Pleasanton ? " he said. " I am personally acquaint 
 ed with him." Becoming more confidential, he added : " Young man, I ll tell you 
 who I am." 
 
 He had not quite finished the sentence when Colonel C. W. Blair, of General 
 Curtis staff, rode up and approached the prisoner. 
 
 " I am General Marmaduke," the officer said, addressing the new-comer. 
 
 It was now Private Dunlavy s turn to be surprised. He apologized to his distin 
 guished prisoner and with all the politeness at his .disposal turned him over to 
 Colonel Blair, who procured a horse for General Marmaduke and brought both 
 prisoner and captor before General Curtis, who complimented Dunlavy and ordered 
 him to the hospital. 
 
 SCENES FROM HATCHER S RUN 
 
 SOME of the most thrilling and inspiring incidents oc 
 curred at the battle of Hatcher s Run, Va., October 
 27, 1864. It was here that Private Alorizo Smith, of 
 Company C, Seventh Michigan Infantry, performed an 
 act of extraordinary daring. 
 
 His regiment, in position on the edge of the woods, 
 had not yet taken an active part in the great fight. 
 Presently Private Smith s attention was drawn to a 
 body of soldiers a short distance from him in the woods. 
 Not knowing whether they were friend or foe he de 
 cided to investigate for himself and started out to ascer 
 tain their identity. When about thirty or forty rods from his own regimental line he 
 satisfied himself that the soldiers were "Johnnies." They were approaching him so 
 
 ALONZO SMITH, 
 
 Private, Co. C, 7th Michigan Infantry, 
 Born at Hartland, N. Y., August 9, 1842. 
 
 Hatcher s Run, Va. The siege of Petersburg was in progress nearly four months, when, on the 27th 
 of October, 1864, the Army of the Potomac began a movement to extend its lines to Hatcher s Run, Va., 
 and to still further destroy the Weldon Railroad. The Second Army Corps and the Second Division of the 
 Fifth Corps, with cavalry in advance and on the left flank, forced a passage at Hatcher s Run and moved along 
 the railroad until the force of cavalry and the Second Corps had reached the Boydton Plank Road where it 
 crosses the Run. At this point a bloody combat ensued between Hancock s and Warren s Corps and the 
 Confederate forces, resulting in driving the enemy back into their works, after which the Union forces 
 withdrew to their fortified lines. The Federal losses were about 1,200 in killed and wounded ; the Confed 
 erate losses about 1,700. 
 
453 
 
 CHARLES A. ORR, 
 
 Private. Co. G, LSTth X. Y. Infantry. 
 Born at Holland, N. Y., June 28, 1848. 
 
 fast that he could not attempt to return to his regiment 
 without risking detection. He therefore stepped behind a 
 large elm tree, and with his gun loaded and bayonet fixed 
 awaited their arrival. When they had come up to within 
 a distance of about twenty feet from him Smith stepped 
 from his place of hiding, faced the rebel squad and boldly 
 demanded their surrender. The Confederates were com 
 pletely taken by surprise by the sudden and wholly unex 
 pected appearance of a Union soldier, but, nevertheless, 
 showed little inclination to comply with the order. As 
 Smith with increased determination repeated his order, 
 an officer, the leader of the squad, inquired whether 
 there were any Federal troops in the vicinity and whether 
 he was able to enforce his demand for surrender. 
 
 Pointing to the direction of his regiment, Smith replied : " There is a whole 
 division of Union troops." At the same time he called to his comrades nearest to him 
 to come to his assistance. The rebels now realized that they had imprudently 
 strayed too close to the Union lines, and surrendered. Smith marched his prisoners 
 out of the woods to his regiment, on the way relieving the re bel color-bearer of the 
 Confederate flag. " I think," he observed facetiously, " I ll be the color-bearer for a 
 while." 
 
 His captain, George W. LaPoint, received him as he was marching his prisoners 
 into camp, with a broad smile. "What have you been doing, Lon? " he asked. 
 "Oh," Smith answered, "capturing a few prisoners and a flag." 
 
 The regiment remained in position, which was far in ad 
 vance of the brigade to which it belonged, all day. In the 
 evening the brigade was withdrawn and an orderly was sent 
 out to notify Captain LaPoint to follow the brigade. 
 
 The orderly lost his way and failed to find the regiment, 
 which subsequently was cut off from the main body by the 
 advancing Confederates. Captain LaPoint and his brave men, 
 however, maintained their perilous position all night, and 
 starting out on their retreat early in the morning had to 
 fight every inch of the ground on their way. Their retreat 
 consumed over forty-eight hours, and had it not been for an 
 old negro who piloted them through along a circuitous route, 
 they would never have reached their destination. As it was 
 the regiment had many a narrow escape from annihilation 
 
 and more than once its capture seemed almost inevitable. At one time, when the 
 situation looked almost hopeless and Confederates were crowding about the regiment 
 from all sides, the men resolved to sell their lives as dearly as possible, and above all 
 
 ALONZO WOODRUFF, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. 1, 1st TJ. S. 8. S. 
 
 Born at Farmington, Mich., 
 
 March 21, 1839. 
 
45-1 
 
 save the colors from falling into the hands of the enemy. Color-Sergeant James 
 Donaldson took the State flag from the staff and wrapped it around his body under 
 his clothing, while the national flag was cut into pieces and a star given to each 
 man, the remaining pieces being distributed likewise. Thus the enemy could have 
 only captured the colors after the death of the whole command and the search of 
 the body of every soldier. 
 
 The rebels were not equal to such heroic determination and in the final charge, 
 although in overwhelming numbers, were repulsed and the brave Seventh Michigan 
 regained the Federal lines. With Captain LaPoint on his retreat was a detachment 
 of the First Minnesota Infantry under command of Captain J. C. Farwell. 
 
 Another incident of this battle centers about a hand-to-hand fight between Ser 
 geant Alonzo Woodruff and Corporal John M. Howard, of Company I, First United 
 States Sharpshooters, and a body of rebels. 
 
 General B. R. Pierce, who led the Second Brigade, Third Division, Second Army 
 Corps, gives the following version of the occurrence, of which he was an eye 
 witness : "I wish to call attention to the bravery displayed by Sergeant Alonzo 
 Woodruff and Corporal John M. Howard. They were posted on the extreme left of 
 the line as the enemy passed our left flank. 
 
 "After discharging their rifles and being unable to reload, Corporal Howard ran 
 and caught one of the enemy who seemed to be leading that part of the line. When he 
 was overpowered and had received a severe wound through both legs, Sergeant Wood 
 ruff went to his assistance. Clubbing his rifle, he had a desperate hand-to-hand 
 struggle, but finally succeeded in freeing Corporal Howard and both made their 
 escape." 
 
 A few minutes later Woodruff noticed a rebel marching a private of his company, 
 N. J. Standard, who was wounded, away as a prisoner. 
 
 What?" the gritty sergeant exclaimed, "The gall of those rebels !" 
 
 And he jumped right among the rebels, rushed after his comrade and not only 
 released Standard, but even turned the tables on his captor, making him a prisoner 
 instead. However, the brave sergeant did not escape injury, and during the last 
 encounter was severely wounded himself and forced to seek medical assistance as 
 soon as he reached his lines. 
 
 Mention also must be made of the deeds of Lieutenant Shannon and Private 
 Charles A. Orr and John Williams, of Company G, One hundred and Eighty-seventh 
 New York Infantry, who, when during this battle volunteers were asked for to 
 rescue wounded men from between the lines, carried out their mission at the risk of 
 their own lives. Originally thirty men had responded to the call for volunteers, but 
 when it came to the execution of the task and the rebel fire was concentrated upon 
 them twenty-seven abandoned the work, leaving only Orr and his two companions 
 to bring help and aid to the wounded soldiers. 
 
 They rescued a number of men and were universally praised for their heroic efforts. 
 
455 
 
 A THRILLING RIDE 
 
 EDWIN GOODRICH, 
 
 1st Lieutenant, Co. D, 9th N. Y. Cav. 
 Highest rank attained: Brevet-Major. 
 Born In New York City March 22, 1843. 
 
 TN November, 1864, on the field where the famous 
 1 battle of Cedar Creek was fought the preceding 
 month, occurred a most remarkable race for life and 
 liberty, one that speaks volumes for the hero and the 
 endurance of the man he rescued in this wild chase. A 
 squadron of the Ninth New York Cavalry, in command 
 of Lieutenant Edwin Goodrich, was ordered to proceed 
 up the Shenandoah Valley on a reconnoissance to ascer 
 tain the whereabouts of the enemy. Soon after receiv 
 ing his orders Lieutenant Goodrich had all in readiness, 
 his eighty men comprising the squadron eagerly await 
 ing the command to inarch. Diligent search failed to 
 reveal any hostile forces until they had reached a place 
 
 not far from Strasburg, Va., where a large force was suddenly encountered. As soon as 
 Lieutenant Gooderich discovered the enemy s pickets he dispatched Sergeant Joseph 
 N. Foster with a few men to drive them in, he and the remainder of his squadron follow 
 ing up in their support. The enemy observed this move and immediately sent a force 
 of 2,000 cavalry to the support of the pickets. 
 
 Goodrich had ordered the charge to learn the strength of the rebels, and, having 
 accomplished this, he sounded the retreat just in time to get a good start on the 
 approaching enemy. Foster, who was among the last to fall back, felt his horse stag 
 ger under him, from the effects of a wound, so he slipped out of the saddle and started 
 on the retreat afoot. The horse, however, gathered himself together and overtook 
 the fleeing men, whereupon Foster again mounted him. The wounded animal 
 carried his man but a short distance at a rapid gait; then he began to lose ground 
 and finally brought up the rear of the column, where, exhausted, he fell, pinning 
 his rider to the ground. 
 
 Goodrich saw Foster s plight and wheeling about he went to his assistance and 
 hastily pulled him from under the wounded horse, leaving a boot behind. Having 
 freed Foster, he immediately remounted ; none too soon, however, for the enemy 
 were upon them, and spurring his charger on he dashed away with Foster clinging to 
 the horse s tail. Goodrich reached back, took Foster by the hand and brought him 
 alongside where he could get a good hold on his collar, and in this way almost 
 carried him by main strength, running him and encouraging him to keep up. 
 For six miles he carried and dragged him, with the enemy in close pursuit, firing, 
 cursing and ordering him to surrender. The 2,000 pursuing cavalrymen and their 
 rain of bullets, their shouting and their commands to surrender could not induce 
 Goodrich to loose his hold on his comrade s collar. Awkward as the additional 
 
FOR SIX MILES HE CARRIED AND DRAGGED HIM. 
 
457 
 
 weight was, the gallant charger fled along the pike so swiftly that his rider felt 
 secure in their ultimate safety. But this gait could not be maintained, and shortly 
 after the enemy were fast closing in. At last one of Goodrich s men slowed down his 
 horse and dropped back to the assistance of the heroic lieutenant. 
 
 This young trooper rode alongside of Goodrich, bringing Foster, who by this time 
 was completely exhausted, between the two horses, and while still in full flight they 
 managed with much difficulty to swing him on the trooper s horse. 
 
 Twelve miles were covered by these brave horsemen before the rebels gave up 
 their chase, and so completely was Foster exhausted that when Winchester was 
 reached he had to be taken to the hospital. 
 
 During this exciting retreat, when exhaustion overcame Foster, he had begged 
 Goodrich to leave him to his fate, as he could no longer keep up. But Goodrich 
 could not be induced to loose his iron grasp on him. After all were safely within 
 the Union lines Goodrich remarked : " Had the pursuers overtaken us while I was 
 extricating Foster, there would have been little danger of our being taken prisoners, 
 for the enemy were bunched so closely together in the narrow pike, and were 
 coming on with such impetus, that we would have been trampled to death." 
 
 A REBEL CHARGE THAT FAILED 
 
 THE following vivid description by Sergeant Henry F. 
 W. Little, of Company D, Seventh New Hampshire 
 Infantry, shows how much depends on the personal brav 
 ery of the individual soldier in repulsing a charge of the 
 enemy, and also illustrates the futility of a bayonet charge 
 against a body of men well entrenched and armed with 
 repeating rifles. 
 
 " It was early on the morning of October 7, 1864," the 
 sergeant says, " that our troops on the north side of the 
 James River, Va., were aroused. We were quickly ordered 
 into line to repel an attack. We found the cavalry under 
 General Kautz coming toward us pell-mell, hotly pursued 
 by the Confederates. We were at once advanced, the lines 
 formed and thus we waited the onslaught. 
 
 "Our line was without breastworks or protection of any kind and the Confeder 
 ates pushed up to within a few rods of us. Our force was not large and our lines 
 
 HENRY F. W. LITTLE, 
 
 Sergeant, Company D, 7th New 
 
 Hampshire Infantry. 
 
 Born at Manchester, N. H., June 
 
 27, 1842. 
 
458 
 
 extended so far that we were without support, and a wavering brigade or even the 
 falling back of a single regiment on that line would probably have given the enemy an 
 opportunity of taking everything before them on the north side of the James River. 
 
 " Much depended on the individual bravery and the courage of the officers. As 
 the rebels came rushing on I advised our men to keep cool and not fall back an inch, 
 and had the gratification to see that during the subsequent events our boys above 
 all others distinguished themselves for their calmness and the deadly accuracy of 
 their fire. 
 
 "The charge was desperately and handsomely made and energetically repulsed. 
 Our brigade, which seemed to have been the objective point of the Confederate 
 attack and had borne the brunt of the assault, was armed with Spencer repeating car 
 bines, seven-shooters, and delivered so destructive a fire that it was impossible for the 
 enemy to withstand its effect. The Confederate dead in our front, after the charge, 
 lay in long lines only a few feet away, showing where their battalions had stood 
 at the time of the clash, when they found it impossible to break through our ranks. 
 
 "Many of the Confederates found it as much impossible to retreat as it was to 
 advance, and preferred capture to almost inevitable death. The fight, although it 
 lasted but a half hour, was extremely fierce and ended in a complete defeat of the 
 rebels." 
 
 Sergeant Little s gallant conduct on the skirmish line was such that it com 
 mended itself to his superior officers and, later, was fittingly recognized by the 
 award of the Medal of Honor. 
 
 A CLEVER TACTICIAN S CLEVER 
 ACHIEVEMENT 
 
 
 
 N the 30th day of November, 1864, at Honey Hill, S. C., 
 First Lieutenant Orson W. Bennett, Company A, 
 One hundred and second U. S. Colored Troops, received an 
 order from his brother, General W. T. Bennett, chief of 
 staff to General Hatch, in the following words : 
 " Lieutenant, about 100 yards in advance of our lines, on an 
 elevation near the road, and within 150 yards of the enemy s 
 guns, there are three pieces of artillery which have been aban 
 doned. You are ordered to bring them in. Fix bayonets and 
 impress upon your men that they must not pay any attention 
 to the enemy, but bring in the guns." 
 
 Lieutenant Bennett at once selected thirty men to go with 
 him to carry out the order, leaving the remainder of his com 
 pany on the skirmish line. Then he gave the order, "Fix bayonets! Trail arms! 
 Forward, double-quick march !" 
 
 ORSON W. BENNETT, 
 
 First Lieutenant. Co. A, 102d 
 
 U. S. C. T. 
 Highest rank attained: 
 
 Captain. 
 
 Born Nov. 17, 1841, at Union 
 City, Branch Co., Mich. 
 
-459- 
 
 The little squad moved forward with great precision. The slight elevation of 
 the land helped considerable in preventing the enemy from seeing the advance 
 until the men were directly opposite the abandoned guns, partly screened by a 
 fringe of low bushes. The guns were surrounded by dead and mangled men and 
 horses, who had fallen in their defense. Lieutenant Bennett urged on his brave 
 men to quick and concentrated action. Delay meant death. The men fully ap 
 preciated the situation and obeyed like machines. At the "rally" they sprang for 
 ward and seized the nearest gun. Lieutenant Bennett kept a watchful eye upon the 
 Confederates, less than 200 yards distant. When he saw by their movements that 
 they were about to fire their own guns he shouted to his men, "Down !" and they 
 all dropped to the ground. A second later a shower of grape and canister went 
 whizzing and shrieking over their heads. Instantly they sprang to their feet 
 again, seized the trailer of one of the guns and dragged it safely to the Union lines. 
 To secure the second was a more dangerous operation, for the enemy was aware of 
 the movement and prepared to give Bennett s detachment a warm greeting. 
 
 After resting his men a few moments Bennett again ordered an advance. Just 
 before the Confederates fired he commanded his men to drop, which they did as 
 promptly and neatly as before. Before the smoke cleared away the gallant colored 
 soldiers were dragging the gun out of danger. 
 
 Then Lieutenant Bennett and his men made a dash for the third gun, repeating 
 the same tactics of dropping as the Confederates fired, and succeeded in landing it 
 safely within the Union lines amid yells of disappointment from the enemy and 
 cheers of enthusiastic approval from the Union troops. 
 
 In performing this daring deed, only one of Lieutenant Bennett s men was 
 wounded and none killed, and the achievement was the more brilliant by reason of 
 the fact that a previous attack to save the guns had ended in a failure and cost a 
 heavy loss to the command which made the attempt. 
 
460 
 
 "WE CAN GO WHEREVER THE 
 GENERAL CAN!" 
 
 M 
 
 AJOR-GENERAL DAVID S. STANLEY, commanding the 
 Fourth Army Corps, sent by General Sherman to 
 guard Nashville and Tennessee against an unexpected 
 move of General Hood with a large Confederate army, 
 reached Pulaski, Term., November 1, 1864. Then followed 
 DAVID s STANLEY, a ser i es o f manoeuvres on the part of 18,000 Union soldiers 
 
 Major-General U. S. Volunteers. . i i iij i p -n 
 
 Bom in cedar valley, wayne against an overwhelming rebel iorce, numbering tully 
 
 40,000. The clash came November 30th, when the battle 
 of Franklin was fought. 
 
 A description of this battle is given in the general s own words, as follows : 
 
 "Early on the morning of the 29th General Wilson sent word to me that the 
 enemy had laid a pontoon bridge at Huey s Mills. At 8 A. M. I started to Spring 
 Hill with the First and Second Divisions, all the artillery that could be spared, and all 
 the trains and ambulances to follow; at the same time areconnoissance was sent up the 
 river and soon sent word back that the enemy was crossing infantry and wagons and 
 moving off rapidly to the north and parallel to the turnpike. It being apprehended 
 that the enemy might make a flank attack upon the position of our force between 
 Duck River and Rutherford s Creek, the First Division was halted and took up posi 
 tion to cover the crossing of the creek. At 11:30 o clock the head of the Second 
 Division was within two miles of Spring Hill. A cavalry soldier, who seemed badly 
 scared, was met here and stated that a scout had come in from the direction of 
 Raleigh Hill and reported that Buford s Division of rebel cavalry was half way be 
 tween Raleigh Hill and Spring Hill and on the march to the latter place. The Second 
 Division was pushed on, and, attracted by the firing east of the village, double- 
 quicked into the place and deployed the leading brigade as they advanced, drove off 
 a force of the enemy s cavalry which was driving our small force of cavalry and in 
 fantry, and would very soon have occupied the town. 
 
 "Up to this time it was thought that we had only cavalry to contend with, but a 
 general officer and his staff, at whom we sent some complimentary shells, were seen 
 reconnoitering our position and very soon afterward General Bradley was assailed by 
 a force which the men said fought too well to be any dismounted cavalry. 
 
 " I received General Schofield s dispatch about the same time, telling me that the 
 rebels had been crossing the river, and leaving no doubt but that we now confronted 
 a superior force of rebel infantry. About the same time an attack was made upon 
 a small wagon train by rebel cavalry at Reynolds Station, three miles toward Frank 
 lin, and simultaneously the rebel cavalry appeared west of us and threatened the 
 railroad station of Spring Hill. Thus we were threatened and attacked from every 
 direction. As night closed we could see the enemy rapidly extending his line and by 
 
461 
 
 eight o clock it was evident that at least a Corps of Hood s Army was formed in line 
 of battle, facing the turnpike, and at a near distance of but little more than half a 
 mile from it. It was determined to push our way to Franklin. At one o clock in 
 the morning of the 30th the train commenced to pull out. The number of wagons, 
 including artillery and ambulances, was about 800. At the very starting point they 
 had to pass singly over a bridge, and it was exceedingly doubtful whether the train 
 could be put on the road by daylight. Unless this could be done, and the corps put 
 in motion, we were sure of being attacked by daylight and compelled to fight un 
 der every disadvantage. I was strongly advised to burn the train and move on with 
 the troops and such wagons as could be saved, but I determined to make an effort 
 to save the train. My staff officers were busily engaged hurrying up teamsters and 
 everything promised well when we w ere again thrown into despair by the report 
 that the train had been attacked north of Thompson s Station and its progress 
 had been stopped altogether. It was now three o clock in the morning. General 
 Kimball was directed to push on with the First Division and clear the road. Gen 
 eral Wood s Division had covered the road and was directed to move on, keeping off 
 the road and on the right flank of the train, and General Wagner s Division, al 
 though wearied by the fighting of the day before, was detailed to bring up the rear. 
 Before Kimball s Division could reach the point at which the train was attacked 
 Major Steele, of my staff, had gotten up a squad of our stragglers and driven off the 
 rebels, who had succeeded in burning about ten wagons. 
 
 " The trains moved on again, and at about five o clock I had the satisfaction of see 
 ing the last wagon pass the small bridge. The entire corps was on the road before 
 daylight. The rebel cavalry was in possession of all the hills to our right, and made 
 numerous demonstrations upon our flank, but were easily driven off. 
 
 "From one o clock until four in the afternoon the enemy s entire force was in sight 
 and forming for attack ; yet, in view of our own strong positions and reasoning from 
 the former course of the rebels during this campaign, nothing appeared so improb 
 able as that they would assault. I felt so confident in this belief that I did not leave 
 General Schofield s headquarters until the firing commenced. About four o clock 
 the enemy advanced with his whole force, at least two corps, making a bold and 
 persistent assault. When Wagner s Division fell back from the heights south of 
 Franklin, Opdycke s Brigade was placed in reserve in rear and Lane s and Conrad s 
 Brigades were deployed in the front of our main line. Here the men, as our men 
 always do, threw up a barricade of rails. By whose mistake I cannot tell, these 
 brigades had orders not to retire to the main line until forced to do so by the fight 
 ing of the enemy. The consequence was that the brigades stood their ground until 
 the charging rebels were almost crossing bayonets with them, but the line then 
 broke and men and officers made the quickest time they could to our main lines. 
 The old soldiers all escaped, but many of the conscripts, being afraid to run under 
 fire, were captured. A large proportion of the men came back with loaded mus 
 kets, and turning at the breastworks fired a volley into the pressing rebels, not ten 
 
462 
 
 steps from them. The part of the Twenty-third Corps stationed in the works broke 
 and ran to the rear with the fugitives from Conrad s Brigade. To add to this dis 
 order, the caissons of the two batteries in the works galloped rapidly to the rear and 
 the enemy appeared on the breastworks and in possession of the two batteries, which 
 they commenced to turn upon us. 
 
 " It was at this moment that I arrived on the scene of disorder. The moment 
 was critical beyond any I have known in any battle. Colonel Opdycke s Brigade was 
 lying down about 100 yards in the rear of the works. I rode quickly to the left of 
 the brigade and called to them to charge ; at the same time I saw Colonel Opdycke 
 near the centre of his line urging his men forward. I gave the Colonel no order, as 
 I saw him engaged in doing the very thing to save us, viz., to get possession of our 
 line again. The retreating men commenced to rally. I heard old soldiers call out : 
 Come on, men ; we can go wherever the general can ! 
 
 "Making a rush our men immediately retook all our line, excepting a small por 
 tion just in front of a brick house on the pike. Here a rebel force held out and for 
 fifteen or twenty minutes poured in a severe fire upon our men. So deadly 
 was the fire that it was only by the most strenuous exertions of the officers that our 
 men could be kept to the line. Our exertions, however, succeeded, and in twenty 
 minutes our front was comparatively clear of rebels, who fell back. Just after the 
 retaking of the lines by our troops, as I was passing toward the left to General Cox s 
 position, my horse was killed, and no sooner had I regained my feet than I received 
 a musket ball through the back of my neck. My wound, however, did not prevent 
 my keeping the field, and General Cox kindly furnished me a remount. One hund 
 red wagon loads of ammunition, artillery and musket cartridges were expended in 
 this short battle. 
 
 " In the evening it was determined to withdraw to Nashville and the troops were 
 directed to leave the line at midnight. Some villain came very near frustrating 
 this plan by firing a house in Franklin ; the flames soon spread, and the prospect 
 was that a large fire would occur, which, lighting up objects, would make it impos 
 sible to move the troops without being seen. My own and General Wood s staff 
 officers found an old fire engine, and getting it at work soon had the flames subdued, 
 the darkness now being intensified by the smoke. At midnight the withdrawal was 
 made successfully and the march to Nashville continued without interruption. Our 
 men were more exhausted, however, than I have ever seen them on any occasion ; 
 many of them were overtaxed, broke down on the march and fell into the hands of 
 the enemy, and altogether we were glad when our destination Nashville was 
 finally reached." 
 
463 
 
 OVER FIVE BARRICADES 
 
 DAVID L. COCKLEY. 
 
 First Lieutenant. Co. L, 10th 
 
 Ohio Cavalry. 
 Highest rank attained : 
 
 Captain. 
 
 Born in Lexington, O., June 
 8, 1843. 
 
 ENERAL WHEELER S position at Waynesboro, Ga., at the 
 beginning of December, 1864, was chosen with the ut 
 most caution in the roughest and most inaccessible locality 
 with a special view of affording protection against a sabre 
 charge. General Kilpatrick was ordered to pursue Wheeler 
 and engage him wherever he would meet him. In com 
 pliance with this order the Federal cavalry leader moved 
 on to Waynesboro Road, and on December 4 engaged Gen 
 eral Wheeler s rebel forces. The Confederates had dismounted 
 and w r ere behind heavy rail barricades. 
 
 The Federal troops were preparing for the attack and were 
 anxiously waiting for the charge to be sounded. The com 
 manding officer of one of the cavalry regiments had just been wounded when First 
 Lieutenant David L. Cockley, acting aide-de-camp to General S. D. Atkins, brought 
 the instruction to make the charge. Noting the hesitation of the troops, Lieutenant 
 Cockley asked for permission to lead this regiment. The request was at first 
 refused, General Atkins preferring to have the young lieutenant at his side so as to 
 be able to use his valuable services. Cockley felt chagrined. Again, and still more 
 urgently, he made the request. " I need your services," Colonel Atkins repeated and 
 again refused. For a third time Cockley repeated his request and so earnestly 
 pleaded to be allow r ed to participate in the fight that the colonel could no longer re 
 sist and yielded to the wishes of his brave aide-de-camp. The charge was sounded. 
 The whole line moved forward in splendid order and never halted for one moment 
 until, in less than twenty minutes, five lines of barricades were taken and the 
 enemy were completely routed and driven back into the town of Waynesboro. 
 Here a countercharge stopped, for a short time, the advance of the Federals, but 
 soon another attack was made and the rebels were driven in wild confusion through 
 and out of the town. A most notable victory had been gained by the Federal cavalry 
 against a much stronger force. 
 
 Lieutenant Cockley was at the head of the regiment. When during the height 
 of the attack and after having passed the second barricade Captain S. E. Norton, 
 who commanded the first battalion, fell, mortally wounded, Cockley took his place 
 and gallantly led the men to victory. No more than five of his brave followers 
 were left with him when he finally stopped his dash. His conduct earned for him 
 the Medal of Honor, especially since only two weeks prior to this battle he had 
 achieved a feat in a battle episode which attracted the attention of his superior 
 officers. 
 
 The Second Brigade, Third Cavalry Division, to which the Tenth Ohio Cavalry 
 belonged, had left Marietta and was on the road to Bear Creek Station, Ga., pursuing 
 
465 
 
 Wheeler s cavalrymen. On November 15th, while near East Point, the brigade com 
 mander, Colonel Atkins, sent Lieutenant Cockley ahead to select a locality suitable 
 for camp purposes. This had been done by Cockley, who was returning to his lines 
 when he suddenly found the road blocked by four rebels. With quick determina 
 tion the lieutenant gave the command to charge to his orderly, his only companion, 
 and made a dash for the Confederates, who were so completely surprised that they 
 threw up their hands in token of surrender when ordered to do so. Cockley 
 marched them to headquarters to receive the expressions of appreciation and con 
 gratulations from the colonel. 
 
 "I WAS MAD AS A HORNET" 
 
 MICHAEL SOWERS, 
 
 Private, Company L. Fourth Pennsyl 
 vania Cavalry. 
 Born in Pittsburg, Pa., Sept. 14, 1844. 
 
 T NCITED by the loss of his horse Private Michael Sowers, 
 * of Company L, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, fought 
 at Stony Creek Station, Va., December 1, 1864, with such 
 fury and rage that he attracted general attention, and, 
 being one of the first to storm the enemy s stronghold, 
 became the hero of the day. 
 
 " Tt was like this," Private Sowers says in telling of 
 the incident ; " my regiment and the Sixteenth Penn 
 sylvania Cavalry were marched down the public road 
 to a distance of about 500 yards from the fort, which 
 was built of mud and logs. Then we separated, the 
 Sixteenth going to the right, we to the left, to make 
 a simultaneous attack. We charged. All of a sudden my horse dropped forward 
 on his knees to rise no more. That was the third horse killed under me within a 
 short time, I was mad as a hornet and, resolving to make some rebels pay for this 
 last loss, slipped off the back of the gallant little animal, took my Spencer and, 
 running ahead of the encircling cavalry, made for the fort. Of course, I had no 
 right to do that; but I was enraged and had but one object in view, to get even with 
 those infernal Johnnies who were killing my horses. A lot of grape and canister 
 came my way, but not close enough to injure me, so on I went right into the fort. 
 I do not claim that I was the first one to enter upon rebel ground I was too ex 
 cited to look about me. I do know, however, that I was one of the first, and that as 
 soon as I was inside of the fort I emptied my gun into the rebels with telling effect. 
 The Sixteenth Pennsylvania stormed the fort from the other side, and together we 
 made ourselves masters of the rebel stronghold." 
 
 On the 1st of December, 1864, Grant sent General Gregg s cavalry on a reconnoissance to discover 
 whether the enemy were moving troops south. Gregg captured Stony Creek Station, Va., that day, 
 burning 3,000 sacks of corn, 600 bales of hay, a train of cars, and a large amount of ammunition, and 
 brought off 190 prisoners, while his own loss was very small. 
 
WHERE OTHERS SKULKED, HE 
 STOOD HIS GROUND 
 
 SAMUEL J. CHURCHILL, 
 
 Corporal, Co. G, Second Illinois 
 
 L. A. 
 
 Born in Rutland County, Vermont, 
 Nov. 1,1842. 
 
 LJ E stood manfully at his post," This splendid tribute 
 * * is quoted from the records relating to the award of 
 
 the Medal of Honor to Corporal Samuel J. Churchill, of 
 
 Company G, Second Illinois Light Artillery. 
 
 He won it December 15, 1864, when General Thomas 
 
 made an attack upon the rebel army under General Hood, 
 
 near Nashville, Tenn. 
 
 The battery to which Churchill belonged was in position 
 
 on high ground, 200 yards from and directly in front of the 
 
 rebel battery. Churchill himself commanded a twelve- 
 pound Napoleon gun served by eight men. The Confederates worked their pieces 
 with deadly accuracy, several men and horses being killed before Churchill s Battery 
 succeeded in taking the desired position a few feet to the right of a large brick 
 house. 
 
 The firing continued and seemed to increase both in frequency and certainty of 
 aim. But now the Union Batteries opened and replied as effectively as that of the 
 enemy. 
 
 At Churchill s gun a cannoneer at the command of "Load !" took the sponge- 
 staff, sponged the gun and waited for his comrade to come up with the cartridge. 
 Just then a volley from the rebel battery enshrouded the gun and the waiting can 
 noneer became panic-stricken. He dropped his sponge-staff and ran behind the 
 brick house. His terror spread to the other cannoneers and they likewise fled, 
 leaving the corporal alone at his post. Neither entreaty nor command could in 
 duce the men to return. But Churchill never wavered. Regardless of the rain of 
 shot and shell he stuck to his place and assumed the duties and functions of his 
 skulking command. He loaded and fired his gun eleven times without any assist 
 ance whatever, thereby helping to silence the Confederate Battery and contribut 
 ing his share to the glorious achievements of the Union Army of that day. 
 
-467 
 
 WHEN THE REBELS WERE ROUTED 
 AT NASHVILLE 
 
 MARION T. ANDERSON, 
 
 Captain, Company D, Fifty- 
 First Indiana Infantry. 
 Highest rank attained : 
 
 Major. 
 
 Born at Clarksburg, Indiana. 
 Nov. 13, 1839. 
 
 "THE second day of the battle of Nashville, Tenn., De 
 cember 16, 1864, which resulted in the complete 
 victory of the Federal armies, began with a concerted 
 attack in the afternoon all along the lines upon the for 
 tified position of the enemy. Colonel P. Sidney Post, 
 commanding the Second Brigade, Third Division, was 
 ordered to charge the Confederate right at Overtoil Hill> 
 and upon receipt of the order at once led his troops to the 
 assault. When within about 100 yards of the enemy s works the 
 gallant colonel was shot, and his men, thinking their leader killed, 
 became terror-stricken and dropped to the ground. Two advanced 
 lines of Colonel Abel D. Straight s Brigade came up and reaching 
 the prostrate troops followed their example, likewise dropping to 
 the ground. Next came the Fifty-first Indiana Infantry, led by 
 Captain Marion T. Anderson. As he came upon the preceding 
 troops he asked some of the officers why their men were lying down. The reply 
 was : "Because those in our front did the same thing." 
 
 "Why don t you order them up and forward ? " Captain Anderson inquired. 
 "We have ; but they won t go," was the answer. 
 
 "Well," Captain Anderson observed, "I won t lie down here. I will take my 
 men forward and obey orders." 
 
 He gave the order: "Charge bayonets; double- 
 quick." And a\vay he led his men over the bodies of 
 the prostrate troops, up the hill and against the enemy s 
 last line of works on the crest, forcing the rebels to 
 abandon half of their guns and retreat in utter con 
 fusion. 
 
 While riding at the head of his regiment the brave 
 captain w r as struck by a sharpshooter s bullet, and 
 severely wounded, fell almost into the abandoned and 
 captured trenches. 
 
 The attack on the Confederate left was made by the 
 troops commanded by Generals A. J. Smith and John 
 M. Schofield, and resulted in gaining possession of the 
 Granny White Pike and cutting off the enemy s retreat. 
 This assault, too, was met by the Confederates with a tremendous fire of grape 
 and canister and musketry, and put the bravery of the Union men to hard test. 
 Several incidents occurred w r hich attracted general attention and won praise for the 
 heroes of the entire Federal Army. 
 
 WILLIAM T. SIMMONS, 
 
 First Lieutenant Co. C, llth Missouri 
 
 Infantry. 
 
 Born in Green County, 111., January 
 29, 1843. 
 
-468 
 
 One of these incidents is related by First Lieutenant William T. Simmons, of 
 Company C, Eleventh Missouri Infantry : "Our division was massed to the right of 
 Granny White Pike the direct route from Nashville to Franklin about 400 yards 
 in front of Hood s center. My regiment was in our second line about four o clock 
 in the afternoon. Just before the assault all the boys in my company as well as 
 
 THE BRAVE CAPTAIN WAS STRUCK." 
 
 myself were commenting upon a 
 Confederate flag (the stars and bars) 
 planted on the enemy s entrenchment 
 directly in our front. Several of us 
 had remarked, banteringly, that we would 
 have the flag before dark, when the order came 
 to assault. From the beginning we had been under 
 a heavy fire of musketry and artillery, but as we started 
 
 forward the regiment in our immediate front wavered and became somewhat broken 
 up under the murderous fire, so that my regiment pressed forward and, passing 
 them, dashed on about 200 yards. A moment later my captain fell. I was left 
 in command of the company, and leaving my place as file closer I sprang to the 
 front and led the way, making straight for the flag. Being an exceptionally 
 speedy runner at the time, I was first to reach the breastworks, and demanded the 
 surrender of the colors. The Confederate sergeant attempted to run away with the 
 prize and I was compelled to shoot, wounding him and thereby securing the flag." 
 
468- 
 
 UNDER THE EYES OF HIS COMMANDER 
 
 No LESS a personage than Major-General James H. Wilson was the sponsor for 
 the distinction bestowed upon First Lieutenant Joseph S. Hedges, of whom he 
 says : " He was as good a soldier as I ever knew and would never ask his men to 
 go where he did not actually lead them." 
 
 Lieutenant Hedges was a member of the Fourth U. S. Cavalry, and at Little 
 Harpeth River, Term., on the evening of December 17, 1864, under the direction 
 and personal observation of General Wilson, made a charge upon a rebel force 
 which elicited the admiration of the Union commander, who after the battle " took 
 great pleasure " in commending the lieutenant and personally secured for him the 
 Medal of Honor. 
 
 The general himself gives this version of the noted charge : 
 
 " It was directed straight against a field battery in action at the center of the 
 line of infantry in line of battle and was one of the best and most successful charges 
 of cavalry it was ever my fortune to witness. Lieutenant Hedges, serving as my 
 escort, rode along, leading his gallant regiment down the turnpike head-on against 
 the battery, broke through it, sabred the gunners, captured or caused the abandon 
 ment of three guns, and continued his pursuit, spreading terror and confusion among 
 the enemy until stopped by darkness. It is the only case I know of in which a 
 cavalry regiment charged and broke through a Confederate line of battle composed 
 of infantry and artillery in action and captured the guns." 
 
 "WE WILL, LIEUTENANT; WE WILL" 
 
 - 
 
 EYE-WITNESSES pronounce the feat of First Lieutenant 
 William H. Walling at Fort Fisher, N. C., Decem 
 ber 25, 1865, as among the most daring achievements of 
 the entire campaign. The lieutenant s superiors and 
 generals commanding were especially profuse in their 
 commendation of his bravery, from Major-General Ben 
 jamin F. Butler, Brigadier-General A. Ames, Brevet 
 Brigadier-General N. W. Curtis, Major-General 
 Godfrey Weitzel to Lieutenant-Colonel Albert M. 
 Barney, of the One hundred and forty-second New 
 York Infantry, of which organization Lieutenant 
 Walling was a member. General Curtis even went 
 so far as to say that it was "one of the most gallant 
 
 exploits of the war." In fact, in view of the universal praise, Lieutenant Walling s 
 deed stands out boldly as the one redeeming feature in an otherwise unfortunate 
 undertaking, as the first attempt to take Fort Fisher has been characterized. 
 
 WILLIAM H. WALLING, 
 
 First Lieutenant. Co. C,142d 
 
 New York Infantry. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Lt-Col. 
 
 Born at Hartford. K. Y., 
 
 Sept. 3, ISM. 
 
470 
 
 "Fort Fisher," says General Weitzel, "was a square bastioned work; it had a 
 high relief, a wide and deep ditch, excepting on the sea front, a glacis, casements 
 
 and bomb-proofs sufficiently large 
 to hold its garrison. I counted 
 seventeen guns in position bear 
 ing up the beach and between 
 each pair of guns there was a 
 traverse so thick and so high 
 above the parapet that I had no 
 doubt they were all bomb-proofs. 
 A stockade ran from the northeast 
 angle of the counterscarps of the 
 works to the water s edge on the 
 sea-side. 
 
 " The expedition, led by Gen 
 eral Butler, with a force of 6,500, 
 embarked at Bermuda Hundred, 
 Va., for Fortress Monroe, Decem 
 ber 8th. In order to mislead the 
 Confederate scouts and signal 
 men as to the real object of the 
 movement, the fleet carrying the 
 troops took up one direction dur 
 ing the day and a different one 
 at night, and on December 24th 
 came in sight of Fort Fisher, 
 where the naval fleet under Ad 
 miral Porter was already engaged 
 in bombarding it. About noon 
 the following day the troops, 
 under cover of the gunboats, 
 effected a landing. General Cur 
 tis at once pushed up his bri 
 gade to within a few hundred 
 yards of the fort, captured a 
 rebel work, called Half -Moon 
 Fort, containing a 20 -pounder 
 
 "SECURED THE FLAG AND RETURNED UNINJURED." g un > and Captured about 100 
 
 prisoners. 
 
 " The onward movement was continued till the brigade s main line of skirmishers 
 was within 150 paces of the fort, capturing in the advance another important out 
 work, which also contained a large gun. During all the time that this advance was 
 
471 
 
 made the navy kept up a very heavy and well directed assault, which, however, did 
 little material damage to the fortification. The rebels were nowhere in sight, but 
 kept in their casements as long as the shells were being thrown from the Union 
 vessels. At the same time the fire prevented the troops from further advancing 
 and attempting to storm the works. The minute, however, the navy would cease 
 throwing shells, the rebels would emerge from their places of safety, mount the 
 parapets, work their guns and pour such withering fire upon the Federals that all 
 further progress was stopped and the help and aid of the naval fleet had to be called 
 in again, when the Confederates would immediately withdraw to their bomb-proofs." 
 
 Three companies of the One hundred and forty-second New York Infantry 
 were in this most advanced line of skirmishers, and the leading company, C, was 
 commanded by the aforementioned Lieutenant Walling. 
 
 " I was just stationing my men," he says in describing the most interesting inci 
 dent of the attack, " being ordered to protect them from the fire of the fleet, and 
 had them scoop out the sand and make gopher holes to lie in, when a large shell 
 from one of the monitors struck the ground near us, ploughing a trench so deep that 
 some of our men took refuge therein, the shell ricochetting into the river beyond. 
 Another shot from the fleet cut down the Confederate flag on the fort. 
 
 "I said to my men : Til go and get the flag; you keep a sharp lookout for the 
 riflemen on the works. Let every man have his gun in position to fire. 
 
 " We will, Lieutenant ; we will ! came the response from my men as with one 
 voice. I started off. I had gone but a few steps when one of the great monitor 
 shells passed in front of me and exploded before reaching the river. I confess I 
 was frightened, and for an instant halted involuntarily, stunned by the fearful crash. 
 But, quickly recovering my wits, I proceeded and came to a place where a shell had 
 cut a hole in the palisade a little to the left of the flag. Through this opening 1 
 entered, passed along toward the river, gained the parapet, secured the flag and re 
 turned, uninjured as I had gone, to the picket line." 
 
 And thus was Lieutenant Walling the only Union man who in that expedition 
 had set his foot upon the rebel stronghold. 
 
 First Assault on Fort Fisher, N. C. During the latter part of December, 1864, an expedition composed 
 of naval and military forces sailed from Hampton Roads to gain the harbor of Wilmington, IT. C., and 
 reduce its chief defense, Fort Fisher. 
 
 Admiral Porter was in command of the naval forces, with General Butler in command of the land 
 forces. The latter conceived the idea of blowing up an old vessel loaded with 235 pounds of powder, 
 directly in front of the fort, with a view of throwing the enemy into confusion and then attacking the fort. 
 The powder boat was towed to its position, and on the night of the 23d the fuse ignited ; but the result, 
 instead of being a gigantic explosion, was only a blaze lighting the heavens. Very little concussion was 
 felt, and all that could be heard was a dull detonation. 
 
 On the 25th the troops were landed and pushed close to the fort, but Butler failed to move with 
 energy, feeling that the works could not be carried by assault, and deliberately abandoned the enterprise 
 and returned to Fortress Monroe with his troops the following day. 
 
472 
 
 HISTORIC INCIDENTS FROM THE 
 FALL OF FORT FISHER 
 
 JOHN WAINWRIGHT, 
 
 FTER General Butler s 
 failure to capture 
 Fort Fisher, N. C., a sec 
 ond expedition was decid 
 ed upon and entrusted 
 
 to General 
 
 Alfred H. 
 
 Terry, with 
 
 orders to 
 
 take the 
 
 Confederate 
 
 ZACHARIAH C. NEAHR, 
 
 First Lieutenant. Co. F, 97th 
 
 Pennsylvania Infantry. 
 Highest rank attained: Colonel. 
 
 ing, Va., January 5, 1865. 
 
 Private. Co. K. 142nd New York 
 
 Infantry. 
 
 Born at Palatine Bridge, N. Y., 
 Dec. 9, 1830. 
 
 stronghold by storm if he could, 
 by a siege if he must. This ex 
 pedition left Bermuda Land- 
 General Terry had with him an army of 8,457 men picked 
 from the several army corps, the flower of the Union forces. As on the former 
 occasion, Admiral Porter was instructed to co-operate with his ships. After some 
 difficulty, due mainly to rough weather and a heavy surf, a landing was effected 
 January 13th. The 8,000 men with three days rations in their haversacks and forty 
 rounds of ammunition in their boxes, six days supply of hard bread in bulk, ten 
 pieces of artillery, 300,000 additional rounds of small arm ammunition and the neces 
 sary number of entrenching tools and implements, were safely brought on shore. 
 
 Picket lines were immediately thrown out and shots exchanged with the enemy s 
 outposts, but no serious damage was done to either side in these preliminary skir 
 mishes. 
 
 General Terry s first object after landing was to throw a strong defensive line 
 across the peninsula from the Cape Fear River to the sea, so as to have the rear 
 protected. This was accomplished, though it consumed the entire day and was not 
 completed late at night. 
 
 Second Assault on Fort Fisher, N. C. After the dismal attack on Fort Fisher, December 23-25, 1864, both 
 Grant and Porter were anxious to renew the assault. A plan was arranged whereby Porter was to continue 
 to hold his position in front of the fort while General Terry was to attack with his land forces under the 
 fire of Porter s ships. 
 
 The attack was made on the 13th of January with a vigorous fire from Porter s whole fleet, and in a 
 short time Terry s troops gained the inside of the fort, which consisted of a system of bomb-proofs surrounded 
 by a large fortification. Here the fighting was very severe ; but being compelled to yield one traverse after 
 another the rebels were driven out and a complete victory won. The losses of the Federals, however, were 
 quite heavy, numbering nearly 1,000 killed and wounded. The Confederates lost 2,500 in killed, wounded 
 and missing. 
 
473 
 
 On the 14th entrenchments were dug, breastworks reaching from the river to the 
 sea constructed and covered by abatis and a firm foothold on the peninsula secured. 
 The assault was planned for the following day at 3 o clock in the afternoon. In the 
 meantime Admiral Porter was to pour a steady and destructive fire into the fort 
 and demolish the palisades as much as possible, and furnish an opening for the 
 advancing troops. Accordingly the admiral s guns began to roar at sundown and 
 continued all night. Early the following morning, January 15th, all of the vessels, 
 except a division left to aid in the defense of the northern line, moved into position 
 and a fire, magnificent alike for its power and accuracy, was opened upon the fort. 
 Under the protection of this fire General Terry manoeuvred and moved his troops 
 in preparation for the great final assault so skillfully that toward the afternoon he 
 had a body of 100 daring sharpshooters, sheltered in pits, within 175 yards of the 
 enemy s works, firing at the parapets of the fort. Another and much larger body of 
 troops was brought up to within 475 yards of the fort. 
 
 Shortly after 3 o clock, all arrangements having been completed, the signal for 
 the attack was given. Admiral Porter, as agreed, at once changed the direction of 
 his fire and thus diverted the enemy s attention from the main points of attack. 
 The troops sprang from their trenches and, exposed to a severe fire from the fort, 
 dashed forward at double-quick. The ground over which they passed was marshy 
 and difficult, but they soon reached the palisades, passed through them and effected 
 a lodgment on the parapet. At the same time a column of sailors and marines 
 advanced up the beach and attacked the northeastern bastion, but was met with such 
 a murderous fire that it was unable to get up the parapet and after a severe struggle 
 and heavy loss was compelled to withdraw. 
 
 A foothold having been secured on the parapet troops were sent to re-enforce the 
 advanced lines, and slowly but irresistibly the rebels were driven from one position 
 after the other. Hand-to-hand fighting of the most desperate character took place, 
 the huge traverses of the land face being used successively by the enemy as breast 
 works, over the tops of which the contending parties fired in each others faces. 
 Nine of these traverses were carried by the attacking force. The fire of the navy 
 upon that portion of the works not captured by the Federals continued until about 
 dusk, when the two remaining traverses were carried and the fort was captured ; 
 captured with all its surviving defenders, about 2,000 officers and men, including 
 Major-General Whiting and Colonel Lamb, the commandant of the fort. In addition 
 large quantities of ammunition and commissary stores fell into the victors hands. 
 
 The scenes toward the close of the battle were indescribably horrible. Great 
 cannon lay in ruins, surrounded by the bodies of their defenders ; men were found 
 partly buried in graves dug by the shells which had slain them. The outlines of 
 the works could now and then be seen by the flash of an exploding shell or the blaze 
 of musketry, but indistinct as the creation of some hideous dream. Soldiers were 
 falling everywhere, shot in the head by rifle-balls. There was no outcry ; simply a 
 spurt of blood and all was over. But death does not always come in this way. There 
 
474 
 
 arose now and then an agonizing clamor of wounded men, writhing in the sand, 
 beseeching those near them to end their suffering. A color-bearer had fallen, and 
 though choked by blood and sand, he murmured : "I am gone. Take the flag." An 
 officer who had been shot through the heart retained a nearly erect position, leaning 
 against a gun-carriage. Some lay face downward in the sand, and others who had 
 been close together when struck by an exploding shell had fallen in a confused 
 mass, forming a mingled heap of broken limbs and mangled bodies. At times a grim 
 and uncanny humor seizes a wounded man. Captain A. G. Lawrence, of General 
 Ames staff, lay on his back ; one arm had been amputated, and the other arm as 
 well as his neck was pierced by rifle-balls. He had told the chaplain to write his 
 father that he could not live, and then, calling another officer to him, whispered, as 
 he held up the stump of his amputated arm : " Isn t this a devil of a bob-tail flush ? " 
 
 That there were many deeds of extraordinary merit and valor performed by the 
 men who won one of the most brilliant successes of the war goes without saying. 
 However, the conduct of First Lieutenant John Wainwright of Company F, Ninety- 
 seventh Pennsylvania Infantry, in command of the three hundred men of his regi 
 ment who participated in the expedition, Private Zachariah C. Neahr of Company 
 K, One hundred and forty-second New York Infantry, General N. M. Curtis and 
 Colonel Galusha Pennypacker, of the Ninety-seventh Pennsylvania Infantry, was so 
 conspicuous as to earn for them the Medal of Honor. 
 
 Brevet Brigadier-General Curtis, though in command of the First Brigade, 
 Second Division, Twenty-fourth Army Corps, took up a musket, and, stepping into 
 the ranks, led his men in each of the assaults, braving the storm of rebel shot and 
 shell. The uniform of a brigadier-general in the ranks made him a conspicuous 
 object and the rebels concentrated their fire upon him, wounding him three times. 
 These wounds, however, did not deter the general, and he fought throughout the 
 remainder of the day, until shortly before dark, when he fell, wounded a fourth 
 time, and so severely that he had to be carried to the rear. 
 
 Colonel Pennypacker, commanding the second brigade of the same division, like 
 wise encouraged his men by personally leading them. He had gallantly led them 
 to the third traverse and with the colors of one of his regiments in hand was the 
 first to mount it. Amidst a hail of the enemy s bullets he bravely planted the colors 
 on their works, but while doing this he was severely wounded. Lieutenant Wain 
 wright, commanding the Ninety-seventh Pennsylvania Infantry, also displayed 
 wonderful courage in leading his regiment, even after he was severely wounded in 
 the assault. He pluckily concealed from his men the pain he was suffering and with 
 renewed energy he led them on to victory, retiring to the hospital only after the 
 day s fighting was done. 
 
 Private Neahr, who had volunteered with a number of others of his regiment to cut 
 the palisading, rushed up ahead of the column and with the fire of the enemy con 
 centrated upon him, cut it down, thus enabling the assaulting column to pass through. 
 
Painted by C. D. Graves. 
 
 AT THE BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS. 
 
477 
 
 RISKED BEING BLOWN TO ATOMS 
 AT DUTCH GAP CANAL 
 
 WALTER THORN, 
 
 First Lieut., U.S. Colored Inf. 
 
 Highest rank attained: 
 
 Brev. Major Vols. 
 
 Born in Brooklyn, N. Y., 
 
 Nov. 18, 1844. 
 
 TT WAS at the beginning of January, 1865. General Butler, 
 commanding the Army of the James, was expected to reach 
 and capture Richmond by operating on the south side of the 
 James River. His movements were blocked by the sinking of 
 obstructions w r hich rendered it impossible for him to navigate 
 the stream, and by a powerful Confederate battery at French 
 Beach. 
 
 To overcome these difficulties the resourceful Butler had 
 caused a canal to be cut through the Dutch Gap peninsula, so 
 that the enemy s batteries could be flanked and the obstructions 
 in the river passed by the navy. 
 
 Nothing remained to be done but remove the great earthen bulkhead that sepa 
 rated the two bodies of water. This had been sapped and galleried, and more powder 
 was packed away in it than was used in blowing up the famous "Crater" at Peters 
 burg. The main body of troops had been drawn off from the neighborhood of the 
 vast mine for safety, and it was supposed that none had been left behind but the few 
 whose duty it was to light the fuse and then escape. 
 
 The supreme moment had arrived. The fuse had been lighted, and the officers 
 were standing in a group at a safe distance discussing the question whether the 
 work was to be crowned with success. 
 
 A member of General Butler s staff galloped up and shouted excitedly : 
 " Has the guard opposite the bulkhead been withdrawn ? " 
 Somebody answered, hardly articulately, rather with a sort of gasp : 
 "No!" 
 
 There was a score of men in the guard. There were tons of powder beside them. 
 Fire was eating its way up the fuse and might at any second set loose the terrific 
 force of the mine. 
 
 The bravery of the officers before whose minds those thoughts flashed could not 
 l)e doubted it had been proved too often for that but to go and warn the squad 
 seemed so utterly beyond reason, so surely a useless throwing away of another life, 
 that they stood there rigid and pale, with one exception Walter Thorn, first 
 lieutenant of the IT. S. Colored Infantry, who hesitated, but only long enough to 
 form a resolve. Then he dashed off in the direction of the bulkhead. 
 
 Perceiving his intention, his fellow officers called to him to return warned him, 
 pleaded with him. Paying no heed, he ran on, reached the bulkhead, climbed to 
 its summit, faced the storm of bullets that the rebels directed at him, and stood 
 there until he had ordered the picket guard to flee to a place of safety. 
 
478- 
 
 He leaped from the top of the mine ; the explosion took place ; the earth was 
 scattered in all directions and a great abyss remained, but the young lieutenant 
 was unharmed. 
 
 "It was as deliberate an act of self-sacrifice and valor as was ever performed in 
 our country or any other," said one of his superior officers. 
 
 ONLY ONE MAN LOST IN A GALLANT RAID 
 
 IT AVING driven Hood from Nashville, General Thomas 
 * * lost no time in sending detachments of cavalry 
 after the fleeing Confederates, who, scattering in differ 
 ent directions, were trying to find their respective ways 
 back to Selma, Mobile or the Carolinas. Because of 
 continuous rains and subsequent bad roads, the pursuit 
 undertaken by the bodies of infantry, as accessory to 
 the cavalry operations, was stopped early in January, 
 1865, at Eastport, Miss. 
 
 Among the forces of Union cavalry thus sent to the 
 south was the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, in command 
 of Colonel William J. Palmer, he having been directed on 
 the 13th to march in pursuit of the rebel General Lyon, 
 who was thought to have crossed the Paint Rock River. 
 As most of his horses w r ere much fagged from a previous 
 expedition, Colonel Palmer took with him only 180 men. 
 At 4 A. M. on the 24th, after having learned that Lyon had passed through Warren- 
 ton and would probably bivouac the same night at Red Hill, Colonel Palmer started 
 for that place and surprised his camp of 350 men. One battalion of fifty men, in 
 command of Lieutenant-Colonel Lamborn, had first been detached to take one of 
 Lyon s regiments, which was encamped with its artillery near Red Hill, a second 
 battalion to take a camp of 150 men one mile from there, while Palmer and the 
 remaining battalion pushed on to capture Lyon, who was quartered with his staff 
 and escort at the house of Tom Noble, half a mile beyond. The advance guard 
 reached Lyon s headquarters and captured him at the door of Noble s house, in his 
 night clothes. The general surrendered to Sergeant Arthur P. Lyon while the 
 advance guard was charging the escort, but begged permission to put on his panta 
 loons, coat and boots, which Sergeant Lyon granted, accompanying him into the 
 bedroom for that purpose. At that moment the escort fired a volley at the advance 
 guard, when the sergeant said : " Come, General, I can t allow you much more 
 time." The general then suddenly seized a pistol and shot the sergeant, killing him 
 
 **&fo>) ! *--- Ny* 
 
 WILLIAM J. PALMER, 
 
 Colonel, 15th Penn a Cavalry. 
 Highest rank attained : Brevet 
 
 Brig. -General. 
 
 Born.Kinsdale Farm, Kent Co., Del., 
 Sept. 13. 1836. 
 
479 
 
 instantly, and made his escape through the back door in the dark. Colonel Palmer 
 pushed on in the direction of other camp fires which could be seen ahead. These 
 proved to be at the artillery camp, where one regiment of the enemy had already 
 become alarmed by the firing and had saddled up and moved out, only to be 
 met by the battalion under Lieutenant-Colonel Lamborn, who at once attacked 
 them. 
 
 Colonel Palmer thus surprised General Lyon s superior force, routed him and 
 took over one hundred prisoners, a piece of artillery and munitions of war with the 
 loss of only one man, Sergeant Lyon. 
 
 SWAM THE RIVER UNDER DIFFICULTIES 
 
 1P\URING the siege of Petersburg, Va., which com- 
 *-* menced with the investment of that city by the 
 Federal forces during the early part of June, 1864, it 
 became the aim of General Grant to flank the posi 
 tion of the enemy by swinging to the left. In the 
 execution of this movement on Feb. 5, 1865, occurred 
 the action at Monk s Neck crossing of the Rowanty 
 River, Va., and the engagement at Hatcher s Run on 
 the following day. 
 
 Captain S. Rodmond Smith, of Company C, Fourth 
 Delaware Infantry, relates the following about this 
 affair : 
 
 " To the Fifth Army Corps was assigned the duty 
 of initiating this movement, and the third brigade of 
 the second division of this corps was under arms, with 
 tents struck and three days rations in their haver 
 sacks, all the preceding night, and about sunrise on 
 the morning of the 5th was marching by the Halifax 
 Road to the west for Monk s Neck Crossing. About 
 eight o clock A. M. the brigade was halted in the road 
 about a quarter of a mile east of our objective point. 
 It was ascertained that the bridge over the crossing 
 had been burned to prevent the passage of our troops, and that substantial entrench 
 ments had been erected on the bluff bordering the margin of the stream on the 
 opposite side. A regiment of Pennsylvania " Bucktails," out of our brigade, was de 
 tailed to cross the stream and carry the works. After some heavy firing the Buck- 
 tails were compelled to retire. 
 
 S. RODMOND SMITH, 
 
 Captain, Co. C, 4th Del. Inf. 
 Highest rank attained : 
 
 Brevet Major, U. S. Vols. 
 Born at Wilmington, Del., 
 April 20, 1841. 
 
 DAVID E. BUCKINGHAM, 
 
 1st Lieut., Co. E, 4th Del. Inf. 
 Highest rank attained: 
 
 t :i|>tain, U. S. V. 
 
 Born at Pleasant Hill, Del., 
 
 Feb. 3, 1840. 
 
480 
 
 "Our regiment, with Major D. H. Kent in command, was then detailed for the 
 service, and immediately moved down the road toward the crossing. The ground 
 was slightly rolling and open farm-land, except near the bank of the stream, 
 where a thin skirt of trees bordered the river, affording some cover. Major Kent, 
 finding that the bridge was destroyed, filed the regiment to the right, under heavy 
 fire, but somewhat protected by the trees. He then endeavored to lead the regiment 
 across the river, but was shot while swimming his horse and was carried to the rear. 
 
 "THE WATER PROVED TO BE OVER SIX FEET DEEP." 
 
 * There was considerable floating ice in the stream, and the regiment, seeing the 
 depth of the water, did not cross, but continued to move slowly to the right, keeping 
 up a brisk fire on the enemy. At a point some two or three hundred feet farther to 
 the right I observed some bushes projecting from the water, and, thinking this an 
 indication that the water was shallow enough to wade, called on my command to 
 follow me, and sprang into the stream. The water proved to be over six feet deep 
 within that distance from the shore, but I was a strong swimmer, and although 
 
481 
 
 encumbered by a haversack, belt and cape overcoat, succeeded in reaching a small 
 island in mid-stream, under a heavy plunging fire which splashed the water around 
 me. In the meantime the regiment moved cautiously forward among the scattered 
 trees to the right, and shortly after crossed the stream to the island upon the ice 
 which had formed during the preceding two days and nights and the fallen logs 
 frozen to the surface. From thence all hands slid and waded to the opposite shore 
 and we carried the enemy s entrenchments with a rush, capturing some fifty or sixty 
 rebels. The remainder of their forces had retired before we reached their works. 
 After a short time spent in re-forming the regiment we pushed ahead in quick time 
 until the evening and on the following day participated in the action at Hatcher s 
 Run, Virginia." 
 
 Lieutenant David E. Buckingham, also of the Fourth Delaware Regiment, had 
 an experience similar to that of Captain Smith, and describes it as follows : 
 
 "I was in command of Company E, on the extreme right of the regiment, and 
 the movement by the right flank threw me at the head of my command. As we 
 passed General Ayres, our Division Commander, I heard him say to Major Kent: 
 You are expected to carry the bridge, if you lose every man! I knew that such an 
 order meant business, and as we broke into a double-quick and came under fire the 
 men gave a lusty cheer, and down the road we went with Major Kent riding at my 
 side. We reached the bridge only to discover that it had been effectually destroyed, 
 filed to the right, and as soon as we had cleared the road and were fairly in the 
 meadow filed to the left, and in a moment were at the water s edge. 
 
 "The general s command was ringing; in my ears : Carry the bridge if you lose 
 every man. It was no time to hesitate or turn back. Three thousand men, our en 
 tire brigade, lined the meadow lands, protected by the trees, and a terrible fusillade was 
 going on. I stepped on the ice, which extended only six feet from the shore. It broke 
 under my weight and I struck out for the rebel side and was soon beyond my depth, 
 but I swam to the south side, the Minie balls skimming the water all around me. 
 
 "Reaching the bank, I clutched a projecting stump root and took a view of the 
 situation from the water. Harvey Durnall, John Bradford and Holton Yarnall, of 
 my command, waded in up to their waists, but, discovering the depth of the stream, 
 fell back. In the meantime Major Kent had been dangerously wounded while 
 urging his horse into the water. The water was icy cold and I did not care to scale 
 the bank, as I was the only man of the command who crossed the river at the 
 bridge, having carried the ford, and the freezing question not the burning one- 
 was, could I hold it ? 
 
 " There I remained, waiting for reinforcements, for at least fifteen minutes. But 
 our boys were not idle ; far up the stream they had been crossing on felled trees 
 and on the ice, and soon I heard them charging down the Confederate side. When 
 the enemy discovered they were flanked they beat a retreat and the bridge was ours. 
 
 " I reswam the river and dried my clothes beside a roaring fire which the boys 
 had made while the engineers rebuilt the bridge." 
 
482 
 
 VALOROUS DEEDS AT HATCHER S RUN 
 
 "F 
 
 JAMES COEY, 
 
 Major, 147th New York Vol. Inf. 
 
 Highest rank attained : 
 
 Major-General Cal. N. G. 
 
 Born in New York City, Feb. 12, 
 
 1841. 
 
 FIERCE fighting of Hatcher s Run and Dabney s Mills, 
 Va., February 5 and 6, 1865, brought to light numerous 
 examples of individual bravery among officers and men. 
 Valorous deeds are narrated of several men who were re 
 warded with the Medal of Honor, as follows : 
 
 The Third Brigade, Third Division of the Fifth Army 
 Corps, to which Major James Coey s command, the One hun 
 dred and forty-seventh New York Infantry, was attached, 
 advanced over an open field, under a heavy fire from the 
 enemy, who were entrenched in a wood. The brigade line 
 of battle reached to the edge of this wood, but owing to the 
 fierce fire it refused to advance farther, and lay down, seeking 
 shelter on the ground. The brigade commander, General 
 Henry A. Morrow, placed himself in front of his command 
 and implored the line to move forward, but the effect of the 
 enemy s fire had been so appalling that the men hesitated. The situation was most 
 critical, because the brigade adjoining Morrow on his right was also sorely pressed 
 and its line in danger ; General Crawford, the division commander, was urging 
 Morrow s advance, hoping to draw the fire from the right front and relieve the pres 
 sure there, but the lines had become terror-stricken. It was at this moment that 
 Major Coey, who had, by word and action, been seconding General Morrow s efforts 
 to advance the line and hold it to its duty, seized the colors of his regiment and 
 advanced with them. The effect was magical ! Color after color was taken until 
 the entire brigade line was on its feet and with a cheer advanced into the woods to 
 within a few rods of the enemy s works. Here its farther advance was stopped by a 
 wide and deep ditch filled with water. 
 
 Major Coey communicated the situation to General Morrow, now in the rear of 
 the line, who, seeing the fast thinning ranks of his command, and the hopelessness 
 of advancing, ordered the line back to the edge of the wood, there to entrench. The 
 major then called the attention of the brigade commander to the lack of ammuni 
 tion, hardly five rounds to a man being left, whereupon General Morrow ordered the 
 brigade to meet any advance of the enemy with the bayonet and go on entrenching. 
 Coey immediately ordered the men to obtain cartridges from the dead and wounded 
 
 Hatcher s Rim and Dalmey s Mills. Early in February, 1865, a second attempt was made to gain possession 
 of the South Side Railroad, near Hatcher s Run, which resulted in the battle of that name and included the 
 actions at Dabney s Mills, Rowaiity Creek, and Gravelly Run. The battle began February 5th and lasted 
 until the 7th, when the Confederates were forced to retire with a loss of 1,000 and their commander, General 
 John IVgram. The Union loss was 2,000, the greater portion of which belonged to Crawford s Division, 
 which was driven back by the Confederates in great confusion. 
 
484 
 
 lying along his front, and to make obstructions to retard the enemy s advance by 
 bending and intertwining young saplings. In this work he was setting his men an 
 example, when the Confederates, now reinforced by artillery, opened a fierce and 
 destructive fire, and made a spirited advance on the front and flank, driving the 
 Union line back. 
 
 At this juncture Major Coey was severely wounded a bullet entering below the 
 left eye and passing out behind the right ear and was being borne from the field 
 in the arms of two comrades when consciousness returned. Immediately he pro 
 cured a horse from an ambulance sergeant, and being lifted into the saddle and 
 held there by two of his men he turned to the line and, rallying it, for the second 
 time made a heroic attempt to check the advance of the enemy. 
 
 Four times on this day the One hundred and seventh Pennsylvania Infantry, to 
 which Sergeant John C. Delaney belonged, had charged on the enemy s works, and 
 each time had been beaten back. In each of these charges many brave men fell 
 close to the enemy, who were thoroughly protected behind impregnable fortifica 
 tions, but Sergeant Delaney had the wounded of Company I, his own company, and 
 Company D, which was also under his command, carried back, so that none were 
 left between the lines. It was when his regiment had been forced back for the 
 fourth time that Sergeant Delaney found himself up against the line of entrench 
 ments that had been hastily thrown up by the Federal troops. The momentum of 
 the backward movement had been so great that he could not check himself until 
 the Avail of earth stopped his run. 
 
 There he stood, surrounded by wounded men belonging to Company D, and 
 heard his name called on all sides by its members begging to be helped off the 
 field. The whole regiment had reached the safe side of their line of works, while he 
 alone stood outside facing the enemy, with the pitiful appeals of the wounded ringing 
 in his ears, and the bullets falling like hail around him. To add to the horror of 
 the situation he now noticed that the dry leaves and underbrush had caught fire 
 and that it was only a question of a few minutes before the wounded men \vould be 
 burned alive. Rushing to the surviving members of Company D, he appealed to them 
 to assist in saving their wounded comrades ; but to his surprise and dismay they 
 refused, several saying that it would be certain death to make the attempt. They 
 begged him to get over the works, convinced that he would be riddled with bullets, 
 or worse, burned alive. The sergeant then appealed to his own men, but not one of 
 them would venture in that shower of lead. Alone he rushed out, picked up a 
 wounded soldier much heavier than himself and started back, reaching the line of 
 works, where many willing hands were stretched out to help lift the wounded man 
 over. The sergeant s splendid example made such an impression on his comrades 
 that several were now willing to join him in the perilous work, and in a short time 
 all the wounded had been brought in ; but scarcely were the rescuers over the line 
 when every foot of ground was in flames. Several of the men were wounded 
 
485 
 
 while struggling with their burdens, and they in turn had to be rescued from the 
 fire, each unfortunate thus saved adding to the glory of his comrades. 
 
 The Thirteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, which was stationed at Hatcher s Run, 
 accomplished one of the most gallant charges of the day. With drawn sabres the 
 line swept down upon the Thirty-third 
 North Carolina Infantry, and a severe 
 hand-to-hand fight followed. Sergeant 
 Daniel Caldwell, of Company H, charged 
 upon the color-guard, and knocking aside 
 the bayonets ready to receive him, he 
 seized the colors. Upon turning about 
 to rejoin his regiment he espied a rebel 
 officer and his staff coming toward 
 him. Not waiting for them to charge 
 him he put spurs to his horse and dashed 
 at them. The next moment he was seen 
 slashing and parrying with his sabre in 
 his right hand, while with his left he 
 managed his horse and retained the 
 captured flag. A few severe strokes and 
 he had cut a path through the enemy 
 and safely regained his regiment. 
 
 While the battle was raging on the 
 5th the Two hundred and tenth Penn 
 sylvania Infantry was close to the scene 
 of action, but did not reach the battle- (DJOHNM.VANDERSLICE, 
 field until noon of the 6th. Shortly 
 after noon it reached a position on the 
 extreme left of the line of battle and at 
 once pressed forward, driving the enemy 
 quite a distance through the woods 
 until they reached their reserve line, 
 stationed on a low ridge. Here the 
 rebels fought with renewed energy and, 
 with the additional hail of lead from 
 their reserve poured into the Union 
 
 troops, the Federal line began to waver, then gradually fall back. One of the 
 regiments of the brigade was thrown into utter confusion and its color-bearer 
 killed. 
 
 Private Charles Day, of Company K, TW T O hundred and tenth Regiment, ran to 
 the fallen colors and, picking them up, carried them throughout the remainder of 
 the battle. 
 
 Private, Co. D. 8th Pa. Cav. 
 Highest rank attained : 
 
 Brig.-Gen.Pa. N.G. 
 
 Born at Valley Forge, Pa., 
 
 1842. 
 
 (2) WILLIAM SANDS, 
 
 1st Sergt.,Co. G,88th Pa. Inf. 
 Born Oct. 14, 1837. 
 
 
 , 
 
 (3) DANIEL CALDWELL, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. H, 13th Pa. Cav. 
 
 Born in Montgomery 
 
 Co., Pa. 
 
 (4) CHARLES DAY, 
 
 Private, Co. K. 210th Pa. Inf. 
 
 Born at West Laurens, 
 
 N.Y., May 20,1844. 
 
 (5) JOHN C. DELANEY, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. D, 107th Pa. Inf. 
 
 Born in Ireland, 
 
 April 22, 1848. 
 
486 
 
 After having engaged the enemy s cavalry and also capturing a wagon train, on 
 the 5th, Gregg s Cavalry Division, without rest of any kind, confronted the enemy 
 again on the 6th. Although the men had now been in the saddle for nearly twenty- 
 four hours there was no hesitation when the charge was sounded to repulse a sudden 
 heavy assault of the enemy on an infantry division. Having accomplished their 
 task, they held the line, dismounted, until the infantry had returned, when the rebel 
 skirmish line was driven to the edge of the clearing, where within two hundred 
 yards was a line of rebel works. The fire from these was very heavy, particularly 
 from a party of sharpshooters in a house within the works. Orders were given for a 
 general charge, and at the sound of the bugle the line dashed forward, carrying the 
 works, which were first entered by Private John M. Vanderslice, of Company D, 
 Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry, whose speedy horse carried him far in advance and 
 made him the leader of the line, in which position he received the undivided atten 
 tion of the rebels. 
 
 Assistant Surgeon Jacob F. Raub, of the Two hundred and tenth Pennsylvania 
 Infantry, was one of the board of operating surgeons of the field hospital of the 
 Fifth Army Corps, established in the rear and beyond the reach of rebel shot and 
 shell, but when he learned that his regiment w r as without a surgeon he volunteered 
 to accompany it in the fight and obtained permission from the surgeon in charge of 
 the field hospital to do so. 
 
 While attending to the wounded under a severe fire, he discovered a strong 
 column of the enemy stealing by the left flank to the rear of the Federals. The 
 whole division was heavily engaged at this time, and no enemy was expected or 
 supposed to be in that direction. Raub, realizing the imminent danger of an attack 
 on flank and rear, ran forward under a severe fire and apprised General Ayres and 
 General Gwyn of the threatened danger. This prompt and intelligent action gave 
 time to change the direction of part of Gwyn s brigade to meet the flank attack, 
 and severely repulse the enemy. During the excitement of the repulse Surgeon 
 Raub, though a non-combatant, took the musket and ammunition from a wounded 
 soldier and fought gallantly in the ranks until the end of the engagement. 
 
 Other brave deeds performed on this eventful day are chronicled as follows : 
 
 During one of the charges of the Eighty-eighth Pennsylvania Infantry, First 
 Sergeant William Sands, of Company G, was in advance of his company and in the 
 face of a deadly fire he grasped the enemy s colors and brought them into the 
 Union lines. 
 
 First Lieutenant Francis M. Smith, adjutant of the First Maryland Infantry, 
 voluntarily remained behind with the body of his regimental commander under a 
 heavy fire after the whole brigade had retired, and brought the body off the field. 
 Corporal John Thompson, of Company C, and Corporal Abel G. Cadwallader, of Com 
 pany M, of the same regiment, planted the national and state flags on the enemy s 
 works in advance of the regiment s arrival. 
 
487 
 
 BRILLIANT CONDUCT IN A FIERCE BATTLE 
 
 HARTWELL B. COMPSON, 
 
 Major, 8th N. Y. Cavalry, 
 
 Highest rank attained : 
 
 Brigadier-General, Ore. N. G. 
 
 Born at Tyre, Seneca Co., N. Y., 
 
 May 4, 1845. 
 
 T EAVING Winchester, Va., on February 27, 1865, General 
 *-* Sheridan began his inarch to Petersburg, Va., with 
 the intention of destroying the Central Railroad and James 
 River Canal. General Early with a large Confederate force 
 stood ready to oppose and frustrate, if possible, the expe 
 dition, and upon learning of the approach of the Federals 
 went into position at Waynesboro, Va. The two armies 
 clashed March 2d. The rain had been pouring in torrents 
 for two days and the roads were bad beyond description ; 
 nevertheless the Union men seemed tireless, although 
 neither they nor their horses could be recognized for the 
 mud which covered them. General Early had at his dis 
 posal two brigades of infantry and some cavalry under 
 General Rosser, the infantry occupying breastworks. Gen 
 eral Custer was ordered to attack the enemy and, not want 
 ing the Confederates to get up their courage during the delay that a careful reconnois- 
 sance necessitated, made his dispositions for attack at once, sending three regiments 
 around the left flank of the enemy, which was somewhat exposed by being advanced 
 from, instead of resting upon, the bank of the river in his immediate rear. "Our 
 general committed an unpardonable error in posting so small a force with a swollen 
 river in its rear and with its flanks wholly exposed," says a Confederate report of 
 General Early s position. General Custer with two brigades, partly mounted and 
 partly dismounted, at a given signal boldly attacked and impetuously carried the 
 enemy s works, while the Eighth New York and the Twenty-second New York 
 Cavalry formed in columns of fours, dashed over the breastworks and continued the 
 charge through the little town of Waynesboro, the Twenty-second supporting the 
 Eighth New York. The Eighth crossed the South Fork of the Shenandoah River- 
 General Early s rear where they formed with drawn sabres and held the east bank 
 of the stream. The enemy being now pressed by Custer found their retreat cut off, 
 and, completely disorganized, confused, bewildered, threw down their arms. Amidst 
 cheers and hurrahs the victorious Federals surrounded their brave opponents. 
 
 The substantial result of this magnificent victory was the capture of the Confed 
 erate General Wharton and some 1,800 officers and men, fourteen pieces of artillery, 
 seventeen battle-flags and a train of nearly two hundred wagons and ambulances, 
 
 Waynesboro, Ya. General Custer advanced, on March 2, 1865, from Staunton to Waynesboro, Va., 
 where he found the enemy, under General Early, and engaged him. The result of the battle was the 
 capture of a large number of prisoners, the enemy s artillery and wagon train, by the Union forces ; and 
 the opening of the roads for unresisted advance along the James River and all the roads and means of 
 supply north of Richmond. 
 
including General Early s headquarters wagon, containing all his official papers and 
 records, 1,500 stands of small arms and 800 team horses and mules. 
 
 It was a battle where the Eighth New York Cavalry, under the gallant leadership 
 of Major Hartwell B. Compson, earned undying fame. The major himself performed 
 wonderful feats of bravery and set an example which electrified his men and inspired 
 them to deeds of splendid heroism. At the head of his troops who were selected to 
 
 WITH A COLOR-BEARER ON ONE 
 SIDE AND A BUGLER ON THE OTHER." 
 
 make the attack, he charged 
 down the highway into Wayiies- 
 boro. The enemy had five pieces 
 of artillery in the roadway and 
 had thrown up earthworks on 
 each side of the road ; behind 
 these breastworks infantry was posted. He was at the head of his command with a 
 color-bearer on one side and a bugler on the other, when they struck the Confederate 
 forces and a hand-to-hand fight took place. Just then General Early and his staff 
 moved down their front to direct the movement of the Confederate forces. 
 
 Coming upon Early s headquarters battle-flag he ordered the bearer to surrender. 
 A fierce fight at close quarters ensued and finally a heavy blow with the sabre knocked 
 his opponent from his horse and the flag was captured. 
 
489 
 
 ROBERT NIVEN, 
 
 Second Lieut., Co. H, 8th 
 
 N. Y. Cavalry. 
 Highest rank attained : 
 
 Captain. 
 
 Born at Harlem, N. Y., 
 December 18, 1833. 
 
 ANDREW KUDER, 
 
 Second Lieut., Co. G, 8th 
 
 X. Y. Cavalry. 
 Highest rank attained : 
 
 Captain. 
 
 Born in South Livonia, 
 New York, 1838. 
 
 Breaking through the Confederates, he moved his forces down towards South 
 River and kept up the charge until he reached the bank. Seeing that the enemy 
 were closing in on his rear and that his support did not come up, he crossed the river 
 and found earthworks thrown up on the opposite side from which the enemy could 
 have prevented their crossing had they occupied them. He at once dismounted his 
 men and placed them in the Confederate earthworks. Then when Custer pressed 
 down upon the rebels they were forced to cross the river, where they were ordered 
 
 to surrender. The result was that 
 
 when the battle was over Colonel 
 
 Compson s command alone had taken 
 
 800 prisoners five pieces of artillery, 
 
 1,500 stands of small arms and eight 
 
 battle-flags. 
 
 Being needed no longer at the ford, 
 
 Compson, who had noticed the enemy 
 
 moving their wagon-trains over the 
 
 mountains by way of Rock Fish Gap, 
 
 followed with his regiment, overhauled 
 
 it and captured everything in sight. 
 
 It was in this action where Second Lieu 
 tenant Robert Niven, of Company H, of the 
 same regiment, had a hot encounter with a 
 body of rebels. "I was ordered to pick out five men from my company," says 
 the lieutenant, "to go ahead as an advance guard and we pressed along the narrow, 
 hilly road, densely lined with woods. By this time the atmosphere was quite 
 foggy. I had gotten far in advance of my comrades when suddenly I found 
 myself right in the midst of a wagon-train composed of about ten wagons and a 
 dozen Conf e derates, commanded by a lieutenant. With a great show of bravery I 
 ordered them to surrender and promised that every one who attempted to escape 
 would be shot on the spot. But they saw that a one-man order to twelve scattered 
 men was practically worthless, when the bushes around there offered such a good 
 opportunity to get away. Consequently, when the regiment came up I had captured 
 not only three or four prisoners, but also two rebel flags, ten army wagons with 
 mules attached, the lieutenant s horse, and all of General Early s official papers." 
 
 Second Lieutenant Andrew Kuder, First Sergeant Charles A. Goheen and Sergeant 
 Daniel Kelly of Company G, and also Corporal Henry H. Bickford and Sergeant 
 James Congdon as well as Private John Miller of this same regiment, the Eighth 
 New York Cavalry, were fortunate enough to capture rebel colors in this grand 
 melee. 
 
 Rebel flags were also captured in this battle by Privates Peter O Brien and Warren 
 Carman, of the First New York Cavalry (Lincoln), and Harry Harvey, George 
 Ladd and Michael Crowley of the Twenty-second New York Cavalry. All of above 
 mentioned were awarded the Medal of Honor. 
 
490 
 
 GALLANT RESCUE OF A DROWNING COMRADE 
 
 HENRY I. SMITH, 
 
 First Lieutenant, Co. 
 
 B, 7th Iowa Inf. 
 Highest rankatt ned: 
 
 Captain. 
 
 Born in Nottingham, 
 Eng.,May 4, 1840. 
 
 A FTER the defeat of Hardee at Averysboro, and just before 
 ** Johnston made his futile attack at Bentonville, the 
 Fifteenth Corps, General John A. Logan commander, found 
 its advance contested by the Confederates at Black River, 
 some fifteen or eighteen miles south of Bentonville. The 
 enemy having possession of the opposite side of the river, 
 General Rice ordered one regiment to proceed about three- 
 quarters of a mile above and effect a crossing, and three 
 companies from another regiment a half mile down the 
 river to make a demonstration. At that time Lieutenant 
 Henry I. Smith, of Company B, Seventh Iowa Infantry, was 
 aide-de-camp on the staff of Brigadier-General Elliott W. 
 Rice, in command of the First Brigade of the Fourth Division 
 of Logan s Corps. Lieutenant Smith gives the details of 
 service he rendered on this occasion as follows : 
 
 " Our progress being retarded by the presence of the enemy at Black River, N. C., 
 on the 15th of March, 1865, 1 was directed to proceed with a regiment and pontoons, 
 while our corps was engaging the Confederates at the bridge, which had been partly 
 destroyed, farther up the stream and effect a crossing. Normally the river is 
 only a narrow stream, but because of the spring freshets it was at this time 
 swollen to a torrent, very rapid, and away beyond its banks until it was at least a 
 quarter of a mile wide. Proceeding up stream a considerable distance, we began 
 laying our pontoon bridge, when a detachment of the enemy with one piece of artil 
 lery located in the woods on the opposite shore opened on us. However, the men 
 of the regiment put down the bridge under a hot fire of musketry across the stream 
 proper about one hundred feet wide at this point and by wading waist deep in 
 the ice-cold water and stumbling and crawling over entanglements of underbrush 
 and cypress trees for about a quarter of a mile, they at last effected a crossing and 
 drove the enemy back. During the progress of this crossing one of my command in 
 stepping from the pontoon bridge into the water was caught by the torrent and 
 swept down stream. Seeing the mishap, I threw off my sword and coat and jumped 
 after the man. Presently I reached him, and getting a good grip upon his almost 
 lifeless form I at last succeeded in swimming with him near enough to shore for 
 others to come to our assistance and drag us both out of the flood more dead than 
 alive. Of course, the entire incident occurred under fire, but luckily neither one of 
 us was hit and we recovered sufficiently to take part in the holding of the position 
 gained by the regiment, wearing our wet, icy clothes throughout, until morning, 
 when the entire army began to make the crossing." 
 
491 
 
 GEORGE W. CLUTE. 
 
 Corporal, Co. 1, 14th Michigan Inf. 
 
 Bom in Marathon. Mick., 
 
 June 11, 1842. 
 
 IF General Johnston had succeeded at Bentonville, N. C., 
 1 March 19, 1865, he would to-day be mentioned among 
 the greatest generals of all nations and ages. Early in 
 the morning he addressed his troops. What he said was 
 something like this : "I have about me here 40,000 brave 
 and gallant troops. Shall we permit the Yankees to make 
 further progress ? No. Their army must and shall be 
 stopped here. They are marching upon us by four different 
 roads. We shall fall upon one column after the other and 
 annihilate each separately." 
 
 This plan failed. The Confederate generals had forgot 
 ten to reckon with the bravery of the Union soldiers. 
 
 The first column attacked by Johnston was the Four 
 teenth Army Corps. At first he gained a temporary success, forcing the Federals to 
 fall back and capturing three guns. Then the Twentieth Army Corps and General 
 Kilpatrick were hurried upon the field, and not only was the further advance of the 
 rebels checked, but the Union lines were re-established in their original position. 
 All day long Johnston made a most stubborn effort to break the Union center. Six 
 charges, one after the other in rapid succession, were made at the same point, and 
 on the same men, and six times the enemy were beaten off with equal determination. 
 
 General Kilpatrick was full of admiration for the pluck 
 and gallantry of his men when darkness ended further 
 fighting. General Johnston, discouraged, disappointed, 
 disheartened, withdrew. His fondest hopes had come to 
 naught. 
 
 In this battle two of Michigan s soldiers, Corporal George 
 W. Clute of Company I, and Private Henry E. Plant of 
 Company F, both of the Fourteenth Michigan Infantry, 
 distinguished themselves as heroes. 
 
 The regiment had been ordered to the front on a double- 
 quick and upon its arrival found the cavalry fighting the 
 rebels in a large pine swamp. It was here that the six suc 
 cessive charges were made by the enemy. The last charge 
 was an especially severe one. It came to a hand-to-hand 
 "In the midst of the struggle," says Clute in describing it, "I saw a Confederate 
 
 HENRY E. PLANT, 
 
 Private, Co. F, 14th Michigan Inf. 
 Born in Oswego, Now York, 
 October 11, 1841. . 
 
 fight. 
 
 From Savannah to Bentonville. As General Sherman and his army marched north from Savannah to 
 Goldsboro, his opposition consisted of 37,000 infantry and 8,000 cavalry under General Johnston, and Gen 
 eral Hood with 10,000 infantry and a division of cavalry. At Averysboro, Hardee s army was repulsed with 
 a loss of 500 men. At Bentonville Johnston s army attacked General Slocum s wing of the Federal forces 
 and a three days fight ensued, resulting in the falling back of the Confederate force, after a loss of 2,825 
 killed and wounded and 1,641 taken prisoners. The Federal loss was 1,646 killed and wounded. 
 
492 
 
 flag and made a rush for it. It was in the hands of their lieutenant. He and I were 
 out of ammunition. Nothing but a trial of strength could determine which one of us 
 was entitled to those colors. We had a desperate fight, but I proved to be the 
 stronger and dragged color-bearer and flag along for over 100 feet before he let go 
 of the staff and ran back to his lines. Carrying the captured colors aloft I ran to 
 my company, the men of which were fighting with clubbed muskets. 
 
 " When my captain caught sight of me and my trophy he said : 
 
 "Why didn t you kill that rebel ? 
 
 " Because I had no ammunition, I replied. 
 
 "While I was still talking with the captain, our own men, whose attention was 
 attracted by the Confederate flag which I held in a raised position, began firing at 
 us, and I was ordered to quickly drop the flag. I dragged it behind me along the 
 ground and was just about to join my fighting comrades a few feet in front of me 
 when I once more caught sight of the Confederate lieutenant from whom I had 
 wrenched the colors. As his eyes fell upon me he quick as a flash took aim with 
 his revolver and fired at me, the ball entering my right arm. Then he, with like 
 suddenness, disappeared." 
 
 Private Plant was no less plucky. The sergeant and color-guard had been shot 
 down in the same charge and a yawning gap was left on either side of the colors. 
 Plant took in the situation at a glance. He ran toward the colors, seized the flag 
 from the hand of the wounded standard-bearer and waved it, cheering on his com 
 rades to more determined resistance. When the rebels were at last repulsed Plant 
 was promoted sergeant and color-bearer and carried the flag he had so gallantly 
 defended to the end of the war. 
 
 OVERWHELMED BY SHERMAN S KINDNESS 
 
 A 1 
 
 N ORDERLY appeared in the bivouac of the Thirty-first 
 Wisconsin Infantry, after the battle of Bentonville, N. 
 C., had been fought, March 19, 1865. 
 
 " Is Private Peter T. Anderson of Company B present ? " 
 he inquired. Private Anderson stepped forward. You re 
 wanted at General Sherman s headquarters," the orderly 
 stated and started back followed by the private, who trem 
 bled in anticipation of his fate. What could the general 
 possibly want of him ? Had somebody told that he had 
 left for the rear the day before? Was he to be punished, 
 reprimanded, rebuked ? He reviewed his whole army life, 
 scrutinized every act ; he knew of no wrong that demanded 
 punishment. He inquired of the orderly, begged him to tell 
 what the general wanted, but this individual was annoyingly short of speech and 
 
 PETER T. ANDERSON, 
 
 Private, Co. B. 31st Wis. Inf. 
 
 Highest rank attned : Capt. 
 
 Born in Lafayette Co., AVis., 
 
 Sept. 4,1847. 
 
493 
 
 would not or could not give the slightest hint. Finally headquarters was reached. 
 As Anderson saluted General Sherman rose from his camp stool and with that genial 
 manner so characteristic of the great American leader offered it to the humble 
 soldier. 
 
 This unexpected reception bewildered and embarrassed the private to such an 
 extent that he completely lost his composure. He mechanically followed the 
 general s polite invitation and sat down on the camp stool allowing the commander 
 to stand up before him. The ludicrousness of the situation never dawned upon the 
 good Wisconsinite at the time. 
 
 "Well, Anderson," said the general, "I am proud of you !" 
 
 He said a great many more things equally as nattering and pleasing, and ended 
 by grasping the soldier s hand and assuring him that his services would be rewarded 
 soon in a more substantial manner. And thus was the private, highly honored and 
 highly elated, dismissed by the general. 
 
 What were these services ? 
 
 Private Anderson s own modest version is as follows : 
 
 "It was at Waynesboro, N. C., March 16, 1865. The Confederates held a strong 
 position. My company, with others, was deployed to oppose and divert them from 
 our lines. 
 
 " Owing to heavy rains the day before the ground was muddy. As we advanced 
 we came to a deep depression, filled with water four or five inches deep. Across 
 this pond and about 200 feet from us were a lot of logs piled up. Suddenly and 
 without a warning, as we reached the water, a volley was fired on us by a number 
 of rebels lying in ambush behind the logs. It wrought havoc in our ranks. Our 
 situation was critical. If we remained where we were we would all be mowed down 
 by the next volley. Yet there was no time to retreat. Our men and officers were 
 badly scattered. There was no officer to command us, and but one way out of the 
 difficulty. I shouted to the boys : Forward ! The order was obeyed. Before the 
 rebels had time to reload we were pointing our guns at them over the logs and 
 demanded their surrender. They complied. Their number was about seventy-five, 
 while we were not more than thirty. This action was witnessed from the rear by 
 several of our officers, General Sherman among them. We brought the prisoners to 
 our camp. 
 
 " Three days later, at the battle of Bentonville, I took sick and was told to get 
 into an ambulance. I preferred the ranks. Our brigade, composed of three regiments, 
 took position in the edge of the timber, to the left of the pike and to the left of the 
 Fourteenth Corps, leaving quite a gap between us. We had just begun felling trees 
 and making a breastwork of them when the rebels attacked us across an open field. 
 They swung around on both flanks, practically surrounding us. We were forced 
 to retreat. 
 
 "I was provoked at our retreat, because I could not see the rebels advancing on 
 the sides, but noticed only their line in front. It did not take long, however, before 
 
494 
 
 I fully comprehended the situation. As we fell back to the turnpike we left the 
 Nineteenth Indiana battery behind. Someone shouted : For God s sake, bring out 
 that battery ! I turned to a comrade and asked him to come with me and attempt 
 to save the battery. He refused. I went back to the battery without any assistance. 
 It was all limbered up, the horses hitched and ready to be moved. Turning the 
 horses of one gun into the road, using my ramrod for a whip, I started them after 
 our retreating ranks. I tried to mount one of the horses, but the stirrup was shot 
 off just as I put my foot in it and I was obliged to follow along behind. The distance 
 to our lines was from one-third to half a mile, and all this way I was under a hot 
 rebel fire from both sides. At one time the rebels were on all sides of me and de 
 manding my surrender. I had previously fired my gun and was now trying to 
 reload. I had nearly succeeded when a shot struck the barrel and broke it in the 
 middle. The same shot knocked off the tip of my right forefinger. I raised my 
 musket and blazed away, sending ramrod and all into the rebels. An officer rode 
 up close to me, pointed his revolver at my head and shouted : Surrender, you 
 damned Yankee ! A shot from some quarter killed him outright the next moment. 
 I finally reached my regiment which, observing my predicament, had taken a stand 
 waiting for me to come up. Passing our rallied line I transferred the rescued field- 
 piece to the care of a chief of artillery who came to meet me and then went to the 
 rear, secured another gun and returned to take a hancf in the next charge of the 
 rebels." 
 
 The reward promised by General Sherman came within less than three months : 
 Anderson received a captain s commission and the Medal of Honor. 
 
 A PICTURESQUE feature of General Sherman s army during 
 -** the grand tour from Savannah to Richmond was the 
 rear guard with its foraging detachments and refugee 
 train. So great were the additions of refugee negroes that 
 at times the marching columns in the rear had the appear 
 ance of a huge army, which they were, except that a large 
 majority of the refugees were unarmed. Whole families 
 of negroes, afoot, riding mules, horses and cattle, trundling 
 barrows and drawing carts and wagons, followed the Union 
 troops. To protect this large train from the almost con 
 tinuous petty assaults made by small bodies of Confeder 
 ate cavalry and occasional detachments of bushwhackers 
 was the hazardous duty of the rear guard commanded by 
 
 General Porter and to which was attached the One hundred and seventh Ohio In 
 fantry. The work required was done, very largely, in small detachments in advance, 
 
 H. S. FINKENBEINER. 
 
 Private, Co. D, 107th Ohio Inf. 
 
 Born at North Industry, 
 
 Ohio, July 29, 1849. 
 
495 
 
 on either flank and to the rear of its own main column, so that individual actions 
 involving these smaller bodies were almost everyday happenings. On the 23d of 
 March, however, while Sherman s main army was bitterly engaged at Bentonville, 
 N. C., General Porter s troops encountered a force of Confederates at Dingley s Mill, 
 near Sumterville, S. C. The Confederates had fired the wooden bridge across the 
 
 "WE PICKED BROBST UP AND PLACED HIM ON MY RIFLE BETWEEN US." 
 
 mill race to prevent or check his attack, and evidently had good and commanding 
 positions on their side of the race. 
 
 General Porter, thinking that the Confederates had evacuated, ordered Colonel 
 Houghton, of the Twenty-fifth Ohio, to come down from the road, which was high 
 and acted as a dam to the mill pond on one side. Colonel John S. Cooper, of the 
 One hundred and seventh Ohio Volunteers, feeling sure that the enemy were still in 
 
496 
 
 hiding across the race, called for volunteers to cross the burning bridge and recon- 
 noiter the enemy s position. Private H. S. Finkenbeiner, of Company D, who, 
 accompanied by Jacob James and Jacob Brobst, volunteered for this service, tells of 
 the affair as follows : 
 
 "We received orders to accomplish the mission and report as soon as possible. 
 The enemy s battery was masked on a little knoll that commanded the entire road, 
 and as we crossed at a point about ninety yards from the bridge they could plainly 
 see every move we made, while they were hidden from our view. The support of 
 this masked battery lay still nearer the bridge in a thicket on the right side of our 
 advance. 
 
 "We cautiously went forward, passed the burning mill, and, reaching a place 
 where the road makes a turn towards Sumterville, we saw the enemy for the first 
 time. Instead of creeping back and reporting, we took a shot at them and then ran 
 for the bridge. 
 
 " To our great surprise, we then found ourselves between the enemy s battery 
 and their reserve. A shot of grape and canister but twenty yards from this turn 
 was sent to intercept our run, but we were too near and it flew wide of its mark. 
 The next instant the support just in front and to our right opened fire on us. Their 
 second aim was better, or worse for us, for Brobst fell. His cry, Don t for God s 
 sake let the rebels get me, brought us to a stop in our headlong rush for safety, and 
 we returned to our fallen comrade. 
 
 " By this time they had our range and were shooting uncomfortably close to us. 
 We picked Brobst up and placed him on my rifle between us, thus carrying him in 
 safety over the burning bridge to an ambulance corps in the woods, in the rear of 
 our army. 
 
 "Just then w r e saw General Houghton come down the narrow road and file out. 
 Knowing the terrible situation he would get into, I hurried to report our discovery 
 to General Porter, and an orderly was sent forward at once to recall the Twenty- 
 fifth Ohio, which would certainly have fared badly had they advanced." 
 
497 
 
 LIEUTENANT, WHAT SAY YOU?" 
 
 JOSEPH F. CARTER, 
 
 Captain, Co. D, Third Maryland Infantry. 
 Highest rank attained : Major. 
 Born in Baltimore, Maryland, 
 Sept, 11, 1842. 
 
 FORT STEDMAN, Va., had fallen into the hands of the 
 enemy, who cunningly had taken advantage of 
 the order allowing deserters to bring in their arms. In 
 the disguise of such deserters they had approached the 
 Union picket lines in small squads, overpowered and 
 captured the pickets and gained access to the works 
 without any alarm being given. General N. B. Mc- 
 Laughlin and nearly the entire garrison, sixteen officers 
 and 480 men, were captured just before daybreak March 
 25, 1865, the darkness materially aiding the Confederates 
 in their bold and tricky move. 
 
 With the break of day the occurrence revealed itself 
 to the Federal commanders operating in the vicinity 
 and determined efforts to recapture the fort were made 
 immediately. The Third Maryland Infantry met large 
 detachments of the enemy, sent to capture the adjoin 
 ing Fort Haskell (see page 388), and drove them back into Fort Stedman, passing 
 the gate and forcing the Confederates to retreat into the camp, from which they 
 themselves had only shortly before driven the One hundredth Pennsylvania. The 
 entrance to the fort, however, had been gained and the Pennsylvania boys now 
 hurried to the support of their gallant comrades from Maryland. It was decided to 
 follow up the enemy and charge the fort. This was done so successfully by an 
 attack from two sides that within a short time the Federals were once more masters 
 of the stronghold, capturing nearly the entire Confederate force. An occurrence 
 that followed is the subject of an interesting story told by Captain Joseph F. Carter 
 of Company D, Third Maryland Infantry. The captain was in command of his 
 regiment on the expedition to recapture the fort, while the One hundredth Penn 
 sylvania was led by Major N. J. Maxwell : 
 
 "Seeing that Major Maxwell was in control of the fort," says Carter, "I moved 
 out to intercept the retreat of the rebels, who had advanced to our newly built rail 
 road leading to City Point and were thus between our lines. Somehow or other my 
 men, who were busy in gathering up prisoners outside the fort, became separated from 
 me. I did not notice their absence, but kept right on, until I came to a cut in the road 
 
 Fort Stedman. Early on the morning of March 25, 1865, the Confederate forces under General Gordon 
 assaulted the Federal lines in front of Parke s Ninth Corps, which held the Appomattox River toward the 
 Union left, and carried Fort Stedman and a part of the line to the right and left of it, turning the guns of 
 the fort against the Federals. But the Union troops on either flank held their ground until reserves were 
 brought up, when the Confederates were driven back to their lines. 
 
 The losses sustained by the Ninth Corps were 68 killed, 337 wounded and 506 missing, while those SU B - 
 tained by the Confederates were 2,681, among whom were 1,900 prisoners. 
 
498 
 
 leading into Petersburg, with banks about ten feet high. Here, to my surprise, 1 
 found a rebel regiment which had selected this place for shelter from the heavy fire 
 of our artillery stationed in the rear of our main line. They had been sent to the 
 rear of Fort Stedman to seize the railroad and there received orders to retire, but 
 were confused and waited for further orders. The recapture of Fort Stedman by 
 our troops had cut off the retreat to their own lines. There were about three hun 
 dred of them just filing into the road getting ready to stay the advance of our skir 
 mishers who were following up their retreat, when I appeared on the bank and 
 shouted to the greatly surprised Confederates on the road below to surrender. A 
 captain in command retorted : 
 
 " Who in hell are you ? 
 
 "A Yank, I answered, adding quickly that we had recaptured Fort Stedman, 
 were complete masters of the situation and that he could not possibly get back with 
 his men to his lines. The rebel captain, however, who evidently had no knowledge 
 of this fact, did not propose to give in so easily. Well, he remarked, where are 
 your men ? 
 
 "Then came a surprise on my side. Looking back of me I made the embarrassing 
 discovery that I was alone. Surely this was a tight fix to be in, but there was no 
 other way out of it except by strong argument and explanation. While conversing 
 with the captain, who seemed to realize the situation, I caught sight of one of our 
 staff officers, about 200 yards away, signaling to our batteries to cease firing on Fort 
 Stedman, which was now occupied by our troops. 
 
 "Pointing at him I continued : 
 
 " Captain, see that staff officer? He is ordering the firing to be stopped. The 
 whole country around here is in our possession. It s no use, you can t get away. 
 
 " That satisfied him and he surrendered. He asked me what he should do and I 
 told him to march his men off by the right flank down the road to our rear, intend 
 ing to bring the whole regiment to our camp alone, but when the rebel column 
 emerged from the cut and thus became exposed, our troops renewed their fire and 
 threatened death and destruction to my so willing and obedient prisoners. I there 
 fore directed the captain and his men to throw down their guns and remain in the 
 cut until our men would come up and take them. 
 
 " Again they followed out my instructions. I then signaled to our men to cease 
 their fire and come up, but was not understood, and, being the only one exposed, 
 became the target for a lot of General Hartranft s raw recruits. I cannot say that 
 I enjoyed that part very much, and not experiencing any desire to be shot down by 
 our own troops, I descended into the cut and joined the rebels. The captain was an 
 agreeable person to chat with, and we conversed about his future prospects as a 
 prisoner, when my attention was drawn to a rebel flag a short distance away. A 
 lieutenant and color-guard of six men were moving along the bank trying to make 
 their escape. I broke off my conversation abruptly and started after them, picking 
 up a loaded gun on the way. 
 
499 
 
 " Before the lieutenant realized what was happening he had the rifle placed 
 against his breast and was commanded to surrender the flag he was carrying. 
 
 " The lieutenant was game and promptly replied : I ll be damned if I ll give you 
 that flag ! And furthermore I want to tell you that you are my prisoner. Give me 
 your gun/ and at the same time the color-guard raised their guns and made a most 
 expressive show of resistance. 
 
 "Here I was in a pretty mess. The rebel guns were raised at my head. If I 
 pulled my trigger I would sound my own death-knell. Surrounded by rebels, be 
 yond the help of my own troops, it would have been folly to carry the bluff farther, 
 so I made a virtue out of necessity and handed the lieutenant my gun. 
 
 " And thus I, who only a few minutes ago had captured a whole regiment, was 
 made a prisoner myself. All my arguing as to him and his men being cut off brought 
 only the curt reply, Come along, we ll see. 
 
 " Taking me in their midst the lieutenant and guard moved across the open field 
 in the direction of our works, thinking them their own lines. Immediately our 
 batteries opened on us with at least twenty guns with spherical case shell, which 
 tore up the ground all around us. There was a great chance of me losing my game 
 if the lieutenant saw fit to change his course and pass around our works, as it almost 
 seemed he would. Visions of Libby prison with all its horrors looming up before 
 my eye determined me to make a break and at least give the rebels a run. But 
 the guard was on to my intention and one of them yelled at me : You damned 
 Yank, you try to run and we ll blow you to hell. So I gave up the attempt 
 to escape. Presently I noticed three soldiers in blue about sixty yards away from 
 us. I recognized them to be men of the One hundredth Pennsylvania and yelled 
 as loud as I could : Boys, I am a prisoner here ! They came toward us on a 
 run. All right, Captain, one of them spoke up, we ll save you. Turning to the 
 lieutenant he continued : Lieutenant, what say you now ? I guess the tables are 
 turned. You are our prisoner. 
 
 " The rebel officer made no long reply, but merely said : I surrender. 
 
 " I now quickly seized the colors and turned my attention to the rebel regiment 
 in the ravine. Waving the flag to signal our men to cease firing, however, had 
 the result of increasing it, so much so that the rebel color-guard advised me to 
 drop the flag. I tried another method. Throwing down the flag, I trampled upon 
 it and waved my sword over my head. This had the desired effect. Our men 
 rested their guns, but on the other hand my action had been watched by the Con 
 federates from their works about 200 yards away. Incensed at the indignity to their 
 colors they poured a most terrific fire in our direction, rendering our position as 
 critical as before. I finally picked up the colors from the ground and started on a 
 dead run with my prisoners for our works, being forced to go for sixty yards towards 
 the enemy, and expose myself to their concentrated fire, before I reached the cover 
 of our own works. The rebel regiment was shortly afterward brought in as prison 
 ers by Hartranft s men." 
 
500- 
 
 HEROISM IN THE HOUR OF REVERSE 
 
 WILLIAM H. HOWE, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. K, 29th Mass. Inf. 
 
 Born at Haverhill, Mass.. 
 
 April 10, 1837. 
 
 CHARLES H. PINKHAM, 
 
 8ergeant-Major,57th Mass. Inf. 
 Highest rank attained: 
 
 Brev.-Capt.,U.S.V. 
 
 Born at Grafton, Mass., 
 
 August 18, 1844. 
 
 ""THE fighting at Fort Stedman 
 * brought out many examples of 
 great individual bravery and fur 
 nished numerous incidents which 
 prove the pluck and indomitable 
 courage of the Union soldier, no 
 matter whether he was in a victori 
 ous battle or facing defeat. At Fort 
 Stedman particularly, where the 
 Federals were treated to a surprise 
 by the enemy, their conduct was 
 such as to force even the foe to 
 admire it. 
 
 It is recorded, for instance, that 
 one private of the Twenty-ninth Massachusetts Infantry was surrounded by a group 
 of rebels, seized by the throat and ordered to surrender. His reply was: "Never." 
 Whereupon he was clubbed over the back with a musket and shot in the head, but 
 in spite of his injuries fought with his opponent, and escaped. 
 
 Other brave deeds were those of Sergeant-Major Charles H. Pinkham, of the Fifty- 
 seventh Massachusetts Infantry, and Sergeant William H. Howe, of Company K, 
 Twenty-ninth Massachusetts Infantry. Howe s regiment was in camp within the 
 works when the Confederates entered and surprised them. No shots were fired, the 
 Confederates using only the butts of their muskets. The regiment was forced to 
 retreat, leaving a great number of its men in the hands of the victorious rebels. 
 When the Federals were already driven out of their works and the rebels in full 
 possession of the camp Sergeant-Major Pinkham rushed back into the very midst of 
 the enemy, entered a tent, seized the regimental colors, and dashed back with his 
 precious treasure to his own lines. During the subsequent fighting for the recapture 
 of the camp, which ended in an utter rout of the rebels, Sergeant-Major Pinkham 
 had a chance to seize the colors of the Fifty-seventh North Carolina Infantry and 
 carried them triumphantly into the Union lines. 
 
 Sergeant Howe was one of the Union soldiers who was captured when the rebels 
 took possession of the fort. He managed to escape his guard, however, and rejoined 
 his comrades in front of Fort Haskell. When volunteers were called for to serve an 
 abandoned gun, he with five others undertook to perform the work. They were ex 
 posed to a most galling fire, but he worked the gun with such telling effect after all 
 but two of the battery men belonging to the piece were killed that the Confederates 
 were forced to retreat before its withering fire, allowing the Federals to come up 
 to the support of the brave volunteer gunner. 
 
501 
 
 DUTY AND DEATH RATHER THAN DISHONOR 
 
 A 
 
 ALLEN THOMPSON, 
 
 Private, Co. K, 4th New York 
 
 Heavy Artillery. 
 
 Born at Sandy Creek, Oswego 
 
 Co.,N.Y., Oct. 1,1847. 
 
 T THE time Grant was bending every 
 energy and all resources to hold 
 Lee s army in check and all military oper 
 ations centered around the Appomattox 
 campaign, the Fourth New York Heavy 
 Artillery was serving as infantry, being 
 attached to what was called the "Irish" 
 Brigade, First Division Second Corps, the 
 division commander being General Nelson 
 A. Miles. Corps organizations were broken 
 up, and all around Petersburg to the west 
 and south, over a radius of thirty miles, 
 
 TV 
 +HO* 
 
 JAMES THOMPSON, 
 
 Private, Co.K, 4th New York 
 
 Heavy Artillery. 
 
 Born at Sandy Creek, Oswego 
 
 Co.,N. Y., Dee. 25, 1849. 
 
 the Federal troops were fighting by bri 
 gades in separate actions. Yet, so able were regimental, brigade, division and corps 
 commanders, so thoroughly did the rank and file understand the situation, that 
 together these individual actions revolved around and were practically parts of the 
 great combat of the Appomattox, the Battle of Five Forks. 
 
 On the morning of April 2d, Miles, in pursuit of the enemy, arrived at White 
 Oak Road. With the determination to bring the rebels to a standstill he pushed 
 his brigade in line of battle towards their works, resolved to carry them. The works 
 were in plain view, but not a man was in sight, not a rifle cracked to break the 
 silence of the early morning. The brigade halted, suspicious of a trap or an ambush. 
 The deserted look of the works appeared unnatural, the very silence seemed to call 
 for caution. All eyes were turned towards the works, every man in the brigade was 
 full of anxiety to know the secret they concealed. 
 
 General Miles observed that it would be necessary to call for volunteers to take 
 the lead, advance through the woods and ascertain the situation. This call was 
 
 Final Operations Around Petersburg, Va. When Grant went into winter quarters before Petersburg he 
 had determined to resume his campaign against Lee on the 29th of March, 1865. 
 
 The heavy rains, however, prevented active operations until the 2d of April, when the general assault 
 commenced and was pursued along Grant s whole line, which extended from Appomattox to Dinwiddie 
 Court House. The day preceding Lee was defeated at Five Forks, where Sheridan gained a signal victory. 
 This defeat seemed to bewilder Lee, and as he could not withstand the vigorous assault of the 2d his lines 
 having been broken in numerous places he noiselessly withdrew his army toward the Danville Road at 
 nightfall. 
 
 Before sunrise on the 3d Parke had gone through the enemy s lines and taken Petersburg. Grant now 
 ordered Sheridan to push toward the Danville Road, while Meade was in close pursuit up the Appomattox. 
 
 In the afternoon Grant received word from Weitzel that Richmond had been taken early in the morning 
 and was securely held. Notwithstanding these victories Grant was apprehensive of Lee s escape, and con 
 sequently set out in pursuit of him. 
 
 The Federal losses at Five Forks were about 800 killed and wounded ; the Confederate losses 8,500. 
 
 At the assault and fall of Petersburg the Federals lost 3,300 and the Confederates 3,000. 
 
502 
 
 responded to and Private James Thompson, of Company K, Fourth New York Heavy 
 Artillery, one of the little squad that volunteered, lived to tell the following of what 
 happened : 
 
 " Five other comrades, my brother and myself, stepped to the front following the 
 call of General Miles for volunteers, and received our instructions directly from the 
 general. We were to advance about fifty feet apart, with our rifles at a ready, and 
 to fire the instant we discovered the first sign of an enemy concealed in ambush. 
 When we had reached a certain tree he pointed out to us one of our number was to 
 climb it and swing his cap as a signal for the brigade to come on if we found that 
 all was well. We started, my brother first, I next, and the other five in their regu 
 lar order from right to left. After advancing perhaps one-fourth of the way, through 
 the slashing, we had all bunched together, and proceeded in this manner perhaps 
 fifty yards farther, when we were surprised to see an outpost of the enemy of about 
 fifty men rise out of the slashing a little to the left of the road and within fifty feet 
 of us. They ordered us to throw down our guns and come in. 
 
 " What could we do ? We had the secret of a signal that would have drawn that 
 brigade of brave boys in our rear into this death-trap, where the enemy could have 
 shot them down at their leisure. We knew very well that if we surrendered without 
 giving the alarm we would be compelled to give up the signal or die, so we decided 
 our only course was to give the alarm and die where we were. We fired, and received 
 their volley of fifty pieces at a distance of scarcely 100 feet. 
 
 "Six of our number were stretched on the ground, five dead, one desperately 
 wounded, and one with several holes through his clothes but without a scratch on 
 his body, who made his way back to the rear and to his company as soon as possible. 
 Our troops heard the alarm shots and the volley that followed, and knew at once 
 what had happened to our little squad. The enemy s position was uncovered. The 
 battle commenced at once. Our brigade held the position where they were, while 
 our Second Division swung around and took them on the flank, taking a great many 
 prisoners and compelling them to evacuate their works and hunt another position to 
 the rear. After the battle was over our little squad was not forgotten. A detail 
 was sent to bury them, which found me still in the land of the living, lying with my 
 dead comrades all this time between the contending lines, praying for a ball to come 
 and end my misery. My brother, Allan Thompson, was the one who got back to the 
 lines in safety and made this report. He also received a Medal of Honor." 
 
 The charge upon the Confederate works at White Oak Road brought out another 
 brave deed, of which First Lieutenant Stephen P. Corliss, of Company F, Fourth 
 New York Heavy Artillery, was the hero. The enemy had a battery posted on an 
 elevation near the South Side Railroad where it intersected with the White Oak 
 Road leading into Petersburg, and was able to do great damage to the advancing 
 Federals from that position. The order came to capture the battery, which was 
 
504 
 
 protected by infantry. The brigade to which the Fourth 
 New York Artillery were attached as infantry started to 
 carry out the command. The enemy s fire w r as at once 
 concentrated upon the advancing brigade with such telling 
 effect that the advance was. for a time at least, checked. 
 Again the forward movement was ordered and taken up, to be 
 checked a second time. For a third time the advance was 
 resumed. At this juncture the color-sergeant of one of the 
 regiments was shot and the colors fell to the ground. Lieu 
 tenant Corliss, who witnessed the fall of the flag, at once 
 dismounted, picked up the colors and remounted. With flag 
 in hand he rode at the head of the brigade into the enemy s 
 works and placed them there. The colors were closely 
 
 followed by the enthused men, the works were carried and the rebels routed in 
 utter defeat. Lieutenant Corliss action contributed greatly in the achievement of 
 a splendid victory. 
 
 THRILLING EPISODES AROUND PETERSBURG 
 
 STEPHEN P. CORLISS, 
 
 1st Lieut., Co. F, 4th N. Y. H. A. 
 Highest rank attained : 
 
 Brev.-Col., U.S. V. 
 
 Born at Albany, N. Y., 
 
 July 26, 1842. 
 
 ENERAL GRANT S eagerness to destroy or capture Lee s army rather than his desire 
 to take Petersburg led to the battle of Five Forks, Va., on April 1, 1865. Lee 
 was striving to join Johnston and free himself from the net into which he and his 
 army had been so skillfully driven by Grant. To hold him there and catch him was 
 the Federal commander s sole aim and purpose. To break through the meshes and 
 escape was Lee s sole object. On the Union side was General Warren, with the 
 Fifth Corps, and General Sheridan, commanding the Cavalry Corps. 
 
 The Confederates had a line of strong works for their support, while the nature 
 of the country made it impossible for the Federals to intrench, and they were thus 
 presented with the alternative of fighting or falling back. The battle began late in 
 the afternoon, the dismounted cavalry making an attack on the works, the Fifth 
 Corps striking the enemy s left flank. Both sides fought with great valor and 
 stubbornness, and the battle was handsomely contested ; but before nightfall the 
 enemy were driven from their strong line of works and completely routed. Nearly 
 6,000 Confederates were captured, and the remainder of the demoralized army was 
 driven toward Petersburg, pursued for miles by the victorious cavalry. 
 
 The loss on the Union side was not severe, numerically, but some of the bravest 
 officers lost their lives on that battlefield ; for example, Colonel Winthrop, who led 
 the First Brigade of the Second Division of the Fifth Corps. He fell at the head of 
 his soldiers, shortly after the charge was ordered. Colonel James Grindlay, of the 
 One hundred and forty-sixth New York Infantry, at once assumed command, was 
 the first to enter the enemy s works and in the ensuing struggle captured two rebel 
 battle-flags. 
 
505 
 
 The contests 
 on this battle 
 field abound 
 with incidents 
 of similar in 
 spiring b r a v - 
 ery. 
 
 First Lieu- 
 tenant Albert E. 
 Fernald, of Com 
 pany F, Twentieth 
 Maine Infantry, was 
 with his regiment in 
 the last line when the 
 battle opened, but was in 
 the first line when the works 
 were reached. The left of the 
 regiment struck the works first, 
 he being somewhat in advance, 
 and as he cleared the breastworks 
 ran toward a body of Confederates 
 with a rebel color-bearer. He 
 rushed among the crowd and se 
 cured the flag before even his regi 
 ment had gotten into the works. 
 Lieutenant Henry Gr. Bonebrake, of 
 Company G, Seventh Pennsylvania 
 Cavalry, in his ardor to secure a Con 
 federate flag ran after a Confederate color- 
 bearer as soon as he had entered the 
 works as one of the first of Devin s Division, 
 caught up to the Confederate, and in a 
 hand-to-hand struggle dispossessed his antago 
 nist of the flag by superior physical strength. 
 
 He 
 
 (l)WILLIAM W. WINEGAR, 
 
 Lieut., Co. B, 1st N. Y. Drag. 
 Born at Union Springs, 
 N. Y., October 20, 1844. 
 
 (G) ROBERT F. SHIPLEY, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. A, 140th N. Y. 
 
 Infantry. 
 
 Born at Williamson, N. Y., 
 May 8, 1838. 
 
 (3) JOSEPH FISHER, ( J. WALLACE SCOTT, (o) ROBERT L. ORR. 
 
 Corp. , Co. C, 61st Pa. Inf. Capt. , Co. D, 157th Pa. Inf. Colonel, Olst Pa. Inf. 
 
 ( - ) JOHN C.MATTHEWS Born at Philadelphia, Highest rank attained: Born at Philadelphia, 
 Pa Aug. 24, l,Si:(. Brevet-Major. Pa., March 28, 1836. 
 
 Born, Chester Co., Pa. ,1838 
 
 Pvt.,Co. A, filst Pa. Inf. 
 Born in Westmoreland 
 Co., Pa., March 29, 1810. 
 
 (7) ALBERT E. FERNALD, 
 1st Lieut., Co. F, 20th Me. Inf. 
 Highest rank attain d: Capt. 
 Born at Hampden, Me.. May 
 13, 1838. 
 
 (8) JOHN C. EWING, 
 
 Co. E, 211th Pa. Inf. 
 
 (10) FRANK FESQ, 
 Private. Co. A. 40th N. J. Inf. 
 Born in Brunswick, Ger 
 many, April 4, 1840. 
 
 (9) LESTER G. HACK, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. F, 5th Vt. Inf. 
 
 Born, Coldmill, Pa., Jan. 18, 1844. 
 
 (11) CHARLES A HUNTER, 
 Sergt., Co. E, 34th Mass. Iirf. 
 
506 
 
 It was a rather critical situation in which Lieutenant William W. Winegar, of 
 Company B, First New York Dragoons, had to exert all his wit and summon all the 
 presence of mind at his command. In the excitement of the battle he had become 
 separated from his company and was still advancing when his comrades were quite 
 a distance from him. Presently he found himself surrounded by rebels. It was 
 then he discovered that he was alone. Retreat was impossible. He had to rely on 
 his nerve. He ran up to a Confederate color-bearer who was standing only a few 
 feet away and, grasping the staff of his flag, demanded the surrender of the whole 
 crowd. The rebel was not quite willing to yield. On the contrary he quickly drew 
 his revolver and shouted : " Never ! You ll not get this flag ! " At this instant Lieu 
 tenant Winegar fired, and so effectively that the whole company was demoralized. 
 Then, at his command, they surrendered and were marched to the rear. 
 
 Sergeant Robert F. Shipley, of Company A, One hundred and fortieth New York 
 Infantry, ran across a flag-bearer of the Ninth Virginia Infantry, who had his back 
 turned toward him. A gentle poke with the butt of the rifle reminded the Virginian 
 that a Union soldier wanted his flag. " Pass those colors over to me," Shipley 
 shouted. The Confederate whirled around and with the flagstaff for a club was 
 about to let it down on the head of the sergeant, but the latter, considering this the 
 wrong answer to his command, made good use of his bayonet, which rendered 
 further parley superfluous, and thus secured the flag. 
 
 Simultaneously with the battle at Five Forks a bombardment was opened upon 
 the enemy s lines of fortifications around and about Petersburg, Va., followed by a 
 general assault on the next day, April 2d. Again the fighting was of the most deter 
 mined character and the losses, even to the Union forces, correspondingly severe. 
 The works were an extraordinarily strong line of rifle pits with deep ditches and 
 high relief preceded by one or two lines of abatis, unusually well constructed and 
 with a line of very strong fraise between them. At every few hundred yards were 
 forts or batteries well supplied with artillery. They looked well-nigh impregnable, 
 and nothing but the most resolute bravery could result in penetrating them. 
 
 The general assault was ordered shortly before five o clock in the morning, but 
 owing to some misapprehension the Federal pickets began to fire while the columns 
 were still forming. This drew the enemy s fire, not only upon the pickets but also 
 on the dense masses in the rear, causing some loss of life, considerable confusion and 
 threatening to break the whole plan of attack. However, by the exertions of 
 the officers the pickets soon ceased to use their rifles and quiet was restored, the 
 Confederates apparently not being over-anxious to exchange shots in the darkness. 
 As soon as day began to dawn the looked-for signal was given and the assault 
 was made. The advancing columns broke over the enemy s picket line and, under 
 a heavy fire of artillery and a more deadly yet less noisy fire of musketry from 
 the parapets, moved over the main defenses. Abatis was cut away and through 
 the openings thus made, and through those made by the enemy for their own con 
 venience in permitting access to the front, their works were gained. After a sharp 
 
507 
 
 but brief conflict the Confederates yielded along the whole line to the superior 
 valor of the Federals, whose prisoners they became after an unsuccessful attempt 
 to escape. The entire rebel artillery fell into the hands of the victors. 
 
 In this assault the Sixty-first Pennsylvania Infantry played an important part 
 and conducted itself so valiantly that no less than five of its members were honored 
 with a Medal of Honor for distinguished gallantry. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Robert L. Orr took charge of the regiment at a critical mo 
 ment when the regimental commander, Colonel Crosby, fell, mortally wounded. His 
 gallant leadership inspired the men and restored their confidence. Two color- 
 bearers having been shot down, the colonel himself grasped one of the flags and 
 carried it throughout the entire charge at the head of his regiment, which formed 
 the apex of the famous wedge-shaped assault. One of these color-bearers was Cor 
 poral Joseph Fisher, of Company C. A bursting shell had shattered his arm and 
 torn a wide gash in his side. He at first held on to the colors and with wonderful 
 pluck and nerve attempted to crawl to the works and there plant his flag, but his 
 strength failed and he fainted on the way. 
 
 The death of Colonel Crosby, the fall of the color-bearers, coupled with the 
 temporary disappearance of the colors, caused some commotion, if not confusion, in 
 the ranks, which, as stated, ceased when Lieutenant-Colonel Orr assumed command. 
 However, much credit is due to Private John C. Mathews, of Company A, who rushed 
 to the side of one of the fallen color-bearers and, holding the flag aloft, greatly aided 
 in restoring order and confidence. For this fine display of quick action and presence 
 of mind Colonel Orr promoted him a color-sergeant then and there. 
 
 Privates Milton Mathews and Theodore Mitchell, both of Company C, distinguished 
 themselves by each capturing a Confederate battle-flag. 
 
 An idea of the fierce fighting near Petersburg, which commenced as early as 
 March 31st, is given by the narrative of Corporal Franklin W. Lutes, of Company D, 
 One hundred and eleventh New York Infantry, who won his medal on that day. 
 
 " When the order came to fix bayonets and charge," says Corporal Lutes, " I was left 
 guide of my regiment. Upon jumping from behind our breastworks we were met by 
 an awful volley from the enemy, who understood our move and determined to drive 
 us back to our fortifications. Many fell before this storm of lead, but the remainder 
 pushed on. Suddenly I saw, in front of their lines, the rebel color-guard, proudly 
 waving the flag of the Forty-first Alabama Infantry. 
 
 " I yelled to my comrades that we should capture those colors, and, dashing for 
 ward about ten rods in advance of our line, dropped down behind some rails that 
 formed a small shelter between two trees. Here I watched my opportunity, and 
 when our line got a little closer jumped over and captured color-bearer and flag 
 and also one of the color-guard." 
 
 Sergeant Lester G. Hack, of Company F, Fifth Vermont Infantry, adds another 
 chapter to the many phases of the contest on the 2d of April. 
 
508 
 
 " When we had driven the rebels from their works," he says, " every man began 
 to shift for himself, pursuing the enemy, who were fleeing helter skelter in all 
 directions. 
 
 "About one hundred yards to my right a small body of rebels were commencing 
 to rally round their colors. I rushed at the color-sergeant and jerked the colors 
 from his hands, at the same time ordering the rebels around me to surrender. Some 
 of them obeyed my command, but the majority took to flight." 
 
 Private Frank Fesq, of Company A, Fortieth New Jersey Infantry, came face to 
 face with the color-bearer of the Eighteenth North Carolina Infantry. In the ensu 
 ing struggle his hand was almost smashed and he was severely cut in the thigh with 
 a rebel sabre, but he captured the colors. 
 
 While this fighting was going on the Twenty-fourth Army Corps, commanded by 
 General Gibbon, carried Forts Gregg and Baldwin, which the Confederates had 
 erected to protect their right at Petersburg. This capture practically secured posses 
 sion of the place and induced the rebels, after the loss of their works, to evacuate 
 Petersburg and retreat. 
 
 Sergeant Charles E. Hunter, of Company E, Thirty-fourth Massachusetts Infantry, 
 whose regiment took part in this important action, says that the men fought for 
 twenty-seven minutes outside of the parapet before the enemy surrendered. It was 
 a herculean struggle, but ended with a brilliant victory for the attacking Federals, 
 who would not yield until they accomplished their task. Sergeant Hunter had the 
 honor of being the first color-bearer to enter Fort Gregg and plant his flag 011 the 
 rebel stronghold. His conduct throughout the Appomattox campaign, and especially 
 at Fort Gregg, was so exceptionally brave that two months later the Medal of Honor 
 was pinned on his breast. 
 
 Captain J. Wallace Scott, of Company D, One hundred and fifty-seventh Penn 
 sylvania Infantry, while leading his men at the battle of Five Forks, encountered a 
 Confederate carrying the flag of the Sixteenth South Carolina Infantry, and in the 
 ensuing struggle for its possession the captain wrested the flag from the Confederate 
 and brought it safely off the field. 
 
 Private John Ewing, of Company E, Two hundred and eleventh Pennsylvania 
 Infantry, performed a similar deed at Petersburg the following day, where he cap 
 tured the standard of the Sixty-first Alabama Infantry. 
 
 The courage and daring required in the capture of a battle-flag can best be ap 
 preciated by those who have taken part in or witnessed a hand-to-hand combat for 
 the possession of one. It is a struggle to the death. Although many, during the 
 great war, attempted the capture of the enemy s flags, few succeeded, the majority 
 paying for their efforts with their life-blood. 
 
 While others figured conspicuously in this battle and were rewarded with the 
 Medal of Honor, their valorous deeds must be omitted from these pages owing to 
 the inability of the compilers to obtain their personal reminiscences. 
 
511 
 
 ATTRACTED GENERAL CUSTER S ATTENTION 
 
 WILMON W. BLACKMAR, 
 
 Lieutenant, Company H, 1st 
 \V. V. Cav. 
 
 Highest rank att nerl : Capt. 
 Born in Bristol, Pa., July 1811. 
 
 A T THE battle of Five Forks, Va., April 1, 1865, 
 ** Lieutenant Wilmon W. Blackmar, of Com 
 pany H, First West Virginia Cavalry was brigade 
 provost-marshal on the staff of General Capehart, 
 commander of the First Brigade of General Cus- 
 ter s Cavalry Division. General Capehart s Brig 
 ade had been ordered to join in the general charge 
 and follow what seemed to be the main body of the 
 Confederates. The order was carried out. Presently 
 Lieutenant Blackmar saw the flankers being driven in 
 and riding to their assistance made the startling discovery 
 that the brigade was in pursuit of a small detachment only, the 
 main body of the enemy being posted in another direction. He 
 also observed that the enemy were about to take advantage of 
 the mistake and by a bold move push their troops between the 
 cavalry and infantry in the Union line of battle. He rode 
 rapidly after and overtook his brigade commander, hastily told 
 what he had discovered and was ordered to ride back at once 
 
 and form the brigade in line of battle (facing the enemy s position) as rapidly as 
 it should be turned back to him. He formed a new line of battle on the edge of a 
 deep ditch facing in the new direction. The situation was highly critical, and no 
 one realized the danger more keenly than Lieutenant Blackmar. He had no author 
 ity to give orders to advance, nevertheless he assumed the responsibility, not waiting 
 for the arrival of the larger portion of the brigade now moving rapidly toward the 
 new line, and with the brigade colors and that portion of the brigade which had 
 arrived, he ordered a charge, jumped the ditch and a most brilliant and impetuous 
 charge was thus begun. The charge was made so irresistibly that the Confederates 
 fled in great confusion ; the brigade pursued for more than five miles, picking up 
 prisoners, cannon, wagons and ambulances from the utterly demoralized enemy. 
 
 General George A. Ouster, happened to be an eye-witness of this incident and riding 
 to Lieutenant Blackmar s side he laid his hand on his shoulder and called him captain, 
 at the same time joining in the charge. Recommendations from Generals Ouster and 
 Capehart promptly brought Lieutenant Blackmar commission as captain of cavalry. 
 
 N THE 31st of March, 1865, Sheridan s Cavalry Corps developed two divisions of 
 Confederate infantry and one of cavalry near Five Forks, Va., and Major 
 Horatio King, chief quartermaster of the first division, feeling that he could safely 
 leave his train in charge of the senior brigade quartermaster, tendered his services 
 to General Devin as a volunteer aide on his staff and was granted permission to 
 accompany him. Owing to the wooded character of the country the cavalry fought 
 dismounted. The ground was stubbornly contested until about four P. M., when a 
 
512 
 
 report was brought from the Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry that the Federal line was 
 driven back. At this time Major King was the only staff officer remaining with Gen 
 eral Devin, commanding the division, and he was requested 
 to hunt up the reserve brigade under General Gibbs and 
 hurry them to the aid of the Second Brigade. The reserve 
 was somewhere on the extreme left of the line, so, follow 
 ing the direction of the firing with all possible speed for 
 about three-quarters of a mile, the major found General 
 Gibbs, delivered his orders, and proceeded with him at once 
 to the critical position where the brigade was deployed. 
 They arrived just in time to repel a charge of the Confed 
 erate infantry and save the line from serious disaster, 
 Major King accompanying General Gibbs and participating 
 in the charge. 
 
 The fighting continued until dark, when, finding that 
 the troops he had were unequal to the task of dislodging 
 the Confederates from their strong works, General Devin 
 withdrew his forces to the neighborhood of Dinwiddie Court 
 
 House. On the following day, in consequence of the imminent danger of the train, 
 General Sheridan directed Major King to return and resume charge. 
 
 HORATIO KING, 
 
 Maj. and Quartermaster, U. 8. V. 
 
 Highest rank attained : 
 
 Brevet-Colonel, U. S. Volunteers. 
 
 Born In Portland, Maine, 
 
 December 22, 1837. 
 
 ENGINEER, SURGEON AND HERO 
 
 "THE SIEGE of Petersburg was terminated by the action of 
 April 2, 1865. Lee withdrew on the 3d, leaving Peters 
 burg and Richmond in the possession of the Union generals. 
 This scene is remarkable in the history of the Civil War for 
 the terrible losses suffered by both armies. In this fierce 
 assault of April 2d the number of Union killed and wounded 
 was estimated at 3,361, the Confederate loss being some 
 what less. 
 
 Among the many exhibitions of courage in the field and 
 valuable services rendered by officers on this occasion were 
 those of Dr. William R. D. Blackwood, of the Forty-eighth 
 Pennsylvania. The doctor had served several times as aide- 
 de-camp and as volunteer engineer officer. The inside work 
 of the Petersburg Mine, the longest and most extensive on 
 record, was largely engineered by this officer. 
 
 Early in the morning of the last assault Major Peckham, adjutant-general of the 
 brigade, was wounded in the head during a heavy attack of the enemy. He lay for 
 
 WILLIAM R. D. BLACKWOOD, 
 M. D., 
 
 Surg. ,48th Pennsylvania Inf. 
 Highest rank attained : 
 
 Brevet-Lieut.-Col. 
 
 Born at Hollywood, Ireland. 
 
 .May 12, 1838. 
 
513 
 
 some time under the Confederate guns, the shells bursting all around him, until Dr. 
 Blackwood rushed out at the risk of his life and conveyed him to shelter behind 
 some low earthworks. Almost immediately this protection was destroyed by shells, 
 which killed and wounded several who were near the spot. The doctor s efforts to 
 save Major Peckham failed, and he died within an hour. 
 
 "AT THE RISK OF HIS LIFE CONVEYED HIM TO SHELTER. 
 
 Dr. Blackwood performed a similar service in the case of Colonel G. W. Gowen 
 of his regiment, who died as he was being carried from the field, and it was for his 
 heroic efforts to save the body from destruction by the incessant shell-fire of the 
 enemy that the doctor received the Medal of Honor. 
 
 THEY CAN T DRIVE YOU OUT OF HERE 
 
 EARLY in the day on April 2, 1865, General Hartranft s Division captured a number 
 of forts around Petersburg. In the afternoon the general detailed Captain 
 Thomas W. Hoffman, of Company A, Two hundred and eighth Pennsylvania Infantry, 
 
514 
 
 who was attached to his staff as engineer, to ascertain 
 the possibility of holding the advanced position. When he 
 arrived at the front line he heard the order to fall back given 
 and saw some of the officers run to the rear in undue haste. 
 The men, too, were on the point of retreating; some of them, 
 in fact, had already turned to the rear. The idea seemed to 
 prevail that the Confederates, who were howling, shouting 
 and fighting in front like demons, were flanking the advance 
 guard. Captain Hoffman s timely arrival on the scene pre 
 vented a rout. He quickly drew his sword and yelled at the 
 top of his voice: "Don t a man of you run! They can t 
 drive you out of here ! " 
 
 This had a reassuring effect. The men regained their 
 confidence as soon as they saw that somebody was in com 
 mand, the officers returned to their posts and the lines were re-established and 
 presented such a solid front that the rebels did not even dare to make a serious 
 attack, but were satisfied after several unfruitful attempts to leave the Federals 
 masters of the field. Captain Hoffman was also brevetted lieutenant-colonel for 
 this act. 
 
 THOMAS W. HOFFMAN, 
 
 Captain. Co. A, 208th Pa. Inf. 
 
 Highest rank attained: 
 
 Brevet Lieut.-Col. U. S. Vol.*. 
 
 Born at Berrysburg, Pa., July 
 
 25, 1839. 
 
 WITH an innate love for justice and the righteous 
 ness of the Union cause seventeen-year-old 
 Charles Reeder tore away from his home in a little 
 Virginia village and joined the Union army at the 
 very outbreak of the war. This was the more praise 
 worthy as he had been reared amidst surroundings 
 which were decidedly hostile to Northern sentiment. 
 His father was a stanch follower of the Confederate 
 cause and objected to his course. But young Reeder s 
 mind was made up. In the conflict between home and 
 parents and the Union and justice he did not hesitate 
 in making his choice and decided for the latter. He 
 enlisted in the Federal Army and became a private in 
 Company G, Twelfth West Virginia Infantry. 
 
 In speaking of the action in which he won the 
 medal, he says : " In the early dawn of the morning 
 
 of April 2, 1865, we moved out from our breastworks preparatory to making a 
 charge upon Petersburg. Silence prevailed in the ranks. The enemy had not fired 
 since the evening before, thinking probably that we would not attack them, fortified 
 as they were behind strong intrenchments and a field full of mines. 
 
 CHARLES A. REEDER, 
 
 Private. Co. (i. 1-Jth West Va. Inf. 
 
 Born in Hanison Co. .West 
 
 Virginia, in 1844. 
 
515 
 
 " The first thing we did was to drag some heavy guns as close as we could to their 
 works, to force an entrance into their fortifications.- When within one hundred 
 yards we were discovered by the enemy, who at once opened a heavy fire upon us 
 with artillery. Amid this rain of shot and shell we threw up some slight fortifica 
 tions for our guns and returned shot for shot. This, however, could not last long, 
 for our defenses were slight, while those of the enemy were most formidable. Sud 
 denly a large shell from one of our guns burst in their midst, throwing the defenders 
 into momentary confusion. Such an opening was too good to be lost. 
 
 "We received the command to fix bayonets, and then, firing a volley, charged 
 right up into their lines. The assault became a severe hand-to-hand fight, every 
 man for himself. Presently I found myself in the most perilous position I had been 
 in during the war. Being to the right of Company G, I was cut off from my com 
 rades and lost in the wild confusion. Surrounded by the enemy I could only parry 
 thrusts and cuts from bayonets and sabres until almost exhausted. My determina 
 tion then was to sell my life as dearly as possible, and I clubbed right and left. A 
 color-bearer was among my assailants and he, too, received the butt of my gun. 
 Seizing the flag .from his grasp was the work of but a moment, and with it I quickly 
 ran towards my comrades, thus bringing into our lines a stand of Confederate colors." 
 
 A T ABOUT ten o clock on the night of April 1, 1865, Captain G. W. Adams, of Battery 
 -*" G, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, was detailed to select a detachment of 
 twenty men from his battery to advance with the Sixth Army Corps in its intended 
 assault on the enemy s works in front of Petersburg, Va., and with this detachment 
 take command of all the captured guns and turn them on the enemy. 
 
 Late that night Captain Adams called his battery together and asked for volun 
 teers for this hazardous duty, at the same time pointing out to them what it meant 
 to go into the enemy s works with only ramrods, sponge-staffs, lanyards, friction 
 primers and gunspikes ; that, should they be unable to work the captured guns, they 
 would have no means of defending themselves, except with these implements. 
 
 Twenty men nevertheless promptly volunteered, and at the outset of the assault, 
 when the captain asked whether any of the twenty wished to remain with the bat 
 tery, only three fell out, thus leaving seventeen to perform the duty laid out for 
 them. 
 
 At daybreak of the 2d the assaulting column moved upon the fortifications of 
 the enemy amid a shower of shot and shell with such resistless force that the works 
 were carried and the enemy driven back. Here followed the little volunteer detach 
 ment of seventeen, scaling the works and at once taking possession of twelve large 
 guns, but when they began to work them it was necessary to fire along the line of 
 works in order to drive the enemy out of the embrasures at the end of the pits, and 
 
516- 
 
 consequently only one gun, a twenty-four pounder Napoleon, could be used. It was in 
 an exposed position, and the brave cannoneers received a heavy tire from the rebels 
 in the embrasures of the forts they still retained. But the gun was kept hot by the 
 rapid fire with which the little band poured one hundred or more shots into the 
 enemy, causing them to become demoralized and retire. Some of the detachment 
 were wounded, while others were under cover, but the seven who served this gun so 
 nobly, standing up unflinchingly before the terrific fire of the enemy Sergeant 
 John H. Havron, Sergeant Archibald Molbone, Corporal James A. Barber, Corporal 
 Samuel E. Lewis, Privates Charles D. Ennis, John Corcoran and George W. Potter- 
 were rewarded for their bravery and daring with the Medal of Honor soon after this 
 eventful day. 
 
 IN FULL VIEW OF THE ENEMY 
 
 IRA H. EVANS, 
 
 Captain, Co. B, U. S. C. T. 
 
 Highest rank attained: Major. 
 
 Born in Piermont,N. H., 
 
 April 11,1844. 
 
 [N THE latter part of March, 1865, the Second Division of the 
 * Twenty-fifth Army Corps, General William Birney com 
 manding, was detached from the Army of the James and 
 moved to the left of the Sixth Army Corps, near Hatcher s 
 Run, Va., to take part in the final operations against Peters 
 burg. 
 
 On the day before the capture of the outer lines of fortifi 
 cations, General Birney was instructed to have his division 
 in readinesss for an assault on the enemy s works in front. 
 His division lay behind a low ridge, which sheltered it from 
 the view of the enemy. Beyond this ridge and well out 
 toward the enemy s works, in an open field, were rifle pits in 
 which our pickets were posted. As these rifle pits were 
 located in open ground and within short range of the enemy s 
 
 fire, the pickets could be relieved only after dark. Upon receipt of the orders stated, 
 General Birney repeated them to the members of his staff, adding that he desired 
 one of them to go out to the rifle pits at the front and learn all he could as to the 
 character and extent of the enemy s defenses, so that he might know what obstruc 
 tions his troops would encounter in making the proposed attack. He stated that 
 this mission was so perilous in its character. that he did not wish to order any officer 
 of his staff to perform it, and so asked someone to volunteer for it. 
 
 A significant silence followed these remarks. Captain Ira H. Evans of Company 
 B, U. S. Colored Troops, was acting assistant adjutant-general of the division, 
 thus holding the most important position on the staff, although he was the youngest 
 officer on it, at that time lacking a few days of being twenty-one years of age. He 
 felt that he must perform this duty and signified his willingness to do so to the 
 general. 
 
517 
 
 He dismounted, and giving his horse to an orderly went up to the top of the 
 ridge, then ran to the line of the rifle pits as rapidly as possible. His course was 
 through an open field, gently sloping toward the rebel works, so that he was in full 
 view of the enemy, who at once opened 
 a sharp musketry fire on him. He 
 reached his goal amid a shower of bullets, 
 and dropped in among the surprised 
 occupants of the rifle pit without much 
 formality. Having obtained the infor 
 mation he desired, he made his run back 
 as speedily as possible, amid another 
 shower of bullets. He was the only man 
 in the Union lines visible to the Con 
 federates at the time, and they gave him 
 their undivided attention. 
 
 REWARDED TWICE 
 
 LIEUTENANT THOMAS W. OUSTER, 
 of Company B, Sixth Michigan Cav 
 alry, distinguished himself at Namozine 
 Church, April 2d, and at Sailor s Creek, 
 Va., April 6th, by the capture of a battle- 
 flag at each place. 
 
 At Sailor s Creek Lieutenant Custer 
 leaped his horse over the enemy s lino 
 of works and fearlessly dashed up to the 
 rebel colors. When close to the color- 
 bearer he received a shot in the face which 
 knocked him backward on his horse, but in a 
 moment he was again upright in his saddle and fired 
 at the color-bearer, hitting him and causing him to reel. 
 Immediately Custer reached out and grasped the flag, 
 wrenching the standard from the color-bearer as he fell, 
 and dashed back to his lines. Here he met his brother, 
 General G. A. Custer, and called out to him : " The rebels have 
 shot me, but I ve got their flag." Instantly he set spurs to his 
 horse to charge again, but the general, realizing the severity of 
 his brother s wound, checked him, and told him to go to the rear and have it dressed. 
 This the lieutenant refused to do, whereupon General Custer ordered him under 
 arrest and to the rear, where it was found that the bullet had entered his cheek and 
 passed out behind the ear. 
 
 HE REACHED HIS 
 
 GOAL AMID A SHOWER 
 
 OF BULLETS. 
 
518 - 
 
 GALLANT VERMONTERS 
 
 T 
 
 GARDNER C. HAWKINS, 
 
 1st Lieut.. Co. E. 3d Vermont Inf. 
 
 Born in Vermont, 
 
 Feb., 1846. 
 
 Vermont Brigade, having received orders to at 
 tack Petersburg, moved promptly on the morning 
 of April 2d at the given signal. After passing over 
 about half the distance, the advancing column was ex 
 posed to a well-directed musketry fire from the front 
 and artillery fire from forts on either side, which com 
 pletely enfiladed the line and caused it to waver. This 
 was the most critical moment throughout the entire 
 engagement; day was just beginning to dawn, and very 
 soon the enemy would be able to discover the precise 
 position and movements of the assaulting column. They 
 had been apprised of the point of attack and were ap 
 parently beginning to appreciate its importance, as they 
 
 were hastening to meet it with all the strength at their command. The wavering 
 of the troops was only momentary, for there arose at the head of the column Lieu 
 tenant Gardner C. Hawkins, acting adjutant of the Third Vermont Infantry, who 
 led his men, cheering them on, until he nearly reached the enemy s works, when he 
 fell, pierced by a ball which passed through his head. Following the example of 
 the brave lieutenant, the troops again pushed on with determination. The remain 
 ing ground was passed over under a most withering fire of musketry, officers and 
 men vying with one another in the race for the works, and losing all organization 
 in their eagerness and enthusiasm to reach them. The line of abatis was swept 
 away like cobwebs, and the men swarmed over the works with yells and cheers that 
 struck terror to the fleeing rebels. 
 
 Captain Charles G. Gould, of Company H, Fifth Ver 
 mont Infantry, was the first man of the Sixth Corps to 
 mount the enemy s works. His regiment was in the first 
 line of the brigade, and in the charge he was far in 
 advance of his command. Upon mounting the works he 
 received a severe bayonet wound in the face and was 
 struck several times with clubbed muskets, but bravely 
 stood his ground, killing with his sabre the man who 
 bayoneted him, and retired from the works only after 
 his comrades had come to his assistance and routed the 
 enemy from their lines. 
 
 After crossing the works the brigade re-formed and 
 again pushed forward with all the zeal of a victorious 
 army, passing through thickets, swamps and pine woods 
 
 in pursuit of the enemy, who were being pressed so closely that they had scarcely 
 time to fire a shot. Again all organization was lost, and every man considered him- 
 
 WILLIAM J. SPERRY, 
 
 Major, 6th Vermont Infantry. 
 
 Highest rank attained : 
 
 Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel. 
 
 Born at Cavendish, Vt., Dec. 28,1840. 
 
519- 
 
 self a host. Singly, or in squads of three or four, they charged upon whatever 
 obstructions came in their paths. 
 
 Major William J. Sperry, in command of the Sixth Vermont Infantry, assisted 
 by a few men, captured two field guns and turned them upon the scattering rebels. 
 Being unable to procure friction primers, the pieces were discharged by firing a 
 musket into the vent of each. In this manner twelve rounds were fired into the 
 enemy when a section of artillery came up and the guns were turned over to its 
 commander. 
 
 A PROFITABLE RECONNOISSANCE 
 
 /CAPTAIN Augustus Merrill, of Company B, First Maine Veteran Infantry, relates in 
 ^-^ the following interesting manner how sixty-four rebels were captured by a small 
 body of skirmishers : 
 
 " After entering the enemy s works on the morning of April 2, 1865, Lieutenant- 
 Colonel S. C. Fletcher, commanding the First Maine Veteran Infantry, ordered me to 
 advance with a few volunteers to ascertain the enemy s position and strength in 
 our front. 
 
 " I took twenty men, deployed them as skirmishers, and advanced through the 
 woods, coming upon an old camp. Here I captured a lieutenant and three men 
 belonging to Hill s Corps, who informed me that slight resistance would be made 
 this side of Hatcher s Run. 
 
 " When our line advanced I pressed on, meeting no opposition, picking up the 
 rebel stragglers and sending them to the rear, until I reached Hatcher s Run and 
 found that the enemy were in position on the opposite side. Supposing that the 
 corps was following in that direction, and not having very definite instructions, I 
 determined to dislodge the Confederates from their position if possible. To my left 
 was the bridge over which the telegraph road runs, defended by strong works on the 
 other side. Near the bridge was an old wooden mill. With a small party of men 
 who volunteered for the occasion, and who belonged to five or six different regi 
 ments of this corps, I moved along the run to the right through the woods, my left 
 flank on the run. The eagerness of the men induced me to keep on some distance. 
 We came to an old dam, where we discovered indications that a crossing had been 
 made that morning, and immediately moved over by the left flank, the enemy 
 firing a few shots as we crossed. It was a dangerous place ; one man fell into the 
 run, but came out safely, however, minus his musket, leaving me fifteen armed men. 
 With these I advanced and captured the skirmish line, firing but a few shots. 
 Guarding the prisoners closely, I moved on and soon came upon a rebel guard sur 
 rounding Captain John Tifft, Ninth New York Artillery. We captured the guard 
 and released the captain, making the number of prisoners we had thus far taken 
 sixty-four, mostly Virginia sharpshooters, who told of their various raids on our 
 
520 
 
 picket line during the winter, and acted as though they would like to overpower 
 our small squad and march us off. I told them it would be useless to resist, as 
 we had a large force in the rear, and their whole line would be taken. Two of 
 my men then reconnoitered the woods and came to the open field, where they found 
 a line of battle behind the enemy s works facing the Second Corps. Their left then 
 rested on Hatcher s Run, we being directly behind them. I took the prisoners across 
 the run and marched them to the rear without being molested by the enemy. The 
 
 "I CAPTURED A LIEUTENANT AND THREE MEN." 
 
 reconnoissance was a complete success in that the information gained proved of 
 much value to our commander. 
 
 "Three of the men, who upon my request had volunteered to remain and watch 
 the movements of the enemy, captured five more prisoners, making our total sixty- 
 nine. A receipt for sixty-four was given me by the sergeant of the provost-guard, 
 Second Division, and the three other men got credit for the capture of five." 
 
521 
 
 LANGUAGE MORE FORCEFUL THAN ELEGANT 
 
 JOHN LILLEY, 
 
 Private. Co. F, 205th Penn. Inf. 
 
 Born in Oliver Township, Mifflin 
 
 County, Pa. 
 
 ASA soldier Private John Liiley, of Company F, Two 
 ** hundred and fifth Pennsylvania Infantry, was as 
 good a fighter as he was emphatic in his speech. When 
 there was an act of daring to be done on the field of 
 battle, Liiley was certain to volunteer ; when a bit of 
 repartee or a cuss-word more expressive than choice 
 passed around among the members of the regiment it 
 could always be traced to Liiley as the original source. 
 Both of these qualities gave him a certain standing 
 among his comrades, and served him well in an incident 
 at Petersburg, Va., April 2, 1865, which won for him 
 unstinted praise. 
 
 The signal to charge had been given and the troops, among them the Two hun 
 dred and fifth Pennsylvania, rushed forward. Three fortifications were taken with 
 great impetuosity and in quick succession. The Two hundred and fifth charged on 
 a fourth fortification. Presently the discovery was made that all of the commissioned 
 officers were remaining behind and the men at once fell back, but Private Liiley 
 who was in the lead, refused to follow suit. 
 
 " What ? " he shouted, "Go back ? Not by a damned sight ! I don t care whether 
 there are any officers with us or not. See that flag ? I m going to have that or 
 croak." 
 
 The colors he referred to were those on the rebel works, and, suiting the action 
 to his words, Liiley rushed on until he found himself at the side of the rebel color- 
 bearer. In an instant the private had his bayonet pointed at the rebel s breast. 
 
 " You damned reb, surrender, or I ll blow you to hell ! " 
 
 The suddenness of Lilley s appearance and attack amidst the smoke of the rifle 
 fire so completely unnerved the rebel that he stammered out : 
 
 " Yank, for God s sake, don t shoot ! " 
 
 Several others who were near by were also awed by Lilley s sudden appearance 
 and emphatic command, and when he said : " Give me that flag, and the rest 
 of you throw down your guns, or I ll make you think hell has broke loose," the 
 color-bearer and his companions wilted and complied with his request. 
 
 Liiley then stepped to their rear, and, with the captured flag in hand, said : 
 
 "Now march, and if you all don t keep up a step that will be a credit to you and 
 your lost cause, I ll fill you full of Yankee lead ! " 
 
 By a running fire of his choicest cuss-words Liiley kept the men going at a lively 
 gait in the direction of the fortification last captured, when presently and to his 
 surprise he found that there was not a Union soldier to be seen. The rebels, too, 
 noticed the absence of Union soldiers, took courage, stopped and refused to go on. 
 
522 
 
 "What?" exclaimed Lilley raising his gun, "You think you can monkey with 
 me?" Here Lilley again brought into play his whole battery of oaths, and they 
 rolled from his mouth with such ease and vehemence that this fire of oaths rather 
 than his raised rifle cowed the poor rebels into submission and they again sullenly 
 resumed the march. 
 
 " Now," said Lilley, "don t you damned rebs try to monkey with me again, or by 
 thunder I ll shoot every one of you !" 
 
 This last speech had its effect upon the men and no further rupture occurred un 
 til they had gone about half way to the fort, when a Union officer, coming out from 
 his shelter, commanded Lilley to hand over the flag. 
 
 "Like hell I will!" exclaimed the plucky private, suspecting that credit for 
 capturing it was coveted by the lieutenant. 
 
 " I am your superior officer and demand that flag," repeated the lieutenant, with 
 a supercilious air. 
 
 Flushed with anger and losing his temper, Lilley pointed his gun at him and 
 said: "I ll be damned if you get this flag!" and without further ado he marched 
 his prisoners past the lieutenant to the fort, where he turned the captured trophy 
 over to his colonel. He was about to make a little speech in his characteristic fash 
 ion, but the colonel, anticipating a flow of language punctuated with choice oaths, 
 waved his hand and smilingly said : " That s all right, Lilley, you re a brave fellow ; 
 you are relieved from duty for the day and you shall be otherwise rewarded for your 
 brave conduct." 
 
 SAVED BY HIS HORSE 
 
 T N THE last race of the Army of the Potomac, ending at 
 * Appomattox, Va., Sergeant James K. Peirsol, Company 
 F, Thirteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, was 
 acting as sergeant-major of the regiment in the absence of 
 the officer holding that rank. After participating in the 
 fr^ \ two battles of Dinwiddie Court House and Five Forks this 
 
 ^f^^^ s s^^ regiment with the rest of the cavalry swung along on the 
 Jl i^. ^ \^^ uJ left flank of Lee s retreating army until they reached Jet- 
 
 tersville, on the Richmond & Danville Railroad, forty-five 
 miles from Petersburg. Lee was then at Amelia Court 
 House, a few miles up the railroad toward Richmond. 
 On the morning of April 5th, General Davies Brigade of cavalry moved over to a 
 
 JAMES K. PEIRSOL, 
 
 Sergeant, Co. F, 13th Ohio Cav. 
 Bom in Pennsylvania, Sept., 1843. 
 
 Jettersville, Va. The First Brigade, Second Division of Sheridan s Cavalry Corps, under command of 
 General Davies, in its pursuit of Lee s fleeing army, encountered the Confederates on the morning of April 
 6, 1865, near Jettersville, Va., where the Union forces captured a wagon train and a battery of artillery. 
 In the afternoon this brigade again went into action to repel an attempt made by the enemy to reach 
 Jettersville from Amelia Springs, eight miles distant, and resisted every attack made by the enemy, with 
 but small loss. 
 
523 
 
 road farther west and captured some wagons and a battery of artillery that were 
 moving out to escape on that road. The Confederates attacked him, and the 
 Third Brigade of the division, to 
 which the Thirteenth Ohio be 
 longed, was sent to his assist 
 ance. After reaching the field 
 word came that the enemy were 
 advancing on Jettersville by way 
 of the railroad. The Thirteenth, 
 with some other regiments, was 
 hurried back to meet this attack. 
 When the railroad was reached 
 another Federal regiment was 
 formed some forty rods in front. 
 While the Thirteenth was form 
 ing its line, the Confederate cav 
 alry charged from a woods upon 
 the regiment in front. It scat 
 tered and disappeared. The Thir 
 teenth was ordered to counter 
 charge, and was followed and 
 supported by a Pennsylvania regi 
 ment. The charge was made with 
 drawn sabres and at full gallop, 
 driving the enemy into the woods 
 and along the dirt road parallel 
 with the railroad, where Peirsol 
 captured a fleeing horseman and 
 sent him under guard to the rear. 
 After pursuing the rebels for 
 some distance, there was a gen 
 eral slacking up for the purpose 
 of re-forming the line, when 
 Lieutenant Hiram Platt, of the 
 Pennsylvania regiment, dashed 
 up, and swinging his sword, said : 
 " Come on boys ; we can drive 
 them." " Well," said Peirsol, "I ll 
 go as far as you do." Platt was accompanied by two others from his regiment and 
 Peirsol by two from the Thirteenth. Being well mounted, they soon came up with 
 the still fleeing enemy as they passed out of the woods to some cleared ground. 
 Here the Confederates left the road and, crossing a fence to the left, rode to a little 
 
 "FLINGING HIMSELF ON THE HORSE S NECK TO ESCAPE 
 THE WHIZZING BULLETS." 
 
524 
 
 knoll, from which they could see re-enforcements coming near at hand, which 
 stopped their retreat. The last of them to leave the road and leap the fence was 
 the flag-bearer of an Alabama regiment. He was immediately followed by a ser 
 geant of the Thirteenth Ohio, who was with Peirsol in pursuit. As this sergeant 
 went over the fence his horse became unmanageable and ran away with him. Spur 
 ring his horse, Peirsol dashed over the fence and overtook the flag-bearer just as 
 the latter reached his comrades, who were bunched together like a flock of sheep. 
 Peirsol dropped the reins and seized the flag-staff with his left hand, raising his 
 sword in his right to defend himself and his prize. But his horse fortunately obviated 
 the necessity for further strife by wheeling and plunging furiously down the hill, 
 Peirsol flinging himself on to the horse s neck to escape the whizzing bullets that 
 flew over him. As they went over the fence into the road he lost his stirrups. 
 With neither rein nor stirrups and encumbered with the flag and staff, his sabre 
 and swinging carbine, he regained the shelter of the timber. 
 
 Two days later in a charge at the crossing of the river at High Bridge, near 
 Farmville, Va., Peirsol received a gunshot wound, but refused to leave the regiment, 
 and was present at the surrender of Lee s Army on the 9th of April at Appomattox. 
 He was then sent with the flag to Washington, D. C., where he delivered it to the 
 Secretary of War, and was rewarded with a lieutenant s commission and the Medal 
 of Honor. 
 
 "I LL STAY WITH YOU TILL YOU ARE SAFE" 
 
 ; T OWE my life to the undaunted courage and the persist 
 ency of Sergeant Stephen E. Chandler." 
 This statement is made by Corporal Eugene VanBuren, 
 of Company A, Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry, who 
 thus pays a splendid tribute to the sergeant of his company, 
 and narrates the circumstances of the rescue as follows : 
 
 "On the afternoon of April 5, 1865, General Sheridan, 
 wishing to ascertain the whereabouts of the enemy, ordered 
 a reconnoissance in the direction of Paines Cross Roads. 
 Our brigade was selected for this duty. The route we took 
 led us through a wooded country which was considerably 
 cut up by hills and valleys, and near Amelia Springs, the 
 fashionable summer resort of the south, we saw from the 
 summit of a hill Lee s wagon-train in the distance. 
 
 " We soon found a cross-road not much wider than a bridle path, which we 
 followed down through a valley, then across a stream and up the hill on the opposite 
 side. Just as we neared the top of the hill we ran into a battery of five new Arm 
 strong guns which we captured before they could fire a shot ; and at the summit we 
 found the wagon-train, 
 
 STEPHEN E. CHAiNDLZR, 
 
 Q. M.-Sergt.. Co. A, 24th N. Y. Cav. 
 
 Born in Calhoun Co., Mich., 
 
 Nov. 20, 1841. 
 
525 
 
 "Flankers were sent out in different directions, while the main body of the 
 brigade went through a couple of miles of the train. Judging from appearances 
 the train was at a standstill at the time we struck it, as fires were burning all along 
 the line with skillets and frying pans on them, in which hoe-cake and other kinds 
 of food were being cooked by the drivers and train escort ; but all was abandoned 
 in their hurry to escape. Everything in sight was captured. Orders were given to 
 fall back to the point where we captured the battery and we started on the return 
 march, but we were somewhat hampered by our prisoners, a few of our men who 
 had been wounded and by being compelled to drag along the captured guns. Our 
 progress was retarded to such an extent that the enemy s cavalry began to crowd 
 us, and it was found necessary to form a line of battle in an open field near Amelia 
 Springs. 
 
 " No sooner was the line of battle formed than a rebel cavalry division made its 
 appearance, and when at a distance of forty rods opened fire. In the subsequent 
 fighting quite a number were wounded, among them Lieutenant-Colonel Richards, 
 who commanded our regiment, and I. Sergeant Chandler s horse was struck in the 
 forehead by a ball, the sergeant himself narrowly escaping death. He removed his 
 personal effects from the saddle and hastened to the assistance of the wounded 
 colonel. I saw him and said : For God s sake, Chan, help me off the field. I m 
 wounded and can t walk. He at once came to my aid, and after examining my 
 wound said : Let s get out of this as quickly as we can and go to some place 
 where we can get help, or you ll bleed to death. He helped me to my feet and W T C 
 started for the rear. About this time the regiment was ordered to fall back to a 
 new position, leaving Chandler and me between the fires. The bullets flew like hail 
 around us. Chan, I said, you will be shot or taken prisoner. I ve got my death 
 wound anyw r ay. You d better lay me down and save yourself. 
 
 " I ll never do that, his reply was. No, my boy, I ll stay with you till you are 
 safe or we both go down. 
 
 " A cavalry regiment of the enemy attempted to charge our men and were driven 
 to the cover of the woods. Bullets were whistling over our heads and around us 
 from both directions. How we ever escaped being riddled is more than I can tell. 
 However, we struggled along slowly, I being too weak to go any faster. After much 
 difficulty we finally reached the rear, where the regimental surgeon bandaged my 
 wound, which stopped the flow of blood to some extent. Just then our men were 
 compelled to fall back once more. 
 
 " Chandler took me by the arm and helped me along for a short distance, when I 
 became so greatly exhausted that I could walk no farther. I despaired completely. 
 Chan, I said again, go on now ; save yourself. I can t hold out any longer. I 
 laid down, but Chandler remained and sat down at my side. I pleaded with him to 
 give up all further attempts to save me and think of his own safety. You ve done 
 enough for me. See how those bullets are flying again. Protect your own life ; I 
 can t live anyway. 
 
527 
 
 "Just then a cavalryman whose horse was played out came along. Chandler 
 asked him to let him have the animal and he complied cheerfully : You can have 
 her, certainly. She s played out. I can go faster on foot. Chandler now helped 
 me on the horse. I laid down over the pommel of the saddle, and thus we started 
 along at a slow gait, Chandler constantly urging the horse forward. Soon after we 
 were joined by Privates John Smith and George Back, of our company, who walked 
 at the horse s side and held on to me, while Chandler led the horse. 
 
 " The enemy, outnumbering our forces, had by this time gotten on our flank and 
 tried to cut us off, keeping up a terrific fire. Chandler found a stretcher, I can t 
 remember where, and I, being then too weak to ride any farther, was placed on it 
 and carried, Chandler keeping up the courage of his comrades by joking about the 
 poor marksmanship of the Johnnies. 
 
 "Passing a farm barn they found an old buggy. Again I was removed and placed 
 in the vehicle, so that I lay flat on my back with my feet dangling down at the 
 rear. 
 
 "They were about to start off with me, hauling the buggy by hand, when 
 Chandler, who was untiring in his efforts for my comfort, obtained a horse from a 
 wounded cavalryman. Securing a collar and a pair of names from the barn he 
 hitched the animal to the wagon by means of pieces of rope used for traces. 
 
 "By this time the rebels were close upon us. They shouted Halt ! and fired at 
 us, but Chandler set the improvised though none too comfortable ambulance in 
 motion and off we started, over ditches and across fields, as fast as the horse could 
 travel, the boys at some places where we were going down hill hanging to the 
 buggy to keep it off the horse s heels. 
 
 " In this manner we soon reached a place of safety, where I found proper medi 
 cal care and treatment. I certainly owe my life to the courage and persistency of 
 my brave sergeant." 
 
 Leo s Surrender. On the morning of the 3d of April, after the fall of Petersburg, the flight of the 
 Confederate army and its pursuit began about the same time. Lee pushed toward Amelia Court House, 
 Sheridan pushed for the Danville Road, keeping near the Appomattox River, followed by Meade with the 
 Second and Sixth Corps, while Ord moved for Burkeville along the South Side Road; the Ninth Corps 
 stretched along the road behind him. On the 4th Sheridan struck the Danville Road near Jettersville, 
 where he learned that Lee was at Amelia Court House. He immediately entrenched himself and awaited 
 the arrival of General Meade, who reached there next day. General Ord reached Burkeville on the evening 
 of the 5th. On the morning of the 6th it was found that Lee was moving west of Jettersville toward Danville. 
 Sheridan moved with his cavalry to strike his flank, followed by the Sixth Corps, while the Second and 
 Fifth pressed hard after, forcing him to abandon several hundred wagons and several pieces of artillery. 
 General Ord advanced, in the meantime from Burkeville toward Farmville, where Loo s column was de 
 tained by General Read with a small force of infantry and cavalry. In the afternoon Sheridan struck the 
 enemy south of Sailors Creek, and detained him until the Sixth Corps got up, when a general attack was 
 made, which resulted in the capture of 6,000 prisoners. 
 
 Lee s chances of escape were now growing less and less, and on the 7th Grant opened communication 
 with him, but while Grant was awaiting a reply, Lee kept up his retreat and thus gained a night s march. 
 On the 8th Grant continued the pursuit. Sheridan gained Appomattox Station and cut off Lee s supplies, 
 as well as his way of escape, and on the 9th General Lee requested a suspension of hostilities and an 
 interview with Grant, which resulted in the surrender of Lee s Army of Northern Virginia. 
 
528 - 
 
 EDWARD P. TOBIE, 
 
 Sergeant-Major, 1st Me. Cav. 
 
 Born at Lewiston. Me., 
 
 March IN. 1S38. 
 
 FRANCIS M. CUNNINGHAM, 
 
 First Sergeant, Co. H, 1st \V. Va. 
 
 Vet. Cav. 
 
 Born in Somerset Co., Pa., 
 Dec. 21,1837. 
 
 HARRIS S. HAWTHORN, 
 
 Private, Co. F, 121st N. Y. Inf. 
 Bom at Salem, N. Y., 1832. 
 
 HUMOR, PERSISTENCY, GALLANTRY 
 
 " C OR i x days we had 
 been pounding 
 at the rebels and for 
 six days they had been 
 pounding at us," says 
 Sergeant Francis Mar 
 ion Cunningham of Co. 
 H, First West Virginia 
 Cavalry. " In fact, the 
 pounding seemed to be 
 one of the most popu 
 lar pastimes. It was 
 on the afternoon of 
 April 6th that we again 
 came up with them in 
 a strong position on the thickly wooded banks of Sailor s Creek. They were behind 
 rude fortifications and the thick growth of underbrush kept their numbers concealed 
 from us. We didn t know how many rebels there were in those ditches until 
 we charged. Then we got the information in the most convincing manner all along 
 our line. I was one of the men lowered to terra firma swiftly, my fine black charger 
 being killed under me. We were repulsed, and as we fell back over logs and inter 
 leaving vines, the rebel volleys continued thinning out the ranks. Men and beasts 
 were floundering together in the dense thicket. 
 
 "I groped about with my eyes blinded with the smoke and fortunately bumped 
 squarely into a phlegmatic mule with a Confederate saddle on. He was taking in 
 the scenery in the most nonchalant manner and modifying the ennui of the situa 
 tion by actually grazing there in that screaming pandemonium of exploding shells. 
 
 "His saddle was slippery with the life-blood of some luckless reb who had fallen 
 beneath one of our scattering volleys. There wasn t much time to talk the thing 
 over with the mule. I mounted him and hurried back through the woods to the 
 clearing, where our forces were rallying. 
 
 " In going back through the woods I made several observations pertinent to the 
 disposition and qualifications of that mule. Of all his shining attainments two stood 
 
 Sailor s Creek. When Richmond fell Lee s only chance lay in escape. He had ordered rations sent to 
 Amelia Court House, but when his retreating troops arrived there on the 4th of April they found no food, 
 and were compelled to forage through the already devastated country for nearly twenty-four hours. On 
 the night of the 5th Lee made a new start from Amelia Court House in an endeavor to escape Grant and 
 set out for Lynchburg. Continual fighting ensued en route on the 6th, but Lee suffered his greatest loss 
 at Sailor s Creek, when Sheridan broke into his fugitive lines, captured Ewell s Corps and routed Gordon 
 and his men in utter confusion. The Federal losses were 1,200 killed and wounded ; the Confederate 
 losses, 7,000 killed, wounded and taken prisoners. 
 
529 
 
 out as conspicuously as his ears. He could run very fast and I think he must have 
 broken his own record while I rode him. 
 
 " He could jump like a steeplechaser and he seemed rather to prefer taking a four- 
 foot stump to passing around it. 
 
 "Just as I reached the rallying troops the bugle sounded Charge again and back 
 we went at those breastworks over stumps and 
 through drooping branches. It took my mule 
 just about four jumps to show that in an 
 obstacle race he could outclass all others. 
 He laid back his ears and frisked over 
 logs and flattened out like a jackrabbit, 
 when he had a chance to sprint. 
 Soon I was 
 ahead, far ahead 
 
 
 ! 
 
 1 SWITCHED HIS TAIL AND SAILED RIGHT OVER AMONG THE REBS ." 
 
 of the rest of the boys. That mule never even stopped when he came to the breast 
 works. He switched his tail and sailed right over among the rebs, landing near a 
 rebel color-bearer of the Twelfth Virginia Infantry. 
 
 " About all that I can remember of what followed was. that the mule and I went 
 after him. The color-bearer was a big brawny chap and he put up a game fight. 
 But that mule had some new side steps and posterior upper-cuts that put the reb 
 out of the game, 
 
530 
 
 "A sabre slash across the right arm made him drop his colors and I grabbed them 
 before they touched the ground." 
 
 The foregoing incident, humorously told by Sergeant Cunningham, was witnessed 
 by General Custer, who was so delighted with the plucky cavalryman s valorous deed 
 that he at once placed him on his staff, and later recommended him for the Medal 
 of Honor. During his encounter with the color-bearer, Sergeant Cunningham was 
 severely dealt with by rebels in the immediate vicinity, who succeeded in wounding 
 him twice before he captured the rebel colors. 
 
 Sergeant-Major Edward P. Tobie s devotion to duty is exemplified by his conduct 
 on the 6th of April at Sailor s Creek and on the 7th at Farmville. 
 
 Lieutenant T. Little, adjutant of the First Maine Cavalry, was wounded in the 
 first charge of General Smith s Third Brigade on the 6th, and shortly after his suc 
 cessor, Lieutenant J. W. Poor, met a like fate, whereupon Colonel Cilly detailed 
 Sergeant Tobie to assume the duties of adjutant. Just as the regiment started on 
 the final charge that day which resulted so disastrously for the enemy a bullet 
 pierced Tobie s foot and threw him to the ground. With great difficulty he hobbled 
 to the rear, but upon recovering his horse, which had been caught by the colonel s 
 orderly, he mounted it and started for the field hospital, where he had his wound 
 bandaged. The surgeon advised him to stay in the rear, but finding his wound not 
 to be serious he rejoined his regiment, reaching it in time to go on a scout through 
 the woods. The regiment was on the march early next day, the plucky sergeant 
 with it, and though his foot pained him greatly he did not hesitate and stay behind 
 when the charge into the village of Farmville was made. He rode at the front of 
 the second battalion with Major Hall, and dashing through the village put to rout 
 a superior force of the enemy. In this charge Sergeant Tobie was again wounded, 
 the bullet passing through his leg, killing his horse ; but upon finding that the 
 wound was not serious, he had it bandaged and a second time rejoined his regiment, 
 having in the meantime procured another horse. That night found him with his 
 regiment on its march to Appomattox, where for a third time he was, in a wounded 
 condition, engaged with the enemy. 
 
 The One hundred and twenty-first New York Volunteer Infantry took an active 
 part in the repulse of General E well s forces when they were endeavoring to recap 
 ture the wagon train Custer had taken only a few hours before, and one of its 
 members, Private Harris S. Hawthorn, of Company F, greatly distinguished himself 
 in the charge by capturing, single-handed, General Custis Lee. Because of the con 
 spicuous nature of this capture Colonel Egbert Olcott, commanding the regiment, 
 detailed Hawthorn as one of the men to conduct the noted rebel general to the 
 headquarters of General Wheaton. 
 
 " See the Johnnies down there ! " " Why doesn t the bugle sound the Charge ? " 
 " You ll hear it soon enough." These were some of the remarks passed along the 
 
531 
 
 CHARLES A. TAGGART, 
 
 Private, Co. B.:i7th Mass. Inf. 
 
 Born at North Blanford, 
 
 Mass., Jan. 17, 1843. 
 
 LLEWELLYN P. NORTON, 
 
 Sergt., co. L, 10th N. Y. Cav. 
 Highest rank attained : 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel. 
 
 Born at Scott, N. Y., May 11, 
 
 1837. 
 
 HUGH P. BOON, 
 
 Capt., Co. B, 1st W. Va. Cav. 
 
 Born at Washington, Pa., 
 
 July 28, 1834. 
 
 line as Ouster s men 
 stood to horse at Sail 
 or s Creek on the morn 
 ing of April 6, 1865, 
 and saw the enemy 
 throw up breastworks 
 of logs, rails and earth. 
 
 "Boys, you ll hear 
 that bugle soon 
 enough," said Captain 
 Hugh P. Boon, of Com 
 pany B, First West 
 Virginia Cavalry, and 
 soon the command 
 came : " Mount, right 
 dress, forward march." 
 
 "When about 400 yards from the enemy s position," says Captain Boon, "the 
 bugle sounded the charge, and away we went. When our line had reached the 
 enemy s works I saw a battalion of their infantry a short distance to the right, and 
 my command being on the extreme right I wheeled it out of line and charged the 
 rebels. In the clash that followed I cut down the color-bearer and captured the 
 colors of the Tenth Georgia Infantry ; but I admit I felt scared when I realized what 
 I had done. Had I failed in checking and routing this rebel battalion I should, in 
 all probability, have been cashiered and dishonorably dismissed the service for leav 
 ing the line of battle. 
 
 " But my action had been witnessed by one of the superior officers, who judged 
 that I had acted correctly." 
 
 When General Davies Brigade made a mounted charge on the enemy s breast 
 works, Sergeant Llewellyn P. Norton, of Company L, Tenth New York Cavalry, 
 leaped his horse over the embankment and was one of the first to enter the Confed 
 erate works. The onslaught was terrific and many of the enemy threw down 
 their weapons and surrendered, while others ran to the rear. Sergeant Norton 
 pushed on in an effort to capture all the retreating rebels possible and soon came 
 upon a detachment of six men working at a gun in a ravine about one hundred 
 yards distant from General Ewell and his staff. Thinking that the men were 
 attempting to spike the piece before retreating and that he might save it to the 
 Union forces, he rode boldly toward them and ordered them to surrender. One of 
 the men ran, but the remaining five, seizing their muskets with bayonets fixed, pre 
 pared to meet the assault of the brave cavalryman. With one upward stroke of his 
 sabre he disarmed two of his antagonists, and before they could recover themselves 
 he struck them to the ground. 
 
 At this juncture Corporal Andrew Bringle, of Co. F, came to his assistance and 
 
532- 
 
 the rebels laid down their arms and surrendered. Bringle then took them to the 
 rear, while Norton stood guard over the gun until after dark, w T hen a team from 
 General Davies headquarters came after the piece and drew it off the field. 
 
 Sergeant Norton was promoted to sergeant-major and brevetted first lieutenant, 
 and he and Bringle were awarded the Medal of Honor. 
 
 Singular in the records of the Medal of Honor is the fact that Sergeant Norton s 
 medal could not be presented to him until May, 1888, although it had been awarded 
 July 5, 1865. This happened because Norton s whereabouts after being mustered 
 out could not be learned by the War Department. Only by mere chance Norton saw 
 in Appleton s Cyclopedia that he was rewarded with a Medal of Honor, and prompt 
 inquiry brought the much coveted decoration. 
 
 During a lull in the desperate hand-to-hand struggle of this memorable day, 
 Private Charles A. Taggart, of Company B, Thirty-seventh Massachusetts Infantry, 
 stepped out about twenty paces to the front of his regiment and up a slight rise 
 of ground, from which place he saw a squad of about twenty rebels in a low, pro 
 tected spot firing on the men to his right. Taking shelter behind a tree near by he 
 fired several shots into their midst, when to his surprise he observed a rebel flag 
 among them. Immediately he started for their color-bearer, demanding the sur 
 render of the flag, which he grasped, and in the struggle for its possession he found 
 himself assisted by another Union man, who had also seen the colors and who was in 
 tent upon their capture. The two wrested them from the rebel, but Taggart s comrade 
 was shot down, while he, taking advantage of an opening, rushed back with the colors 
 into the Union lines. Unfortunately the Federals took him for a leader of a rebel 
 charge and it was miraculous that he escaped with but one slight wound on his right 
 leg. 
 
 A NOBLE SACRIFICE 
 
 WILLIAM LUDGATE, 
 
 Capt., Co. G, 59th N. Y. Vet. Vols. 
 Highest rank att d: Bvt.-Maj. 
 Born in London, Eng., in 1837. 
 
 CAPTAIN William Ludgate, of Co. G, Fifty-ninth New 
 York Veteran Volunteers, was a prisoner of war for 
 a period of two days. He was captured in the vicinity of 
 Farmville, Va., April 7th, and released April 9th, when Lee 
 surrendered his army. 
 
 The occasion on which Captain Ludgate lost his liberty 
 was a fight near a railroad bridge, two miles from Farm 
 ville. General Barlow, commanding the First Brigade, 
 Second Division, Second Army Corps, asked for an officer 
 
 Farmville, Va. During the pursuit of Lee s Army General Ord advanced from Burkeville toward Farm 
 ville, sending two regiments of infantry and a squadron of cavalry, under Brevet Brigadier-General Theodore 
 Read, to reach and destroy the bridges. This advance met the head of Lee s column near Farmville, which 
 it heroically attacked and detained until General Read was killed and his small force overpowered. This 
 caused a delay in the enemy s movements, and enabled General Ord to get well up with his force. 
 
533 
 
 to volunteer with a small squad of men to prevent the enemy from burning the 
 railroad bridge, as it was to serve the Union troops as a means of crossing the river. 
 
 Captain Ludgate volunteered for the duty and selected Lieutenant Bigley and 
 twelve men from his company to go with him. 
 
 "After marching for about two miles, the captain narrates, "we came in sight 
 of the railroad bridge. Owing to the steep bank, about twenty feet high on either 
 side, I could not see anything of the enemy, and ordered my men to proceed to the 
 bridge at a double-quick. Just then my attention was called to a Union soldier 
 some distance away who was waving his flag frantically as a signal for us to return. 
 The signal came too late, for the enemy had already opened fire from their protected 
 position on the steep bank. Our men were completely taken by surprise, wavered 
 and were about to retreat, when I managed to reassure and rally them. 
 
 " Some of the rebels, bolder than the others, ran down the embankment to the 
 ravine where we were, eager to make the capture of our small squad. They met 
 with disappointment ; we captured every one of them. I then ordered my men to 
 the top of the embankment and opened a fierce fire on the Confederates. Although 
 we were finally surrounded on all sides by a force ten times larger than our own, 
 my men stood their ground with heroic courage, never yielding an inch, making 
 every shot tell and compelled to give in only when the last round of ammunition 
 was expended. Then we surrendered, to be set free again two days later." 
 
 CAPTURE OF FORT BLAKELY 
 
 LOYD WHEATON, 
 
 Lieut.-Col.,8th Illinois Inf. 
 
 Highest rank attained: 
 
 Major-Gen., U.S. V. 
 
 Bom in Calhoun Co., Mich., 
 
 July 15, 1838. 
 
 CORT BLAKELY, Ala., was a place inclosed 
 by a line of works about two miles ia 
 extent, composed of redoubts constructed 
 of earth and timber, with ditches in front, 
 which redoubts connected by continuous 
 rifle pits with salients and stockade work, 
 making a continuous line from the Con 
 federates left, on the Tensas River, to their 
 right, which rested on an impassable swamp 
 and thicket. The two principal avenues 
 of approach were known as the Stockton 
 and Pensacola Roads. The redoubts com 
 manded the ground in their front, and had 
 an enfilading fire on portions of the roads 
 
 HENRY C. MERRIAM, 
 
 Lieut.-Colonel, 73d U. S. C. T. 
 Highest rank attained: 
 
 Major-Gen., U. S. A. 
 Born in Maine, Nov. 13, 1837. 
 
 and a cross-fire on almost every point of them within the range of their guns. Three 
 
 Fort Blakely. The investment of FortBlakely and Spanish Fort, Ala., was completed on the 5th of April, 
 1865, and was carried on until the afternoon of the 9th, when a concerted assault was made on Blakely by 
 seven divisions under command of General R. S. Canby, which resulted in the capture of numerous flags, 
 all the armament, material and supplies, and 3,700 prisoners, three of whom were generals, and 197 com 
 missioned officers of lower grade. Prior to this assault, Spanish Fort was attacked and when it fell the 
 Confederates, under cover of darkness, escaped to Blakely and Mobile. 
 
-534 
 
 marshy ravines, entering the works at different points, were obstructed by fallen 
 timber and traversed by stockades which connected with the rifle pits on the other 
 side. The fortifications were mounted with heavy and light guns. Three lines of 
 abatis encircled the works, and outside of these were rifle pits for sharpshooters. 
 
 After a short siege this fort was assaulted and carried on the 9th of April, 1865. 
 The time for the assault was set for 5:30 in the afternoon. 
 Precisely at that hour Lieutenant-Colonel Victor Vif- 
 quain, commanding the Ninety-seventh Illinois In 
 fantry, gave the command : " Forward, Ninety- 
 seventh ! " and with irresistible dash they ad 
 vanced and sprang with him over the para 
 pet, with loud cheers charging the line as 
 skirmishers upon the enemy. Colonel 
 Vifquain made for the rebel battle- 
 flag on the works, with his color- 
 company at his heels, and being 
 the first man upon the works 
 immediately cut the halyard 
 with his sword and pulled it 
 down, while his color- 
 bearer planted the 
 Union flag be 
 side the rebel jfl 
 staff. For a 
 moment Vif 
 quain was 
 hidden by the 
 folds of the 
 victorious 
 banner min 
 gling with 
 those of the 
 rebel stand 
 ard and when 
 he had freed 
 himself from 
 their folds he 
 found his brave color-bearer lying by his side pierced with a bullet. 
 
 The Eighth Illinois Infantry, commanded and led on the right wing by Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Loyd Wheaton, in its assault upon the works dashed up the salient, from 
 which a constant and fierce fire of artillery was kept up from a number of pieces, and 
 about five minutes after the charge commenced the regiment ascended the parapet 
 
 ENTERED THE EMBRASURE OF A 30-POUNDER PARROTT GUN. 
 
535 
 
 HENRY C. NICHOLS, 
 
 Captain, Co. E, 73d U. S. C.T. 
 
 Born at Brandon, Vt., April 
 
 20, 1832. 
 
 of the rebel works. Its brave colonel entered the embrasure of a thirty-pounder 
 Parrott gun, accompanied by Sergeant Switzer of Company B, and was the first man 
 of the regiment to enter the enemy s works. The firing of the guns was at an end 
 as soon as he made his appearance, but the rebel infantry 
 tried hard to maintain their ground and their fire was 
 murderous. 
 
 "In front of my regiment, the Seventy-third U. S. Col 
 ored Infantry, Lieutenant-Colonel Merriam commanding," 
 says Captain Henry C. Nichols, of Company C, " was the 
 enemy s outer works an abatis and at the roots of the 
 trees of which the abatis was formed was a line of rifle pits 
 occupied by the enemy for the protection of the fort, on 
 which were mounted six heavy guns, and two mortars in 
 the rear. Between our pits and the abatis was a muddy 
 ravine with a small brook at the bottom, a sharp descent 
 from our pits to the brook, then a plain, gradually ascend 
 ing to the fort. About five o clock, Colonel Merriam 
 
 ordered an assault on the outer works by four companies, which was made in fine 
 style, driving the enemy into their main works. 
 
 " The fire from the fort was terrific, and was kept up after the assault, in an 
 attempt to dislodge our men who were lying down on our side of the abatis, quite 
 exposed. It was at this time that I volunteered to make a reconnoissance, the 
 colonel wishing to know the nature of the ground he was about to charge over. I 
 ran down into the ravine and reaching the left of the abatis stopped to get my 
 
 breath. After resting about a minute I climbed into the 
 branches of a tree and surveyed the field with my glasses. 
 I found the ground favorable for the assault, and returning 
 to my command on a run reported to this effect to the 
 colonel. 
 
 " Colonel Merriam then obtained permission to charge 
 the main works the fort and made the assault, followed 
 five or ten minutes later by the rest of the colored division, 
 capturing the works on a run. The ground we traversed 
 and which I had explored had been planted with torpedoes, 
 but this arrangement of the enemy I was not able to detect 
 while on my reconnoissance." 
 
 Captain Samuel McConnell, of Company H, One hun 
 dred and nineteenth Illinois Infantry, tells in the following 
 interesting manner how he captured a Confederate flag in this battle : 
 
 "I had orders to lead the regiment with my company, our formation for the 
 assault being in double rank, one rank about six paces behind the other, with the 
 line of battle coming up fifty paces in the rear. 
 
 SAMUEL McCONNEL, 
 Captain, Co. H, 119th 111. Inf. 
 
536 
 
 "In this order we advanced against the fort, the bullets and shells mowing down 
 our companions with merciless precision. My clothing was cut in several places 
 by bullets, and when I reached the breastworks I had only one man of my company, 
 Private Wagner, w r ith me. The others went over a little distance away from us. 
 At the point where we reached the breastworks was an angle containing three large 
 
 guns, which were dealing out death at an alarming rate, 
 and making the atmosphere so smoky that we could see for 
 only a short distance. Nevertheless w y e at once began to 
 scale the breast work, and had almost reached the top when 
 the guns were run out for another discharge. We were 
 so close to the muzzles of the guns that when they were 
 discharged the air pressure thus created knocked us back 
 into the ditch. But we immediately sprang up and man 
 aged to climb over the works before the rebels could reload. 
 "Seeing us come over the breastwork, the gunners 
 turned and fled, and some surrendered, leaving us in undis- 
 
 THOMAS H. L. PAYNE. 
 
 1st Lieut. -Quartermaster, pUtCd. pOSSCSSlOn. 
 
 Highest rank attaint: capt. " We started to our left and soon came in rear of what 
 
 BO" at Boston, Mass. Oct. seemed to be a color-guard with a flag. When within 
 
 about thirty paces they faced about and fired on us, but their shots missed. I then 
 fired the last shot from my revolver, hitting the color-bearer, and as the rest fled, 
 rushed up and captured the colors. 
 
 "Down at Mobile, Ala., I was decorated with the Medal of Honor in the presence 
 of my regiment in front of General Smith s headquarters, and I enjoy the pleasant 
 sensations of that day yet." 
 
 First Lieutenant Thomas H. L. Payne, quartermaster of the Thirty-seventh Illinois 
 Infantry, not wishing to remain behind during the assault on the fort, asked to be 
 assigned to the command of Company B, which was without a commissioned officer. 
 He says : 
 
 " When the bugle sounded we rose out of our rifle pits. Having advanced our 
 lines the preceding night, we were about five hundred yards from the fort, and 
 before the rebels could depress their guns sufficiently to train them upon us we 
 had pressed forward and were well across the open space, had reached the fort and 
 were climbing as best we could upon it. 
 
 "We had to climb over lines of brush and trees piled very high and then 
 across a wide, deep, dry moat, filled with brush, before we could get a foothold 
 on the works. All the ground over which we charged was covered with hidden 
 torpedoes, making it doubly dangerous. I struck out for a corner of the earth 
 works, shouting, This way, Company B! and luckily found a place where a 
 fallen tree formed a foot-bridge across the moat. I crossed upon this and a 
 few of my company followed. In a minute I found myself inside the works 
 within a few feet of a number of Confederate gunners. I ordered them to 
 
537 
 
 surrender as the boys came rushing along, and they actually seemed glad to do so. 
 I think that perhaps for a couple of minutes I was the only man of our regiment 
 upon or within the works. 
 
 " As our color-bearer, Sergeant Morrell, could not get upon the works, I took the 
 flag from him, planted it on the side of the fort and held it until he climbed up, and 
 thus the flag of the Thirty-seventh Illinois was the first on the fort." 
 
 BOLD CAPTURE OF THE BRIDGE 
 
 "\ \ /"E LEFT Gravelly Springs, Ala., some time about the mid- 
 ^ t |i e O f March, 1865, on the Wilson Raid in pursuit of 
 General Forrest," Private Richard H. Cosgriff, of Company L, 
 Fourth Iowa Cavalry, narrates, " and overtook him at Selma, 
 Ala. After a brisk engagement we drove him from there to 
 Montgomery and thence to Columbus, Ga., on the Chattahoochee 
 River, where he fortified himself. 
 
 "There were three bridges across the river. Forrest had 
 burned two of them, leaving one for the use of his army, in 
 case of retreat, as part of his force was on the Alabama side of 
 the river, intrenched opposite Columbus. 
 
 " The remaining bridge was a wooden affair, covered with 
 a partition running through it lengthwise. The Alabama side, 
 on which we were posted, was protected by earthworks manned 
 by infantry. At the Columbus end two pieces of artillery were planted to prevent 
 a capture by our troops, while the structure itself was guarded by about 150 men 
 and piled with inflammable material, ready to be fired. 
 
 " We arrived opposite Columbus on the night of April 16th, and commenced an 
 attack on the earthworks at the left of the bridge. Our object was to cross the 
 river to Columbus, and in order to do so it was necessary to first capture the bridge. 
 This had to be done by surprising the sentinels who guarded it, for should we have 
 carried the earthworks first they would have set fire to the bridge at once and thus 
 block our game. 
 
 " About ten o clock that night General Wilson called for two hundred volunteers 
 to make an assault and I stepped into line with those who responded to the call. 
 
 RICHARD H. COSGRIFF, 
 
 Private, Co. L, 4th Iowa Cav. 
 
 Born at Dunkirk, N. Y., 
 
 1845. 
 
 Wilson s Raid. In March, 1865, two well equipped cavalry expeditions were sent out from Thomas 
 Department in Tennessee ; one under General James H. Wilson to operate in Alabama, the other under 
 General George Stoneman to cut off Lee s last avenue of escape. Wilson s Raid, which began on the 23d of 
 March, included engagements and skirmishes at Trion, Centreville, Bogler s Creek and Plantersville, Ala., 
 and the battle near Selma, Ala., where Wilson fought Forrest, defeating him and taking 3,000 prisoners. 
 On the 2d of April Wilson captured Selma, destroying the arsenal for arms and military stores. From 
 here the raid continued until the 23d, Wilson devastating everything in his course. His losses during this 
 raid were less than 700 in killed and wounded, while the Confederates lost 1,200 killed and wounded and 
 nearly 7,000 taken prisoners. 
 
538 
 
 We were ordered to ride over the two lines of earthworks in front of the brigade at 
 full speed and not fire a shot, but dash on and capture the guard on the bridge. 
 
 " We did as ordered and went right over the breastworks. Here we dismounted, 
 turned our horses loose, rushed on to the bridge and captured the guards before they 
 knew who we were. 
 
 Then taking half a dozen of the prisoners we marched them across ahead of about 
 fifty of us and told them that if they uttered a word or gave any alarm we would 
 shoot them down, and furthermore they were ordered to give the guard at the other 
 end of the bridge the countersign. 
 
 "It was a very dark night and under the covered bridge it was impossible to dis 
 tinguish Yank from Johnny. Our prisoners acted according to our instructions 
 and when they gave the countersign we pushed them aside and rushed for the guns, 
 and, though surprised, the rebels gave us a sharp hand-to-hand fight for about fifteen 
 minutes. One of my opponents was the color-bearer, who fought hard to save his 
 colors, but I succeeded in downing him and seized the flag. We drove them back 
 and captured the two guns, which we found to be double-shotted, but they never 
 got a chance to fire them." 
 
 CHARLES M. BETTS, 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel, 15th Penn. Cav. 
 Born in Bucks Co.. Pa., Aug. 9, 1838. 
 
 " A BOUT the middle of April, 1865," says Lieutenant- 
 * Colonel Charles M. Betts, of the Fifteenth Pennsyl 
 vania Cavalry, " General William J. Palmer had arrived 
 at Salem, N. C., with a portion of his cavalry division, 
 among which were two battalions of our regiment under 
 command of Major Garner and Captain Kramer, and 
 shortly thereafter General Palmer directed me to attempt 
 the destruction of a railroad bridge north of Greensboro, 
 as well as a factory to the south engaged in the manu 
 facture of fire-arms for the Confederacy. Greensboro was 
 some seventy-five miles east of Salem, and was occupied by a rebel force estimated 
 at 5,000, whose attention it would be necessary to divert to accomplish the work 
 assigned to me. 
 
 "Boots and saddles was soon sounded and we started off in the early evening 
 accompanied by a guide. About two o clock A. M. I detached Major Garner with 
 the most of his command to destroy the bridge north, and directed Captain Kramer 
 to take his battalion and capture and burn the factory. Retaining about ninety 
 men with me I advanced to make a demonstration against Greensboro. 
 
 " Soon after daylight, when within a few miles of the place, I learned from a 
 negro in the field that a portion of Johnson s Third South Carolina Cavalry was 
 
540 
 
 encamped about half a mile to our right, the balance scouting to ascertain the 
 whereabouts of the Yankee cavalry, of whose approach they had been apprised. 
 The rebel camp was in an open wood on the left of a road running at right angles 
 to the main road which led from Salem to Greensboro, and adjoining this road was 
 a meadow separated from the woods by a sharp declivity and a fence. The command 
 had no pickets out, depending on their scouting parties to notify them of any 
 danger, and were then cooking breakfast. After a short conference with Adjutant 
 Reiff and Lieutenant Beck, who, I believe, were the only officers of the party besides 
 myself, I detailed a sergeant with ten men having good horses to take the advance 
 and charge when in sight of the camp, making all the noise possible, the balance to 
 follow in support. Those who had horses unfit to charge were instructed to barricade 
 the main road where we turned to the right to reach the camp, and to protect 
 our rear. 
 
 "We made the charge, surprised the camp, and after the exchange of some shots 
 the enemy broke and fied to the neighboring meadow, which we reached by moving 
 out to the main road. There they had cover from a deep ditch, but being threatened 
 with no quarter without surrender, they threw down their arms and were taken 
 prisoners. 
 
 " After eating what they had prepared, \ve cut the wheels of their wagons, destroyed 
 what arms and equipage they had, and mounted the prisoners on the poorest horses, 
 taking their fresh ones in exchange. Upon drawing them up in line I found I had 
 almost as many prisoners as I had men in my command. I told them that our guard 
 had instructions to shoot without notice anyone attempting to escape, and moved 
 my force and prisoners out to the main road. We fed our horses, and waited long 
 enough for the rebel force at Greensboro to be informed of our presence by any that 
 might have escaped, thereby hoping to prevent them sending any of their force to 
 oppose our battalions north and south. 
 
 "I had been instructed to attempt the destruction of a small railroad bridge on 
 the outskirts of Greensboro, and sent Sergeant Seldon L. Wilson and a detail of ten 
 men with good horses on this mission. He succeeded in burning the bridge and 
 without loss rejoined the command the same night at Salem. 
 
 "When starting back I detached Sergeant Strickler with ten men for advance 
 guard to attack vigorously any force in front, placing a like number in our rear to 
 drive off anything coming in that direction. This left me about fifty men to guard 
 nearly twice that number of prisoners. We were twice threatened by small parties 
 of rebel cavalry on the road, but drove them off without difficulty. When we 
 reached the rendezvous where the two battalions were to meet us we found only 
 Kramer s. He had destroyed the factory with many stands of arms in process of 
 manufacture, and like myself was loaded down with prisoners. Major Garner rejoined 
 the command before night, having accomplished all that was assigned to him with 
 out loss." 
 
541 
 
 WAR OF THE REBELLION SUMMARY 
 
 Volume I of Deeds of Valor would be incomplete without a summary of the War of the Rebellion, and 
 in the following review the compass of the struggle for the preservation of the Union is given in as concise 
 form as is consistent with a clear understanding of the struggle from its beginning to its end. 
 
 In 1850 South Carolina brought many of the southern states to the belief that a state might secede 
 from the Union without violating the constitution, and finally, in 1860, after Lincoln s election, she led the 
 movement of secession followed by five other states. 
 
 The slave population of the United States was at that time 4,000,000 and its money valuation something 
 like $2,500,000,000, and the soul of the southern revolution of 1861 was historically the zeal of founding a new 
 or reunited union of States whose corner-stone should be negro slavery the subjugation of the colored to 
 the white race as a normal and natural condition. The slaveholder believed in the righteousness of his 
 system, and rather than readjust economic and industrial conditions he would break up the Union. Such 
 was the social system of principles of the cotton-planting states that set the insurrection in motion. These 
 states, after Lincoln s election, made no effort to conceal the fact that men were being enlisted and 
 national forts and public property were being seized. 
 
 In February, 1861, the "Confederate States of America" were organized with Jefferson Davis as 
 President and the first session of the provisional government levied war on the United States by acts 
 authorizing the raising of 100,000 military volunteers and organizing the Army of the Confederate States. 
 
 After the fall of Fort Sumter, in Charleston Harbor, April 12, 1861, the first action between Northern 
 and Southern forces, and President Lincoln s call for troops, war was recognized as existing by the 
 Confederate government and a new bill was passed for volunteer troops in addition to those already 
 enlisted. 
 
 From this time on until the surrender of Lee s Army of Northern Virginia, April 9, 1865, the fierce 
 struggle for supremacy was carried on, in which, during the four years of fighting, the waning fortunes of 
 the Confederacy became a lost cause. 
 
 Following the surrender of Lee s army that of Johnston s was expected, but not until the 14th did 
 Johnston under a flag of truce send Sherman a proposal to suspend hostilities long enough for the civil 
 authorities to arrange a peace. Terms of surrender of Johnston s army were agreed upon between the two 
 generals, but the conditions given Johnston were so much better than those accorded Lee that the capitu 
 lation thus arranged was disapproved at Washington. Later, on the 25th, the terms of surrender were 
 arranged on the same basis as Lee s, and Johnston s army, inclusive of the troops operating in Georgia 
 and Florida, surrendered. 
 
 General Canby, who commanded the Union forces in the Gulf, had in March opened a campaign 
 against Mobile, in co-operation with a naval fleet under Admiral Thatcher, and captured that place on the 
 llth of April. On the 4th of May he arranged with the Confederate, Taylor, the capitulation of all the 
 armies east of the Mississippi River not already paroled. The Confederate forces west of the Mississippi 
 were commanded by General E. Kirby Smith, upon whom Davis fixed his last hopes after Lee and Johnston 
 had surrendered, and who, after one more skirmish near Brazos, Tex., surrendered his whole army to 
 Canby at New Orleans on the 26th of May. Thus ended the military strife for the preservation of the 
 Union, and, apropos, the capture of Davis by Union cavalry scouts on the 10th of May terminated the 
 Southern Confederacy in its civil embodiment. 
 
 During this prolonged struggle the Northern Army was commanded successively by Major-General 
 Winfield Scott until November 1, 1861 ; Major-General George B. McClellan until March 11, 1862; Major- 
 General Henry W. Halleck until March 12, 1864 ; and Lieutenant-General Ulysses S. Grant, who success 
 fully brought the war to a close by his persistent "hammering," coupled with his wonderful generalship. 
 These commanding generals had under them, commanding the several armies and the twenty-five army 
 corps, such men as Sherman, Sheridan, Burnside, Rosecrans, Meade, Humphreys, Warren, Wright, Parke, 
 Ord and Weitzel. 
 
 The Confederate armies on the other hand were commanded by Generals Robert E. Lee, the two 
 Johnstons, Joseph E. and Albert S., Early, Longstreet, " Stonewall " Jackson, Hood and Ewell. 
 
542- 
 
 The scope of Deeds of Valor does not include any but those heroic deeds for which the Medal of Honor 
 was awarded, but great credit is due to all the soldiers who participated in the War of the Rebellion for 
 their noble work in defending the Union ; and to the departed heroes who laid down their lives on the 
 battlefield, many of whom performed deeds of a most valorous and distinguished nature, and who, had 
 they survived their heroic acts, would undoubtedly have received recognition at the hands of the Govern 
 ment by the award of the Medal of Honor. 
 
 The number of men enlisted in the Federal Army during the war by periods of service was as follows: 
 
 For 60 days . . . 
 " 90 " ... 
 "100 " ... 
 " 4 months. 
 " 6 " 
 
 2,045 
 
 108,416 
 
 85,807 
 
 42 
 
 26,118 
 
 373 
 
 89,899 
 
 For 1 year 393,706 
 
 " 2 years 44,400 
 
 " 3 " 2,028,630 
 
 " 4 " 1,042 
 
 Aggregate enlistments 2,780,478 
 
 The strength of the Federal Army was : 
 
 January 1 , 1861 16,367 
 
 " " 1862 575,917 
 
 " " 1863 918,191 
 
 " " 1864 860,737 
 
 January 1, 1865 959,460 
 
 March 31, 1865 980,086 
 
 May 1, 1865 100,516 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLORS. 
 
 AT THE BATTLE Or BULL RUN. 
 THE BATTLE Or SM1LOM. 
 AT ANT1ETAM. 
 
 THE BURNING Or THE CONGRESS. 
 
 SKIRMISHERS AT CHANCELLORSVILLE. 
 THE MONITOR IN A STORM. 
 
 SINKING Or THE ALABAMA BY THE KEARSARGE. 
 PICKETT S CHARGE AT GETTYSBURG. 
 THE STORMING OP VICKSBURG. 
 
 BATTLE BETWEEN THE MONITOR AND THE MERRIMAC. 
 THE BATTLE Or NEW ORLEANS. 
 
 BATTLE Or SPOTTSYLVAN1A. 
 
 BOMBARDMENT Or PORT HUDSON. 
 
 AT THE BATTLE Or THE WILDERNESS. 
 BATTLE Or MOBILE BAY. 
 
 rLANKING THE ENEMY. 
 
II 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Introduction 1 
 
 Saving the colors 3 
 
 Recapturing a drove of caitk 1 5 
 
 Stood his ground 7 
 
 In Libby prison 9 
 
 Saving the gun 11 
 
 "Only seven" 12 
 
 An exciting chase 1.4 
 
 The Mitchell raiders IT 
 
 A plucky charge 21 
 
 A gallant drummer boy 22 
 
 Private Dillon at Fort Magruder 25 
 
 "Let s capture their colors, boys 27 
 
 Destroying the bridge at Front Royal, Va. ... 31 
 
 At Harper s Ferry 37 
 
 "In front of an advancing rebel regiment".. . 40 
 "The flag was left on the other side of the 
 
 fence" 42 
 
 "At the risk of his life" 43 
 
 "Returning to rescue a comrade 45 
 
 "Four charges with a shattered arm" 46 
 
 "Distinguished conduct in action" 49 
 
 "Seized one of the guidons of his regiment". . 51 
 
 "Rolled over and over" 57 
 
 "I ll stay and fight it out" 59 
 
 "As we were hurrying back" G3 
 
 "We hastened the prisoners back" 65 
 
 "We loaded the gun for the last time" 70 
 
 "I got him over the wall" . 72 
 
 Scanning Allen s prisoners 74 
 
 Assisting the captain 76 
 
 "Bob, I ll help the Doe-boys 77 
 
 "Amid a hail of lead" 80 
 
 Improvised straw stack hospital 82 
 
 "I reached the goal" 84 
 
 A struggle for the colors 8(5 
 
 "I reached my wounded comrade" 89 
 
 "Our battery poured a deadly fire upon the 
 
 enemy" 93 
 
 "He sprang in front of his commander" 95 
 
 "Flaunted the Stars and Stripes" 98 
 
 The Sinking Creek Valley raid 103 
 
 "The battle grew more fierce" 108 
 
 "It seemed I grasped lor death Ill 
 
 Colonel Collis at Fredericksburg 113 
 
 "Stopping their fire" 119 
 
 "I planted the flagstaff in the ground" 122 
 
 "We moved across the river" 124 
 
 "Like an angel among the wounded" 126 
 
 "I managed to turn the horse" 128 
 
 "Kscaped unhurt" 131 
 
 "Struggled ashore Avaist deep in the water". . 133 
 
 "We were holding our fire" 139 
 
 "They started with a yell" 142 
 
 "The enemy was checked" 146 
 
 Colonel Shaler at Chancellorsville 151 
 
 "We were in deep shadow as we passed" . . . 153 
 
 "A shell exploded near me" 158 
 
 "Three of my men responded" 161 
 
 "I remained with the colors" 163 
 
 "From both sides came volleys" 165 
 
 "The enemy were upon us" 167 
 
 "They advanced with a tremendous yell" .... 174 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 "The end of the journey" 179 
 
 "I threw myself against the weather-beaten 
 
 door" 181 
 
 "Single file, march! " 183 
 
 "I ordered him to about face " 185 
 
 "We dragged one gun up" 189 
 
 Volunteer Storm ers, Vicksburg, Any 22, 1863, 
 
 192, 193 
 "This gave time to toss some of the shells 
 
 back" 195 
 
 "One lone soldier advanced" 199 
 
 "I seized it none too soon" 202 
 
 "I jerked it into our lines" 207 
 
 "I sprang from the pit" 209 
 
 "I shouted- to my boys: Come on! " 211 
 
 "He was found under his dead horse" 213 
 
 "The enemy put to disastrous flight" 217 
 
 "Xo Libby Prison for me" 220 
 
 "The Confederate pluckily held on to the 
 
 colors" 224 
 
 "Covered the windows and doors with their 
 
 guns" 227 
 
 "I sank my spurs into the horse s sides" 229 
 
 "I used my gun for a crutch" 234 
 
 "The captain struck up with his sabre". ..... 241 
 
 "We broke through the Confederate column" . 243 
 
 "Demanded their surrender" 245 
 
 "And instantly he surrendered" 247 
 
 "I arrived unhurt" 249 
 
 "We deployed and started for the fortifica 
 tion" 254 
 
 "I knelt down, still holding the flag in my 
 
 hands" 259 
 
 "I picked up the colors with my uninjured 
 
 hand" . 261 
 
 "My aim was to rescue my comrade" 262 
 
 "I sounded: To the colors " 264 
 
 "You are my prisoner" 267 
 
 "I hurriedly passed along the front, cutting 
 
 off " 270 
 
 "We dashed through their lines" 275 
 
 "They rushed upon the foe" 277 
 
 "We will form here" 279 
 
 "Signaling to cease firing" 284 
 
 "They waved their hats and shouted: We 
 
 surrender! " 280 
 
 "Driving off the rebel gunners" 291 
 
 "With my bayonet at his breast I demanded 
 
 his surrender" 294 
 
 "Dashing through the rebel lines" 297 
 
 "Repulsing the charge 299 
 
 The rescue of Sergeant Charles F. Branch by 
 
 Lieutenant T. S. Peck 303 
 
 "I sprang at the two guards" 309 
 
 "We proceeded through swamps" 311 
 
 "Waving my hat in my left, I ran forward". . 314 
 
 "Dashing up to him, seized the flag" 321 
 
 "The poor fellow had been trying to drag him 
 self along with his hands" 323 
 
 "They greeted me with hearty cheers" 325 
 
 "He struck at him with his empty pistol".. .. 330 
 " I ll do it myself. he said" 333 
 
Ill 
 
 I .UiK. 
 
 "Lying on the ground with an ugly wound in 
 
 his jaw" :> > 13 
 
 "I reached out and grasped him" 345 
 
 "Before we left, we set h re to the craft" 34S 
 
 "They used their spoons" 35:: 
 
 "He was helped on his horse" 35X 
 
 "Others were firing at close range" 302 
 
 "One bound and the rebel pickets were over 
 powered" 307 
 
 "Finally had to retreat to the main force" 371 
 
 "We gained the railroad bridge and started 
 
 across" 37<! 
 
 "He cut the rebel down with a tremendous 
 
 sabre blow" 381 
 
 "A shell exploded at his feet" 380 
 
 "Colonel Delevan Bates at the Crater" (Peters 
 burg) 391 
 
 "Immediately every gun was trained upon 
 
 him" 395 
 
 Captain T. R. Kerr capturing rebel colors near 
 
 Moorefield, W. Va 398 
 
 "I emptied a chamber of my revolver into his 
 
 breast" 400 
 
 Dr. Mary Walker at work on the field 400 
 
 "We remained in the swamp" 411 
 
 "Estes. armed with a revolver, went ahead 
 
 with a rush" 412 
 
 Captain Maynard preventing a general mas 
 sacre 410 
 
 "They kept on the side remote from the hos 
 tile shore" 421 
 
 "A bullet intended for me struck my mount".. 425 
 
 "General Hood was crossing his army" 429 
 
 "Gave me the colors and hoisted me up" 432 
 
 I ACiK. 
 
 "I hastened ashore and discovered the comrade 
 
 to be Captain A. \V. Becker 438 
 
 "As General Sheridan came dashing along".. 444 
 
 "General Kamseur is inside" 44S 
 
 "He asked for a slower tempo" 4.~>l 
 
 "For six miles he carried and dragged him". . 450 
 "The rebels were driven through and out of 
 
 The town" 404 
 
 "The Brave Captain was Struck" 408 
 
 "Secured the Hag and returned uninjured"... 47<> 
 "The water proved to lie over six feet deep". . 4SU 
 Being lifted into the saddle and held there 
 
 by two of his men" 4S."> 
 
 "With a color-bearer on one siil> and a bugler 
 
 on the other" 488 
 
 "We picked Brobst up and placed him on my 
 
 rifle bet \\eon us" 495 
 
 "We received their volley of fifty pieces".... .103 
 "At the risk of his life conveyed him to shel 
 ter" 51.", 
 
 "He reached his goal amid a shower of bul 
 lets" 517 
 
 "I captured a lieutenant and three men" 520 
 
 "Flinging himself on the horse s neck to escape 
 
 the whixxing bullets" 523 
 
 "They were hanging on to the buggy to keep 
 
 it off the horse s heels" 520 
 
 "Switched his tail and sailed right over among 
 
 the Ilebs" 529 
 
 "Filtered the embrasure of a "O-pounder Par 
 rot t gun" 534 
 
 "They broke and fled to a neighboring 
 meadow" 539 
 
IV 
 
 TITLES. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Ammunition from the Dead 269 
 
 A Murderous Fight in the Dark 275 
 
 A Single-Handed Charge 423 
 
 At Antietam and Frederieksburg 114 
 
 A Message Delivered Under Difficulty 433 
 
 A Sergeant Who Wisely Disbelieved 436 
 
 An Extended Hair Cut 143 
 
 A Successful Mission of Destruction 538 
 
 A Dare-Devil Charge 255 
 
 A Brave Sacrifice 186. 
 
 A Most Heroic and Hazardous Hide at Gettys 
 burg 228 
 
 A Staff Officer s Pluck 200 
 
 A Flag the Rebels Didn t Get 201 
 
 A Dramatic Incident on the Battlefield 211 
 
 "A More Gallant Charge Was Never Made" . . 210 
 
 A Grave for a Pillow 219 
 
 A Display of Coolness and Nerve 439 
 
 A Singular Predicament Skillfully Handled.. 298 
 
 Avenged His Comrade s Death 334 
 
 A Rear Guard s Heroic Work 301 
 
 A Dashing Charge at Gettysburg 239 
 
 All for His Messmate 262 
 
 A Small Party s Brave Deed 244 
 
 A Bayonet Charge the Last Hope 246 
 
 An Improvised Bodyguard 404 
 
 A iMusket Butt Argument 223 
 
 A Private s Ingenuity 292 
 
 A Colossal Bluff 293 
 
 Attracted General Custer s Attention 511 
 
 A Resourceful Artillery Officer 230 
 
 A Rescue Under Difficulties 322 
 
 Against a Superior Force 36 
 
 A Brave Bugler 260 
 
 A Woman Captured by Champ Furgeson. .. . 405 
 
 At the Risk of His Life 43 
 
 A Hero from the South 514 
 
 A Profitable Reconnoissance 519 
 
 A Noble Sacrifice 532 
 
 Attempted to Spike an Abandoned Gun 91 
 
 A Gallant Drummer Boy 22 
 
 A Bold Stroke 29 
 
 A Youngster s Heroism 35 
 
 At the "Bloody Angle" 338 
 
 A Bayonet Charge Put the Rebels to Flight. . 392 
 
 A Struggle for the Colors 86 
 
 Among the Most Heroic of the War 175 
 
 A Hero of Three Brave Deeds 4 
 
 A Daring Escape from Libby Prison 8 
 
 Attempted to Capture a Flag 13 
 
 An Exciting Chase 14 
 
 A Plucky Charge 21 
 
 A Dangerous Mission 61 
 
 An Awful Barge Ride Under Fire 176 
 
 A Timely Warning 62 
 
 A Highly Honored Soldier 66 
 
 At Bloody Lane 79 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 A Charge in Water and Darkness 123 
 
 A Battle Brief But Bloody 315 
 
 A Ride to Almost Certain Death 359 
 
 A Successful Round-up 360 
 
 "Aim Low and Give Them H 1" 92 
 
 A Musician as a Sharpshooter 372 
 
 A Brave Colonel and His Brave Mare 344 
 
 A Rebel General the Musician s Prisoner.... 356 
 
 A Thrilling Ride 455 
 
 A Rebel Charge that Failed 457 
 
 A Clever Tactician s Clever Achievement.... 458 
 
 Bold Capture of the Bridge 537 
 
 Bettor Work AVithout the Drum 56 
 
 Boldly Captured Fourteen Rebels 73 
 
 "Bob, I ll Help the Doe-boys". . , 77 
 
 Brought in His Major Dead 127 
 
 Both Arms Shot Off Ill 
 
 Brave and Resourceful 208 
 
 Brunei- s Brave Ride 296 
 
 Brilliant Conduct in a Fierce Battle 487 
 
 Between Two Lines of Fire 341 
 
 Brave and Devoted to His Comrades 355 
 
 Capture of Fort Blakely 533 
 
 Clever Strategy Fooled the Rebels 396 
 
 Captured Two Rebels 60 
 
 Cared for the Wounded Amidst a Hail of 
 
 Bullets 81 
 
 Captured Three Hundred Rebels 118 
 
 Colonel Collis "Pitched In" With His Zouaves.- 112 
 Captured the Sharpshooters in the Barn .... 251 
 
 "Come on. You Brave Yank" 198 
 
 Captures His Captor 184 
 
 Charged to the Muzzles of the Enemy s Guns. 349 
 
 Captured a Flag and Two Prisoners 218 
 
 Captured Battle-Flags 288 
 
 Carried the Colors of His Wounded Comrade. 225 
 
 Captured Four Regimental Flags 235 
 
 Captured a Confederate Major 266 
 
 Courage, Energy and Military Ability 357 
 
 Captured General Vance 300 
 
 Captures His Captors and Escapes 308 
 
 Capture of a Bushwhacker Outpost 310 
 
 Charged Over a Burning Bridge 412 
 
 Captured, But Their Colors Were Saved 368 
 
 Captured a Whole Color-Guard 336 
 
 Capture of General Marmaduke. 450 
 
 Distinguished Conduct in Action 49 
 
 Dropped the Pen, Shouldered the Musket. . . . 206 
 
 Determined to Fight, Though Wounded 319 
 
 "Don t Let Them Get Me" 494 
 
 Duty and Death Rather Than Dishonor 501 
 
 Equal to the Emergency 401 
 
 Engineer, Surgeon and Hero 512 
 
 Eager to Fight 13 
 
 Even the Enemy Cheered 148 
 
 Fired the Bridge 30 
 
 Four Charges With a Shattered Arm. . 46 
 
PAGE. 
 
 For God s Sake, Run!" He Ran 130 
 
 Fort linger Taken by Hold and Almost Reck 
 less Bravery ! 132 
 
 Fought When He Should be at the Hospital.. 116 
 
 Frustrated the Enemy s Plans 200 
 
 Forgot He Was a General 224 
 
 "Fall Out Here, Every 1> d One of You!"... 226 
 
 "Form on Ale" 2TS 
 
 "Forward!" His Voice Rang Out 445 
 
 Gallant Vermonters 518 
 
 Gallant Service at Chancellorsville 149 
 
 Gallant Rescue of a Drowning Comrade 490 
 
 Humor. Persistency, Gallantry 528 
 
 He Waved His Shattered Arm 38 
 
 "Halt! I Want Your Flag" 440 
 
 Historic Incidents from the Fall of Ft. Fisher. 472 
 
 Heroic Rescue of Two Flags 41 
 
 Held on to the Rebel Captain 71 
 
 He Checked the Panic 324 
 
 Heroic Artillery Work of a Volunteer 331 
 
 He Saved His Guns 274 
 
 How General Ramseur Was Made a Prisoner. 447 
 
 He Kept His Colors Flying 316 
 
 Heroic Stand of a Brave Young Corporal... 69 
 He Paused at the Side of His Dead Captain. . 370 
 
 Heroic and Humane 415 
 
 Heroism in the Hour of Reverse 5iK> 
 
 In Full View of the Enemy 516 
 
 "I ll Stay With You Till You Are Safe" 524 
 
 It Seemed I Grasped for Death 110 
 
 Insubordination Rewarded 256 
 
 Indiscretion Brought Arrest Bravery Secured 
 
 Release 268 
 
 Interruptions at a Rebel Breakfast 383 
 
 Incidents from Winchester s Bloody Battle 
 field 418 
 
 "I Was Mad as a Hornet" 465 
 
 "I d Rather Be Killed Than Called a Coward" 116 
 
 John Cook, the Boy Gunner 75 
 
 Kendall s Ten-Foot Leap 185 
 
 Language More Forceful Than Elegant 521 
 
 "Let s Capture Their Colors, Boys" 27 
 
 Like an Angel Among the Wounded 125 
 
 Led a Gallant Charge 99 
 
 "Lay Him in the Shade; He Won t Last Long" 205 
 
 "Let s Save Our Comrade" 328 
 
 Lost in the Woods Joined Another Regiment. 335 
 
 "Let s Go for the Guns" 422 
 
 Left to Their Fate, But Escaped 375 
 
 "Lieutenant. What Say You?" 4!)7 
 
 Made Good Use of the Enemy s Weapons.... 515 
 
 Mud Baths for Future Good Health 44 
 
 Most Brave and Intrepid on the Field 53 
 
 Merited President Lincoln s Admiration 379 
 
 Narrow Escape While Saving a Comrade.... 214 
 
 Nine Men Captured by One 285 
 
 "Now You Have Surrendered" 290 
 
 Only Seven 12 
 
 On Horseback Down a Precipitous Bluff.... 152 
 
 On Errands of Mercy 160 
 
 Our Gun Was Kept in Motion 166 
 
 Obeyed an Ill-Advised Order 332 
 
 One of "Smith s Guerrillas" 313 
 
 Our Colors Are Down" 317 
 
 Overwhelmed by Sherman s Kindness 492 
 
 Over Five Barricades 463 
 
 Only One Man Lost in a Gallant Raid 478 
 
 Placed His Comrade s Life Above His Own.. 91 
 Planted the Colors and Rallied the Regiment. 265 
 
 Pick Off the Artillerists 273 
 
 Rewarded Twice 517 
 
 Rescued 1.000 Rounds of Ammunition and a 
 
 Wounded Comrade 16 
 
 Retaliation 58 
 
 Rescued an Abandoned Battery 54 
 
 Routed Morgan s Raiders. . . 180 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Risked the Death of a Spy 280 
 
 Rescued His Comrade 327 
 
 Reached the Captain Just in Time 437 
 
 Hounded Up Forty Rebels 440 
 
 Risked His Life for His Comrades 2X3 
 
 Recaptured Colors and Took Two Prisoners. . 365 
 Retained Command in Spite of Severe 
 
 Wounds 369 
 
 Rescued by a Drummer 342 
 
 Risked Being Blown to Atoms at Dutch Gap 
 
 Canal 477 
 
 Rescued His Lieutenant 346 
 
 Rescued Comrades from a Stranded Trans 
 port 347 
 
 Rescned the Colonel s Body. . . 354 
 
 Saved by His Horse 522 
 
 Surrounded by Rebels 87 
 
 Saving the Colors 3 
 
 Stood His Ground 7 
 
 Saved the Gun 11 
 
 Seven AVounds in Seven Days 58 
 
 Surrender Surrender 64 
 
 Saved His Captain s Brother 120 
 
 Scouts Perilous Plight 147 
 
 Stuck to His Colors 162 
 
 Sa ved a Battalion 129 
 
 "Shoot Him! Kill Him!" 164 
 
 Splendid Heroism of a Private 94 
 
 Seized the Colors and Took the Lead 117 
 
 Saw the Rebel Flag and Took It 236 
 
 Severe Cost of Skirmishing 210 
 
 Saved a Corps from Annihilation 221 
 
 Soldiers as Good Samaritans 144 
 
 Sooner Fight Than Beat the Drum 289 
 
 Swimming Under Heavy Fire 420 
 
 Shot the Rebel Color-Bearer 320 
 
 Seized His Opportunity 417 
 
 Swam the River Under Difficulties 479 
 
 Stories of the Flag at Cedar Creek 449 
 
 Scenes from Hatcher s Run 452 
 
 Ten Captured a Fortified Stockade 253 
 
 The "Forlorn Hope" at A icksburg 190 
 
 This Bugler Checked a Rout 263 
 
 The Flag Never Touched the Ground 258 
 
 Two Riders on One Horse 443 
 
 The Bonds of Comradeship 423 
 
 Thought Only of Saving the Flag 434 
 
 The Fall of Fort Harrison 431 
 
 Their Heroism AA as Infectious 318 
 
 The story of a Youthful Hero 435 
 
 Three Examples of Soldierly Devotion 363 
 
 The Capture of Five Confederate Cavalrymen. 377 
 Tunneled His AA ay to a AA ounded Officer.... 350 
 
 The Colonel s Wrath AA as Appeased 378 
 
 Thrilling Episodes Around Petersburg 504 
 
 The Hero of Fort Ilaskel 384 
 
 Three Men Capture Twenty-seven Johnnies". 366 
 The Gallant Colonel and His Brave Adjutant. 39O 
 
 They Stood by Their Guns 157 
 
 True Comradeship 171 
 
 Thwarted the Enemy s Attacks 172 
 
 Three Cheers for the Color-Bearer 97 
 
 The Sinking Creek A alley Raid 103 
 
 "They Can t Drive You Out of Here" 513 
 
 The Charge AA T as Made AA ith a Mighty Shout. 239 
 
 "That s the Last You ll See of Sacriste" 155 
 
 The Joke Was on the Other Fellows 248 
 
 Though Sick. Bravely Led His ,Men 282 
 
 The First Union Flag in Vicksburg 215 
 
 Two Gettysburg Heroes 222 
 
 The "D d Yanks" Didn t Beg for Mercy 137 
 
 Three Hundred Yankees Against Four Regi 
 ments 140 
 
 The Struggle at the "Bloody Angle" 232 
 
 Two of Sheridan s Scouts 4O2 
 
 The Delay AVas Fatal 233 
 
VI 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Three Deeds of Valor 28 
 
 Though Wounded, Remained at His Post.... 39 
 
 Two Gallant Officers 47 
 
 The Drummer Boy of the Chickahominy 50 
 
 To Save the Stars and Stripes 83 
 
 The Last on Antietam s Bloody Battlefield.. . 88 
 
 Too Young for Enlistment, But Served 394 
 
 The Flag Was Saved 90 
 
 The Mitchell Raid 17 
 
 Traded His Instrument for a Gun 121 
 
 The Old Vermont Brigade 145 
 
 The Colonel Carried the Standard 150 
 
 Under Constant Fire for Seventeen Hours ... 55 
 
 Usurped the General s Authority 240 
 
 Under a Muscadine Grape- Vine 427 
 
 Under Special Protection of Providence 361 
 
 Under the Eyes of His Commander 469 
 
 Volunteer Infantrymen at the Gun 107 
 
 Victory Crowned His Gallantry 286 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Valorous Deeds at Hatcher s Run 482 
 
 "Well Done, Taylor" 399 
 
 "What in H 1 Are We Here For?" 24 
 
 With an Empty Gun 32 
 
 Wounded While Capturing a Flag 86 
 
 With Griffith s Battery. 10 
 
 Wit and Nerve of a Soldier-Clergyman 182 
 
 Where Disobedience Was a Virtue 242 
 
 With Bayonet and Cobble Stones 250 
 
 Within a FeAv Feet of the Enemy 188 
 
 Would He Have Taken the Whole Brigade?. . 329 
 
 With Eleven Men Held an Army at Bay 307 
 
 Where the Rebels Were Badly Beaten. 491 
 
 "We Can Go Wherever the General Can"... 460 
 
 Where Others Skulked. He Stood His Ground. 466 
 
 When the Rebels Were Routed at Nashville.. 467 
 
 "We Will, Lieutenant; AVe AVill" 469 
 
 Yearned for Libertv and Gained It.. . 409 
 
VII 
 
 MEDAL OF HONOR-MEN MENTIONED. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Adams, John G. B 110 
 
 Albert, Christian 197 
 
 Allen, James "3 
 
 Ames, Adelbert 10 
 
 Anderson, Everett W 301) 
 
 Anderson, Marvin T 467 
 
 Anderson, Peter T 492 
 
 Archinal. William 192 
 
 Ara^strong. Clinton L 197 
 
 Ayers, John G. K 192 
 
 Ayers, David 193 
 
 Bates, Delevan 390 
 
 Barber, James A 516 
 
 Barringer, William II 197 
 
 Beckwith, Wallace A 107 
 
 Beech, John P 331 
 
 Beebe, William S 315 
 
 Bennett, Orson W 458 
 
 Bensinger. Wm 17 
 
 Betts. Charles M 538 
 
 Bickford, Henry H 489 
 
 Bickford. Math 193 
 
 Black, John C 99 
 
 Blackmar, Wilmon W 511 
 
 Blackwood, William R. D 512 
 
 Blasdell, Thomas A 197 
 
 Bliss. George N 424 
 
 Bonebrake. Henry G. 505 
 
 Boon, Hugh P 531 
 
 Boss, Orlando P 351 
 
 Bouquet, Nicholas 15 
 
 Bourke, Billy 432 
 
 Boynton. Henry Van X 287 
 
 Bowen. Emmer 197 
 
 Brannigan, Felix , 148 
 
 Bringle, Andrew 531 
 
 Brosnan. John 363 
 
 Brown, Robert B 288 
 
 Brown, Uriah H 193 
 
 Brown. W. W 17 
 
 Browne, Edward. Jr 162 
 
 Bruner. Louis J 296 
 
 Brush. George W 347 
 
 Buckingham, David E 479 
 
 Buckles, Abram J 316 
 
 Buckley. John C 193 
 
 Bnffum, Robt 17 
 
 Burger. Joseph IMF 
 
 Buhrman, Henry G 197 
 
 Bumgarner. Wm 192 
 
 Burke. Daniel W 91 
 
 Burke. Thomas 218 
 
 Butterfield. Daniel 47 
 
 Butterfleld, Frank G 171 
 
 Cadwallader, Abel G 486 
 
 Cadwell. Luman L 420 
 
 Caldwell, Daniel 485 
 
 PAIJK. 
 
 Campbell, William 197 
 
 ( apehart, Henry 344 
 
 ( anna n. Warren 489 
 
 Carmen, Isaac H 201 
 
 Carney, A\ illiam H 258 
 
 Carson, W. J 263 
 
 Carter, Joseph F 4!J7 
 
 Cesnola, Luigi Palma di 212 
 
 Chamberlain, Joshua L 246 
 
 Chandler, Stephen E 524 
 
 Chase, John F 157 
 
 Chisman. William H 197 
 
 Churchill. Samuel J 466 
 
 Clark. Charles A 152 
 
 Clark, Harrison 22.1 
 
 i h.riv, William A 137 
 
 Clay, Cecil 431 
 
 Clute, George W 491 
 
 Cockley, David L 463 
 
 Coey, James 482 
 
 Colby. Carlos X 197 
 
 Cole, Gabriel 419 
 
 Collis. Chas. H. F 112 
 
 Compson, Hartwell B 487 
 
 Conaway, John W 193 
 
 Congdon, James 489 
 
 Cook, John H 313 
 
 Cook, John 75 
 
 Corcoran, John 516 
 
 Corliss. Stephen P 504 
 
 Cosgriff. Richard H 537 
 
 Cox, Robert 193 
 
 Coyne, John X -7 
 
 Cranston, Wallace W 144 
 
 Crocker, Henry H 443 
 
 Crosier, William 378 
 
 Crowley, Michael 489 
 
 Cummings, Amos J 166 
 
 Cunningham, Francis M 528 
 
 Cunningham, James S 197 
 
 Curran. Dr. Richard 81 
 
 Curtis, John C 60 
 
 Curtis, X. M 474 
 
 Custer. Thomas W 517 
 
 Cutcheon, Byron M 180 
 
 I >arrough, John S 437 
 
 Davidson, Andrew 390 
 
 Davis, Charles C, 216 
 
 Davis, George E 375 
 
 Davis Martin K 197 
 
 Day, Charles 485 
 
 1 >ay. David F 197 
 
 DeLacy. Patrick 320 
 
 Deland. Frederick M 2O6 
 
 I H laney. John C 485 
 
 1 K Witt. Richard W 197 
 
 I Mckie. David 197 
 
VIII 
 
 Dillon. Michael A 
 
 Dorsey, I huiiel A 
 
 Dow, George P 
 
 Downey, William 
 
 Drake, James Madison 
 
 Drury, James 
 
 Duffy, John 
 
 Dnnlavy. James 
 
 Dunne, James 
 
 Durham, James R 
 
 Eckes. John X 
 
 English. Edmund 
 
 Ennis. Charles I) 
 
 EsTes. Llewellyn G 
 
 Evans, Ira H 
 
 Ewing, John C 
 
 Fassitt. John B 
 
 Eeniald. Albert E 
 
 Fesq. Frank 
 
 Finkenbeiner, H. S 
 
 Fisher. John X 
 
 Fisher, Joseph 
 
 Fhnmigan. James 
 
 Fleet wood. Cnristian A 
 
 r lynn. James E 
 
 Follet. Joseph L 
 
 Frantz. Jos 
 
 Fraser. W. W 
 
 Fi ey. Franz 
 
 Frezzell, Henry 
 
 Frick. Jacob G. . 
 
 Fnger, Frederick 
 
 Furman, Chester S 
 
 ( Jage. Richard J 
 
 Gause. Isaac 
 
 < J< >ch wind. Xicholas 
 
 Gilford, David L 
 
 Gilbert. Thomas 
 
 Gilligan, Edward L 
 
 Gion, Joseph 
 
 Goettel, Phillip 
 
 Goheen. Charles A 
 
 Goldsbery. A. E 
 
 Goodall. Francis H 
 
 Goodrich, Edwin 
 
 Gould, Charles G 
 
 < Jould, Newton T 
 
 Grant. Lewis A 
 
 Graul, William L 
 
 Gray, Robert A 
 
 Grebe, M. R. William 
 
 Green. George 
 
 Gregg, Joseph O 
 
 Greig, Theodore W 
 
 Gresser, Ignatz 
 
 Grindlay. James 
 
 Guinn. Thomas 
 
 Gwynne. Nathaniel McL 
 
 Hack, Lester G 
 
 Hartley, Cornelius M 
 
 Haight. John H 
 
 Hanna. Marcus A 
 
 Hanna. Milton 
 
 Harbourne. John H 
 
 Harmg. Abram P 
 
 Han-is. .Sampson 
 
 Hart, John W. 
 
 Hartranft. John F 
 
 Harvey Harry 
 
 Hastings. S. H 
 
 Havron. John H 
 
 Hawkins, Gardner C 
 
 Hawkins. M. J 
 
 Hawthorn, Harris S 
 
 Healey. George W 
 
 Hedges, Joseph S 
 
 Heermance. W. L. . 
 
 A (i E . 
 
 24 Helms, David H 
 
 17 Heller. Henry , 
 
 436 Henry, James 
 
 347 Henry, W. W 
 
 409 Hesse, John C 
 
 308 Hesseltine. Francis S. . 
 
 347 Hibson. Joseph O. .... . 
 
 450 Higgins, Thomas H.... 
 
 188 Hill. Edward 
 
 - 10 Hill. James 
 
 197 Hilliker. Benjamin F. . 
 
 31!) Hills. William G 
 
 .516 Hilton. Alfred B 
 
 412 Hoffman, Thomas W... 
 
 ,51(5 Hogarty, William P 
 
 503 Holland, Samuel F.... 
 
 240 Holmes, Lovilo H. 
 
 505 Holton, Charles M 
 
 505 Hopkins. Chas. F 
 
 494 Home. Samuel B 
 
 197 Ilorsfall, Win H 
 
 505 Hottenstein. Solomon J. 
 
 137 Houghton, Charles H. . 
 
 434 Howard, Oliver O 
 
 197 Howard, Squire E 
 
 C,i; Howe, William H 
 
 193 Hunt. Lewis T , 
 
 192 Hunter. Charles A 
 
 197 Hunterson, John C 
 
 192 Hyatt, Theodore 
 
 117 Hyde. Thomas W 
 
 232 Insclio, Leonidas H. . . . 
 
 244 Irsch. Francis 
 
 254 Jackson, Frederick u. . 
 
 417 Jacobson. Eugene P. . . . 
 
 197 Jamieson, Walter 
 
 347 Jardine, James 
 
 439 Jellison, Benjamin H. . 
 
 223 Jewett, Erastus W, 
 
 14S John. William 
 
 284 Johndro, Franklin 
 
 489 Johns. Elisha 
 
 193 Johns. Henry T 
 
 12O .Johnson. Andrew 
 
 455 Johnson, John 
 
 518 Johnston. David , 
 
 192 Jones, David , 
 
 145 Josselyn, Simeon T.... 
 
 435 Kappesser. Peter 
 
 346 Karpeles. Leopold 
 
 379 Keen, Joseph S 
 
 288 Kelly. Alexander 
 
 361 Kelly. Daniel 
 
 8i> Kendall, William , 
 
 91 Kerr. Thomas R. 
 
 504 Kiggins. John 
 
 197 King. Horatio 
 
 394 King, Rufus 
 
 r.or, Kloth, Charles 
 
 280 Knight. Wm. J 
 
 28 Knowles, Abiather J.. 
 
 208 Knox. Edward M. 
 
 137 Kountz, John S 
 
 364 Kretsinger. George . . . 
 
 307 Kuder, Andrew . 
 
 193 La bill, Joseph S 
 
 244 Ladd. George 
 
 13 Langbein, Julius C. J. . 
 
 489 Lf,rrabee. James W.... 
 
 25(5 Levy, Benjamin B 
 
 51 1; Lewis, Dewitt C 
 
 518 Lewis, Samuel E 
 
 17 Lilley, John 
 
 528 Little, Henry F. W... 
 
 377 Livingstone. Josiah C. . 
 
 409 Longshore. William H. . 
 
 141 Lord William . 
 
 AGE. 
 
 197 
 144 
 197 
 445 
 3 
 
 298 
 260 
 198 
 349 
 182 
 21)5 
 423 
 435 
 .514 
 77 
 254 
 137 
 
 49 
 433 
 
 35 
 401 
 384 
 
 38 
 130 
 500 
 197 
 505 
 
 43 
 192 
 
 87 
 
 71 
 251 
 
 4(3 
 
 148 
 
 4 
 
 193 
 236 
 301 
 197 
 440 
 197 
 206 
 192 
 114 
 197 
 1 ( .;7 
 285 
 284 
 318 
 427 
 433 
 489 
 18(5 
 396 
 283 
 .512 
 
 55 
 188 
 
 17 
 
 12 
 231 
 289 
 188 
 489 
 19 i 
 489 
 
 23 
 197 
 
 5(5 
 
 44 
 .51(5 
 .521 
 457 
 301 
 19 ( 
 342 
 
IX 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Lonergan, John 226 
 
 Lorish, Andrew J 420 
 
 Lower, Root. A 192 
 
 Ludgate, William 532 
 
 Luce, Moses A, 327 
 
 Lunt, Aiphonso M 419 
 
 Lutes. Franklin W 507 
 
 Luty, Gotlieb 147 
 
 Lyman. Joel H 423 
 
 Lyon. Frederick A 447 
 
 Manning, Joseph S 293 
 
 Marland, William 274 
 
 Marsh, George K 253 
 
 Martin, Sylvester H, 401 
 
 Mason, E. H 17 
 
 Matthews, John C 505 
 
 Mathews, Milton 507 
 
 Maynard. George H ; 415 
 
 McAdams, Peter 148 
 
 McCabe, Joseph E 402 
 
 McClelland. James M 197 
 
 McConnell, Samuel 535 
 
 McCormack, Andrew 197 
 
 Me(Tonagle, Wilson 197 
 
 McGinn. Edward 197 
 
 McGoua-h. Owen 11 
 
 McGuire. Patrick 188 
 
 McKay. Charles W 322 
 
 Mears. George W 244 
 
 Merriam. Henry C 533 
 
 Merrill. Augustus 519 
 
 MeiTitt. John G 13 
 
 Miles. Nelson A 172 
 
 Miller, Jacob C 197 
 
 Miller, ,,ohn 489 
 
 Miller. William E 242 
 
 Mills. Frank W 64 
 
 Mindil. George W 29 
 
 Mitchell. Theodore 507 
 
 Monaghan. Patrick H 365 
 
 Morey. Delano J 32 
 
 Morford, Jerome 197 
 
 Merrill. Walter G 276 
 
 Morrison. Francis 364 
 
 Morse. Charles E 317 
 
 Mulholland. St. Clair A 149 
 
 Munsell, Harvey M 222 
 
 Murphy, Charles J 8 
 
 Myers, George S 265 
 
 Xeahr. Zachariah C 472 
 
 Nichols. Henry C 535 
 
 Niven, Robert 489 
 
 Nolan John J 97 
 
 North . Jasper N 197 
 
 Norton, Llewellyn P 531 
 
 Noyes, William W 334 
 
 O Brien, Henry D 250 
 
 O Brien. Peter , 489 
 
 O Dea, John 192 
 
 O Donnell. Menonien 200 
 
 O Neill. Stephen , 143 
 
 Orr, Charles A 453 
 
 Orr. Robert L 505 
 
 Orth. Jacob G 86 
 
 Overturf , Jacob H 197 
 
 Palmer. John G 107 
 
 Palmer. William J 478 
 
 Parks. Harry J 446 
 
 Parrott. Jacob 17 
 
 Parsons, Joel 197 
 
 Paul. William H 90 
 
 Pay. Byron E 137 
 
 Payne, Thomas H. L 536 
 
 Pearsall. Platt 193 
 
 Peck. Theodore S 301 
 
 Peirsol. James K 522 
 
 Pemiypacker, Galusha 474 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Petty, Philip 121 
 
 Phisterer, Frederick 129 
 
 Pingree. Samuel E 21 
 
 Pinkham, Charles H 500 
 
 Pipes. John M. 233 
 
 Pittinger, Win 17 
 
 Plant. I lenry E 491 
 
 Plunkett, Thomas Ill 
 
 Porter, John R 17 
 
 Potter. George W 516 
 
 Postles, J. Parke 228 
 
 Powell, William H 103 
 
 Prentice. Josepn R 127 
 
 Purcell. W. H 41 
 
 Quay. Matthew S 116 
 
 Quinlan. James 53 
 
 Rafferty. Peter F 58 
 
 Rand, Charles F 7 
 
 Raub. Jacob F 486 
 
 Raymond, William H. 248 
 
 Reddick. Wm 17 
 
 Reed, A. H. 2(38 
 
 Kct <!. \Villiam 197 
 
 Reeder. Charles A 514 
 
 Renniger. Louis 197 
 
 Rhodes, Sylvester D 422 
 
 Rice, Edmund 235 
 
 Rirhey, William E 266 
 
 Robertson, Robert S 324 
 
 Robertson. Samuel 17 
 
 Robiuson, Eldridge 214 
 
 Roc.v. Frederick 197 
 
 Roosevelt. George W. 222 
 
 Ross, Marian A 17 
 
 Roush, J. L 244 
 
 Rowand. Archibald II. Jr 404 
 
 Rowe. Henry W 366 
 
 Rundle. Charles W 192 
 
 Russel. Milton F 123 
 
 Rutherford, John T 329 
 
 Rutter, James M 219 
 
 Sacriste. Louis J 155 
 
 Sands, William 485 
 
 Sanford, Jacob 193 
 
 Saxton. Rufus 36 
 
 Scheibner, Martin E 292 
 
 Schmauch. Andrew 197 
 
 Schenk. Benjamin W 197 
 
 Schmidt, William 289 
 
 Schneii, Christian 197 
 
 Schubert. Martin 116 
 
 Scott. Jonn M 17 
 
 Scott. J. Wallace 505 
 
 Seaman. Elisha B 144 
 
 Sears. Cyrus 92 
 
 Sellers. Alfred J 221 
 
 Shafter. Win. R 39 
 
 Shaler, Alexander 150 
 
 Shambaugh, Charles 58 
 
 Shapland. John 254 
 
 Shipley, Robert F 505 
 
 Sidman, George D 50 
 
 Simmons. William T 467 
 
 Slagle, Oscar 254 
 
 Slavens, Samuel 17 
 
 Slusher, Henry G 262 
 
 Smauey. Reuben 197 
 
 Smalley. Reuben 254 
 
 Smith. Alonzo 452 
 
 Smith, Charles H 369 
 
 Smith, Francis M 486 
 
 Smith, Henry 1 490 
 
 Smith, S. Rodmond 479 
 
 Smith. Wilson 69 
 
 Snedden. James 356 
 
 Sowers. Michael 465 
 
 Sperry. William J 518 
 
X 
 
 Sprague, Benona. . . . 
 
 Stacey, Charles , 
 
 Stahel, Julius 
 
 Stanley, David S 
 
 Stoinmetz, William . . 
 Stephens, William G.. 
 Stevens, Hazard 
 
 Stockman, G. H 
 
 Stoltz, Frank 
 
 Sturgeon, James K. . 
 Strong, James W.. . . . 
 Summers. James C. . , 
 
 Surles, Wm. G 
 
 Swap, Jacob E 
 
 Sweatt, Joseph S. G. 
 
 Swegheimer, J 
 
 Swift, Frederick W. . 
 
 Swift. Harlan J, 
 
 Tabor, William L. S. 
 Taggart, Charles A. . . 
 Tanner, Charles B . . . 
 Taylor, Forrester L. . 
 Taylor, Henry H. . . . 
 
 Taylor, Joseph 
 
 Taylor, Villiam , 
 
 Tinkham, Eugene M. 
 Thakrah, Benjamin . . 
 Thompson, Allen . . . 
 Thompson, James .. . . 
 
 Thompson, John 
 
 Thompson, Thomas ,. 
 
 Thorn, Walter 
 
 Tobie, Edward P. . . . 
 Toomer, William. 
 
 Toffey, John J 
 
 Traynor, Andrew .... 
 Tracy, Charles H. . . . 
 
 Tracy, William G. 
 
 Treat, Howell B 
 
 Tremain, H. Edwin. . 
 Tiogden. Howell G. . 
 
 Truell, Edwin M 
 
 Uhry, George 
 
 Vale. John 
 
 Vanderslice, John M. . 
 
 Veal, Charles 
 
 Veale, Moses 
 
 Veazey, Wheelock G. 
 Vernay, James I/,. . . . 
 Vifquain, Victor 
 
 AGE. 
 
 192 
 25 1 
 357 
 
 460 
 197 
 188 
 132 
 193 
 192 
 360 
 206 
 197 
 
 94 
 319 
 187 
 192 
 278 
 404 
 206 
 .531 
 
 83 
 160 
 215 
 399 
 
 30 
 355 
 310 
 501 
 501 
 486 
 144 
 477 
 .528 
 
 282 
 308 
 338 
 164 
 328 
 341 
 197 
 383 
 54 
 137 
 485 
 435 
 273 
 239 
 175 
 .534 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Von Vegesack, Ernst 47 
 
 Wagner, John W 192 
 
 Wainwright, John 472 
 
 Walker, James C 290 
 
 Walker, Dr. Mary E . ..... 405 
 
 Walling, William H 469 
 
 Walsh, John 449 
 
 Wambsgan, Martin 449 
 
 W arden, John 197 
 
 Ward, Nelson W 370 
 
 Ward, Thomas J 193 
 
 W T ard, William H 176 
 
 Warren, Francis E 206 
 
 Webb, Alexander S 224 
 
 Webb, James W, 62 
 
 Webber, Alonzo P 372 
 
 Weeks, John H 338 
 
 Welch, Stephen 322 
 
 Wells, Thomas M 143 
 
 Wells, William 239 
 
 Welsh, Edward 193 
 
 Wheaton, Loyd 533 
 
 Whitaker, E. W 359 
 
 White. Patrick H 188 
 
 Whitehead, Rev. John M 125 
 
 Whitman, Frank LM 88 
 
 Whitmore, Frank M 88 
 
 Whitney, William G 269 
 
 Widick, A. J 193 
 
 Wilcox, William H 335 
 
 Wilhelm, George 184 
 
 AVilliams, Elwood X 16 
 
 Williams, Leroy 354 
 
 W T ilson, J. A 17 
 
 Wilson, Joseph K 3 
 
 Winegar, William W 505 
 
 Wilson, Selden I, 540 
 
 Wisner, Lewis S, 332 
 
 Wollam, John 17 
 
 Wood, Richard H 197 
 
 Wood Mark 17 
 
 Woodbury, Eri I) 449 
 
 Woodruff. Alonzo , 453 
 
 Woodruff, Carle A 256 
 
 Woodward, E. M 119 
 
 Wortick, Joseph 197 
 
 Wright, Albert I) 392 
 
 Wright, Samuel 137 
 
 Wright, Samuel C 79 
 
 Yunker, John L 61 
 
XI 
 
 BATTLES AND ENGAGEMENTS. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Aldie, Va 211 
 
 Amelia Court House 52s 
 
 Amelia Springs 522 
 
 Antietam 75 
 
 Appomattox Station 527 
 
 Ashepov liiver, S. C 347 
 
 Atlanta 378 
 
 Averysboro 491 
 
 Batchelder s Creek, N. C 307 
 
 Baton Rouge 60 
 
 Bayou. Alabama 420 
 
 Bentouvllle, N. 491 
 
 Blackburn s Ford S 
 
 Black River Bridge 185, 187 
 
 Black River, X. C 490 
 
 Boydton Plank Road 4.~>2 
 
 Boylers Creek 537 
 
 Bristol Station 26S 
 
 Brock Road 316 
 
 Bull Run, Battle of 8 
 
 Bull Run. Second Battle of 62 
 
 Burkeville 532 
 
 Buzzard s Roost, Ga 328 
 
 Camden (South Mills). X. C 22 
 
 Cane River Crossing, La 315 
 
 Carsville. Ya 186 
 
 Cedar Creek, Ya 443 
 
 Cedar Mountain 6] 
 
 Centerville, Ya 8, 537 
 
 Champion Hills 182 
 
 Chancellorsville, Ya 141 
 
 Chapin s Farm 431 
 
 Charles City Cross Roads 49, 58 
 
 Chattanooga 282 
 
 Chickahominy 49 
 
 Chickamauga 263 
 
 Cold Harbor, Ya 351 
 
 Corbin s Creek. Ya 324 
 
 Corinth, Siege of 35 
 
 Craig s Meeting House 316 
 
 Crosby s Creek, Tenn 300 
 
 Dabney s Mills 482 
 
 Dallas 322 
 
 Dalton . 522 
 
 Danville 527 
 
 Decatur, Ga . 380 
 
 1 Mngley s Mill, X. C 495 
 
 Dinwiddie Court House 501 
 
 Drewry s Bluff. Va 342 
 
 Dug Springs 14 
 
 Eastport. Miss 437 
 
 Elk River. Tenn 253 
 
 Ezra Church, Ga 381 
 
 Fair Oaks 39 
 
 Falling Waters, Ya 255 
 
 Farmville 532 
 
 Fisher s Hill, Ya 422 
 
 Five Forks 501 
 
 Flint River, Ga 
 
 Fort Blakely 
 
 Fort Donelson. Surrender of 
 
 Fort Fisher, First Assault on 
 
 Fort Fisher, Second Assault on 424, 
 
 Fort Gilmore 
 
 Fort Harrison 
 
 Fort Haskell 388, 
 
 Fort Heiirv, Capture of 
 
 Fort Hill 
 
 Fort Huger, Ya 
 
 Fort Stedman 
 
 Fort Sumter 
 
 Fort Wagner, S. C 
 
 Franklin, Tenn 
 
 Freclericksburg, Ya 
 
 Front Royal, Ya 
 
 Furnaces . . . 
 
 Gaines Mills Heights 
 
 Gales Creek, X. C 
 
 Gettysburg 
 
 Glendale (Charles City Cross Roads) 
 
 Grand Coteau, La 
 
 Gravelly Run 
 
 Groveton 
 
 Guy s Gap 
 
 Hanover Town, Ya 329, 
 
 Harper s Ferry 
 
 Hatcher s Run. Ya 
 
 Hickey s Landing 
 
 Honey Hill, S. C 
 
 I uka 
 
 Jackson. Miss 
 
 Jettersville, Ya 522, 
 
 Jonesboro, Ga 
 
 Kenesaw Mountain 322, 360, 
 
 Knoxville 
 
 Lafourche District, La., The 
 
 Laurel Hill 
 
 Lee s Mills, Ya 
 
 Lee s Surrender 
 
 Lenoir Station, Tenn 
 
 Little Osage Crossing, Kan 
 
 Little Washington. X. C 
 
 Lookout Mountain 
 
 Lost Mountain . 
 
 Lynchburg 
 
 Malvern Hill 
 
 Manassas 
 
 Marianna. Ga 
 
 Matagorda Bay, Tex 
 
 Mechanicsburg, Miss 
 
 Mechanicsville 
 
 Missionary Ridge 
 
 Mitchell Raid, The 
 
 Mobile 
 
 Monk s Xeck Crossing, Ya 
 
 Monocacy River 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 . 412 
 ..533 
 . 15 
 . 471 
 472 
 431 
 431 
 497 
 
 15 
 394 
 132 
 497 
 3 
 
 258 
 400 
 107 
 
 30 
 31(5 
 
 49 
 302 
 219 
 
 49 
 274 
 482 
 
 20 
 21(5 
 351 
 
 36 
 452 
 208 
 458 
 
 92 
 187 
 527 
 382 
 372 
 295 
 
 97 
 431 
 
 21 
 527 
 278 
 450 
 
 69 
 282 
 322 
 528 
 
 49 
 
 415 
 
 298 
 205 
 
 48 
 282 
 
 17 
 533 
 479 
 375 
 
XII 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Morehead City 302 
 
 Morgan s Raid 180 
 
 Moorefield, W. Va 262 
 
 Moorefield, W. Va 396 
 
 Murfreesboro, Tenn 123 
 
 Nashville, Tenn 467 
 
 New Berne, N. C., Attack on 15 
 
 Newby s Cross .Roads 25(5 
 
 New Market Heights. .., 431 
 
 Newport Barracks 302 
 
 Nolensville, Tenn 137 
 
 Oak Grove, Battle of 48 
 
 Pamunkey River 351 
 
 Parker s Store 316 
 
 Peach Orchard 49 
 
 Peach Tree Creek, Ga 378 
 
 I VIT.V ville (or Chaplin Hills, Ky.) 96 
 
 Petersburg 361, 501 
 
 Petersburg, Va., Final Operations Around... 501 
 
 Piedmont, Va. . . ., 35(5 
 
 Pittsburgh Landing 16 
 
 Plantersville 537 
 
 Pleasant Hill. La 313 
 
 Prairie Grove, Ark 99 
 
 Pi-ice s Missouri Expedition 4."iO 
 
 Port Gibson 187 
 
 Port Hudson, or Hickey s Landing 208 
 
 Rappahannock Station, Battle of 275 
 
 Red Hill, Ala 478 
 
 Resaca, Ga 322, 341 
 
 Richmond 528 
 
 Rowanty Creek 482 
 
 Sailors Creek 527 
 
 Savage Station 49 
 
 Savannah. Ga., to Bentonville, N. C., From.. 491 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Sawyer s Lane 22 
 
 Secessionville 44 
 
 Selma, Ala 537 
 
 Seven Days Battle, The 48 
 
 Shelbyville, Tenn 216 
 
 Sherman s March to the .Sea 322 
 
 Shiloh 16 
 
 Sinking Creek Valley Raid, The 103 
 
 South Mountain 73 
 
 South Side Road 527 
 
 Spanish Fort 533 
 
 Spottsylvania 324 
 
 Springfield, Mo 14 
 
 Staunton River Bridge, Va 370 
 
 Staunton, Va 357 
 
 Stone River 123 
 
 Stony Creek Station, Va 465 
 
 Summary of the War of the Rebellion. . . .541, 542 
 
 The Crater (Petersburg, Va.), Battle of 384 
 
 The Wilderness 316 
 
 Tiron 537 
 
 Todd s Tavern 316 
 
 Trevelian Raid, Va 363 
 
 Vicksburg 187 
 
 Wauhatchie, Tenn., Battle of 273 
 
 Waynesboro, Ga 463 
 
 Wel don Railroad, Va 368 
 
 White Oak Swamp 49 
 
 Wilson s Creek 14 
 
 Wilson s Raid 537 
 
 Williamsburg. Va 24 
 
 Winchester, Va 210 
 
 Winchester, Va. . 418 
 
 Yorktown 24 
 
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