St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1861-08-08
WASHINGTON. july Sd, 1851

astonishment, who should walk into my Of
fee but Henry Swisshelm and brother p
After few moments chat, they said they
were going out to see the Minnesota boys
and asked me to accompany them. Ac-
cordingly we started down Pennsylvania
Avenue toward. the Capitol, for the camp
is about three quarters Of a mile beyond
it. On our way out we met your fellow
townsman, George F. Brott, Esq; coming
in-another surprise for me. Tried to
persuade him to turn back, but F'twas too
hot" be said. He was right enough
there, it was decidedM hot.
When We arrived at the Camp, went d.
rectly to Lieut.. Col. Miller's teut. Found
him sitting, taking it coolly, in brown
linen coat, which contrasted strangely with
his shoulder straps and military cap.~.-
Wesley was lying on the ground fast
asleep. but soon woke up to see bis friends
Both seemed pleased to see us-any in
terruption t, the monotony Of camp life I
suppose is welcome After quite long
talk with the Colonel about the battle and
the Minnesota boys share in it, he sent
for the flag of the Regiment to: give us
little idea Of the storm Of shot rained on
them it was pierced in seventeen places.
In one corner, right through the field of
stars, was large rent, showing where a
bomb had gone through which Afterwards
killed ten men in one company. A piece
Of it struck the Captains revolver, mash
ing it into pieces and tearing his leg from
the hip to the knee-he did not even re-
port his wound. This story of endurance
and contempt Of injury IS outdone by
another Col. Miller gave us. A day or
two after the battle, German, or rather a
Prussian, came to his captain and said,
"Captain, my leg is a little sore; I shall
have to be off duty for day or two."-
The captain wished to see it.; but he said,
"Oh, no.! twill be all right in a day or
two, only I can't do duty just now."-
The officer insisted, and after much demur
on the part of the soldier, he rolled up his
pantaloons, and there was bullet hole in
his leg into which the captain could put
his thumb. The limb itself was swollen
as big as two and almost black with infam-
nation, and yet the brave fellow had done
duty ever since the fight, and even then
insisted that it was nothing; that it would
be we'll in day OF two.
Another affecting instance Of courage
and devotion occurred on the field At
ter the panic had commenced, in the very
thick Of tremendous FIRE from battery
on one side and the enemy's infantry in
front, Col. Miller, by dint of much talking
and appeals to their courage and patriot
ism, had succeeded in rallying few, per-
! haps two hundred of his men around the
flag. lie finished by heart-stirring ap-
peal to them as Minnesotians, and at this
man lying at his feet, whom he had sup
posed dead, arose and said, "Colonel, I
don't know who is going to stand and
who is going to 1un (words to that efect),
but as for me, I'll stand up once more for
the sake of tho aag;" and with musket in
hand he fell into line. Col. Miller just
gave one look at him, and saw that ball
had struck him on the outer corner Of the
eye completely cutting it out, so that it
hung down on hs cheek. He never saw
him afterwards, although he made diligent
inquiry after the battle. That little band
Of 200 men stood there and fred three
volleys before they retreated who says
the Minnesota men didn't do their duty ?
AS for Col. Miller, all Of US who ever knew
him, knew be would never be found want.
ing.
After while went with Wesley to see
the St. Cloud boys-Ed Ball, Ben. Noel
and Fred. Schafenburg; found the at
dinner, all we'll, attested by the way the
"grub" disappeared. They were very
glad apparently to see face they had
beheld in St. Cloud. After d little talk
with the boys, I shook hands and went
back to Lieut.. Col. Milier's tent, just in
time for dinner, which we got at house
near by; haven't time to say much about
it, except that there was a big dish Of
''sauer !.kraut" (Col. Miller retains his odd
tastes.) Before we were finished, General
Sanborn, Adjutant of the State Of Mime.
sofa, and Col. German, came in aud sat
down, falling to with soldiers appetites-|
Then Rev. Mr. Neill, Chaplain Of, the
Regiment, came in, who, by the way.
made himself most useful in the battle,
tending the wounded, carrying them off
the field, &c.
The Minnesota Regiment is fortunate
in its officers, especially in having Chap.
lain who can minister to bodies as well as
souls. The men in the hospital speak Of
him and Colonel Miller in most affection.
ate terms. The latter, they say, brings |
them his papers before reading them him. |