Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-04-25
The Pittsburg Battle Ground.


by the gallant I2d, bot more especlnl-
" by members of companies A, B, d, VI and !.
About p, m, the regiment went out under
charge Of Major Crockett to the parade ground TO
drill, little expecting they were to meet the en-
envy before dark and engage him for hours in
mortal combat The field IN which the regi- !
mcnt was drilling is south Of our camp and near
the picketa. While drilling brisk firing was
heard in the direction of the pickets of this brig
ade. and supposing them to be attacked, Colonel
Buckland who had come to the field directed
Major Crocket to take his regiment and go to
the support OF the pickets which was done very
quickly; the men going off at a run and whoop.
Arriving at the picket station, house about n
mile from camp, Maj. Crocket deployed c0mpa-
nies b and II under comand of Capt Raymond,
and Lieut. Young, as skrmisheis to advance
and see the whereabouts of the enemy, if any
were near Colonel Buckland states that he
gave no orders for the regimennt TO proceed fur
ther, and supposed that companies i and II were
to proceed but short distance, and il no enemy
should be found in the immediate vicinity of the
pickets, that the Major would return with his
command, and under this belief, himself return
ed to camp.
Major Crockett took charge of company H.
Capt Raymond advanced on the right. The
two companies did not keep together, nor as it
seems, within supporting distance, Company
II went OH about one aud a-half or two miles,
when the skirmishers on the right came upon
six rebel cavalry thrown forward as skirmishers,
at whom they fired few shots, wounding one.
Pursuing, the company came into an open field,
in which was house, passing which they
wheeled to the left. 1t was now discovered that
a body of $50 rebel cavalry were some eighty
rods to the right, aud retreat was Immediately
begun, the rebels advancing. Twice did the lit
tie band of brave hearts halt face about and send
volley into the ranks of the foe, which would
stop him for few moments-moments of pre-
cious value to the little handful of men who
were in imminent danger of being surrounded
and overpowered by more than four times their
number. After retreating about quarter of q
mile and finding further retreat utterly imprac-
lticabe, it was resolved to make stand and
lawait reinforcements. And the gallant fellows
did make stand, which for desperation, brav-
cry and cool-calculating determination is sur
passed by no example in history; for it was a
conflict between 40 infantry and l50 cavalry,
reinforced during the conflict by $50 men, max
ing the force against which Capt. Raymond's
command contended 400 strong, armed with sa-
bres pistols and double-barreled shot-guns and
rifles. Did men ever contend against such fear
full odds2 Yet for more than an hour did they
keep the traitor foe at bay; each moment ex-
pecting aid from their friends, till hope seemed
giving way to despair And it seemed as II
tne1 must become Sacflnce 10 Jhelc own SOL
emn determination never to yield save with
death. The conflict ragged. The rebels appar-
emily conscious oftheir vast superiority attempt
ed to surround their brave and more obstinate
foemen, and either capture or crush them. Their
| line extended in a crescent, around Capt Ray
mond's force, enclosing it in hollow or ravine,
from whence retreat was impossible The enc
my forms for charged This, if successful will
sweep away the Spartan band who dispute the
day with them. The boys know this full well,
and with renewed energy they pour hot and
well directed fire into the rebel line which
throws them into confusion and disorder. They
fall back and form again. On they come, dis
charging n full volley of leaden hail upon the
little handful of men they imagine almost with
in their grasp. Again are they repulsed Thus
continues the deadly strife. No man of the for
ty hincbes; no one shuns the death the enemy
seeks to give Veterans could do no more
Thus waged the unequal struggle; the men at
times almost despairing of help from their COM
rades, whom they thought only short distance
behind. They felt, but did not give way to this
despair. They brought many Of the rebels to
the earth, they knew they were doing terrible
work for them, but still with such overwhelm-
ing numbers to oppose, what could they hopeP
| Meantime, the regiment not returning to camp,
Col. Buckland went to ascertain what they were
doing. Finding that companies and II had
not returned, and hearing firing, he took compa,
nies A, and !, and pushed forward to suppor
these companies. Company II, with which Ma
Iior Crockett had gone ahead on the left, after pro
|ceeding about two miles, came upon some sixty
of the enemy and fired at them emptying two
saddles and killing four horses, entirely dispers-
ing them. The company then began its return
to the regiment, but ere coming far its real
guard was fired upon by the rebels. The Major
tgave the order to countermarch, and "give it &c
them" He himselfrode forward some distance
lft oAv he felI dlxy
occasionally hearing firing from the skirunisher
in the lead. AT last coming to the top ofa knoll
| Lient Young discovered large body Of the en-
emy coming down long slope directly in front
f Intervening between the forces was a ravint
: where Major Crockett and the skirmishers Q
company II were standing. 1t. Young directe
: Ibis company to halt, stree and fire" which di
with great effect The rebels rushed forwar
8 and took three Of the skrmishers prisoners on
t of whom Immediately escaped. Major Crocke
It was also probably captured as well as 1t. Gea
n of the 18th Ohio, Aid to Col Buckland, VIII
t, was with him. Our Major is missing and is eli
G ther killed or prisoner He was brave an
n gallant, but perhaps reckless. His zeal to lea
/ should not have led him to incur too great risks
q We loved hiR, and many hearts are sadt knoN
! that he is not with us. He was a noble Office
: brave, generous and kind. The men were prou'
r of him as leader. We still hope he may at N
distant day return to us.
The contest here lasted about half an houl
: when the rebels were driven back by the gallan
!, Germans who fought most nobly. The compa
Iny then began its return again, when they me
company Capt Fickes, coming to their aid.-
. The rebels driven back by the noble German
: had gone TO aid those engaged by Capt. Ray
y mond force. Capt. Fickes at once started to til
: relief OF company b, some half mile or more dii
[; tant, reaching them little in advance of con
lpanes A and d, and poured in CALLING wolfe
!, Ion the rebels just as they were forming
t. Icharge on Raymond men. This told the story
y lcompanies A and d were on hand with anotht
volley. The rebels were thrown into confusion
It and completely routed, and company B wa
: saved, which was much more than most of thel
!. ever expected. Thus were our men vietors (
e the day. Only two companies B and H suffe
= ed any, as they were the only ones really engal
o ed by the enemy.
h NY time runs short, aud cannot give mo
q details or relate any incidents, of which the
are many. Distinction would be invidious, ar
T. where all did so well and heroically, cam
d distinguish, Officers and men behaved wi
t. lgreat GOODNESS and courage.
Company B has 5 wounded: James TitswoF
l. severely shot through left breast ball enteriI
below the collar bone and coming out at the poi
n of the shoulder; recovery doubtful. Charl
Bennett, ball through right thigh just abo
k the knee; not dangerous L. p. Kennedy, fe
wound in right thigh, slight Matthias Swart
lander, thumb Of right hand shattered by buc
We shot, also buckshot in right arm, slight. Zae
IT. Gus Henrcks, scratched on right arm, slight.
adl -Four of company II are wounded, viz: JOSEF
Youngle, ball through right thigh, fracturing 4
D. bone; wound severe John Ohlinger, fie
<, wound, right thigh. G. II. Gessner, pistol sh
10 In hack of neck HeSh wnnnd Nichalaa Hnb,