Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-07-03
GRNERAL oRDERs-No. 16.
Headg'rs I'd Div., Northern District, }
Department Of the South,

Department of the South,
James Island, s. C., June IS, go.
The Brigadier General commanding
the I'd Division, in communicating to his
command the thanks of the Commanding
General for the good conduct o. the troops
in the action of the 18th inst, desires to
express his own profound sense Of tier
valor, courage and heroism.
Men of the I'd Division-you display
ell in the attack on the fortified position
of the enemy at Secessionville on the 10th
inst, the highest qualities of veteran
troops. You formed in silence and secre-
cy in the darkness of the night You
moved forward in perfect order at the
earliest dawn, and surprised and captured
the enemy's pickets. You were ordered
not to fire, but to push forward and use
the bayonet. You obeyed the order
You formed in he LIE of battle under a
terrible and murderous fire of grape, can
ister and musketry. You pushed to the
ditch and abatis of the work, from right to
left Parties from the leading regiments
of your two Brigades-the 9Th Michigan
and 18th (Highlanders,) amounted and
were shot down on the parapet, officers
and men. These two regiments especj .I.
ly covered themselves with glory and
their fearful casualties show the ,ot work
in which you were engaged. Two-fftb,
of the 8th Michigan, and neT .rlv one-ouar.
ter of the 10Th (Highlan' .ers) were there
struck down, either xii ed or wounded
and all the remainin Z regments-the one
Hundredth "a lie 9TH Connecticut, the
46th New Yor',. and the 28th Massachu
setts-had large number of casualties.
Notwltb Standing these fearful losses, yol
we're III discouraged. Some of you were
} temp pJrarilly withdrawn from the murderou
fir of the enemy, You retired in order o
cattle, and you returned to the attack in or
/ der of battle Some held, throughout The
action, the advanced position at the abatu
and ditch of the work, and you all were
|, ready for action and eager to advance sec
e ond time to the assault from the hedge ave
hundred yards from the work. This position
YOU held unfinchingly and confidently, anC
It at this very hedge the light artillery of Rock
i we'll threw its effective fire upon the enemy
In obedience to orders from superior au
e thority. you finally retired in good order, ant
# in line of battle, and the enemy did not ven
ture TO interrupt you.
g Men of the Second DIvision-You cover
< ed yourselves with glory on that CORY telc
, Your intrepid and able brigade commanders
Leasure and Fenton, in the hottest of tn
ot thick fight your regimental commanders
" like the heroic Morrison, who, shot throug
= the head on the parapet, again led his me
10 to the assault, eager to avenge the wound
" at all points rallying and cheering on thei
men, and officers and men alike gave sign'
Ell proof of their devo ion 10 duty and the
le country. In ongratulating bis comrades o
their heroic valor and constancy on that tel
- rible field, the Commanding General of th
re division has not words to express his grit
-, and yours at the sacrifices that have bee
- made. Our best and truest men now slee
r the sleep that knows no waking. Their dea
" bodies lie on the enemy's parapet. Churc
Pratt, Catrel, Guild, Morrow, Horton, Hitcl
d. cock, and many other noble and gallant me
~ we shall see no more.
Honor, therefore, all honor to you, Il
men of the Second division You hav
shown what you will do when you get tt
At proper opportunity, you did not seize the 10
bo because it was simply impossible, and kno~
~ now TO be impossible by the reconnoisant
of referred to in the orders of thanks OF Il
~ Commanding General.
- By order of Brig. Gen. STEVENS.
h' HAZARD STEVENS, Captain and A. A. {