Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-06-04

$500
we came to halt, and stationed pickets
for the night. Our knapsacks Were left
back to the white house, with overcoats
and blankets. Covered with preparation
we took our posts and stood until morning.
Daylight found us cold, wet and. hungry.
The rain commenced coming a little after
midnight and kept up a steady coming
down until /, p. M, the next day. All
thoughts Of a fight that forenoon were oat
OF the question; but at l, p. M, we COM
menced our march to gain position in the
roar Of tho enemy. This we successfully
accomplished in about an hour and a half,
by circuitous rout to the right. We
crossed stream over a narrow dam and
entered deserted Fort, lately prepared by
the rebels. There are many OF these Forts
around Williamsburg, but we s2Gowed so
closely, they had not time to gun them il
they had troops to fill them. We had
scarcely gained this position, when we
were ordered on. The rebels were still
28 miles ahead. Leaving tue Fort we de-
ployed through large wheat field to an
other Fort and hoisted the Stars aud Stripes
in full view Of their boosted "Fort Nc
Gendsr-distant Il miles. Here Han
cocks Brigade took up its position to the
right and the left Of the Fort at 2 o'clock,
p. M, May 5.
Wheeler's and Kennedy's Batteries were
sent 70 rods in front OF the Fort, to test
the strength Of their huge "Fou Mc Gen
der, (which the contraband said was 1.-THE
biggest fort of ALL McGender had said
he would shed his last drop Of blood be-
fore that should be taken,) while the right
wing Of the Fifth Wisconsin was deployed
as skirmishes to the rghc and the left Of
the batteries ia the woods, and the left
wing supported Kennedy's guns; lying
close to them full so rods from the Fort.
After firing cannon shot nearly two hours
and receiving an occasional shot, which
came far short Of the mark, we came to
the conclusion that we would SEQ no i ght-
ing that night, and the boys began to gath
er cornstalks for a bed. (The ground was
quite muddy.) Some had thrown off their
knapsacks and lain down. eve were all
nearly exhausted) In the meantime the
rebels had not been idle. They had filed
right and left out of their Fort, or behind,
ia the wood and the first notice Of their
presence was made by a whole volley of
musketry upon our skirInishers,in the woods
on the right, Fall into line was the prompt
order Of Col. Cobb, and promptly was il
| obeyed. Another minute and our Skin
mishels were seen emerging from the
woods, and firing at every step as they re-
treated. The rebel balls now came in like
hail; but no sooner were we in position
than the firing became general. The enc
my threw out their men right and left up
on double-quick and forming a splendid
line, boldly advanced to take our batteries.
This, however, they could not do, for the
deadly aim of the 200 men who supported
them kept the enemy at bay until the guns
were out Of danger. The long range Of
our Austrian rifles enabled us to do this;
but it soon became evident that their supe-
rior force Give full regime lts) would over
power US. We were directly within range
Of the enemy's guns, and in our present po-
sition help was out Of the question. We
must fall back to the Fort or be eat to
pieces. Some Of our brave men had fall
en-. At the first fire, three from Co. "H,"
went down to rise no more. was close
behind them and saw them fall. Many
others were badly wounded, and the saw
age foe were close upon us. Order came
for US to retreat, but the boys did not
know how to do that; still they fought on.
Retreating four or five feet, loading and
firing all the time with great precision, and
then falling back o few feet farther to per-
form the same work. Not five men had
ever seen a fight before, but all stood man
fnlly up to the business. A second order
came and we fell back to the Fort, but
slowly and firing all the time Now the
other regiments formed on the right and
left Of the Fort and sent three or four
rounds OF the deadly missiles on the foo,
Is rods distant. Five minutes more the
enemy were retreating in hot haste back
to their Fort across the plain. The battle
was won; the victory was ours. 1t was
now almost dark, but the wounded must
be gathered up and taken care Of.
First, let mo notice the-confuson after
battle: the running around after friends
and relatives. The anxious look, the hur
ried inquiry. "Haye you seen my broth
err" rs John safe n "Where IS my
Captain r. You meet now and then one,
who viii say nothing, but his deep, solemn
look, expression Of emotion, too deep for
tears, tells you, you had best trouble him
With no idle question; bis loss is severe.
These are a few instances Of war-pick up
the wounded and bury the dead.
Our regiment said they were not tired
and every man took hold with will, to
perform Che most disagreeabe task. The
battle ground was completely covered with
dead ana dying; and the groans Of many
were most appalling. Some we're shot in
the lower limbs and attempted ID crawl
around like wounded deer. The enemies
wounded were cared for the same as ouis,
and carried or the field At the same time.
1t was muddy and bloody time. The
rain, which had slackened up very little
during the action, now come on with IN
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