Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-10-07
Capt. Calls Report.

AZ Inc loiloWIng - the report OF capt.
Calls, who was in command of the 18th
Regiment at the battle Of Sept. l4lh:
HEADQUARTERS 7TH REGIMENT. WIS. voI.s
Near Boonsboro, Nd, Sept. 18Th, 1862.
FRANK A. HASKELL, 4. d. @. and Il. a.
Gen. Gibbons Bridade:
SIR:-I have the honor to report the
part taken by the 7th Regiment Of Wis
consin Volunteers in the action of the 18th
Of Sept, 1862, at South Mountain, Md
About five o'clock, p. M, the 7th Reg.
Wis. Vols, formed in line Of battle on the
north side Of the turnpike, at or near Mid
dletown. Our left resting on the pike,
skirmishers-were thrown out in advance of
us, and soon encountered the skirmishers
Of the enemy; sharp skirmish fire en-
sued; the regiment then broke by the
right of companies to the front, and adj
vanced keeping one hundred PAGES in rear
of the line of skirmishers; we advanced in
this way, through cernield for half a
mile, and came out into an open field; here
the skirnishers met such sharp fire from
the sharp shooters of the enemy that it
was deficult for them to advance further,
the open field affording no shelter or pro-
lection against the sharp fire from the front;
the regiment then formed in line of battle,
and advanced, our left touching the pike,
our right extending north to the edge of a
dense belt Of woods on the slope of the
Mountain; the enemy opened destruct-
i've enflading fire from astone fence on our
left, at short range, which drew the fire
from our regiment-to the left; we kept
advancing and firing until another EMILIA
ding fire from the woods on our right, and
direct fire from behind stone fence in
our front, showed our close proximity 10
the enemy's line of battle. Our men re-
turned the fire with great vigor; the 9th
Wis. Regt., was then in line in our rear,
some fifty PAGES. Col Bragg. seeing the
destructive fire under which we were fight
ing, double-quicked the 9th Wis. Reg, to
our right, and opened on the enemy, there
by drawing the enflading fire hitherto Sc
cured by US from the woods on our right.
Col. Fairchild of the I'd Wis. Regt. at this
junction, was a little t. our rear, and left
of the pike; he also seeing our perlous
condition, brought his regiment forward
on our left and commenced fire that saved
Us from further annoyance; the left thus
leaving us to contend against direct fire
from behind stone fence ir our front.
The firing was kept up without ceasing
until after 0 o'clock at night, when our ann
munition became exhausted This fact was
made known to Gen. Gi5bon; his answer
was "hold the ground at the point Of the
bayonet;" our men were ordered to lie
down; the cartridges were then taken from
the boxes of the dead and wounded and
distributed among the men, who were des-
titute of ammunition. | then gave them
orders to load and lie down, and reserve
their fire for close range; The enemy
seeming to know our condition, common
ced advancing on us in line, whereupon |
ordered the regiment to rise up, fix bayo-
nets and charge on the advancing column.
Our regiment had not advanced more
than twenty feet, when we fired; this
broke the enemy's lines and they retired in
great confusion. Our loss was heavy in
killed and wounded. The aggregate of
killed wounded and missing was about
one hundred and forty-seven; the regi-
ment went into the action with three hun
dred and seventy-five muskets; the officers
and men OF the regiment all fought well,
doing their whole duty; about half past
10 o'clock the regiment was relieved by
part of Gen. Germans Brigade, the 18th
Massachusetts, Regt.
have the honor, Sir, to be your most
obedient servant,
John B. CALLIs,
Capt. Com. 7th Regt. Wis. Vols.