The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1862-09-10

you, 10 note the varied incidents Of sue
cess, defeat, valor, or blunder, as the case
may be, which that eventful and hard
fought day disclosed, Let me simply
mention the part which the Third Michi-
gan acted, which, while it adds to their
dear earned laurels, adds also to the num-
Der of their heroes who bravely fell upon
that fatal field.
The enemy lay to the right of an I'M
finished railroad track and ours to the
left. The road being elevated, served as
breastwork to each party. The enemy
moved column down with the purpose
of outaanking us. Perceiving this, Gen.
Kearney ordered up the Third Michigan,
One hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania, and
Twentieth Indiana, to cross the railroad
and attack the advancing column, which
had extended its left wing for tho purpose
of thanking. The three regiments cross
ed the track, and the Third advanced in
obedience to the order, but, either from
misconceiving the order, or neglecting it,
or from whatever other cause cannot now
be ascertained, these two regiments, de-
signed to support the Third in their adj
venturous yet all important movement,
failed TO perform their part and remained
stationary, while the Third, with that
courage and daring which has ever mark
ed them in the hour of danger, advanced
under the guidance of their brave COM
mander, whose wounds were not yet en-
tirely healed, nor his body invigorated
since the battle of Fair Oaks. How fire.
quently have we seen mind triumph over
the decays and the weaknesses of the
body, and the nerves strung to tension,
and the whole inner man elevated in the
presence of some grand or interesting OBJ
ject which absorbs the whole faculties Of
the soul; the body is borne along by the
impelling power of the current within
Thus our brave little Colonel, forgetful of
bodily defects and weaknesses, was car
ried along by the ardor of heroic enthu-
siasm. The enemy opened upon the lit
tic advancing band with front and a
thanking fire, while, strange and unaccount-
able as it may seem, yet it is no less true
that the Sixty-third Pennsylvania Regi-
ment, on the left of the railroad, which
should have supported our left flank, pour
ed in for the space of ten minutes gall
ing fire. Thus attacked in front and the
two TANKS, this heroic little band pushed
on, drove the enemy from their position
and could have retained it, but, having
gained their object, they found themselves
alone and isolated from those who should
have sustained them. They were COM
PEELED 10 retire, and it is believed that
nothing but the dense smoke of battle
preserved any of them alive.
Their loss, however, was fearful. They
went into the battle with only 233-for
the fa!igues of the march had caused
many to fall out of the ranks-and they
lost, in killed "a, wounded 165. Lieut..
Hess, killed; Captain Schryver, Captain
Smith, Lieuts. Ryan and Brennan severe
ly though not MORALLY wounded. I am
unable TO give list Of the non-commis-
stoned officers and privates killed and
wounded. Thus, out of 233, there re-
manned but 103. The stragglers who
have since come in may increase the reg
inert to 200. Thus, a regiment which,
about fifteen months ago, numbered L.
O4O, is now reduced TO mere skeleton.
Our brave little Colonel, having to COM
mand on foot, fell and was carried off the
field. The muscles, but newly knit I'M
able to bear the strain, were again LAGER
ated and the wound panied him afresh;
he is now laid up in Alexandria.
Saturday the rebels concentrated their
whole force and attacked our lines, and
we fell back to the strong position at Cen
terville, with our right extending to Fair
fax. No fighting Sunday, and no news
which can be relied on from the field,
Monday or to-day, although cannonading
has been heard briskly. No Washington
papers published last night. No tele-
graphic dispatches. We are all in the
dark. No man can leave for Washing
ton without pass and the passport sys-
tenn is stringent.
Major B. r. Pierce, with that GOODNESS
and courage for which he is remarkable,