The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-07-04

organization 10 the Fourth regiment is all
that could be desired. Surgeons Murphy
and Cross were devoting all their time aud
talents to the welfare of their men, They
had adopted the rule of having man dis
charged as soon as it became apparent his
constitution and physical formation unGtted
him for the hardships of soldiers life. This
instead Of leaving scores of sick in every
hospital as the army advances, is course
not only dictated by broad and commen.
dable humanity, but proper and practical
regard for the best interests of the service.
The other officers of the regiment also
field, staff and company-were constant in
looking to the health, comfort, order and
discipline of their men. The regiment had
already been highly complimented by such
thorough and accomplished soldiers as Gen.
Schuyler Hamilton, commander at the
time, of the division to which it is attach
ed, and by Gen. Buford, commander of the
brigade.
The Fourth, during the ten days 1 was
with the army, averaged about 800 men
tit for duty, and those on the sick list were
afflicted with very slight ailments.
The several companies of the Fifth Reg.
iment ordered forward, pitched their tents
in the lines of General Pope's army near
Pennington on Saturday, May Oath. They
came up in good health, and no sickness of
serious character existed previous to my
departure. The medical department of this
regiment is also in first rate hands. The
boys of the Fifth will be properly and ten>
derly cared for by Surgeons Etheridge and
Kennedy.
1t was destined for our youngest and con.
sequently least prepared Regiment, the
Fifth, to be the only body of onr gallant
Minnesota troops that faced an enemy on
the open field during the p-otracted ap-
proaches of the National army in front of
the rebel works at Corinth. On the morn
ing of the 28th of May, just four days af-
ter its arrival in the field, the Fifth was or.
dered on picket duty in company with a
veteran Iowa Regiment of General JEFF. @.
Davis Division, which had shared in the
g!ories of Pea Ridge. Arrived at their
place of destination, it become necessary to
silence section of battery which the
enemy had impr1dently planted far in ad-
vance OF bis works.
Our forces, after suffering as much as they
could we'll afford to from the fire of the bat
terry and the infantry supporting it-during
which time our late lamented fellow citizen,
Lieut.. Oakes, was mortally wounded, aud
Patrick Glenn. of company 81, and William
Blackburn of company K, killed-were Or
dered to deploy from their slight cover-an
old fence row Of blackberry bushes-and
drive the enemy from bis position. Our
Minnesota men obeyed the order without
faltering, and with all the GOODNESS of the
Iowa veterans by their side. The enemy did
not wait to receive our bayonets, but left
under the CALLING fire of the Iowans a1d
Miuussotians. The object was accomplished
without bayonet charge in fact, but there
would have been one, and that too in the
most cool and soldier like manner, had there
been anything left to charge upon. The
enemy's loss was considerable.
Our entire mortal loss in the skirmish
was four killed in the Iowa regiment and
three in the Fifth Minnesota. The Mime
sotians wounded were Captain EDDY OF
Wabashaw; privates Bond and Pulaski
Miller of company A; Alfred Jervais and
Antoine Chamette of company Fall
slightly. Lieutenant Colonel Hubbard was
also struck by spent buckshot Captain
Eddy was wounded in the calf of the leg
while heroically cheering on his men. All
the officers, both field and company, as we'll
as the men, showed great cooness and cour-
age on the occasion.
Ionly had an opportunity of visiting the
camp OF the First Battery once, and on the
OCCASION all the company except q small
camp guard were off upon duty. This gal
liant corps, which reflected SO much glory
upon the already proud name of Minnesota
upon the bloody field Cf Shiloh, was pain
ed to learn, was suffering more than its pros
portion from sickness. Being at the time
allowed no Surgeon to attend directly to
their necessities, the men had been greatly
neglected. l had intended to recommend
some remedy for this, but since my return
home have learned from Adjutant Gene
raj Malmros that the Medical Department
at Washington had allowed the battery
Surgeon, and that one has been sent for
ward.
The Second Battery when left was en-.
camped near the Fourth Regiment, engag-
ed in drilling. They were getting along
finely, and were enjoying good health.
1t was not until after the fall of Corinth
that was enabled to find the precise locs-
tion of the Third Regiment. l then learn.
ed that it was at Murfreesboro, Tennessee,
distance of some eighty miles from Pitts
burg Landing. But to reach Murfreesboro
safely, I was compelled to descend the Ten
nessee river, and ascend the Ohio and Cum
berand in order to get to Nashville, and
from thence to my place of destination.
Here was journey of 482 miles 10 order
to get distance of eighty.
In company with Rev. DR.. Crary, Chap
lain of the Third, I left Corinth on the I'd
inst, and Pittsburg Landing on the even.
ing OF the same day. At Smithlsnd, Ken.
tucky, met Lieut.. Neeley aud other mem