Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-07-09
Gen. Paine and the 4th Regiment at
Port Hudson.

| The correspondent OF the New I0rk
Times, who was present at the assault on
Port Hudson on June 14tb, in which Gen.
PAINE was wounded, says that the larger
share in the attack-whichw was intended
to be, but was not, simultaneous along
the whole line-devolved upon Gen.
PA1NE's command. The 9Th New Hamp-
shire, commanded by Capt. BARRETT, and
the 4th Wisconsin, commanded by Capt.
". P. MOORE of Beloit, were in the ad-
vance as skirmishers, followed BY the 4th,
!. 31st, ssh and SD Massachusetts,, 2sth
Connecticut, and 10th, 1850, 156th, 173d
and 10th New York, with MINIS Masss-
chusatts battery, all in three brigades IN
der Colonies GooDING, A. FEARING and
FERRIS. We quote from the Tines sc.
| count: Tf12{f-1s stttE41s
At $50 A. NJ, of Sunday, June 14th,
| the column formed on the Clinton road
and commenced moving At about A.
NJ. the skirmishers moved right up to the
scene of action-Gen. Paine being with
them in advancing, and the, deadly work
commenced-the enemy pouring in upon
them the most terrible yolleys, and our
t;dauntless men combating their way right
up to the enemy's breastworks. For
hours the carnage continued furiously -
our determined soldiers, in spite of their
General being seriously wounded, and in
spite Of the fearful odds against them of
fighting against men snugly screened be-
hind their Misunderstanding up the fight
with the most indomitable bravery. 1t
was impossible tor any men, under their
circumstances, to show more reckless dis.
regard of death.
| But Port Hudson was destined not to
be- carried this time-at that point-at
any rate. Owing to the horrible inequall-
ties of the ground, and the impediments
which the overwhelming slaughter of our
advance had created, the whole column
was not able to come up as expected, and
late in the afternoon our troops had to be
withdrawn. During the intensest part OF
the struggle, it is only fair to say that Col
Kimball, of the Fifty third, and Col. Cur.
rier of the One Hundred and Thirty-third
New York, advanced most CALAMITY with
their men to reinforce those in front.
1t is impossible to overrate the courage
and endurance which Gen. Paine showed
on this occasion. Although so severely
wounded in the leg ss to be quite disa.
bled, he would not consent to leave the
field, but remsined there during the long
sultry day to cheer on his men, at the
momentary risk of being killed by some
: rebel shot.
Various efforts were made by his mer
to get him off the field, or at least to gel
refreshments to him. and two gallant fel
lows, on two separate occasions, lost theil
lives in the attempt. One was E. P
Woods, private, of Company e, Eighth
New Hampshire, and the other Johr
Williams, Company D, Thirty-frst Massa
,, chusetts. l happened to be at the hos
pital when the latter poor fellow wa:
; brought in. He had been shot clean thro
the breast, and fingered but few minutes
after his arrival there. a....
Before Gen. Paine was wounded, he hat
succeeded in getting five reg ments within
three or four rods of the enemy's works
some of the skirmishers actually gettin.
inside.
Our loss on this occasion was very great
the killed, wounded and missing of Paine
command reaching to nearly seven hun
dred. A number of officers and private
(smong them Capt. Stamyard, of the Stl
, New Hampshire, Lieut.. Harsiey and Lieut.
, Newell, of the same,) being wounded
? were ordered in as prisoners, under threa
= of being shot from the enemy's works
\ Gen. Paine was shot below the knee G
f the left leg, SCATTERING both bones, bu
hopes are still entertained of saving hi
leg. He was not brought off the field I'll
= night time, when his wounds were dresse
and be Immediately conveyed to Ne'
f. Orleans.
t Though the assault was not completed
a successful it secured our forces positio
much better and nearer the enemy
, works. .-f .r
The next day Gen. BANKS issued an OF
s der congratulating the troops on what ha
been done, saying that he ''was coniden
, of an Immediate and triumphant issue G
the contest, " that the army was on tn
, threshold of the rebel Notifications an
7 with one more advance they would b
l ours" He then called for a stormin
, party of 1000 men. --'-
, More than enough brave hearts volun
, teered in few hours, but it does not ye
clearly appear whether the assault wa
: actually made. The Herald correspon
dent protesting to write from near Por
Hudson on the 18th, says that the assault
t was decided on at headquarters, but o"
: ing to the disagreement Of Generals as
! the plan, the whole affair was abandoned
: On the other hand, the Tribune CORES
? pendent, as telegraphed the other da.
Q writing from New Orleans, the 18th, say
!. that an assault was made in which tt
o 4th Wisconsin and 9th Michigan led th
charge and were repulsed. From sundr
: inaccuracies in the Iri6une's statemen
we are still inclined to think it incorrec
y The Tribune correspondent tells th
r following story: ..,a+ -z,E ~, ......
) Brig. Gen. 81. E. Paine, while gallant
:, rallving his men, was very seriousl
r wounded. He lay upon the ground mes
the rebel breastworks for twelve hour
1t While lying there, his Assistant Adjutar
d General offered to any one who woul
/ carry him drink of water, $4,000. Z.
e brave fellow undertook the task, and su
e ceeded in cooling the parched lips of tt
a hero chieftan, and doubtless saving b
r life, but death was his ovn reward. i
IF was riddled with rebel bullets.
a The Times correspondent gives the 70
lowing list of .z1vsa .r- -
" LOSSES OF TIE 4TH WIscossIN IN TIE ASSAULT
y PoRT HUDSON JUSE 18th.