The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-01-23


rebels were driven back each time by our
regiment alone. In one of these skirmishes
we left eight of the enemy upon the field.
How many of them fell in the other four,
we have no means of knowing, as we were
making a rapid march and clearing the
track for the thousands of forces coming
in orr rear. In all these running fights
not one of our men received q wound,
though some OF US had narrow escapes, es-
peclally from the bursting shells.
In the bloody battle of Perryville, Oct.
9Th, on account of our reserved position,
we were not ordered up until late in the
afternoon. y part Of McCooks corps, af-
ter fierce resistance, were falling back
before the enemy. Our whole brigade
were brought up arrest their progress,
and that, too, under a terrific fire from
their artillery. Our battery-Loder's-
one of the most powerful in the service,
replied with such skill and energy. that
soon disabled and silenced the strongest
battery in Bragg's army. But while this
murderous duel Of batteries was raging.
our brigade was exposed to their cross fire,
and the bursting OF the shells from each.
y hotter aud more dangerous place in this
world, no man has q right to anticipate as
a test of his valor. The going in of our
brigade at that critical moment saved that
portion Of our army there engaged from
perfect rout.
BY kind Providence, lot q man of us
was in the least degree injured, Gods
hand seemed in q wonderful manner to
protect each and all.
The darkness Of night soon put an end
to this murderoUs fray, and our whole bri-
gade, like herds Of tigers crouching for a
last murderous pounce upon their prey,
laid down upon their arms in line OF bat
tie, to await, as they supposed, an appal-
ling strife at the dawn OF the morning
But when that morning came, the enemy
had fled, and we had nothing to do but to
take our breakfast Of hard bread, pork and
coffee, in quiet possession Of the field.
In a few days after, stung with disap-
pointed hope that the enemy, who should
have been ours, had escaped from our
grasp, we found ourselves retracing our
weary steps to Tennessee, where we now
are watching the movements Of our subtle
tratOrOus foe.
In the four months embraced in this re-
port, We have been without tents IS days,
during which has occurred the severest
snow storm this regiment has seen the past
year.
In all, we have now in the regiment 100
Total present for duty, 900
Total upon the sick list, &C
Absent in different hospitals, "a
Sick in camp, II
AMOUNT of hospital funds on hand, = $50
Total numper of miles marched from
Aug. I to Dec. / 6i2
Total number of miles travelled by this
regiment since we left Fort Smelling,
Total tai number NJ Der of deaths in the same '''
time, SO
The number of deaths during the last
four months has been unusually small.
Companies a, B, G, G, II, and X have
lost none.
In company D, there have died, Leon
ard Town, Charles T. Watkins and Chas
W. Bartlett.
In company E, three have died: Ed
ward Pasco, Benjamin Roundville and
Warren Spaulding.
In company F, there have been two
deaths Oliver n Reyes and Marquis D.
Mitchell.
In company ], one has died: De Loss
Justice.
The health Of our regiment amidst such
severe exposures and toll calls for scecial
gratitude to God.
As we have literally here no continuing
city or abiding place, and much of the
time have been in hourly expectation of
skirmishes and battles with the enemy,
while this service has been so active, full
of toll, fatigue and anxiety, and when a
few hours have been spent in camp, there
has been such demand for rest, that few
and far between have been the oppOrtuni-
ties for public worship. Still we have had
religious services occasionally during the
last four months
We have such vast numberin our hos
pitfalls who can be reached by religious in
struction under highly favorable circum-
stances, while the services of the field are
so active, leaving no time upon the Sab
bath as upon other days, for any thing,
but strictly military duties, it is serious
question whether most of our Chaplains
should not confne much Or all of their
time to the afflicted in hospitals instead of
remaining in the field, where their oppor,
tunities for doing good are by necessity
exceedingly small, whatever may be their
devotion to their work.