Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-11-26
ARMY CORRESPONDENTS.
Relley's Ford.
From the Wisconsin, SharpshOoters.

lines TO give to your many readers, and the
friends Of the sharpshooters, brief descrip-
ton of sharp skirmish which took place at
the Kelley Ford, crossing the Rappahannock,
on the afternoon Of Nov. It'll, 1863, between
the Berdan Sharpshooters on the Union side,
and portion Of Eweps corps on the part Of
the rebels To commence: At half past two
o'clock on the morning Of the 18th, the Sd
Army Corps broke camp near Warenton
Junction and started off at day-brcak " for
ward" The I'd regiment SharpshoOtcrs took
the lead Of the I'd brigade, while the lst were
put out as faukers After Il steady and
quick march along the road leading towards
Falmouth, we left the same about noon, aud
striking OFF Il road leading to the Ford,
made temporary halt. Soon after, how
ever, the Sharpsho0tcrs were sent down to-
wards the river. About u 7. NJ we formed
a long skirmish line, and advancing over an
open plain soon became aware of the proX-
unity of the enemy by the whistling of bull
lets around US. The order to g double
quick being given, driving the g Johnnies
pell-mell across the river, they taking refuge
in rifle pits. We however pressed on to the
river bank under sharp fire from 'tother
side " and succeeded in obtaining temporary
cover. 1t was now blaze away" on both
sides in good earnest and after some sharp
exchanges we espied force coming down on
full run towards a large brick building OPP
posite US. They instantly became the object
of our immediate attention, but although our
fire was sharp and quick, yet many succeeded
in gaining this place of cover. They soon
had to skedaddle from there however, for be-
| tween the rafting of the Sharpshooters' bull
ILL g.
that opened on the building with effect, the
place became too hot for them and away they
went back again. our boys putting it to them
good, making them hurry the faster. Corpo-
raj Jno. w. johnson (of Co. g. from near
Madison, pumped one man through the mid
die of the back at 700 yards raise Of sight
The man sprawled out instanter and was af-
forwards found dead where he fell. The
wind was blowing hard at the time, and al
| though Johnson considered the chances poor
of hitting his man at that distance, under the
circumstances, vet upon being urged
exclaimed "By great! I'll try him." and
did so, allowing two feet for windage,
and was successful. We were finally
| ordered to cross the river and charge the pits
on the bank, the fire having slackened, al
| though we surmised that force of some kind
still remained there from occasional bobbing
rem tried flank movement" on one fellow,
but it was no use, they could not obtain
cross-fre on the "Johnny" from our side of
the stream. "Webb finally gave the fell
| low a polite invitation to come out of his
| hole and give himself up. He rather roughly
declined, however, in the following language:
"Tll see you Cd id first, and then |
WON'T" "Webb" therefore gave him up for
the time being, but we got him soon after, he
being one of five hundred prisoners taken by
the First Regiment U. S. Sharpshooters on
charging over the river, which was about
three feet deep, under a calling fire, and
planting our worn out and tattered regiment
al colors on the edge OF the pits Companies
G and |, both Wolverines" led the way,
covered by the other companies who kept up
in the meantime sharp fire. The Badgers
| Immediately rushed headlong after them, and
the rest followed. The prisoners were from
! North Carolina, and belonged to the I'd and
3Oth regiments. A lumber Of prisoners were
taken in the bushes and in a building, by diff
| ferent members of the Badger company
among the captives a rebel Major. We then
| pushed forward and formed a long skirmish
| line across the open plain, our right resting
| near some unfinished breastworks. Company
| G was on the extreme left, near a building,
| although represented at the work on the right
|
and Smith. Soon after, a force of the rebels
came out of the woods in front, and advanced
towards these works on the right. They did
not come far, however, our boys giving them
"pepper," and our artillery, from an emf
nence, sending into their ranks shot and
shell. They soon deployed out into Skin
mish line and "lied low" on the ground
where they remained until after dark. After
the First U. S. SharpshOOters had crossed the
ford and formed new lines in advance, our
infantry began to stream over, and soon the
plain behind US was full of troops. After
dark the SharpshOoters were relieved, and
retired to side-hill to sup and rest. The
fight ended with darkness. 1t was greenback
versus greyback the "blue coats" having
but little to do, although it would not surprise
many Of us were some " down East" reg-
ment to receive the credit of the whole af
fair. 1t would not be the first time, at all
events.
During the early hours of the afternoon of
the 6th the rebels left US entirely and fell
back, but I've since understood were "gob-
bled up" about 4 A. NJ by the 9th corps, who
had effected crossing and gained victory
above US at or near Rappahannock Station,
and in which understand the 9Th Wisconsin
were engaged and Col Allen reported wound
ed again.
In this affair at Kelly's Ford the Z. S. S. S.
did the fighting, the I'd regiment being on our
extreme left below the ford and had but little
to do, although several of them left and join
ed the Badgers, stating that there was not
enough game below to keep them in sport
Our regiment lost killed and some II
wounded, the latter generally Of a serious ma
ture. Co. G this time escaped unhurt. Capt.
Nash, of Co. K aid to Gen. Ward, was con-
| spicuously engaged along the lines, and had
his horse killed under him. Lieut.. Ashmann
Acting Adjutant of the regiment also had his
horse wounded. The regiment was comman-
ded by Col. L. Trepp, with Capt. Marble as
acting field officer. Co. G, under command
of Lieut. Stevens, assisted by Lieut. Judkins,
| late Acting Quartermaster, but now with Co.
| The Sharpshooters behaved well and are
| again heard of throughout the army. This
last affair counts $50" for the Wis. S. S.-or
two on the Sd year, so far Qess than two
months. From all accounts that I can re-
ceive, the well known air played by our band
known as ''Hell on the Rappahannock," was
introduced to the rebels on the 18th in such
stirring and martial notes that will render
it impossible for them to forget it for awhile,
| although I'm in hopes it may be succeeded by
''The Devils to pay on the Rapidan," before
long. Respy, SIS.
THE NEGRO TRooPs.-The New Orleans cor
respondent of the New York Herald, says
there are now one hundred thousand negro
troops in arms probably an exaggerated esti-
timate.) After speaking of their courage and
| o. =. i ~