Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-09-03
From the Wisconsin Sharpshoetars.

Your correspondent having been absent
from his company and regiment, on account
OF Ill health, was therefore unable to give
you at the time an account of the part taken
by the Sharpshooters during the severe bat
tie of Gettysburg and the fight at Wrapping
Heights But hoping it is not too late now,
l send the following report:
The regiment left the old wovD-out camp
near Falmouth June 18th, and commenced a
long and tedious march over a dusty road,
description Of that tiresome campaign into
Pennsylvania, considering it sufficient to state
that forced marches were the order of the
day, and night too as we'll that instances of
soldiers from our army falling down PROSTATE
from heat, some dying therefrom, were COM
mon, and but for some wet days when the
rain poured down soakingly," the number
of cases of sunstroke would have been very
much greater no doubt. The day we left the
old camping ground our regiment was trans
ferred to the 1st Division, Gen. Birney's,) Sd
Army Corps, the Sd Division breaking up on
account of decrease in numbers. Several
members of Co. G were sent off to Washing
ton, being unable to travel, when the com
pany left Falmouth; among them the 1st
Lieutenant. The I'd Lieutenant, however,
was ordered back to his company from the
Ambulance Corps when the old Division was
broken up. While passing through Maryland
to the Pennsylvania borders, the boys were
well treated by the inhabitants, getting most
anything they called for from the farmers,
who in very many instances refused to tale
pay for what they so literally furnished
THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.
| The Sd Corps crossed the Pennsylvania
line, between Emmettsburg and Gettysburg,
about p VI. July lst, and reached the latter
place after dark, the first days fight being
over
| Early on the morning of the second day
! July 2d) the Wisconsin Sharpsh00ters ad-
vanced forward and took their position on
the extreme picket line in front, to the left
of the centre of Gen. Meade's entire line Of
battle. The Badgers reached their position
behind fence about A. NJ, and there re-
manned until about P. VI. During this time
the Sd Corps were hotly engaged to our left,
where were also other companies of Sharp
shooters acting as skirmshers. This line
consisting of 100 Sharpsh0oters and $50
Maine infantry, headed by Col. Berdan on
horseback, sent out to reconnoitre, were
charged forward in the forenoon on to q
double skirmish line of Greybacks. The
rebels were quickly driven through their line
of battle into the timber beyond, where the
Sharpshooters became exposed to Il terrible
fire of musketry, which caused them to fall
back, they being at one time fanked.
During the afternoon the Wisconsin com
pany became engaged with the enemy in
front, and one line of skirmishers of about 125
men having approached in plain view within
about 800 yards, were scattered like chaff,
most of them going down. One poor fellow
'Ftreed," and succeeded in lodging balls until
he had put in three shots, when he fell like
log. The tree was "barked" all around the
size of man. Finally, towards shutdown, a
strong force approached, and the Sharp shoot
ers fell back, short of ammunition, not how
ever, until ordered three different times. 1t
was at this time that the Sd Corps were driv-
en- in, but the enemy paid dearly for it, the
I'd Corps lying in wait for them, and driving
them back in a hurry. Our company had
been exposed to three fires, principally mus
| h. a.,
bic carelessness. Company G was command
ed by Capt. Marble, ably seconded by I'd
Lieut.. Judkins, who stood at his post with the
left of the company, until escape seemed i'm
possible.
The loss in company G is as follows:
K5Hed.-Wm. H. Woodruff, and Eli j.
Fitch, both shot through the head.
Wouoded-Sergt. Henry Lye, mortally, in
right breast, (died next day J John D. Lem
mon, in back, by force of passing shell; Eli
S. B. Vincent, MORALLY, in shoulder,-died
July 10th; Orris D. Hawley, in arm; Levi
Ingalsbee, in arm and back; John G. Haux-
hurst, left thumb Abner johnson, two fin
gers.
In regard to those who lost their lives, |
would remark that young Woodruff enlisted
into the company from Fox Lake, in October,
1861, and had been through the Peninsular
campaign, the Maryland campaign, at Freder-
icksburg, and thus far in the Pennsylvania
campaign. At Charlottesville he had mar
row escape by ball grazing his forehead,
and knocking him over, inficting however,
no greater injury than headache. He was
noted for his kind and good-natured DISPOSE
ton to those around him.
Fitch had been with US but a short time,
but evinced determined spirit, and fired
away with will. He was said to be a good
marksman, and understood well how to use
his piece. He was hit while falling back.
Sergt Lye enlisted in the original compa-
ny, in September, 1861, from near Madison.
He was born in England was about "a years
of age, and went from Canada, where his
mother resides, to Wisconsin, when quite
young He was one of our liveliest and most
humorous members. He pulled off his KNAPP
sack and belt in an instant when struck, and
walked part of the way to the rear. He
died hero, in every sense of the word.
Eli Vincent was fearless and determined
soldier, and one of the best marksmen in the
two regiments of Sharp shooters. When he
went into battle he meant business" He
was tall, -boned Wisconsin pioneer, and
had been with his company in most of its
battles. At Charlottesville he belonged to
e