The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-07-31
THE Z FIRST FIR 81 MINNESOTA \ Il M IA.
THE BATTLE AT GETTYSBURG.
Official Report Of Capt. Henry O
Coates, Commanding. g9d
HRApouARrER's FIRST REG. MIN. VoI.,l
BArrLr-FIELD NEAR GETTYSBURG, Pa.
- iTulv Eth 1853 cil K

- --- 9lil e'Pl..I
HHApouARrrn's FIRST REG. MIN. Vo1-,)
BArrLr-FIELD NEAR GETTYsBuRG, Pa,
10 July 9th, 1868. 9l o1-
Your Esccellency: have the honor
herewith to transmit to you, brief state
ment of the movements of this regiment,
since leaving Falmouth, Va. y97 q 8Yal
On Sunday evening, June 18th, we
struck tents, and moved about five miles
towards Stafford Court House, when we
were ordered back on picket, at Sedge-
wicks Crossing, below Falmouth. At
three O'Clock of the morning of the 18th,
we were withdrawn, and moved again to-
wards Stafford Court House, our corps
forming the rear guard of the army. We
reached Aqua Greek, near Dumfries, that
night-twenty-eight miles; and on the
next day marched to Occoquan-sixteen
miles farther. On the 18th, we marched
to Fairfax Station, and on the 10th to
Centreville Ha
Up to this, the weather had been very
hot, and the men suffered severely from
the hard marching. On the goth, Wewere
detailed to guard the train, and marched
in q severe rain to Gainesville, reaching
that place after midnight On the next
day we went to Thoroughfare Gap, where
we were kept upon picket duty until the
18th, when we took up the line of march
for the Potomac. The regiment was she'll
ed by the enemy at Haymarket; one man
was wounded and COL Colvillels horse
killed under him. We reached Gum
Spring on that night, twenty-five miles,
and at noon of the next day arrived at
Edwards Ferry on the Potomac; which
we crossed in the night and bivouacked
near our old camp.
On the 9th we marched to Sugar Loaf
Mountain, and on the next day reached
the Monocacy near Frederick City, Md.
On the 29th we made march of thirty
one miles to Union Town, near the Penn
sylvania line, where we found the pickets
of the enemy and laid over one day for
stated muster.
On the LIST of July we marched within
two miles of this place, where we found
portions Of the army who had been in the
battle Of that day.
At three O'Clock on the morning of the
second inst, we were ordered into posi-
ton in the front, and about the centre of
our line-just to the left of the town.
The battle commenced at daylight and
ragged with jury the entire day. We were
under severe artillery fire, but not ac-
lively engaged until about five O'Clock
p NJ, when we were moved to support
Battery l, fourth United States Artillery.
Company had been detached from the
regiment as skirmishers, and Company L,
as sharpshooters. Our infantry who had
advanced upon the enemy in our front
and pushed him for a while, were in turn
driven back in some confusion, the enemy
following them in heavy force.
To check them, we were ordered to
advance, which we did. moving at double
quick down the slope of the hill, right
upon the rebel line. The fire we encoun-
tured here was terrible, and, although we
inflicted severe punishment upon the enc
my, and checked his advance, it was with
the loss in killed and wounded of more
than two-thirds of our men who were
engaged. Here Capt. Muller, of Company
E, and Lieut. Farrer, Of Company l, were
killed, and Capt. Periam, of Company X,
MORALLY wounded. Col. Colville, Lieut..
Col. Adams, Major Downie, Adjutant Pei
Ter, and Leuts. Sinclair, Company B.,
Demerest, Go. E, DeGray, Go. G, and
Boyd, Go. /, were severely wounded.
Col. Colville is shot through the shoulder
and foot; Lieut. Colonel Adams is shot
through the chest and twice through the
leg, and his recovery is doubtful. Fully
two-thirds of the enlisted men engaged,
were either killed or wounded. Compa-
MES F, @, and L, not being engaged here,
did not suffer severely on this days fight
The command of the regiment now de-
volved upon Capt. Nathan S. Messick.
At day break the next morning the enc
my renewed the battle with vigor, on the
rig ht and left of our line, with infantry,
and about 10 O'Clock, A. NJ, opened upon
the centre, where we were posted, a most
terrible fire of artillery, which continued
without intermission until O'Clock, P. NJ,
when heavy columns of the enemy's in
fantry were thrown suddenly forward
against our position. They marched
resolutely in the face of whitening fire
up to our line, and succeeded in planting
their colors on one of our batteries. They
| held it but a moment, as our regiment,
with others of the division, rushed upon
them. the colors of our regiment in ad-
vance, and retook the battery, capturing
nearly the entire rebel force who renamed
alive. Our regiment took about 800
prisoners. Several stands of rebel colors
were here taken. Private Marshall Sher-
man of Co. G, captured the colors of the
28th Virginia regiment.
Our entire regiment, except 20. l., was
in the fight, and our loss again was very
severe. Capt. Messick, while calamity
leading the regiment, was killed early.
Capt. w. B. Farrell, Co. @, was MORALLY
wounded, and died last nj ght. Lieutenant
Mason, Go. D, received three wounds,
and Lieutenants Harmon, Go. G; Heffel-
finger, Go. D; and May, Co. b, were also
wounded. The enemy suffered terribly
here, and is now retreating.
Our loss Of SO many brave men is heart
rending, and will carry mourning into al
parts of the State. But they have falleI
in holy cause and their memory will not
soon perish. Our loss is fonr Commits
stoned Officers and forty seven men killed
thirteen officers and 162 men wounded
and six men missing. Total, 2s2, out o
less than $50 men and officers engaged
I send herewith list of killed ant