The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-03-26
A Brief History of uhe I'D Regs. wis.
VOls.-Ets Marches, BATTLES, and Camp
Life.
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State Capital, Ten Hundred and Forty Of on
freeIncn, calling upon God to witness the sin
cerity Of their motives, did solemnly swear t.
bear true allegiance to the United States o
America to serve them honestly and faithful
~ against all their enemies or opposers what
soever and obey and observe the orders OF thu
President of the United States, and the order
of the officer appointed over them, according
to the rules and articles for the government o
the armies or the United States:
Not a single man hesitated, t1inched, Of
showed the white feather; all alike seemed
anxious and impatient for the fast approach
ing day that should place them upon. the road
to the scenes of their future usefulness and glo-
ry. At length the morning of the day dawn
ed on which they took their Southern flight.
and after a brief and appropriate farewell ad-
dress, by his Fxcellency the Governor, all join
edinthree hearty cheersfo the Union, and they
were quickly on their road towards DjTje.-
Although much might be said Of the trip to
Washington, especially Of our reception at
Chicago, Toledo. Cleveland and other places,
along the line of Rail Road, a single remark
must suffice. The ladies generally seemed mas
ter of ceremonies, and such luxuriant, bounti-
full and rich repasts as were served by then
fair hands, probably never did before, and
certainly never will again, greet the hungry
eyes and stomachs of our camp fed soldiery.
Vast numbers of boquets, each bearing the
name of the fair donor, on a neatly written
card and ingeniously hidden among the flow
ers, were presented to our soldier boys, and
many no doubt were the hearts that from that
moment beat strong and more Ill unison for
the Union, than they were ever before wont to
do.
The regiment at length reached Washing
ton and was temporarily quartered on Pensyl-
vania Avenue, and | venture the assertion,
that not thirty minutes had elapsed from the
time of stacking arms, before different MEM
bers of the regiment might have been found
in every part of the city indeed l saw my
self in an incredibly short space Of time, some
of the boys taking a view of the city and its
surroundings, from the dizzy height of the
Capitol dome; and CHANGING a short time af-
ter i'll company with an officer, to make o
hurried visit to the White House, | there found
preceding us, l%eisurely seated at a window
in the noted east room, one of our soldiers
busily engaged writing an atfectionate note to
a fair correspondent somewhere in Ohio.
Time had now discarded its leaden wings,
and the hours and days went whirling by
At length OH the third day of July we struck
tents and moved camp across the Potomac
into Virginia, upon whose sacred soil we We're
destined to tread, and meet our country's foe.
We were here brigaded with the 18th, G9th
and 10th, n. Y. regiments and placed under
command of Col. William I. Sherman, then
acting Brigadier General,
On the 18th day of July the regiment was
ordered to fall in and take up its line ofmarch
toward Manassas. Reaching Centervillea about
noon of the 18th, we had just filed out in an
open field preparatory to partaking of the ac-
customed dinner, when the booming Of can
non,> a short distance in advance, announced
to us that our advanced columns We're already
diminishing with the rebels at or near Black
burns Ford, whittier we were orderedto repair
at double quick, to support Gen. Tyler's COM
mand, who were feeling after the rebels with
leaden and iron fingers.
We hurriedly fell in and for a distance Of
nearly or quite two miles, and under a scorch-
ing hot July sun, double quicked our regiment.
The skirmish proved to be short, sharp, and
quite satisfactory, when we were ordered to
fall back to Centerville, bearing our dead and
wounded with us.
1t was here we lost our first man, a private
in Co. B.. by the name Of Gardner, who fell
MORALLY wounded by a rifle cannon shot most
horribly mutilating his limb, which was am
putated the same evening, but before the dawn
of the next day his spirit had fled from its
earthly tenement, and with ~muffieddrum and
measured tread he was borne to his final rest
ing place by his comrades.
The 18th and goth were passed quietly in
camp near Centerville while the plans Of the
battle for the e~ventful 21st We're being matur-
ed. At length all the arrangements for the
coming day had been completed night had
again drawn it's sable curtain over the scene,
and the troops lay on their arms, underheaven's
broad canopy. The full moon shone out from
a cloudless sky, the air was balmy, and all
nature seemed hushed in quiet repose. Long
before the gray morning dawned, however,
the different camps were astir, and the differ
ent columns were moving toward the scene of
action. All alike seemed impatient for the
onslaught, as they marched rapidly forward
merrily singing the stanzas set to the celebrat-
ed song Of DjGje, little imagining what were
to be the reverses of feelings and conditions
before another morning should dawn. The
gallant lads after about five miles march took
Their positions in line of battle and all waited
III brcathless suspense the opening of the ac-
ton. At length a heavy and deep explosion
from our 80 FOUNDER, announced that the first
deadly message had been sent into the rebel
ranks; another and still another explosion fol-
lowed in quick succession and in a short time
the fight became general.
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5 o'clock and up to this time every counte-
nance seemed big with hope that victory wac
about to crown the hard fought battle, when
swift as the bosom of destruction, came the
news that our lines had been broken and that
a complete rout would ensue. This intelli-
gence was soon too f~earfully confirmed by the
disorderly retreating masses, broken sections
Of artillery and squads Of infantry all mixed
up in utter confusion began to rush by, scat
tering their arms and accoutrements in every
direction. Next came the charging columns
of rebel cavalry, closely pursuing our already
worn out and atfrighted infantry. The scene
now beggared description.
The second regiment although ordered to
fall back at an early moment, maintained their
position and were the last regiment to leave
the field. l would not do justice to a brave
officer were | to omit mentioning in this CON
n~ection the name of our gallant Col. Coon. al
though not in command Of the regiment dur
ing the battle, Ae having acted as volunteer
aid to Gen. Sherman.) Yet he most nohlv
acquitted himself on that battle field of ali
charges that had been raised against him. At
this late day l will not undertake TO either
praise or censure any one. The defeat and
disaster at Bull Run has long since become a
matter of history.
Imay, however, be allowed to quote a short
sentence from an address recently made by
our then commander Col. Sherman, now Ma
ior General in the South Western Army.
Addressing his command, apart of which
are Wisconsin troops, he says: WISCONSIN
may always be proud of her troops The
second Regiment was with me at Bull Run
They were the bravest regiment on the field
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