Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-08-17
Correspondence Of the Mineral Point Tribune
Letter From the Army of the Potomac.
Before Petersburg, Va.

Letter From the Army of the Potomac.
Before Petersburg Va.
July 3lst, 1864 !
EDITOR TRIBUNE.-Believing that Your read
ers would be pleased to Learn something of
the part taken by the 37th Wisconsin in yos-
terday's battle with such notes as came
under nv observation, | have concluded to
write YOU n short letter. The 37th has occu-
pied the front line of intrenchments since
the memorable 18th and lSth of June, with
exception Of one weeks intermission. Our
line was directly in front of where the enemy
had erected three forts in a very commanding
position at distance of about 80 rods. The
fire from these forts was very annoying to
our forces. l. has been generally understood
that we were undermining Cne of their strong
holds, and that it completed On the
evening of the 29th, Col. Hartman received
orders that we would be relieved during the
night, and we were to quietly retire to the
2d line of intrenchments. All appeared to
be elated with the idea and Immediately went
work with alacritv to make the necessary
preparations, for we had occupied the line
two weeks, exposed to Il constant fire of
muSketry and a continuous roar of artillery,
which began to wear heavily upon all We
waited patiently until 5 o'clock A. Il, of the
3nth, when portion of the 18th corps came
up and we at the same time were ordered 10
remain in the iutrenchments, and perceived
the whole of the 9Th corps laying massed in
our rear. \ few minutes of suspense ensued
and one oftheir mountains of strength was
elevated TO the height of a hundred feet, The
sight was grand in the extreme. Old mother
earth trembled as t. in obedience to the
mighty engines Of war, a veil followed, and
the brave men of the 9th corps charged, con
hdcnt of success. Our Rcgt supported the
21th Mich. We halted twice before reach
ing the crater, auI being exposed to a heavy
FIRE from both the curmy's fanEs, which
many happy home in Wisconsin viii bear me
witness by mourning over m atfectionte hus-
baai or s. dptilul son or 2 kind parent, fallen
an that -arr field We finally reached the
vortex aa6 commenced furtifying. We dis
covered two brass cannon with ammunition,
which IS tie bold perseverance Of our Col,
were soon placed in position which told
heavily upon the euauv's ranks. About S
\ Il one division, (cel) known rs the 4th,
eudnavored 10 carry The caomy's works on
our right hy assault, bat were re1ulsed with
loss. Permit me to saw that the colored race
went in magnilicentlv, but the rcpulse brought
panic and they lied to the rear in coniu
sion. Our little force was then isolated with
no support till fresh troops from the 18th
CORPS took our position in the pits, and the
lst brigade pressed onward to the figl [. It
was but a few moments after the col0rfd
troops were repulsed that the enemy rallied a
brigade to storm the once strong fort On
ward they rushed with all the fury imagin-
able, and very few, | can assure YOU, ever
returned to rccite the story of their loss
They then opened upon us with artillery from
both fanks and the front. The shells fell
thick and heavily and were very destructive,
for there was no opportunity to avoid them.
Our boys bore the fatigue nobly, for they
were exhausted, having been without water
for ten long hours, exposed to the melting
rays of a southern sun. About mid day our
brigade General asked for reinforcementS.
The Gen. was constantly with his command,
cheering the men. He turned over his com
mand tempe rarilv to Col. Hartman, who did
his whole duty, and well. I abhor newspaper
blowing but | viii state frankly that NlScon-
sin cannot boast ofa braver man. He was
perfectly cool, and ever ready to lend sooth-
ing hand 10 his wounded officers and men
We kept up 4 steady fire until o'clock T. NJ,
when We observed large body of troops
massing on our right which proved to be
portion of Hills aud JohnSon's corps. We
opened upon them with all our available
force. expecting reinforcements every moment
Alas, none came TO our support The men
exhausted, ammunition almost gone, there
was no alternative but to fall back under
heavy fire from both the enemy's tanks
nc bEAlGE W dS gwen hN tue Ns'i ~ idli tNNN
which was executed in good order, but owing
to insurmountable obstacles we lost some
taken prisoners How it was that We were
rot supported cannot comprehend. 1t may
have been strategy but II couldn't see 1T
Our loss IS estimated at 1925 killed, wounded
and prisoners The enemy's loss is also very
heavy. The 37th went III with 245 men and
returned with l04.
The following is list of the officers wound
ed
Capt. F A Cole, Co Z.
A. A. Burnett, Co. X.
First Lieut. McDill Co X.
. . Atwell, Co. q.
/. w Beal, Co. E.
F J. Munger, of Dodgeville, taken
prisoner
Second Lieut.. HoIms, taken prisoner.
Casulties in Company c.
h.9ed--5oshua Fuller, Nathaniel Peregoy
and Eugene Wheelock
> a,'''def-lst Sergt Phillip Lawrence, but
on d u: I'd Sergt. Francis Cooper. also slight
Il and on duty; Corporal Benson Hall and
Corp John ". EStee. slight
PrisoHcTs. Bow Define f.v-as and Byron
Woods.
NENBsR OF Co. C,
57th Wis. Vols