The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-02-19


not cease until the dark shades of night had thrown
veil over the scene of blood and tc rOr and the at
lacking, but now repu red, Confederate forces had
retired from tie memorable wall of Ere from our
lines. Only three companies of the left wing of our
regiment were actually engaged but the fire from
the enemy sent some scattering balls obiouely
through tine woods, and whizzed Ominously through
the wheat straw above our heads while we lay 81.
work IL the enemy should advance more directly in
front Our regiment captured about thirty pisoners
including Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel, and
light-only one killed and three or four slightly
wounded. While our loss is 40 small and our real
engagement In the bloodv struggles of the battle of
on the extreme right our being in the advance Of
Summers corps, aud our timely arrival GU the scene
of action merit a. they receive the praise and I'M
mendaion due us for saving the fortunes of the day
Of Casey and Couch
/ In the same letter, we find the following par
agraphs: ' 80 t'..'1'' ',i' i'l
.sihe night between the 31st of May and the LIST
picketed in 'front.' Early on Sunday morning the
line Of battle was advanced and our left wing right
wheeled removing us i'll farther from participation
in the battle Of tist day.the enemy not attacking
in line Of battle, every moment expecting contest
with he enemy, while Immediately on our left the
volless Of Tnueketry were continuous and deafenng
Bull Rum bring no cOmpa,is .
Ui 'tSince these battles we have held our position
erected bre tstwOrks and picketed out in front and
besides been on hundred and etails for fatigue
duty, b"rying the dead transferring the wounded
from the bait efeld to the hospital and cars cutting
down belts through the woods, &c Considerable
skirmishing and picket firing has transpred daily in
'front.' and sometimes our pickets have been driven
in, when the magic command, fall in instantly
their positions Of rest and ease into solid line of bat
tie, but Ms We no engagement has resulted
~ "Generals German and Dana have been c0mpi-
ii <1,s->
battles and the bravery of the men eulogzed which
the services they rendered emlnently melt
Captain Russell. company Of Minnesota Sharp
shooters has been attached to our regiment since the
late battles, and Joined us on he third
In the correspondence of the Cincinnati Com
mercidl, from this same battlefield the First
Minnesota was credited with having built
corduroy bridge several thousand feet long
across the ChickahOminy and the increases on
its bank. We extract brieflmentions from this
account of the battle:
>. Before there was time to think of danger
again Germans gal ant line had dressed up COM
pac,ly, and were deli ering rapid and murderous dis
charges at the approaching foe. German
was as en- husa tic as boy and as firm as rock
No more could have been asked of Dana,
He proved himself a fearless soldier. . Col
Suly Co suffer, and indeed nearly every field Off.
Ger in the divisions engaged excepting Caseys.
showed themselves good soldiers and brave officers.
The company of Sharpshooters performed
valuable service in dislodging force of the en-
envy from the woods. @. aH
Peach Orchard and Savage station.
At Peach Orchard the First "gallantly and
coolly supported a Rhode Island battery"
Of its part in the fight at Savage Station,
Lieutenant Colonel Miller commanding wrote:
'At Savage's Station, where the regiment lost
eighty men we were for more than three hours un
der of the enemy and for the first half hour had
no protection to our left flank, but not man was
hurled back in CONFUSION did our line waver
for m ,mant We held the ground until affer dark,
and until we resumed the march by order of General
Sumner Ours was the last regiment to leave the
position, and that gallant officer General Burns
from whom took my instructions, said to me on
next day Your regiment did nobly, SIR" a.
other fsattles or the Peninsula.
Our First Regiment was also engaged ct
Glendale, White Oak Swamp, and the two bat
ties of Malvern Hill, of July LIST and 9Th. 1862
Compliment from Gen. Summer.
"HEApoUARrERs SECOND ARMY CoRrs, I
''July 90 1862.
General Order No. 81
1.-The General Commanding would hereby an
nounce to this corps d'armee the fine appearance on
the review today OF the 18th MASSACHUSETTS and st
ments il an honor to their States and reflects great
credit upon their commanders
by command of Major General Sumner
"a D. c. and A. A. A. General"
Retreat from Centerville.
In the retreat from Centreville, following
Gen. Pope's disastrous campaign, the brigade
of which the First was a part, held the posi-
ton of honor, defening the rear, and near
Vienna the First handsomely repulsed q rebel
attack. 5
Battle of Antietam. OH
In the battle of Antietam, the First, forming
part of Germans brigade, was holly engaged
T.. - % -o1
correspondent described the action as follows:
cat an early hour our corps forded Antietam
Creek, and aft r marching about one mile came un-
der fire Of rebel battery The shell flew thick about
u.s. but Germans brigade eoolly formed in line and
Our advance was to the front and right through for
est and field under constant fire of artillery. The
excitement Ofthat hour s past description. The long
line of battle sweeping over the fields the hurried
and varied Commands of officers the yels and cheers
of the men as we came upon ground c vered with
rebel dead, showing that they had been forced back
the rattle Of musketry to the 'front.' the right or the
shells, all conspred to create high degree eff ex-
element. As we hurried along goodl0oking Off
Ger came riding from the woods, and, with counte-
III
spot. Give us cheer was afterward told 1t was
Gen. Banks. -lA. .ys.
Gen orman seemed active and cheered on his
brigade while Col Sully was prominently In MS
First, and Major Morgan was decidedly cool and
brave Finally when we had passed the narrow
forest of large white oaks the rebel infantry appeared
bearing down upon us in immense columns. The
enemy had been driven from the fields for than
mile back, and large reinforceMents had been
brought up to regain it. and these were their advanc-
ing columns The position of Gormans brigade was
tn the 18th Massachusetts occupied the right and
the let Minnesota and I'd and 34th New York. in the
order named the left 1t appears that to the left of
the 34th gap interviewed between 1t and the next
brigade in line The rebel column moved directly
upon the s4th and in doing exposed itself to the
cross fire from the Minnesota First which must have
slain large numbers The movement which resulted
in fsnkins our brigade on the left was hid from
our view by hill but it Is enough to know that
when the Minnesota First were hotly engaged with
both infantry and artillery in 'front.' the I'd and s4th
New York had both gone away, and the enemy an
peared ON the hill Just occupied by our lett flank
Our fire was Immediately directed upon them. Nnch
fire as we received. never before imagined. u
'sWhen the Second New York gave way. CAPTAIN
Russele sharp6ho0ters to the left of the Minnesota
First supposed 1t general order to retreat and for
moment fell back, but when informed to the con-
trary, cooy returned to their untenabe position and
resumed fire. seeing we were completely banked.
Col Suly gave the order to fall back. The retreat
was executed IN good order and frequently halted to
dress on the colors In about one minutes time be-
fore Commanded IN rafrsaf fl.~ao E,,,-xL.