Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-05-26
From the 5th Regiment.
Fredericksburg Hospital, May Is, 'e4


eecn some fearful times since leaving camp
May 4th. The fighting commenced the next
day at 10 4. II. in the Wilderness, and has
continued ever since, day and night, with
little abatement. It has been of the most
desperate kind-the slaughter fearful l have
known as many as five desperate charges on
rife pits being made in one night; but to
narrate al would require volumes instead of
short letter. 1t is reported Gen. Grant
says he never knew what desperate fighting
was until now. Our total loss in killed,
wounded and missing, in ten days, is estima-
ted at so, 900 or 80, 900. Rebel prisoners cap
tured, 5000.
Co has suffered severely. The first day s
| fight we were deployed as skirmishers, Co. e
on the right-Co. on our left. We were
attacked at l P ", advanced on them at
double quick, and captured an entire regi-
ment-the 25th Firginia-with coiors, arms,
l 1t Colonel, Major, Adjutant, &c, and 800
men. This was done by Cos. D and G alone,
numbering s5 muskets. When we advanced
on the rebels, Co. C fell back, being hard
prcssed-leaving Co. and cut off from
the line The casualties this day in Co. D,
were:
Paul Pumvile, killed.
1t \. Tuynbull, wounded in arm.
Serg. Lewis 4. Bacon, wounded.
J. Slower, in ankle.
J. Powers, in both thighs.
Frank Brown missing
MAY 6th-U. White, killed.
J. McInenly, wounded; also L. Miller and
S. Ellis, Of Beaver Dam.
May lo-In storming rifle pits we carried
two and entered the third and last one, but
the rebels rallying with reinforcements we
were compelled to evacuate with heavy loss
bringing off two or three Thousand rebel pris-
oners. The casualties this day were:
Capt. S. White, wounded in arm-right
arm amputated at shoulder joint.
Louis Coty, killed.
E. Houlle, wounded and supposed to be
dead-left behind.
serg. S. A. Hovey reported wounded--left
behind.
A. P. Howe the same.
Corp. Ed. Smith the same.
John Hammond the same
B. B. Painter, Fred. Mcnzie and ". Foster
left behind, but not known whether wounded
or not.
Corp Peter Lindqaist wounded severely i'll
left shoulder.
Serg. u. Kirby, slightly.
G. Eouhan in hand.
Jas. Watson, slightly, in hand
Conrad Godal, lost left leg above the ankle.
Geo. Hall, i'll head
Nay 9th, on picket l;ne-J O. Evans, in
ankle.
May l2th-Corp. II. ?. Young and B. Far,
rington, in calf Of leg.
Elijah White, in nrck-close call.
Corp. II. II. Uccox, in left shoulder and
neck-tlcsh wound
Total casualties, so far as l know, up to
May u, is 50 killed, wounded and missing
with one officer left for duty Serg. Verbeck
and 10 men started with te Iauskets In the
regiment,
Major Tottcn, wounded-lost enc finger
Capt Geo Hilton, of Co. q, reported NOR
tally wounded.
Lieut. Mailer, cf Co. c, Lieut. Stout, of Co.
4, and Lieut.. Miller, of Go. Z, all killed.
Orderly Serg. NauorRon Co &, and Color
Bearer ". Wright, Co. L, killed
Scrg. C. Charnock is detailed with the pio-
Recrs al.u al; right, | believe
Corp. y. Il. trocker, detailed with wagon
train-supp0sel 10 be all sound.
The weather of late has been wet and fa-
vorabIc for the wounded, but the roads arc
horrible.
Excuse Ills bad writing. l am quite sore
after riding in train wagon for S hours to
get Is miles, over road teo horrible TO de-
scribe
Yours truly, H. H. HECox.
P. Sit is not expected we will remain
here lonS-poor accommodations