The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-04-29
THIRD MINNESOTA.
BATTLE OF FIIZHUGH'S
WOODS.
OFFICIAL REPORC OF NAJoH
FOSTER

in the recent expedition and action up White
River, under command OF Col. c. c. andrews
of the Third Minnesota.
l received orders from Col. Andrews nj IA
o'clock p. NJ, March 30th, to be in readiness
to march with four days rations 1T six o'clock
that evening, and at o'clock l marched my
command. six companies, Co. B., commanded
by Lieut. Pierce Co. G by Lieut. Grummons,
Co. E, by Lieut.. Knight Co. G, by Captain
Deyerenx, Co. II, by Lieut.. Misener, Co. l, by
Captain Swan-1e6 strong, to the ferry, and
immediately proceeded TO the railroad depot,
where by direction Of the Colonel, we en-
barked on the cars, and at 9 P. NJ. left for Du-
wallis Bluff We reached the bluff at o'clock
next morning and forthwith embarked on the
steamer Dove, and at 7 O'Clock. together with
a small force of the Eighth Missouri cavalry,
proceeded up White River, reaching Gregorys
Lacd;ng-which is ten miles above the month
OF the Little Red and 1l0 miles above Duyalfs
Bluff- about O'Clock T.. NJ, where We disem-
harked and marched TO the support of the
cavalry towards Cache River Crossing, where
it was supposed McCrea was encamped. After
il was :.sceriained that McCrea had lett that
country and gone toward Jacksonport. Upon
getting this information we |lediatelE re
turned TO the boat and proceeded up ihe river
10 Augusta, where We arrived at 81 a. Nj. on
the first Of April, 0iaembari,ed ond pushed
without delay wish 100 men, ali told, mo the
county On the sacksouport road, the cavalry
,,,,;-1,
supporting distance, which ! did. 1t the
crossing OF the Cache River road four miles
from Augusta enoampod with the cavalry
which had been skG mishing with the enemy
for the last two miles, and here found them
in force The Colonel ordered me 10 take three
companies into the woods and engage them.
took companies +, L. aud l. and drove the
enemy before nc about one mile and across 2
large Cypress swamp | afterwards learned
from prisoners that the force drove WAS the
notorious Rutherford and about 80 men. 1t
this time the rest OF the force came up, the
cavalry advanced ana followed. crossing the
swamp and proceeding towards Jachsonpoft,
the cavalry doing the skirmishng. We
marched on TO the Methodist Church near Dr.
Westmoreland's house twelve miles from
Augusta, where by The Colonies orders l
halted NY command while the cavalry secuted
in advance Finding no force Of the enemy,
they returned, and after short rest started
back for the boats. We had moved back
about 2}5 miles ana halted 10 rest 1T tltZ-
hugh's farm house, where We discovered
large force ot mounted men charging down
upon rs on our right and rear. imned lately
formed and by Col Andrews orders sent two
companies 10 engage The enemy, Captain
Swan, Co. (, those In the road, end Lieu.
tenant Misener. Co. II, those on the right.
They charged 1o.5n through the open
field with loud yllls. let them approach
within $50 yards, then sant q yolley OF
mimic balls into them, which caused them 10
cease their yelling, aud break TO The rear Tor
the woods with headlOug speed. followed =
short distance and discovered We had inflicted
severe loss on them. Our cavalry having
pushed on Ia advance, We did not follow up.
Finding the enemy was not disposed to come
out of the woods, We again proceeded towards
Augusta. We marched On about two and
half miles 10 Eitzhugh's Woods when the enc
my was again heard shouting and yelling and
seen coming down through an old corn field,
on the same flank as before. | Immediately
fixed bayonets and charged on at = double
quick to meet him, coming up in line ar about
200 yards from this force which was, should
judge, at least 800 strong. and gave him a vol
ley before he opened. lie Immediately broke
tb. 81, .:-.,ha A al ~
slant when we gave shout TO see lie enemy
so broken, we were attacked by another and
still larger force front the road we had just
eameup The troops were Immediately faced
about and charged down into the woods n the
face Of deadly fire from Tire enemy While
leading this charge the Colonel's horse was
killed under him. After gaining the heavy tim
Der We engaged the enemy As skirmishers, In
contest which lasted two hours and a hall,
when discovered that we were getting short
of ammunition. / Immediately reported the
fact to Colonel Andrews, who ordered me 10
withdraw gradually from the timber and occu-
py some farm buildings up the road toward
Augusta, and protect the crossing Of Cypress
Swamp. about half q mile further on, which
was successfully NCo'upiASheo tuc cavalry
passed through the swamp, the infantry fol-
lowing. We then formed on the opposite eide
and marched to Augusta. six miles, without
further molestation. bringing some thirty pri-
soners and large number of contrabands,
which had been picked up during the day.
The following embraces full list OF the ca
sual les in the regiment at the combat OF Fitz-
hugh's Woods:
Co. B.-Privates Benjamin Sanderson and
Ole Hanson, killed Sergt. Albert u. Hunt, Sc
verely wounded; Corp. Edward Fraygang, sc.
verely wounded Private Willism +. lnghan,
severely wounded; LIST Sergt. Henry A. Du-
rand, slightly wounded; Priva.es, George
Brewer and William Shearicr, wounded and
missing.
Co. Private Henry w. Farnsworth,
killed; Privates, James P. Chaplin and Henry
b. Wallace. severely wounded; Corp. Lewis
Kimball, slightly wounded; Private Grin Case,
slightly wounded.
Co. E.-First Sergt. Corydon D. Bevans and
Private Clark D. Harding. killed; Corp. Isaac
lauver and Private Albert G. Leach, severely
wounded t..
Co. G.-Priyate Albert r. Pierce, severely