Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-08-18
From the 37th Regiment.

FRIEND BRUSDAGE:-I viii take up
the thread Of my narrative where |
laid it down. We had a pleasant pas
saoe down the Potomac River and
Chesapeake Bay. having no stoppages
except that We were occasionally halt
ed to answer a few questions propoun'
dcd by the officers Of Uncle Abra-
hams gunboats stationed along the
channel Of that ma estic river and bay.
We arrived at Fortress Monroe 1T
tie after sunrise on the morning Of the
9th OF July, where we hove to several
cable lengths from shore, and remain
ed some time waiting ior the exchange
of papers, when we again steamed
ahead and soon entered the waters OF
that historic river, the James. Here
we began to witness the devastating
effects of the war. On either hand
and everywhere we could see nothing
but one continued scene Of dcvasta-
tion-wharves burned or demolished
and villages burned to the ground. -
The old village OF jamestown, which
is almost sacred in the history Of oar
country, has nothing left to mark the
spot where IL once stood but a few
chimneys and the ruins Of an old brick
church.
We arrived at City Point about two
O'Clock, packed our baggage and
marched out about mile and halt
and encamped for the night. On the
18th We arrived at the front, pitched
our tents in q pine grove within range
of the cncmy's guns. We lay there
until the evening Of the 8th, when our
regiment was relieved from picket and
we marched one mile to the rear to
rest and organize. Here We were al
lowed to remain five days, when We
were again ordered to the rifle pits,
where we remained until the morning
Of the memorable 30th Of July, when
the rebel fort was blown up and We
were ordered to charge The 9th
corps charged gailantly and carried
everything before ti.om for time, bat
not being supported by correspond
ing movement on Our right and left,
! the enemy We're enabled to turn upon
lis destructive cnflaling fire, sup
ported by q furious charge which com
PEELED us to evacuate the position al
ready gained and fall back into our
own line of earthworks, with a loss of
about $500 mon in killed. wounded
and missing. Among the killed was
our old friend Geo. II. Vaughan, who
fell shot through the head while brave
| " dcfendjstc las coGntry's cause
Thomas II. Lea, Of Friendship, was
INSTANTLY killed in the same ditch with
Vaughan. | was wounded b. frag-
ment Of Shell few moments before
they were killed. My wound is not
dangerous, and I will be able to join
my regiment again in = few days. Co.
q lost 50 men out Of 47 that went in
to the fight, the majority Of whom
were wounded. 5ut maHy were killed,
and it is thought that some were taken
prisoners.
In proportion to the number Gngag-
ed, the 37th regiment suffered the most
of any on the field, Except, perhaps,
the black troops, who svtiiered terri
Bly, We have now only little over
one hundred men III our regiment fit
for duty. / DO not know that the white
feather was shown by more than two
men in our regiment, and their names
| will not mention, in the hope they
will do better in future.
Newspapers here state that the for.
ces occupying the rebel fort at the
time of the explosion was the 2i South
! Carolina, but prisoners that talked
with say it was the 22d South Carroll
na and some companies of artillery, il
all amounting to 800 men, the most O
whom were DESTROYED.