Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-11-19

pital, which leaves us a balance 81 about $50
men for duty. These are tough ind rugged
and will think, go for Abe to man." In
the hope that they and the whole State may
also do this,
remain yours, &c, r. G. E.
From the Thirty-Eighth Regiments Part
in Grants Reconnaissance. -
-HEADaUABrERs, Go. G, 3srH Wis.,
NEAR PEeRAM House,, Nov. l.sss}s
RECONNAISSANCE IN FORCE.
We broke camp about o'clock A. NJ on
Thursday morning, the 9th alt, and waiting
for the 9Th ard I'd corps to get well under
way on the left, we took the right, and about
O'Clock drove in the enemy's skirmishers,
pushing them back upon their works. The
| 9th corps held the gap between the 9th corps
| and our Notifications, while the 9Th and Cd
corps swung round upon the Boynton plank
! road and engaged the enemy on his right
flank. These corps met with varying success
during the day. Gen. Hartrauff's brigade,
lst division, 9Th corps, composed of the 37th
ard SSH Wisconsin, Sth and 9th Michigan
IOeth New York, seth Pennsylvania and 18Th
Ohio cavalry, held the woods on the left of
the line. There was brisk skirmishing all
along the line of the 9th corps, but no gene
raj engagement. The enemy used one gun
with some effect upon our brigade One shell
struck Co. G, 3Sth Wis, wounding one man,
David Al. Harmed. About 4 o'clock-we. coms
meheed to throwup breastworks, and before
dark had good protection for the night
just at dusk, Lee BaloD Ordinances sergeant
of the 3Sth, was severely wounded, the ball
passing, from the back bone nearly half way
around tAe, body. -rt a.. Ek zn. -. a.
| TBy the way, thistrenchiagsha come 10 bs
| science in the Army of the Potomac, and
we have learned it partly from the rebels and
partly by that peculiar "quailing of the flesh"
which fellow. feels when rebel gun is
pointed at him. You will remember that
when the war first broke out skirmishers
| were as often thrown forward into an open
field as under cover, and the man who hadn't
nerve enough to stand it was marked as q
coward. Now, skirmishers have small shovels
strung to their belts by which they can dig
their scay into safety in few minutes. The.
JOHNNY rebs are adopts at this Their work
has been mostly on the defensive with an in
ferior force, so entrenching is their forte.
We found them heavily entrenehed-not
only their line of battle, bat their skirmish
line, and they worked very hard all night up
on these works, notwithstanding the severe
cold storm of rain that fell. As soon as the
object of the reconnaissance was accomplished
preparations were made for Withdrawing the
troops. The I'd and part of the 9th corps
first retired, taking their prisoners and refu-
gees with them, and on the following morn,
ing the main body of the army was moving
back to its position. As soon as this move.
ment was discovered by the enemy, they
threw down their spades and heavy force
commenced massing on the left wing of the
9th corps. But they had their labor for their
pains, for before 2 o'clock p m. our forces
had steadily fallen back and were in "a safe
position.
The whole affair seemed to be conducted
with admirable skill, 20 far as your cores
pendent could observe, with the exception of
one blunder, occasioned by the drunkenness
of the division officer of the day. He drew
in the skirmsh line of the first division too
soon, exposing the flank of the right wing of
the 9Th corps. As soon as the Lieutenant in
command Of the skirmishers of the SSth
Wisconsin discovered the position of affairs
he reported the fact to Gen. Hartrauff's AID,
and volunteered to re-establish the line. He
re=establshed the line, and held it under a
brisk fire. of the enemy.-sW. I'll. Brown of
Co. III was severely wounded in the affair.
He held the position until the enemy had
passed both TANKS of the line, and nearly cut
off the retreat, when he formed and brought
his men in on a double quick. In this affair
he was aided by Lit. Wright, Co. G. who
showed himself to be true soldier.
This was the first trial of the 3Sth Wiscon-
sin since the new organization, combining
the five companies of raw troops brought
down by Col James Bintliff and the old COM
panies commanded by Lieutenant Colonel
Pier, and their conduct in face of the enemy
was admirable. Both officers and men were
80 Ia = - ~ -. lNa&
they displayed the usual valor of Wisconsin
troops.
The fruits of the reconnaissance may be
briefly summed up. We took about 1900
prisoners, large squad of refugees, and got
a pretty good knowledge of the country.
We are back in our old position, going
through with the same old routine of duties
Life in the trenches is very monotonous We
get used to the crack of the rifle and the roar
of the cannon, and do up the requisite
amount of grumbling with as much zest as we
would in Camp Randall or Washington.
The health of the regiment is good, taking
the weather into account. Il
THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN
There is an intense interest manifested in
the regiment in the issue of the present
campaign and the voice of the Intelligent
soldiery will be unanimous in support of the
government-for Old Abe and Union, and
against Mcclellan and treason. There is
nothing wonderful in this. The soldier has
more at stake than the citizen. He has not
only wife, children, home friends and proper
ty at stake, but for that undying love of
country that has illumined every avenue of
his great heart he has thrown his life into
the scale, and he feels that to erect the base
and ignoble. abortion of the Chicago Con-
vention as the palladium of our liberties and
to enthrone upon it the little great treason
plotter of the nineteenth century, would be
to crush the last cherished hope of his heart
and induce him to either throw down his
arms and go home or rush madly upon the
bayonets of the foe.
THE ATTEMPTED FRAUD, - -
1t would startle you to hear with what in
tense bitterness the attempted fraud on the
soldiers vote in the New York election re-
turns is spoken of in camp l can think of
no punishment meet for their crime, unless it
be the whitening scorn with which the out
ragged soldiers will meet them when we shall
have crushed this rebellion and returned
once more to our loved homes. ~ y.v-
A. IA - 2 Yoursin haste, e.
From the Nineteenth Reglment-H0K 1t fought
aud lost at Chapin's Farm.
>, NEAR RIcHMoNb, Va, Oct %, 1864.
EDS. STATE JOURNAL On the arrival of
the veterans of the 10Th at Point Comfort,