Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-06-04
m. Rr.,s Old Fighting Fifth.

to distinguish itself Wnen an opportunity Is
nrescnted. with The Sixth Maine it led the
forIorn hope that stormed the heights Of
Fredericksburg, and won renown by the con
spieuous gallantry with which it stormed the
works at RappahannOek Station last fall. A
letter dated on the Ny river, May 10th, shows
that it has gloriously sustained its well-won re-
putation during the recent battles On Thurs
day, the 5th, in the skirmishing preliminary
to the great battle of the Wilderness, two
companies of the 5th, G and d, threw them
selves in the rear of an advancing line OF
rebels and captured the oath Virginia infant
nv entire, numbering 26s muskets, all the line
officers, and the 1t Colonel On the 10th
inst, the division of which the 9Th forms a
a part made one of the most terrific charges
Of thewar. We quote from the letter:
Curregiment and the Sixth Maine we're in
the second line of battle, when the command
forward was given, but in few minutes our
twin regiments rushed oyer the first line, up
a high hill, facing all the musketry and grape
that the enemy could pour into them. They
soon reached the works and drove the rebels
in great disorder toward their second line
Many a brave man fell in reaching the first
line, but onward was-Our course, and we
were soon contending for their second line.
The rebels were determined to hold this line,
and we we're firmly resolved to do or die
They soon found that the works had to be
ours, and soon retreated towards their third
line, while most of them laid down their
aims and jumped over the rife pits into our
lines like a flock of sheep. There still re-
= ~
we're greatly thinned in stOrming the first
two lines, and it seemed like mOckery for our
few regiments TO advance on the last line
A shout and the brave band was almost there.
Now the contest was still more bloody, the
enemy fought to the last, and chung to the
breastworks as their only hope. Our men
mounted the parapets, and drove them with
the bayOnet and the works were ours. This
is the first instance Of the bayOnet being gen
orally used l have known during the war
Our loss in killed and wounded in storming
the third line far exceeded the other two.
Lieutenants Menter and Stout, who had pass
ed through many shower of bullets, here
met death. Captains Hilton and White, as
brave soldiers as ever drew sword, were
both seriously wounded. Capt. Hilton through
the abdomen, and Capt. White through the
left shoulder, when an amputation was nee
essarily performed.
Major TOtten, ever in the advance, while
cheering the men, had his sword knocked
from his hand, and his hand badly smashed
Sergeant Majer Strong, who has distinguished
himself on many a battlefield, but never
more than on this occasion, while waving his
sword and urging the mere handful of brave
men to follow him, was struck in the shout
der, foot and thigh, tracturing the BONE
There are several officers belonging to regi-
ments outside of our brigade, who partOok in
the charge, who will always remember the
treatment they received from Strong's hands,
when their legs failed TO carry them where
duty called.
We took the last line of earthworks with
the remnants of the 9Th Wisconsin, 9TH and
9th Maine, and scattering few from other
regiments, held them for at least fifteen min
utes against all the forces the enemy could
bring against US, mOmentarily expecting our
supports to come up. But alas t.ey came
not. Fresh troops from other parts of the
lines were now brought against US in over
whehning numbers, and we were compelled
not only to abandon the position we had so
dearly won, but fight our way to our old
lines, and all We gained after such unparal-
leled fighting was about twenty-five hun
bred prisoners.
The Fifth was also engaged in the charge
under Hancock, which resulted in the capture
of several thousand prisoners and some thir-
tv pieces of artillery.
The following list of casualties is in addi-
tion to that we have already published:
KILLED.
Company B-Jeremiah MeTrills, supposed kill
Company OWN Foster; Sergt Solon A. How
ey Chas. yerbeck Lewis COty.
Company E-Platt Raymond.
Company F-Sergt. Vim. Wright, color bearer;
HOlsappie.
Company G-sergt. r. 8. Van Norman sergt
A II. BeaI +; David Baker Corp. Reed Williams.
Company I-Sergt. A. Norton; John g. q. Day
Company KIT. Nj. Robinson John Bolton died
WOUNDED.
Serg't Major J. Il. Strong, shoulder, foot and
thigh; Drum Major Luce, thigh.
Company Ali. A. b. Gibson, head ,isgbt; Got
Ieib Herman, hand Joseph Cox, leg; VIM David
son, foot; Charles WeIdner, hand,
Company B-Edwin O'Brien, FOOT VIM. Byron,
head.
Company C-serg't VIM. Schumacher, head;
Company D-Serg't Kirby, arm; James MeInIey
side; Elijah White, left shoulder: Serg't III. II.
Hecox, shoulders BENZ Farringer, leg; Chas R"hen,
leg.
Company E-Sergt. Jas. Mcdaniel, am; John
Higgins, arm; Corp. Vim. Virgins, leg amputat-
ed; Willard Hastings, face.
Company F-Henry Angle, leg amputated; Dan
iel G. COrbitt, arm; +. kuessner, hip; Henry
Vreeland, head, slight; Aney Hudson, leg.
Moore, ARM ID. T. COngden, shoulder; Frank Mer-
~, foot.
Company H-Sergt. John scanlan, chest; Corp.
Geo. MePheters, hand William Fazel, leg ampu-
tated.
Company Corp. 5. Mcconnell, ankle.
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