The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-02-19

upon the one regiment, for a few moments was
terrific beyond description. ii gge $50
Burnside's Attack Upon Fredericks.
burg. 9ast@ I
On the 18th December, 1862, the First Regi-
ment was in the advance of Gen. Towards
Division, in proceeding to attack Fredericks-
burg Our correspondent thus narrated the
part the First had in the operations:
The bridge was built and the Minnesota
FIRST was ordered to cross. AWAY we went,
couple quick. AS the head of the column came
on tne bridge, the enemy, who still held the
lignt OF the town, opened q scattering fire
upon u.s. which did but little damage. We
were then formed on the first street from the
river, but the rebels soon fell back to the rear
OF the town: About midnight we went back
on FRIDAY at daylight we took position
on street near the back of the town. within
LOU yards OF the enemy's batteries. Our
company was sent out as skirmshers. but the
enemy kept very quiet. Gen. Sully ordered
the nre OF the enemy. They shelled us for an
hour or two and then ceased. Friday night
we went on picket,
"On Saturday morning, we were ordered
to take the entertainments on the left (our
right by storm, and went in with q yell, and
were soon under fire. Gen. Sully came up
and ordered us back to a position behind
brick wall of grave yard, and ordered up ar
tillery to drive the enemy from their works,
and at the same time engage their guns, before
a fierce charge was ordered. The regiment
supported the batteries. I believe that God
projected US in that hour of peril. Men fell
all around us but we met with no serious loss.
The artillery had three pieces dismounted.
sour regiment was ordered into town about
eight o'clock, and spent the. night on the side
walks. In the mording Sunday, we were Or
dered to the right, and spent the day lodging
shells, and that night for the first time since
crossing the river, we got comfortable quar-
ters But, at nine o'clock we were ordered to
the front, to picket within two hundred yards
of the enemy's line. We could hear the rebels
talk very plainly, and one of our corporals
walked into their lines by mistake and was
taken prisoner.
During the night we dug rifle pits for our
videttes, and trenches for the men to get into,
and it was very lucky for the First that it was
done, for at daylight the enemy's sharpshOOt-
ers commenced firing, and kept at it all day, at
every man who lifted his hand above the sur
face. About twelve o'clock the enemy COM
menced to drive in our whole picket line, by
opening four batteries upon them, and am
sorry to say they partially succeeded. The five
regiments on onr right breke and ran, but our
boys from their rifle pits played so lively on
the enemy that they soon fell back. They
then opened upon us with their batteries, but
we took our holes and kept low The bate
ries kept at work till almost dark. In the
meantime an aid of Gen. Towards came out
and thanked us for saving the credit of the d.
vision, and told us to accept his (the Generals)
fearful thanks. Gen. Sully sent word out to
give them HI, if they tried it again." After
tn lir batteries ceased playing, the enemy came
out and formed a line about three hundred
yards from our position. The men came to a
ready" and waited for them, but for some
reason they did not advance. think the re-
giment would have been thing of the past if
they had done it, for all the men had made up
their minds to fight to the last.
We were relieved from picket at O'Clock,
and camped on the sidewalk; and at IL o'clock
we fell in and started for this side of the Rap
pahannOck, and arrived at our old camping
ground at half past two.
1.-The regiment has won hOnOrs, not in lists
OF killed and wounded, but in conducting
themselves like soldiers They performed
more hard and dangerous duty than any other
regiment that crossed the river; and they did
it willingly, and to the satisfaction of every
one interested"
A few days after, Major General Howard Wis
tied the camp of the First, and the regiment
being called out at his request, he made them
beautiful complimentary address, assuring
them that they had fully sustained their high
reputation.
he SAID that While he was overlooking them
from high tower, he saw the regiment imme-
diately at their right rise and as he feared it
was for Highland they did run-Gen. Sully,
also looking on, said, Minnesota will not
run, and sure enough not o man of them
stirred. He said: "To you and to the regi-
ment on your lefs, we are indebted for prevent
ing the enemy from obtaining the position.
live shall feel thankful to the First Minnesota
for its conduct on that occasion. But you al
ways do your duty. My Provost Guard is from
your regiment, and it always does its duty.
deeply sympathize with your regiment on ac-
count of its hard labors and hard places but I
congratulate you on all the past and fully con-
fde in you that the same will be true of you to
the last"
Changes Among Omcers.
At the beginning of 1868, the officers of the
regiment were as follows:
Colonel-George N. Morgan.
Lieut.. Colonel-Wm. Colville, jr
MajOr-Charles p Adams.
Quartermaster-Francis Baasen.
SurgeOn-Wm. b. Morton
Assistant Surgeons-John B. LIE Blond and
G. Pugsley.
Chaplain-Rev. F. A Conwell.
CAPTAINS. ~ @
A-Henry c. Coates, FL. j. McCullum
B-Mark w. Downie, G-N. s. Messick.
CIV. B; Farrell. H-(vacant.)
D-De Witt c. Smith, I-John H. Pen,
E-Louis Muller, K-Joseph Periam.
FIRST LIRUTRNANTs.
An. Maginnis, F-Thos Sinclair,
-. y. Searles, G-Jas. Shepley,
C-S !: Kaguet, HI. r. King,
DC. 4. Davis, John, Ball.
Ed. N. Chase, K-C. B. Hefelfnger.
SECOND LIEUTENANTs.
A-D: b. Demarest, F-Wm. Harmon,
6-Wm. NJ. May, G-WaldO Farrar,
&c. b: Mason, Geo. Boyd jr.,
D-Jas. De Gray, I-(Vacant.)
E-John Peller, K-Wm. Lochren.
The transfers, designations and casualties, up
to that time. were reported as follows:
PROMOTED OR TRANSFERRED FROM THE RR0-
-.,,{-.l t..Hf. INTENT
Col. German, Lieut. Colonel Miller
Col. Sully, Lieut. Leach,
Col. Dana, Lieut. Duffy.
KILLED OR DIED OF WOUNDS.
Capt. Holzb0rn, Capt. McKune,