Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-06-01
The Brave Old Fighting Fifth.

The gallant old Fifth Wisconsin never fails
10 distinguish itself when an opportunity Is
presented With the Sixth Maine it led the
forlorn hope that stormed the heights of
fredericksburg, and won renown by the con
spicuous gallansry with which II stormed the
works al Rappahannock Station last fall A
letter dated OF the NJ river, May 10th, shows
that it has gloriously sustained its well-won re-
putation during the recent battles. On Thurs
dav. the 5th, in the skirmishing preliminary
10 the great battle of the Wilderness, two
companies of the 9Th, G and D, threw them
selves in the rear Of an advancing line of
rebels and captured the oath Virginia infant
~ entire, numbering 263 muskets, all the line
officers, and the 1t Colonel On the 10th
inst, the division of which the 9Th forms a
q part made one of the most terrific charges
Of the war. We quote from the letter:
Cur regiment and the Sixth Maine were in
the second line Of battle, when the command
forward was given, but in a few minutes our
twin regiments rushed over the E. st line. up
hig hill, facing all the musketry AID grape
that the enemy could pour into them They
soon reached the works and drove the rebels
il great disorder toward their second line
Many brave man fell in reaching the first
line, but onward was our course. and we
we're soon contending for their second line.
The rebels were determined TO hold this line
and we were firmly resolved to do or die
They soon found that the works had to be
ours, and soon retreared towards their third
line, while most of them laid down their
AIMS and jumped over the rifle pits into our
lines like flock OF sheep. There still re-
manned another line TO be taken. Our ranks
al
two lines, and Il seemed ike mOckery for our
few re giments TO advance on the last line
4 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, have known during the war
Our loss in killed and wounded in storming
the third line far exceeded the other two
Lieutenants Meuter and Stout, who had pass
Cd through many shower Of bullets, here
met death Captains Hilton and White, as
brave soldiers as ever drew a sword, were
both seriously wounded Capt Hilton through
the abdomen, and Capt White through the
left shoulder, when an amputation was nee
essariIy performed.
Major Totten, ever in the advance, while
cheering the men, had his sword knocked
from his hand, and his hand badly smashed.
Sergeant Maier Strong, who has distinguished
himself on many a battle field, 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, fracturing the bone
There are several officers belonging 70 regi-
.ments outside Of our brigade, who pGrtook III
the charge, who viii always remember the
treatment they received from Strong hands
when their legs failed to carry them where
duty called.
We toyk the last line Of ear,hworks with
the remT ants OF the 18th Wisconsin 9TH and
9th Maine, and a scattering few from other
regiu ents, held them for at least fifteen min
: uses against all the forces the enemy could
bring against Us, momeutarily expecting our
supports 10 come up. But alas! they came
not. Fresh troops from other parts of the
lines were now brought against Us in over
whelming numbers, and we we're compelled
net only 10 abandon the position We had so
dearly won, bat fight cur way TO our old
lines, and all we gained after such uuparaI-
leled fighting was about twenty-five hun
Gyed prisoners.
The Fifth was also engaged in the charge
under Hancock, which resulted in the capture
Of several thousand prisoners ana some thir-
tn pieces of artillery.
ilr i9tEbNiA- list % Ga5-diLit= Is IN -lQl-
ton to that We have already published
ETLLEn-
Company B-Jeremial Ne,rilLs, supposed kill
ed9
Company D-Wm. Foster; Serst. Solon A. How
tv CGas. Nerbeck Lewis Cosy.
Company E-PIatJ Raymond.
Company F-~ergt. VIM. Wright, color bearer
IIolsappIe-
a H. Beat David Baker Corp. Reed Williams.
Company I-Ser-t. A. Norton John o. G.. Day
Company k-E. II. Robinson John Bolton died
from wounds.
WOUNDED.
Sers.t Major D. K. strong, shoulder, foot and
thigh Drum Major Luce, thigh.
Company Alt. a. b. Gibson. head slight Cot
lslb Herman, hand Joseph Cox, leg; VIM Dasld-
SEN, foot. Charles Welduer, hand
Company B-Eiwiu 'Brien, FOOT VIM. Byron,
head.
Company c-sers-t WIN. Schumacher, head;
GustavG BIecl. leg
Company D-s-r-'t Kirby, arm. James NcIuIey.
side, Elijah White, left shoulder. SerEft II. Il.
HeeoZ, shoulder. Benz. FarriuScr, Leg C5as Rohen,
leg.
Company E->ergt Jas Mcdaniel, ann: John
HUEStus- arm. Corp m Virgins, leg am guVau-
eds willard Hastings, face.
Company E-ucury Angle. Leg amputat ed. Dan
ieJ q. CCrbItt, arm: Z. Euessatr, hip. Henry
NreeEand, head, slight: Aney Hudson, leg
Com pany G-SergE- r. IL. S5Fer. face. Charles
Moore, arm; B. f. Congden, Shoulder Frank Mer-
ry, foot.
Company H-Sergt. John Seaman, chest; Corp.
Geo. McPheters, hand. William FaEel, leg amPu-
tated.
Company I-Corp. :. Mcdonnell, ankle