The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1864-04-22

And let me say here. I shall not at.
tempt to give any account Of the Battle,
excepting of the part taken by the Is3l,
as that will be the only portion that would
at all prove interesting to your readers
I" Our reghent went into the fight with
only about $50 or 400 men all told. The
loss was quite severe for tliS length Of
time engaged. which was only little
over an hour. Co. D, who were doing
Provost Duty and large detail on pick
ct were not engaged. Co. A, went in
with AZ men. Out of four sefgeaRts, one
was killed, and two, Roll and Haley ,ser
ously wounded. Ats A. NJ, Sunday,
the regiment was marched to camp, wa
gons packed, tents left standing and at
daylight We marched over to the main
fort, where we lay IN the hot SUN al
day, while the Regiment who had not
been out the previous day, were engaged
with the enemy. t " 'a
About 5 P. NJ we were ordered out to
relieve the is2d, and hadijust completed
that duty, and Cos. A and B, deployed as
skirmishers, upon whom the enemy were
then firing, wheii for the first time that
day,th rebele who had been MESSING thei'
artillery in the rear of one of our most
advanced Notifications, which was held
by the ll6Ih O.V. l., and Battery L 5th
U. s. Artillery, opened on them, and us
with a heavy fl Ire Of shot and shell, which
compelled us 10 fall back to the main fort
where we took our position in the rifle
pits. The rebels having captured the
outer fort, then opened Immediately on both
FITS. sigel and Star, and our guns return
ing the fire steady stream of shot and
shell was kept up on both sides, until
night puta stop to the days conflict.
Thus had the second day passed with
out any casualties happening in our re-
ginlent. Soon after dark Co. A, was
sent out some 50 yards in front of the ri
lle pits,whers they remained as advanced
guard till midnight, when they were re-
leivedby Co. g, who were out but a short
time, when they were called III, it having
been determin ID by superior officers, to
evacuate the place and retire in the direc-
ton of Harpers Ferry, the cannon having
been spiked, horses taken from the tain
the columns was formed, the 1884 being
in the ADVANCE, and at 2 A. NJ, Monday
morning we started on our march. After
having tranped near five miles on the
Martinsburg road we were fred on b.
the ehemys pickets. Our regiment was
Immediately ordered into line, skirmish.
ers deployed, then change of front, then
marched off by the flank to the left, line
Of battle fortified, the order being given
to charge the emmy the le3d went in with
a yell and at double quick, but being
met By superior force Of the enemy
posted in small strip of timber,
and not being sufficiently supported
were COMPELLED to fall back. t 31
The balance OF our force having now
arrived, the larger portion Of whom, ,filed
off to the rear and passed on, the rest re
mained on the field to contest the place
with the enemy. ... |
The 1881 was again orderi to charge
upon the rebels, which they did steadily
and with execution, but were again com
PEELED to fall back to their original posi-
Lion. The line being again reformed, the
order to charge, was given in person by
Gen. Milr,y, when the remnant Of the
1881 not numbering over ESQ or 26o
men, advanced steadily, although under
tremendous fire of canister, grape and
to within forty yards Of the
snemys battery, and had almc st succeed
id in driving them from their pieces and
captured them--as they (,he enamy) af
.erwards admitted themselves, when they
we're unexpectedly reinforced, and we
were again reluctantly compelled to retire
from the severely contested field, While
We we're falling back in good order, and
when about half way from the enemy to
, piece Of woods in oar rear, we were |
surprised by the sight of
white flag displayed by soti1e of OUR forces
from the edge of the timber. In great {
SURPRISE Col Wilson rode ahead to asser
ain the cause of its being displayed, and I
was informed that general surrender had ,