Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-09-08

mining operation on Burnside's front, July
50th, and were getting stiff for want of ex-
ercise, when on the day in question at p P.
VI, the long roll sounded from Regimental
Headquarters, and the 1st Regiment Z. S. S.
S. were soon after packed up e7a routs with the
division and corps towards City Point The
dust was heavy, and with the extreme heat of
the day had weakening effect upon the SO
| ger bc7s" as they once more again went
marching on" Many of the soldiers fell
out, and i number of cases Of coup Dc so'is2
were reported. We however arrived near
| the City Point landing during the evening,
| after many halts on the way; here We re-
manned over night and until the afternoon of
| the following day Q3th). Officers and men
of all grades were put to their reckoning"
! as to where we were "gwan to-" Some had
| it Washington, others Mobile, Fredericks-
burg, North Carolina and Buffalo, while few
! insisted upon Chicago, to preserve order du-
ring the coming Convention. The Washing
tonians were in majority, but where to,
| from Washington was the point" 1t was
| plain to all that we were to sail, the trans
ports being on hand, and troops already
! filling them. "Too much of load for that
| little steamboat to 60 far to sea, boys, and
much too loaded down to be perfectly safe in
the BAY" was S. SIS put in" when for the
hundredth time "where do we land? }" was
the question before the crowd.
However, we succeeded in getting aboard
transport about A. P. NJ, after much push
ing and crowding slowly forward. The steam
er was soon crowded, in fact jammed, and
like the others, showed off down the river.
" Here we go for certain down James river !!
| wonder how long it will take to reach the
mouth" Although we were greatly crowd
| Cd uaS hraa7a
which proved very acceptable to US sunburnt
and dried besiegers of an unfortunate city.
We didn't 90 many miles down stream how
ever before we came to " hal" among the
boats that had preceded US. This hating ar
rangement began to look suspicious, and
many were the conjectures in consequence.
Yet were all considerably " sold when about
P. NJ, tug came alongside with orders for
the Captains to start up stream at 10
o'clock for Deep Bottom. Here was a a. go"
sure. How are you Maryland raiders and
Canada barn-burners!
The next morning, the 18th, at daylight,
the troops were safely landed at the scene of
our former trip on the north side of the James,
| known as Deep Bottom. Not long after
portion of our troops engaged the enemy in
front, beyond the Strawberry Plains. Our
brigade moved forward to the farther side of
the Plains and remained there during the day
and over nj ght; the roar of artillery and rat
tie Of musketry plainly to be heard in the
battle raging, in which a part of the 10th
Corps captured number Of prisoners and
several pieces Of cannon and mortars.
During the morning Of August 18th our
brigade being ordered to report to General
Birney commanding the 10th Army Corps,
formerly our division commander) went for
ward on the extreme right, and in the after
| IL, IL q
Deep Run OF Four Mile Creek, the sharp
shooters ahead as skirmishers through small
but thick pines, following up the enemy close
ly fully mile, and eventually obtaining a
position on the Charles City road. A line of
cavalry skirmishers were on our right and
the 57th Pennsylvania infantry on our left.
1t was hot afternoon and the firing being
rapid, the affair proved to be a very warm
one.
The sharpshooteTs met with loss, mostly in
wounded. The Wisconsin company having
one man severely wounded, viz: Private
Levi Ingalsbee, left wrist badly shattered and
bowels, mortal, who died the following day,
August 10th. Young Ingalsbee was from
Madison, and enlisted with his brother as
recruit in 1862. He was wounded severely
at Gettysburg. This brother was mortally
wounded at the Wilderness and died May
18th. Levi Ingalsbee was good and true
soldier, and is greatly missed by his few re-
naming comrades. This is another of the
several instances in which company G has
lost by death two brothers.
After dark, the firing having ceased, we
were called off to an open field tor the night
On the 10th there was fighting all day. In
the morning the sharpshooters were sent out
as fiankers, and eventually became engaged
with the enemy st the captured brcastworks,
hIa how nyaHn,
but being ianked under hot fire, fell back
from the position through heavy slashing of
pine trees and brush, and reopened on the
flank. portion of the 10th Corps among
them some negro troops, were in the works
and also fell back from that point after some
sharp fighting. Later, in the afternoon, the
sharpshooters were ordered to report to
Gen. Birney for special service. Capt. Will
son soon had the regiment there, and through
the dense smoke of our artillery we obtained
a position on the crest of the hill in the
woods near the Run, and acted as sharpshoot-
ers until dark, when we were withdrawn
) We took no further part in the fighting, and
on the night of the 18th moved back over
the James and Appomattox by pontoons with
our division.
Our loss in the brigade in the above fight
is said to have been quite heavy, mostly in
wounded. Col. Craig, commanding the brig
ade, was killed. Capt. John Wilson, com
handing the regiment of sharpshooters, was
everywhere along the line, on horseback,
acting, as he always does, in brave and fear
less manner. We had three officers severely
wounded and number of men killed and
wounded.
Our regiment is fast becoming disorganiz-
ed, through the expiration of the terms of
enlistment of the different companies. Com
panes A and c have already gone, and COM
pany B will soon follow. On the 23d of Sep
TENDER company G's time will be out, but
there are but few Of US to return.
In the above fight, the Thirtysxth Wis
consin were conspicuously engaged, and,
learn, again suffered considerably, especially
in field officers. They have long since prov
ed themselves worthy representative from the
| Badger State. S. S.
From the First Cavalry.
It's part in McCook's Raid IN Georgia. What
| 1t Contributed to Success-Ihe Death of Maj.
Paine and capture Of Lieut.. Col. Io'Tey-
Their heroic Coaaduct-A tSlalder Ret1eed
| A Private Letter.
HEAD'QRs ID BRIG, 1sT CAV. DIV. D. c.,
Gainesville, Ca, Aug. "a, 1864.
Captain 5. V. sH1pMAS, Madison:
I arrived here direct from Charleston on
the 10th. After careful inquiry am able to
| give you a correct statement of the death of
| Major Paine and the capture Of Lieut.. Col.
Torrey, of Our Reg iment On McCook's late
| raid.
The lst Wisconsin cavalry crossed the