The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-11-04

ment ever exceeded those of the contest
Of Oct. 5, 1864. Every man felt it his
duty to use his utmost exertions during
the struggle. In this fight every man that
could find musket seized enc, and made
good use of it. Every available means TO
bring destruction upon the enemy was
found justi6able, and fewer non.combat-
ants were found among US at that time,
perhaps, than ever before in any fight.
You have before this had correct list
of the killed and wounded Of our regi-
ment, names and ALL Of individual acts
of bravery I do not desire to speak, save
to accord the utmost praise to our noble
commanders, Gen. Corse and Col. Tour
tellotte, whose example in defying the at
tempts of overwhelming numbers and in
spiriting their commands to confidence in
final success, managed after a most ter
rible struggle in maintaining the suprem-
acy and the power of our troops.
After battle there is department of
military organization whose unfailing at
tention to duty places them high in the
consideration, and entities them to the
highest honors in the scale of humanity in
the minds Of those whose duties call them
to contest bodily with the contending
power, and there are the members of the
Medical Corps. l take pride in speaking
of our regiments Surgeons,-not to place
them above others Of the same corps and
belonging to other organizations, but as
speaking of the Fourth Regiment and its
officers. All of US are proud of our regi-
ment Surgeons-their prompt and unceas-
ing attention to the wounded melting our
regard their kindness and tenderness to
the unfortunate in the midst of danger
speak volumes of pra Sc in their favor. .
Two officers of our regiment received
severe wounds in the action-6rst, Lieut..
COL Tourtellotte, wounded in the thigh !;
second, Capt. Toule, right arm and shout
der. Both of these officers are doing
well. .........., ......-. ....,
The loss total to the enemy could not
have been less than 1,2OO-by some COM
puted at 1900. Our loss killed, wound
ed and prisoners 7O6; of these, eighty
the rebels captured at Altoona Bridge.
These eighty men though forced to re-
treat to block house, were after being
shslled out of the position held by them
for one whole day, compelled to surrender.
The brigade under Gen. Corse fought
bravely, and with the utmost determine
ton, and suffered more severely than did
the troops of the garrison. Only one
field officer escaped unhurt out of the
whole brigade. The General command
ing was severely wounded during the heat
of the battle and did not turn over his
command, though circumstances would
have justified his so doing during the
fight, and by his order and gallantry incit-
ed his command to determined resis-
lance which went far TO establish our ulti-
mate victory.
The day succeeding the fight, found a
tram of cars ready to receive the Federal
wounded and carry them to Rome. By
this means our men were conveyed to a
place where the comforts of properly pro-
vided for and managed hospitals could be
afforded them. l am sorry to say, that
since their transmital toward Rome, a
number of them have died-several OF
them members of our company.
For the week past our little town of AL
latoona has had its streets crowded with
the troops and trians of Sherman's army
moving in pursuit of the enemy who were
supposed to have made toward Rome.
Our usual quiet has been completely dis
turbed. Our buildings are all occupied by
the rebel wounded, and it is impossible to
to tell how soon We may be rid of them.
During the fight of the 9Th inst, Gen.
Sherman's headquarters were at Kenisaw
Mountain The General could command
from that elevated lookout at the distance
of seventeen miles a good view of our OPP
erations upon that day. Between Kenisaw
and our position lay the whole of Hoods
army of rebels. By our victory on the
5th, we saved all our commissary stores,
nearly one million rations inclusive of all
stores. The several corps passing through
were thereby furnished. Had we been
defeated, driven from our garrison and
our stores destroyed, the army must have
suffered greatly. At present all is quiet at
this place; above us the rebels are active.
Will write more soon. G. NJ D. L.