Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1864-05-25

Donnell, Pat Hennesey.
Co. l.
KiHed-1st Sergt J P Greiner; Privates
Ed Shredder, Jacob Wagner.
Wounded-Nergts Henry Weipert, Geo
Townsend, W p Courtner; Corpl Geo Fiss;
PriYates Geo Aurandy, Reuben Bolig, Fred
Bolig, VIM Bruner, Henry Duke, John
Feaster, j P Gingwitch, D Humer, j r
Hackenberry, Jones Lesher, j Middles
worth, Peter Reuhenthall, Chas Rhoods, G
Smith, Jas Swartz, Jacob Steffen, j Bailey.
Benz Eshelman, VIM NJ Gardner.
NiSsiny--Sergt J B Meyer; Privates J
Carl, ,Ier Derr, Wilson Duck, Robert Fet-
terotf, Isaac Hook, " H Herrold, L Kuhn,
John Michael, d OFT, d Rigle, E Yeager,
j. Rigle.
Col. Doris has also forwarded US
the following account of his visit,
written for the Huntingdon Globe:
HUNTINGDON, May %, 1864.
The papers received here on the 18th
inst, contained the startling news that
Colonel Hulings and Lieut.. Colonel
John Blanchard Miles of the 49th P.
Y. We're killed. | started in the first
train for Washington, to ascertain the
truth, and, if true, to obtain fpossible,
the body of 1t, Col. Miles. Procuring
a pass and letter at the War office, |
went down the Bay to Belle Plain.
After a weary walk of twenty-five
miles | found the Regiment encamped
on a farm about l J miles from Spott
sylvania Court House. They were
busy distributing the first mail received
during two weeks. They were in
command of Captain Wake ield of
Miffiin county, Major Hickman, the
only surviving field officer, being in
disposed and at the hospital. The
mail distributed, we sat down in the
tent of Captain Wakefield, end he and
the other officers, with sad faces, told
me Of their struggles during the terri
BILE contest of the present month, and
how their brave comrades had been
stricken down at their side. The
great battles in which they were en-
gagged were fought on the 5th, 9th, 10th
ard 18th of May. This regiment has
been in every battle fought by the ar
my of the Potomac. It's ranks, thin
ned by death and disease had been
filed up with drafted men, and they
were anxious to know how they would
behave under fire Their first engage
ment was on the fifth of May. They
were ordered to charge rifle pit, and
they marched up to within twenty
yards, when the rebels poured in on
them a fire Of musketry and fifty two
men fell, but the drafted men never
7inched. On the 9th they held their
ground when every other regiment
retired, On Tuesday evening, the 10th
May, about seven o'clock, the regiment
was ordered to charge a succession of
rife pits. With Col. Hulings and Lieut.
Col. j. Blanchard Miles, at the head,
the regiment made the charge, and the
lst, I'd and Sd rife pits were taken in
succession, bat with such fearful loss
that they were unable TO take the 4th,
and the order to retire was given. In
the retreat, Col. Hulings and Lieut..
Col. Miles were killed, and their bodies
were left in the hands Of the enemy.
A private had lost his cap in the
and seeing another on the
ground, as he stopped for it he found
it belonged to Lieut.. Col. Miles whose
dead body lay beside him. Hastily
stripping him Of his sword, sash, pock-
ct books, watch and map, he ran to
the rear, bringing these articles and
the cap to headquarters, A bullet
hole through the edge Of the cap, tear
ing away the button, showed where
the fatal wound had been received.
At daylight on the 18th they COM
menced the attack, and with but three
hours intermission in the evening, they
fought until o'clock in the morning
of the 18th. This engagement is with
out a parallel in the history Of any
war. IocO hun3red rounds Of cartridges
lcere fired. The men were so blacken-
ed with powder as to be scarcely y re-
cognizable. They ceased firing only
because their guns were so foul that
they could not be loaded.
Resting on their arms until daylight,
they scrambled over the dead bodies
or tnelr fallen cOmfdQeS ana entered
the rifle pits which had been deserted
by the rebels when the firing ceased.
The rebels were piled up three and four
deep, and when those on the top were
removed they found many wounded
still alive. Some were
pierced by at least 100 balls. Oak
trees over foot in diameter were cut
down by musket balls-as no artillery
was used in the engagement. TIE
sad list of killed and wounded, which
[ obtained from Adjutant A. T. Hilands,
shows what this struggle cost. Mum
Dering 658 muskets on leaving Brandy
Station, they had but 306 the day [
was with them.
The four regiments composing this