The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-04-29
THIRD MINNESOTA.
BATTLE OF FITzHUGH's
WOODS.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF MAJOR
rc E FOSTER.

IN the recent cApSuitiou ouu nctiou UP Vulte
River, under command OF Col. c. c. Andrews
of the Third Minnesota.
received orders from Col. Andrews at AZ
O'Clock p. NJ, March 80th, to be in readiness
to march with four days rations at six o'clock
that evening, and at o'clock marched my
command. six companies, Co. B, commanded
by Lieut. Pierce. Co. C by Lieut. Grummons,
Co. E. by Lieut.. Knight, Co. g, by Captain
Deverenx, Co. H, by Lieut.. Misener, Co. 1 by
Captain Swan-1e6 strong, to the ferry, and
Immediately proceeded to the railroad depot,
where, by direction of the Colonel, we en-
barked on the cars, and at P. NJ left for Du-
wallis Bluff We reached the bluff at o'clock
next morning and forthwith embarked on the
steamer Dove, and at O'Clock, together with
. small force of the Eighth Missouri cavalry,
proceeded up White River, reaching Gregorys
Larding-which is ten miles above the mouth
of the Little Red and 40 miles above Duyalls
Bluff-about 8 o'clock p. NJ, where we disem-
barked and marched to the support of the
cavalry towards Cache River Crossing, where
it was supposed McCrea was encamped. After
marching three miles in the darkness and rain
il was ascertained that McCrea had left that
country and gone toward Jacksonport. Upon
getting this information we Immediately re-
turned to the boat and proceeded up She river
to Augusta, where we arrived at So a. NJ. on
the first of April, disembarked and pushed
without delay with 160 men, oil told, into the
country on the Jacksonport road, the cavalry
In advance. Ny orders were to keep within
supporting distance which / did. At the
crossing OF the Cache River road four miles
from Augusta l encamped with the cavalry
which had been diminishing with the enemy
for the lsst two miles, and here found them
In force. The Colonel ordered me to take three
companies into the woods and engage them.
/ took companies r, II, and l. and drove the
enemy before me about one mile and across q
large Cypress swamp. l afterwards learned
from prisoners that the force drove was the
notorious Rutherford and about $50 men. At
this time the rest of the force came up, the
cavalry advanced and followed, crossing the
swamp and proceeding towards Jacksonport,
the cavalry doing the skirmishing. We
marched on to the Methodist Church near DR..
Westmoreland's house. twelve miles from
Augusta, where by the COlonels orders l
halted my command while the cavalry secuted
in advance Finding no force of the enemy,
they returned, and after a short rest started
back for the boats. We had moved back
about 21l miles and halted to rest q. Fitz-
hugh's farm house, where We discovered
large force of mounted men charging down
upon rs on our right and rear. Iimmed lately
formed and by Col. Andrews orders sent two
companies to- engage the enemy, Captain
Swan, Co. K, those In the road, and Lien.
tenant Misener, Co. II, those on the right.
They charged do.sn through the open
field with loud yells let them approach
within $50 yards, then sent yolley OF
mimic balls into them, which caused them to
cease their yelling, and break to the rear for
the woods with headlong speed. followed a
short distance and discovered we had inflicted
. severe loss on them. Our cavalry having
pushed on in advance, we did not follow up.
Finding the enemy was not disposed to come
ont of the woods, we again proceeded towards
Augusta. We marched on about two and
half miles to Fitzhughs Woods, when the enc
my was again heard shouting and yelling, and
seen coming down through an old corn field,
on the same flank as before. I Immediately
fixed bayonets and charged on at q double
quick to meet him, coming up in line at about
200 yards from this force which was, / should
Judge, at least 800 strong. and gave him vol
ley before he opened. Ee Immediately broke
to the rear for the thick timber. At This in-
slant when We gave O shout to see the enemy
80 broken, we were attacked by another and
still larger force from the road we had just
camenp. The troops were Immediately faced
about and charged down into the woods "a the
face of deadly fire from the enemy. While
leading this charge the Colonel's horse was
killed under him. After gaining the heavy tim
Der we engaged the enemy as skirmishers, In
contest which lasted two hours and half.
when discovered that we were getting short
of ammunition. Immediately reported the
! fast to Colonel Andrews, who ordered me to
withdraw gradually from the timber and oecu-
.py some farm buildings up the road toward
Augusta, and protect the crossing of Cypress
Swamp. about half mile further on, which
was successfully accomplished the cavalry
passed through the swamp, the infantry fol-
lowing. We then formed on the opposite side
and marched to Augusta. six miles. without
further, molesation, bringing some thirty pri-
soners and large number of contrabands,
which had been picked mp during the day. d
The following embraces a full list of the ca
sual les in the regiment at the combat Of Fitz-
Co. B.-Privates, Benjamin sanderson and
Ole Hanson, killed Sergt. Albert u. Hunt, se-
verely wounded Corp Edward Fraygang. sc.
verely wounded Private Willism +. lngham,
severely wounded; LIST Sergt. Henry a. Du-
rand, slightly wounded; Privases, George
Brewer and William shearier, wounded ana
Co. t.-Private Henry w. Fsrnsworth,
killed; Privates, James P. Chaplin and Henry
H. Wallace. severely wounded; Corp. Lewis
Kimball, slighty wounded; Private Grin Case,
slightly wounded.
Co. E.-Fimt Sergt. Corydon D. Bevans and
Private Clark D. Harding. killed Corp. Isaac
j lauver and Private Albert G. Leach, severely
G. G.-Private Albert 4. Pierce, severely