The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-02-22
The Sixteenth Infantry.

HzaD4E ARrFRs 16rH MionsiN I~FAVrlT
NFAE HATCHER RrN- Va. leO- l. 1864.
J. a. Knin; ESQ. Dea. So Our com
mand leil camp on the morning of the 5ih
since which time We have been marching
lighting and ditchins. and oV the time a.,
sevcrest weather. Il has been ,atcn-cl,
cold for this latitude. with storm and .le.r
and three days of lighting And in coii-e-
quence of ail tins f1r The pas seven laws. ]
think ! may safely say that tie Fifth Corps
oi the Army of the Potomac. and especially
the Sixteenth Michigan Infantry. ha. taken
us share and done Dts part in permanently
advancing the left line of The Grand Army
over four miles. and of fighting the battle
Of Hatcher's Rum
All tie varied accounts Of which y0u have
read 10 the papers ere this. propose only
to give a brief account OF the doings of this
Regiment. All my military experience bad
been with the Cavalry until this last move
and was surprised and pleased % observe
with what ease the Infantry soldier take.
zap his bed aut walk with al his camp
equipase and his faithful mu,let The com
mand go' into lime about a. NJ. ami nov
ed ont on the Weldon Road followed The
old track few miles. and then tool, "a cir
cGit of fifteen or twenty mics ana canned
in the vicinity of Dnwiddie Court -Ilou-c.
After supper and q few hours rest. the com
maud moved back 10 this position. and
early ON the morning Of the 9th commenced
putting APP breastworks. ut the same time
advancing line of skirmisher- to feel the
enemy's position. There was more or les
diminishing during the day and al tunes
some pretty sharp yolley-iiring Atjr.v.
the whole OF the Fifth Corps advanced ia
columns for about a mile or more. when we
We're met by murderous fire of mu.kctrr
and before our men could form a line OF
battle We're most cruelty punished The .
whole line Was soon formed and the frmr 4
very spirited on both sides, and edectual. -
The " reJs bad artillery but their shell. 1
passed harmlessly over our heads merry 1
BUS man don't care 10 hear them even Al /
hat safe distance. The enemy attemutai 4
10 flank Us on our left, bat were sklIfullv /
'Lecked and orr troops We're now pouring
nt0 them whole yoileys with stel Illness
and SLOWLY but certainly gaining ground -
Up to this tine everything was working
admirably, when there occurred one of
hose accused blunders which caused al.
he disorder and confusion Of the lay. and
rr..ff1 2 .r-r f--+ - f-.rf.1 ..-. 3 ..-..--- -
han 0ne-haL Il seems that "a Division OIL
he sixth Corps had been sent To- support
.ur left and quite unknown 10 the officers
n command Of the advance The result is
Ut what might have been anticip4-el.-l
bur officers believing themselves OF the
ommaud being hanked by the enemy. fel
ack rather precipita,eiy. throwing orr re-
erve into confusion. and the whole column
erreatei IN some disorder t. the first line
( works, where they were fortunately ral- {
Ell in time 10 save the day. bit not 70 save
{ least four hundred Of our brave officer,
nd men. Il is true thar We held our posi-
on, and accomplished what we started on :
is march for. bat we might just as Well z
ave beaten the "rebs ia less time and F,
itA half tie l9s- ol ouf -ila. lll tie or +
ar been more explicit 80 that tle l.-p3si- :
9n OF Tie sixth Corps Division had been
eli understood hy our officers "a
Tn Sixteenth Michigan h4s been highly
'mplmentei by tie commanding officers.
ar loss : verF seveTe-more than double Z
at Of any other Regiment in oar Brigade. Ct
III with the exception u tie First Mchi- y
m The least Ia numbers.
Respectfully yours. b
J. r BACON. n
.