Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-02-04

1855 ( = g :
universities were largely represented in these
regiments, az least two companies of the For
tieth being made up almost wholly from the
State University, Beloit and Appleton Col
leges. Clerks and professional men were
freely interspersed with representatives of
every calling. Tue terms of service expired,
and the regiments returned TO the State Sept
18th 20 iftn for muster out.
coIoREp zsocrs.
Whatever prejudice may have existed In
the minds OF the people against the employ
ment Of colored troops, It has fast given way
if be not now everywhere extinct. Aside from
arguments of expedienoy or necessity, the
exhibitions of moral courage and heroic de-
votion, forgetful of the wrongs and obloouy
of the past, unfinching in the face of an enc
my with whom, if spared the casualties of
battle, capture was certain desth, have com
PEELED the admiration of their fercest oppo-
nents. Authority was received from the War
Department in October, 1868, TO raise regi-
ment, battalion, or company of colored
troops, and public order was made TO that
effect; but owing 10 the sparseness of color
ed population in this Site, there was little
" OA1&CI W 0hNCE-
take the raising of even company. No ac-
tive exertions were therefore made untilsearly
in the present year, Col. John A. Bross, of
Chicago, having been appointed Colonel of
the 29th United States colored infantry, open
ed one or two recruiting stations in this State,
and recruited some two hundred and fifty col
ored men for his regiment, and for whom this
State receives credit from the General Gov
eminent.
There being no further record of this regi-
ment with the State Department, the follow
ing brief sketch of their action is here APP
pended in justice 70 the men of this State
who bravely shared the fortunes of the regi-
ment. 5a
The organization was completed and left
camp of rendezvous at Quincy, Illinois, April
10Th, arriving at Washington May lst, was
brigaded at Camp Casey with colored regi-
ment from New York, and Colonel Bross as
signed to the command. s
About the middle Of June the brigade was
sent to City Point, from which place, after
two weeks of guard duty, it was sent TO the
front of Petersburg, and joined the I'd brig
ade, Sd division, 9th army corps, commanded
by Gen. Burnside, June 80, 1864.
The mine was sprung and Col. Bross was
ordered forward with his regiment. Leading
his men, who were now for the first time un-
der fire, he is said to have charged farther
within the enemy's lines than any other regi-
ment on that occasion.
Seeing the utter hopelessness of carving
the enemy's works on Cemetery Hill, Col
Bross gave orders to his regiment to retire,
and catching the coiors of bis regiment was
about to turn when he was struck by MIME
ball in the temple and fell dead, enwrapped
in the flag. the regiment retFeated through
perfect storm of shot and shell, to the era
ter, losing in this action most of its officers
and nearly two hundred enlisted men in killed,
wounded and missing.
| respectfully recommend that the act pro-
viding aid from the war fund for families of
soldiers from this State, be so amended as to
include the volunteers in this and other col
ored regiments. They are in the immediate
service of the United States, and not being
in State organization they are thereby de-
priyed OF the benefits secruing from this fund.
Their position differs from white volunteers
in tile regular service from this State, in the
fact that there are no colored State organic
ations, and if they go into the service at all,
they must perfoFce go into the United States
regiments. 1t therefore appears to me but
a simple act of justice, TO extend to them
such benefits as may accrue to their families
through the war fund,
MUSTER OFT OF REGIMENTS
During the year past, besides the one hun
dred day troops, the term of three years SER
vice Of the Non-Veterans has expired
in the following organizations from this
State, to-wit: The first twelve regiments of
infantry first and fourth regiments and one
company Of cavalry, one company (G) of
sharpshoOters, the first ten batteries of light
artillery and battery "A" of heavy artillery.
These regiments and companies having
completed their original term of service, their
history as such is also complete, the remain
ing portions Of the regiment being hereafter
known AZ veteran organizations
u would have been proper and desirable
to have. published the names of all the MEM
hers Of the regiments, with an individual
history of each.
This would have been done had the proper
returns been received from the Commissaries
of Muster, and will yet, if received in time,
be appended TO the report.
The present status of the several organiza-
tons at the last date Of information is as fol-
lows:
Those Of the LIST Infantry are assigned to the
2Ist infantry.
The ID Infantry are assigned to the 9th Regiment.