The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-09-15
rRoMorED 10 LIEUT.. c oLoNEL.


/ 1862, concentrated and relieved from its duties
of railroad guarding. Lieut.. Col b. McDere
mot having been compelled to resign on ac-
count Of ill health, Major Linton was, Februa-
ry l, 1868, promoted to fill the vacancy. In
March, 1868, we find the 54th at Romney, Va.
Col. Campbell having been assigned to the COM
mand of brigade, Colonel Linton took com
nand Of the regiment, Here Col Linton as
siduously labored to perfect his regiment in
drill and by bis unt;ring energy acknowledge OF
tactics, made it, what we believe Il was among
the best drilled regiments in service, and GER
tainly second to none in the Department of West
Virginia.
He COMMANDS TIE REG1M EST.
Gen. Lee having again crossed the Potomac
Gen. Kelley concentrated his troops, crossed
the Potomac and occupied Hedgesville near
Martinshurg; the 54th formed part of the
second brigade, of which Col Campbell
was the commander. Gen. KeIley's forces, af-
ter heavy skirmish. likely to be surround
ed and captured were Withdrawn TO the north
aide of the Potomac, leaving Col. Linton with
the 54th regiment alone, on the south side, with
a swollen river in their rear and the rebel for
ces in front, Bat the rebels contented them
selves with throwing a couple OF shell into the
regiment, ard the,i withdrew. Thence the
second brigade marched through che country
20 its old camp at Romney, Va.
hs REFUSES IN ATTACK.
In September, 1868, Col. Mulligan was ~
ing in an exposed position at Petersburg, Va,
and Col. Linton marched to his relief. Whilst
pushing rapidly along he was suddenly attacked
! by the rebels, but they were promptly put to
ed at Springfield, Va, from which place Col.
! Linton made two efforts to capture the notori-
/ Gus Mcneil, bat infantry could not march as
rapidly as cavalry, and Mcneil escaped
! lie IS WOUNDED IN TIRE THIGH
! When Sgel started on his expedition ap the
+ Valley, the 54th was assigned to the Second
brigade Of the FIRST division, and Col. Camp
bell took command of the regiment On the
. 18th of May 1864, the disastrous battle of
New Market was fought. The Saith was on
! the extreme left, and although it bore the
! brunt of the battle, was the last to leave the
| field. Almost surcounded-with the euegny In
! front and on both 8anks--tiae gallant fellows
were at lastcompelIed to doggedly yield, Whilst
doing his utmost % rally the men and contin-
ue the fight, Col. Linton received a wound in
the left thigh from a musket ball, He sue
ceeded, however, in getting safely back with
/ the regiment. Being now unfit for duty he re-
/ ceiyed leave Of absence and went home While
he was absent the regiment marched up the
/ Valley with Hunter.
/ HE COMMANDS A BATTALION IN BATTLE
/ Promptly at the expiration Of his time, his
wound still unhealsd he reported to Gen SigeI
at Martinsburg. AS he could not then reach
his regiment, he was assigned TO the command
of a battalion IN Col. Mugan's brigade which
started to join Gen. Hunter, but was met by
large force of the enemy and compelled to fail
back on Sigel. On the Sd of July, 1864 the
rebel Gen. Ransom attacked Mulgan and a
brisk battle ensued, Col. Linton doing his full
share with his battalion, a number of his men
being killed, wounded and captured. The reb-
els were held in check. Sigel withdrew his
forces to Maryland Hights, where he was be-
sieged. In the mean time Col Campbell lad
been assigned to the command of a brigade by
| Gen. Hunter and Col. Linton took command
Of the regiment, which was now part of Gen.
Crooks command.
( He COMMANDS a BRIGADE AT sNICKERs FERRY
AND is WOUNDED IN THE RIGHT SHOULDER.
Gen Crooks marched to Smokers Ferry,
where on The 18th of July, battle was fought.
In the midst of the fight, Col Frost, who COM
manded the brigade to which the 5+th belong
ed, was killed. when the command of the bri-
gade degoyed on Col. Linton, now the senior
officer present SooE after taking command
and whilst personally experimenting a meYe-
ment of the trGeps extricating thea from the
dangerous position in which they then were,
Col Linton received a woand froEa q RsRslset
bail in the right shoulder. Yet he Galanfly
kept the field. Gen. Crooks withdrew and
subsequently, marched to Winchester. Col.
Linton, though suffering from his wound, still
continued In the fieid.
ANOTHER gATVLE---A YALE AND aNoTHEg
WOUND.
On the Esd of July the rebels attacked
Crooks, but were after good deal of fighting,
repufsed. July oath, they renewed the attack
The brunt of the battle for long time was
borne by Mulhgan's division, in which was
Linton's brigade, and which he still ably eoaa-
manded and nobly fought Here fell Col Mui-
ligan. The fighting was desperate. Crooks
fought his men with the courage of lion, but
the force Of numbers compelled the stubborn old
Hwar horse" to yield The retreat began-at
first orderly, but it almost ended in a rout The
night was extremely dark. Col. Linton, still
suffering from his wound, kept together his
small brigade, wasted by hard lighting to but
little more than regimeat Slowly he fell
back, keeping his men from stampeding Rid
ing off the side of the road to ascertain what
force was nearest him, his horse stumbled over
stone pile and fell, throwing the Col violent
Iy TO the ground. In the fall his wounded
shoulder came in contact with the hilt of his
sabre, which broke the collar bone. Although
suffering the most excruciating pain, he did
not yield until the danger was over. He was
then sent TO hospital, and obtaining leave Of
: absence, went home, butpromptly returned to
duty when the leave expired, although his
wounds were still nnhealed and painful.