Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1868-08-19


Il was spent In organng, drilling and discip
re lining the new mernb bracing not only the
new organizatiousut the recruits in the
,e. old ones.
~ Soon after ColonHartranft received his
L long merlted promon as Brigadier of vol
"a unteers. He fairharned it at Antietam.
'r and nothing but hmodest determination
l. not 10 urge his owslaims, had prevented
him from receiving long before. He was
e placed In commando the First Brigade.
= Third Division, Min Army Corps, consist
: Ing OF SIX regimentshe I'd and S,b Michi
gan and 81 Pennsylnia, all veteran regi-
ments, and the 1T Michigan, 100 New
York and ~ Michig His commission as
B1gadler dated iro May l2th, 1864.
On the 23d of april Burnside's force
moved IRON Annapis, marching across the
country to Washirton and Alexandria.
where they encan,ed on the 25th. They
became portion oGrant's army actually
IN the field, about te 2Sth.
With Hartrantt etive operations began
on the 4th Of Mayyhen he broke camr
near W arrenton Juftion, and took up the
hne OF march, crossng the Rappahanuock
aEd encamplng nh beyond The follow
ing day he crossed he Rapidan at erma-
MA Ford, and hurrid forward with the rest
OF Burnside's forceito the support of the
troops who had beeIall day engaged at the
Wilderness. ~
The next day-Nriday, May 6th-a
movement was mad to the left. and Har
trantt 5 brigade was ,laced on the left of
the 5;h Corps. Farnar still to the left was
the I'd Corps. Here the enemy was soon
encountered, and Burnside ordered Hart
fanit to carry the Hemy's works in his
front. They were vey strong, and the reb-
els were in force. Tie advance was made
at 10 clock, in fine style, and the works
were carried and held for a moment, but a
sudden panic seized the left of the line, and
the whole brigade fell back.
On the 9th, Hartranft was again on the
move with his Corps. On the 18th. at day
Iisht' our troops advanced beyond the river
NY and here ensued desperate engage
ment In the course Of the day The enemy
openet on our troops with artillery .hp,,tp,
he enemy continually gave way. and Hart
ranft won two small hills where they had
attempted to stand. At two o clock orders
we're given to attack, and our troops moved
gallantly forward There ensued a most
desperate hand to hand fight
The first Of June found our troops near
Cold Harbor, and on that and the second
there was severe skirmishing with the enc
my. On the following day Hartranft with
drew toward the left, and formed line near
Bethesda Church, and once more engaged
the enemy. Agreeable to orders, he as
saulted the enemy IN his front and re took a
line which had been lost by our army the
evening. The enemy fed pre-
cipitately from their. position, and Hart
ranft's men occupied the rife pits In the
Lieutenant Colonel Shall, of the
5lst 2. v, was killed.
The successive movements by the left
flank brought the brigade of Hartranft "a
cross the Chickahominy on the 18th of June
and on the 18th the James was also crossed.
On the 18th and 18th his command engag-
ed the enemy with seve e loss, the contest
on the latter day being at Norfolk and Pc
tersburg Railroad At both places General
Hartranft exposed himself with his usual
gallantry.
In the unfortunate action at Petersburg,
on the 30th of July, after the explosion of
the mine. Hartranft again took part. Four
regimental officers of the First brigade were
and one mortallv wounded, and
Captain Shorkley. of Hartranft's staff, lost
| is right hand Tive orderlies in attendance
upon him were killed
During the movements upon the Weldon
Railroad by General Grant, on the 18th,
20th and Dist of August, General Hartranft
his brigade, and did good ser
vice in three days fighting there. Major
Belcher, of the Sth Michigan, was killed,
and Major Hart, OF the 5lst Pennsylvania.
was three times wounded in the engage
ment The brigade lost fifteen killed, sew
enty nine wounded and twenty-three miss
ing
In the engagements near Poplar Springs
Church, commencing on the 30th of Sep
tember, and ending on the Sth of October
General Hartranft had command of the
Second brigade, instead of the first, and
participated.
At Hatcher's Run, on the 9th and 2Sth
of October, General Hartrantt commanded
the First brigade OF the first division, 9th
Corps, which contained several of the old
regiments previously under him in the third
division.
Late in March, 1865 the nation was wait
ing patiently for news of the surrender or
capture of Richmond, when it was startled
by the report that Lee had assumed the of
fensive, and had boldly attacked our lines.
A few hours later, and the rerort was con-
firmed, but with the cheering and eneoura-
giug addition that our troops had most bril-
liantly repulsed the attack, in one of the
hardest engagements, for its duration, of
the war; that this magnificent feat had
been performed bs Division composed of
new regiments only recently recruited from
Pennsylvania, but disciplined, trained, and
led by Pennsylvania General, now, for