The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-12-10
NUMBER As.
FATE, OR WHAT :

No historian Of the war viii ever write Of
companies and battalions, and the strange
fate which followed a company of infantry
attached to a regiment from Michigan need
not be looked for in history, although it would
make an interesting page in any work.
The company was mustered into service
100 strong, and better lot of men never took
the oath of allegiance to Uncle sam. Before
leaving the State three of the men died. On
the trip from Detroit to Washington two were
killed by the cars. In marching along the
streets of the capital another fell dead. In
going into the camp another was accidentally
shot through the heart. Inside Of three
weeks there were seven deaths in this com
pany and not even a case Of sickness in any
other. The regiment was in camp near
Washington for four weeks, and two more
men died out of this company, = third was
drowned, and a fourth was shot dead in a
street brawl. This made eleven men, and
not another company had lost a man.
In its first skirmish the company lost four
men, while no other company had a man
wounded. It's First Lieutenant and Third
Sergeant were two of the killed. Promotions
had hardly been made when the company
was detailed for outpost duty, and guerrillas
killed three Of its men at one volley. The
First Lieutenant and Third Sergeant were
two of the three. This made eighteen men,
and only one other company had lost a man.
Promotions were again made, and the regi-
ment became engaged in battle. Other
companies had men wounded, but this one
had five killed. The First Lieutenant and
Third Sergeant were among the number.
This made total Of twenty-three. Not a
man had fallen sick but to die. Not 4 man
had been hit except to go down.
BY this time the ill-luck Of the company
had become camp talk, and men were not
ashamed to believe that there was something
strange and superstitious about it. 1t was
hard work TO find men who would take pro
motion. and three Of the rank and file were SO
unnamed that they deserted. Out Of a
loss of twenty-seven men in the regiment up
to this time twenty-siN had been from one
company.
\ curious change now occurred. In its
next fight the company lost four men. The
First and Fifth Corporals were two OF these.
Within a week these two same positions were
vacant In six months FIVE First and five
Fifth Corporals were killed, while the First
Lieutenant and Third Sergeant were no;
scratched. Nor did it lose any other com
missioncd officers.
When this company had been reduced to
sixty-onc men no other company had less
than ninety. Ten recruits Joined it on Mon
DAY and all were killed in q fight on Thurs
day. In couple of weeks seven more came,
but in less than a month death had reduced
the number to sixty-one again. In fight in
which this fated company was purpOSely held
+ in reserve, the other nine companies had
fourteen men wounded and one killed 4
rebel she'll fell into the midst Of the reserve
and killed four men from the one company.
In two years it lost 16s men, while no other
company had lost twenty-five. In its three
years at the font is never had man wound
ed Whoever was hit was killed on the spot.
1t lost more commissioned and non-cOmmis-
stoned officers than any six companies com
bined. In one year the man who went out as
Fourth Corporal was First Lieutenant and
dead and almost forgotten. For three months
the company stood at forty men. Twenty
three recruits were added and in three months
more twenty men had either died OF sickness
been captured or buried on the battlefield
When it was decided to join this company
with another not one OF the nine would con
sent, and when ii had been reduced to thirty
eight men it was transferred to headquarter
to do guard and provost duty.-Deiroit Pre-,
. Press