Connecticut western news., 1880-10-13
FATE,> OR WHAT?
The Story Told of a Michigan Com. s. pany During the War.

The Story Told of Michigan Com pany During the War.
 No historian of the war will ever write
 of companies and battalions, and tht
 strange fate which followed company
 of infantry attached to a regiment iron
 Michigan need not be looked for in his
 tory, although it would make an inter i esting page in any work.
 The company was mustered into ser
 vice 100 strong, and better lot of me1
 never took the oath of allegiance te
 Uncle Sam. Before leaving the State
 three of the men died. On the trir Il from Detroit to Washington two were
 killed by the cars. In marching along
 the streets of the capital another fel
 dead. In going into camp another was
 accidentally shot through the heart.
 Inside of three weeks there were seven
 deaths in this company, and not even g
 case of sickness in any other. The reg.
 lment was in camp near Washington for
 four weeks, and two more men died out I of this company, third was drowned,
 and the fourth was shot dead in 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 pany had
 man wounded. Its 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 it's 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 8 man. Promotions were again made, and the regiment became engaged ln battle. Other companies had men wounded, but this one had five killed. The first lieutenant and third sergeant were among the number. This made the total twenty three. Not man had fallen sick but to die. Not man had been hit except to go down.
 By this time the ill-luck of the com pany had become camp talk, and men were not ashamed to believe that there was something strange and superstitious about it. It was hard work to find men who would take promotion, and three of the rank and file were so unnamed that they deserted. Out of loss of twenty seven men in the regiment up to this time twenty-six had been from one com pany.
 A curious change now occurred. In it's next fight the company lost four men. The first and fifth corporals were two of these. Within week these two same positions were vacant again. In six months five first and five fifth cor -S'orals were killed, while the first lieu tenant and third sergeant were not scratched. Nor did it lose any other commissioned or non-commissionel off, cers.
 When this company had beenreduced to sixty-one men no other company had less than ninety. Ten recruits joined it on Monday, and all were killed in a fight on Thursday. In a couple of weeks seven more came, but in less than month death had reduced the number l to sixty-one again. In fight in which i this fated company was purposely held | in reserve, the other nine companies l had fourteen men wounded and one | killed. A rebel shell fell into the midst | of the reserve and killed four men from | the one company. In two years it lost l 169 men, while no other company had l lost twenty-five. In it's three years at | the front it never had man wounded. [ Whoever was hit was killed on the spot It lost more commissioned and non-com- missioned officers than any six compa- nies 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 con- pany stood at fortym men. Twenty three recruits were added, and in three months more twenty men had either died of sickness, been captured or buried on the battle field. When it was decided to oin this company with another not one ,f the nine would consent, and when it lad been reduced to thirty eight men it vas transferred to headquarters to do guard and provost duty. -M. Quad.