Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1881-05-05

splcuous on the field-on, on. until his flags
waved within twenty five PAGES of the fatal
stone wall. Then with murderous fire
everywhere around us we realized the full
absurdity of the attempt to accomplish an
utter impossibility. We had not yet fired
shot. We had only reached the spot
where our work was to begin. Forty per
cent. of the force had already fallen. No
support within three quarters OF mile. In
our front line after line of works followed
each other up the terraced heights to the
very crest, which was covered with artil-
lery. To carry the assault further would be
extreme madness. Should we take and oc-
cupy the first line, it would simply be to
meet the fire of the second and third. 10
light the host in front was not possible. We
were here only to be shot down without be-
ing able to return the blow. So the divi-
sion, or rather the half of it that still exist
ed, began falling back; but Hancock would
not be driven from the field, and halting
where the formation of the ground afforded
some shelter to his hard tried command, he
remained until relieved at nightfall. And
now the long, long, dreadful afternoon that
awaited the thousands wounded, who lay
scattered over the sad and ghastly plain.
The only place of cover was the brick
house out near the stone wall. To this
hundreds of the wounded dragged them
selves and great mass of sufferers huddled
together and struggled to get nearer the
house, that they might escape the fire. All
around the great heaps of dead bore testi-
mony to the tierceness of combat. Near by
colored sergeant lay stark and cold with
the flag of his regiment covering him. Just
in front of the stone wall lay a line of men
of the Irish brigade. with the green box
wood in their caps, and the two bodies
nearest the enemy were those of my be-
loved friends, Maj. William Horgan, and
Adjutant John r. Young, both of the
Eighty eighth New York. 1t was not yet
one oclock when the assaulting column re-
tired and we had nearly i've hours to wait
in darkness. When we heard the clock in
the Episcopal church in the city strike the
hours that seemed so long. The sharp
shooters Of the enemy soon got position
from which they could enflade the house
and when any one moved among the mass
of bleeding men it was the signal for the
rifle balls to whistle around. Few of us
expected to live until night and but few did.
We thought the battle ended. when through
the darkness loomed up the divisions of
Hooker. Nobly they came to the work,
with empty muskets and orders to carry the
position with the bayonet. The dark mass
passed the brick house and almost to the
point that Hancock had reached. They
had come up through the cleaning unseen
and surged against the base of Marye's
Heights.
Again the hills flashed fire, shook, rocked
roared and belched forth tons of iron on
the red plain, more minutes of useless car
mage. The sombre wave rolled back, the
loo oh of 0f fho
trous day had come to naught and seven
teen hundred more had been added to the
ponderous list of casualties. Clouds over
shadowed the skies; and guided by the lu-
rid fires still smouldering through the ebony
darkness the immense crowd of wounded
began crawling, struggling, dragging them
selves toward the city, those who were
slightly hurt assisting others who we're
more seriously injured; those with shatterd
limbs using muskets for crutches, many
fainting and falling by the way And when
in the town how hard to find spot to rest
or a surgeon to bind up the wounds.
More wounded, than the city had inhabi-
tants, every public hall and house file to
overflow, the porches of the residences
covered with bleeding men, the surgeons
busy everywhere. In the lecturing rooms
of the Episcopal church eight operating Ia
bles are in full blast, the floor is densely
packed with men whose limbs are crushed,
fractured and torn. Lying there in deep
pools of blood, they wait so very patiently,
almost cheerfully, their turn to be treated;
there is no grumbling, no screaming, hard
ly moan; many of the badly hurt smile
and chat, and one, who has both legs shot
off, is cracking jokes with an officer who
cannot laugh at the humorous sallies. for
his lower jaw is shot away.
LOSSES IN HANCOCK DIVISION.
But the most appalling loss was in the
division of General Hancock. OF the five
officers composing his personal staff three
were wounded and four horses were killed
under them. The General himself was
struck by rifle ball but not seriously hurt.
Of the sixteen officers of the Sixty ninth
New York every one was killed or wounded
and the regiment lost seventy five per cent.
of the enlisted men, and left the field with
its fourth commander, three having been
disabled. The Fifth New Hampshire lost
seventeen out of twenty three officers and
had five commanding officers during the
Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers had all
the field and staff and many of the line Of
fcers killed and wounded, and was taken
off the field by the fourth officer in COM
mand during the fight The first color
sergeant, William FL. Tyrrell. held up the
flag until hit with five rifle balls. The
Eighty first Pennsylvania lost twelve out of
sixteen officers and seventy five per cent. of
the enlisted men. The fourth commanding
officer brought the regiment off the field.
The Fifty seventh New York lost nine out
of the eleven officers present. The Sixty
sixth New York had four commanders dur
ing the battle, the three first having been
killed or wounded. Many other regiments
of the division suffered almost as severely,
yet, Notwithstanding the great loss, on the
morning of the following day, when order
ed to support the Ninth Corps, the COM
mand fell in, ready and willing, and the
contemplated assault with the Ninth Corps,
led by General Burnside in person-from
which he was happily dissuaded by Gener-
ais Summer and Hooker at the moment
that all was ready to make the attack-was
the last attempt of the campaign.