The Portland daily press., 1881-01-18
Fate, or What?
Detroit Free Press.l

lDctioiI rEoo ITeSS.l
No historian of the war will ever write of
companies and battalions, and the strange fate
which followed company OF infantry at
tached to a regiment from Michigan need
not be looked for in history. although it will
make an interesting page in any work.
The company was mustered into service 100
strong, and a better lot of men never took the
oath of allegiance to Uncle Sam. Before leav-
ing 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 camp another was accidentally shot
through the heart. Inside of three weeks
there were seven deaths in the company, and
not even case of sickness in any other. The
regiment was in camp near Washington for
three weeks. and two more men died out 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 man.
In the first skirmish the company lost four
men, while no other company had a man
wounded. Its first lieutenant and third SER
geant were two of the killed Promotions had
hardly been made when the company was de-
tailed for outpost duty, and guerrillas killed
three of its men at one volley. The first lieu.
tenant 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 regiment 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 the number
'wenty-three Not a man had fallen sick but
to die. Not man had been hit except to go
down.
By this time the ill luck of the companv 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 promotion, and
three OF the rank and file were so unnamed
that they deserted. Out of loss of twenty
seven men in the regiment, twenty-six had
been from one company.
A curious change now occurred. In its next
tight the company lost four men. The first
and NTH corporals were two of these. Within
week these two same positions were vacant
again. In six months five first and five fifth
corporals were killed, while the first Iieuten-
ant and third sergeant were not scratched.
Nor did it lose any other commissioned or un-
commissioned officers
When this company had been reduced to six
ty-one men no other company had less than
ninety. Ten recruits Joined it ON Monday and
all were killed in fight on Thursday. In
couple OF weeks seven more came, but in less
than mouth death had reduced the nnmbor
to sixty-one again. In a fight in which this
fated company was purposely held in reserve,
the other nine companies had fourteen men
wounded and one killed. A rebel shell fell in
to the midst of the reserve and killed four men
from the one company. In two years it had
lost 1eS men, while no other company had lost
twenty1v In its three years at the front it
never had man wounded Whoever was hi.
was killed on the spot. 1t lost more commits
stoned and non-com missioned officers than any
six companies combined. In one year the man
who went out as fourth corporal was first lieu
tenant, and dead, and almost forgotten. For
three months the company stood at forty
men; twenty-three recruits were then added,
and in three months more than twenty men
had either died of sickness, been captured or
buried on the battlefield When it was de-
cided to join this company with another, not
one of the nine would consent, and when it
had been reduced to thirty-eight men it was
transferred to headquarters to do guard and
provost duty.