Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-01-01
Fate, 81 WhasS
{Detreit Free Prcss.

No hlst9rtaa OF the war will over write OF
companies and bsttalton5 and the S'rang tate
which followed COMPANY OF infantry ass.c aei
to regiment from Michigan need not be looked
Tor Ia history, although IL would make an In.
terestlng page In any work.
The company was mustered into service 100
strong, aud batter lot OF men never took the
oath or allegiance to Uncie Sam. Before leav-
Ing the SGStc three OF the men died. On the trio
from Detroit to Washington two were killed b ],
the cars In marching along the streets or the
capital another fell dead. In going toto csmD
another was accidentally shot through tue
heart. Inside OF three weeks there were seven
deaths Id TINS company, and not even c ise OF
sickness In any other The regiment was In
camp near Washington for four weeks and two
more meD died out OIL this company, a third WAS
drowned, and the fourth was shot dead in q
street erawL This made eleven men, and not
another company had lost a man.
In the trst skirmlsh the company lost four
men, while no other company had ma
wounded. Its list lieutenant and I'd sergeant
were two OF the killed. Promotions had hardly
been made when the CON pany was def allied for
outpost duty. and guerrillas killed three or It's
men at one voiiey. The LIST lieutenant and 30
sergeant were two OF the three. This made Is
men, and only one other company had lost
Man. promotions were az alu made, and the
regiment became engaged IN battle. Othe-
companies had men wounded but JniS one b 81
nye killed. The list lieutenelG and 81 sergeant
were among the number. THIS made the nun.
Der %. Not man had fallen Sick but to die.
Not a MAJ. had been hit except 10 90 down
by this tine the lii la tx OF the CON oiny hid
OF come cein , talk and men were not ashamed
10 oeIfeVe That there was something strange
ana superstittouS about It. It was hard work
10 md men VINO would take promotion aud
three or tie rank aad die were 80 unnamed
mat they deserted. Ont OF loss OF u inca In
the regiment up TO this time &c had been from
one company.
curious change now occurred. In ITS next
light the company lost four men. The lsy and
5th corporais were tive OF these. Within week
tht 81 same two posi- ions were vacant again.
In SIX mouths five LIST and five 5th corporals
were killed. while the LIST lieutenant and 3D. SER
geant were not scratched. Nor did IL lose any
Ger.
When this company had been reduced to 81
men no other company ha1 less than 30. Ten
recruits Joined IL 0n Monday and all were
killed In light On Thursday. Ia q couple OF
weeks seven moro came, but IN less than
month death had reduced the number to CT
again. In fight In which this fafed company
was purposely held In reserve. the o.her nine
compaL les had IA men wounded and one killed
rebel shell fell into the midst or the reserve
ana Killed four men from the one COMPANY In
Two years II lost l6S men, while no other com
pany had lost 2o. In its three years at the
front II never had q man wounded. Whoever
was hit was killed on the spot. 1t lost more
commissioned and nom commissioned Officers
than any six companies combined. In one
year the man who went out as 4th corporal waS
Isl eutelant and dead and almost forgotten.
For three months the company stood a. 10 men:
70 recruits were added, and In three months
more 20 men had either died OF sickness. been
captured or buried on the battl e-field. When
II was decided to join this company With ano-
ther not one OF the nine would consent ana
when 1t had been reduced to 80 men &c was
transferred to headquarters to do guard AID
provost duty.