Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-03-10


the cheers Of the advancing hosts. the
goans and prayers of the dying, con-
tinuing all day. About 1 o'clock in
the afternoon, after what had seemed
an age of suspense we were ordered
forward, passing through a narrow
strip of woods which had separated us
from the scene of conflict, We found
on each side of the road a vast field
hospital, the wounded and dying sol
diers were laid upon the ground, sid,
By side in long rows while the surgeons
were busily engaged in rendering such
hasty assistance and performing such
operations as they could, the sickeuing
smell of warm blood and the groans of
the wounded and dying were enough
to shake the stoutest heart, and | am
free to say that while passing this
scene | had serious but silent conflict
with my knees to keep them from be
traying me, but my greatest fear was,
that some body would think I was
scared
After proceeding some little distance
toward the right of our lines we enter
ed small clearing OF resh teen
acres on the farther sile of which was
a swale and beyond the swale rise of
ground heavily timbered. 4 portion
of the sixth corps were engaged in this
timber but were hard pressed by the
rebels
Our brigade, composed Of three reg
iments, of fresh troops, was hastily
formed in line of battle, near to the
edge of the marsh while riderless
horses wild with the frenzy of fear,
and thousands of our own soldiers
almost equally as wild in their fight
were pressing upon US, this with the
hot fire from the rebels which we could
not return without more injury to our
own troops than to the enemy. for a
moment made our lines waver and fall
back, but were re formed as soon as
our own troops had passed through.
1t was getting dusk nov, and the Teb
els instead Of crossing the swamp had
sent other troops around it and opened
fire from the timber on our left, our
line was swung around facing the enc
my and ordered t. charge. All warer-
ing had vanished now and with a
hearty cheer we advanced into the
woods, on the double-quick. in the
face of a murdcrous fire which flashed
in our faces from the darkness, driving
the rebels for half 4 mile before us,
when We were met by other forces and
and III turn charged and driven back
into the field and beyond it. On the
retreat we were badly demoralized and
broken up, the whiz and shirr Of the
Ieaden missiles filled the air with un-
pleasant music, and death overlook
many a poor boy that night. [ re-
member two young boys of my own
company who were running not far to
the right of myself, as we were
clambering over large fallen tree
bullet struck the nearest one with
dull thud and he fell over the tree,
dead. Soon after as we were passing
the brow of the knoll the other was
wounded in the leg, he called to me
for Gods sake help me, don't want
to be taken prisoner !" / went to
him and putting one arm over my
shoulder we were soon beyond the brow
Of the hill. in safety. It was about
nine o'clock in the evening, dark and
cold, the firing ceased, the tired sol
diers threw themselves upon the
ground scattered through the forest,
and awaited the coming Of dawn. In
the morning we found our regiment
back behind the entertainments, and
our brigade went forward again TO the
battlefield to bury the dead and form
the picket line, heavy cannonading
was kept up by the rebels from fort
in the distance but most Of the shells
passed our heads inficting but little
loss. For a full week we remained on
the picket line, within speaking dis
lance Of the rebel pickets while the
main body Of our army were strength
ening their position with forts and
earth works. Thus ended the battle
We had gained a strong position On
Matches run five miles IN advance to-
ward the south side railroad, being
nearer to the goal by that distance,
and at the same time compelling the
rebel army to spread out and weaken
their defensez. From this same point
proceeding again on the flank, Grant
moved the army later in the Spring