The National tribune., 1883-11-08
the field in the wide detour through swamps
and dense forest necessary to elude the grasp
of the auarny

the field in the wide detour through swamps
and dense forest necessary to elude the grasp
of the enemy.
A VICTORY DEARLY BOUGHT.
Early ia the engagement Captain Duff of
company ID, was desperately wounded, a musket
ball passing through his lungs. Soon after,
Lieutenant Cummiskey, of the same company
"a gallant soldier and accomplished gentle
man-was instantly killed, the top of his head
being taken off by shell. The company came
out of the engagement in charge of fifth
sergeant, who continued In command OF
it throughout the subsequent battles of the
Peninsular campaign, and the regiment lost,
in that brief contest, almost two thirds Of the
number engaged
In mentioning the One Hundred and Fifth
regiment, in his official report of the battle,
General jameson says: 10 other evidence Of
the valor displayed by this heroic little band
is necessary than a list of their killed and
wounded Every eighth man of their number
has since been buried on the field where they
fought. and of the eighteen commissioned
officers thirteen were killed or wounded. A
parallel to this does not exist in the two days
battle, nor will it exist during the war"
Also, Headley, in his history of the Great
Rebellion, says: " The One Hundred and Fifth
regiment, of Jamcson's brigade, lost in this
severe fight eleven officers and 240 men. Ma
poleon's veterans never stood frmer under a
devastating fire."
The Sixty-third Pennsylvania, Colonel Alex
ander Hays regiment, were to our left, and
grandly held their ground with their accus-
toned valor, and of their subsequent history
every soldier OF that regiment has abundant
reason to be proud. Likewise, the gallant
| Michigan boys of the Second, Third and Fifth
regiments, still farther TO the left did admira-
| bly,, holding their position as firmly as a rock
until approaching darkness enabled them to
"A, fa4,- hzH fhp
coniiic of the day ere we reached the new
! line of defense, mile or more to the rear of
our former position. Here, in line of battle,
we bivouaeked for the night, on the damp
ground, without blankets or shelter, awaiting
the dawn of day for the decisive combat.
But, alasl how sad were our reflections as
the weary hours wore so slowly away. Scores
of our noblest comrades were resting in deaths
| cold slumber, while mingled with the dead and
| dying were many helpless sufferers, left behind
! in the darkness and gloom On the saDguinary
! field, without friendly voice to cheer or hand
to offer relief At length morning dawned
| bright and beautiful, and ushered in that FIRST
/ day of June. Twas the Sabbath, too, but not
] a day Of rest, for with the early dawn began a
vigorous, aggressive movement along ouI
whole line. The jersey brigade, formerly
commanded by General Kearney, marched in
| close column, by DIVISION with the steadiness
| and precision of veterans grand review,
their superb order inspiring confidence, and
presenting, on that beautiful morning, war
picture magnifcently grand. Deploying col
umn in the open field to our front, they charged
| the enemy in gallant style, and, though under
| cover of the woods at the farther side of the
| field the Confederates fought stubbornly, they
were steadily driven back along the whole
! line, and the ground lost on the previous day
/ we finally regained. And so the battle Of
Fair Oaks, which began in disaster, closed in
victory. nj. CRAVEN,
WAsECA, MINI. Co. d, 105th Pa. Vols.