The National tribune., 1886-04-08
GOLD HARBOR.
The Gallant Part Taken In the Fight by Gen.
Brakes Brigade.

BEakeS BTfgaue.
To THE EDITOR: The morning of the 1st of
June 1864 opened beautifully. Having halted
so late the previous night, the command was
allowed to rest. About 10 o'clock they were
again in motion and in the direction Of Cold
Harbor. At noon they halted for an hour near
an ancient stone church. A tavern standing op-
posite was called Old Church Tavern. The
Sixth Corps was now passing on the same road
toward the scene of conflict. The mud of the
last night had entirely disappeared and in its
place fine, impa pable dust, several inches
deep, ground up by thousands of wheels and
the tramping of tens of thousands of horses
and armed men. This dust as the column
moved rolled over it, completely enveloping
it cloud. Everything was of one color.
The men were almost suffocated before the next
halt was reached, and could hardly be recOg-
nized. Added to this there had been a cavalry
fight in the region n few days before, and the
ctlluvia of dead animals tainted the air. After
n brief halt the column moved on, and about 3
o'clock passed the headquarters of the Fifth
Corps, and soon after those of the Sixth. About
a mile farther the road bent to the right, and
along it was skirt of woods. Here the brigade
was formed the 112th n Y. on the right and
connecting with the left of the Sixth Corps.
Col Brakes Brigade constituted the first line
of the division Col. Bartons the second.
Scarcely were they formed in the edge of the
woods when the silence was broken by the
artillery opening on both sides Gen. Devens
now rode up to Col. Drake and said to him {:
Colonel put your brigade in Immediately"
The order was obeyed with alacrity, and they
moved steadily forward to the awful conflict
The mounted officers left their horses and
marched foot with the men. The ground
here was very uneven with ridges and rayines.
The woods in some places were unbroken to the
enemy's works At other points there were
wide open spaces. In front of the 112th, on
rNnc n,,t fl,n
field 600 yards in width to be crossed. before
reaching the enemy's advance-line of skir-
mishers This was successfully accomplished
with few casualties, and the enemy driven back
to their rife -pitsr The regiment was now under
cover of the woods. After some ineffective
firing, Col. Drake gave the order to cease fir
ing and fix bayonets. The order was instantly
obeyed. and at the command forward the line
Of battle pressed on steadily.
The works were very irregular, and the men
were exposed to CALLING fire. The brave COM
mander was at all points where his presence
was needed, and the line was well kept, though
the loss was severe. At length the works were
reached and gallantly carried. Mounting the
parapet among the first, brave Col. Drake
waved his sword, huTrahed. and fairly danced
with exultation as he saw the rebels running
back. "There, boys" said he; see those devils
run! Did l not tell you you would drive them
out?"
This line of works was carried, but with con-
siderable loss, and the ranks were now quite
broken; but the men, flushed with victory,
We're pressing on toward the second line. Un-
fortunately, the regiment on the left of the
Sixth Corps was a raw regiment, enlisted but
six weeks before, and this was their first fight.
The distance to the enemyS works in their
front was less by hundred rods than in front
of brakes Brigade, but they quailed before the
fire and could not be pushed up. This left
Col. brakes command in very unfortunate
position. The enemy, holding their rifle pits
on our flank. were able to pour in very severe
enflading fire. while we were also exposed to
the front fire of the advanced line of works. At
this point the carnage was terrible, the 112th
n. Y, from its position, suffering most severely,
its casualties nearly equaling the sum of those
ia the rest of the entire brigade. Here Col.
Drake, while attempting to rectify the line,
was shot through the body and borne from the
field.
After the Intellectual attempt to carry the
second line of works the brigade fell back be-
hind the earthworks already carried, which
they held until drawn off. The wounded were
conveyed to a secure position, about mile in
the rear of the scene of conflict.
The next day they took position little to
the right of the scene of the previous days con-
fict a position held until drawn off to re-
embark for the James River. Forty men Of the
regiment were killed upon the field. The total
casualties in the brigade were 112th n. Y,
1853; 169th N. Y, 81; 9th Me-, 62; 18th Ind,
H. Col. McConihe, of the 169th n Y, was
killed, and Lieut.-COl. Alden was severely
wounded. The Eighteenth Corps moved back
to the Army of the James by the same route
over which it had been transported 10 weeks
betore.-E. BARBER, Captain, Co. G, l12th n. Y,
Salamanca, n Y.