The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-09-16

of the engine at the rolling mills OF James
Hoover & Sons While holding this position
he was identified with a company called the
Wayne Artillerists as its First Lieutenant
Thus early bad he shown such aptitude for the
duties of a soldier that on the 11th of June,
1859, he was chosen Brigade Judge Advocate
with the rank of Major. At the opening of the
war the Wayne Artillerists elected Comrade
Bolton their Captain. his commission bearing
date April 49, 1861. The company became a
part of the ith Pa. as Co. A., on the muster
into service for three months.
After the return of the regiment it became
apparent that longer contract would be nee
esSary upon the part of the loyal men OF the
United States TO suppress the rebellion. Com
rade Bolton at once recruited Co. A of the 5lst
Pa, his commission bearing date Aug. 10, 1851.
During the Winter of 1862 the 51st, under
Gen Burnside, participated in the taking Of
Newberne and Roanoke Island, n. @. A short
time after a detachment was sent to South
Mills, where it fought the battle OF Camden.
on which occasion Capt. Bolton showed his
pluck and bravery, being pushed forward in
the advance till subjected to a terrible Ere
from a masked battery. After the Summer
opened the regiment was ordered with Burn
sides forces to the relief of Washington, when
| il was assigned to the Ninth Corps. and sup
ported Gen. Pope at the second battle of Bull
Run. The company under command of Capt.
| Bolton saved Graham's battery from capture.
| Many can recall the decentralization that ex-
listed after that battle. A report had gained
credence that Capt. Bolton intended to resign.
The following from private letter written his
| mother evidences his feeling:
am well and ready to march. was surprised
| to hear it thought had resigned. Never,
never neverl am in for the war, whether IL lasts
three years as long as live. If fall the name
of Bolton shall not be dishonored. No duty will
| be too hard for me. love my country better than
anything on earth. and II need be Will freely give
| my life for my flag.
Within a few weeks after writing the above
| his regiment, with the 51st N. Y, was assigned
| to take Antietam Bridge. The First Brigade
| had been thrice repulsed in the assault when
/ they made the advance under storm of bullets.
| Capt Bolton fell shot in the cheek by q mus
ket ball which struck the jawbOae, breaking it
near the socket carrying away several teeth
| and passing out at the other cheek. At first it
| was thought he was killed, but though desper-
ately wounded, under the care of his devoted
mother he was enabled to report for duty In
about three months. The casualties attendant
upon the severe service Of the 5lst gave to Capt.
Bolton the position of Major, his commission
bearing date Sept. IL, 1862.
In April, 1863, the regiment was ordered
West, passing through Cincinnati to Kentucky
aud thence down the Valley of the Mis-
sissippi TO operate against Vicksburg. After
the fall of Vicksburg il participated in the cam
paign against Jackson, Miss In the beginning
| D! August the regiment returned 10 hcnLucky
and Tennessee. During the siege Of Knoxville
Maj. Bolton led the night assault upon The
rihe-pits.
The term OF service Of the 5lst drawing u
E close IL was ordered home On a 30-day fIr
Tough to recruit veteran regiment In March
| 1864, il again rejOined the Ninth Corps A
Cold Harlor the death OF the Colonel placed
Mai Bolton At the head OF the regiment. th
hcine the sixth commission he had received
Before Petersburg the regiment. under com
| mand Of Col Bolton, was en;rustet hy zen
J Wilcox with the difficult duty OF bringing TIVE
TANKS Of the broken line into communication
with each other by night operation, which
he accomplished under a steady frs from tn,
enemy. The 5lst was put 10 this special serv
ice upon the assurance that it could be relic,
I | upon, and the ra-ri't justified this confidence
| To properly understand this feat it is neces
saIy TO state IT, one part of the picket-line o
| rile-pits was not straight, bat bent inward 20
, ward our line like a horseshoe. subjecting on
men to an en!iiading fire. How TO straightei
r it in the face ut the rebel storm of musketr,
, was the question. Col Bolton assured tn
4 officer in command it could be accomplished
q under cover Of darkness. This he did by dig
ging a trench at right angles with the line Q
advance in the middle of the horseshoe an
afterwards in q lateral direction to meet tn
S perpendicular line, all the time maintaining
o | constant fire TO conceal the noise of the pie
c our picket-line straight and our men undo
cover. Col. Bolton reported his success TO Ger
Wilcox. Other regiments had attempted tn
j service and failed.
. Shortly after this and the blowing up or tn
fort on the 81 of July, as Col. Balton stood wit
: his men there exploded overhead she'll loade
- | with bullets and other missiles, one of whic
struck him exactly at the point where he ha
: received the bullet wound at Antietarn, nearl
two years previous. The Antietam bulle
broke the iaw-h0ne, but the Petersburg ba
passed under and lodged behind it. Inc
dcBtally, his mishap piece of good forum
k for the troops under his command, half of whoI
would probably have been killed had they mad
the intended assault. for as soon as he fell an
IT the report made to headquarters the order wa
coutermanded
/ From that time until May 20. 1881, Col. Bo
q ton carried the bullet in his neck, causing hi
much pain and obliging him always to slice
upon his left side The bullet is now upon tt
p watch chain of Col. Bolton, and weighs q
grains. This wound of course relieved hi
d from duty, and he was brought home. In tW
months, however. he again at the head
his regiment. On the Sd of April, 1867 Go
~ Bolton, suspecting that Petersburg was bein
- evacuated by the enemy. sent q spy into 81
i city, whose return fully confirmed the COME
- ture, and soon after he marched his regimen
~ over the rebel works into the city.
,e At the close Of the war the 5lst was ordered