The National tribune., 1886-12-16
THE 18th MICH.
The Warm Place IL was in at ChancellorsvIIle.

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EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Charles f.
Troutman, 10th n. j., in his article of Nov.
Is, SAYS there was no effort made 10 succor Gen.
Sedgwick at Fredericksburg during the battle
of Charlottesville. lie may not have been
generally known, but on Saturday May ?, 1868,
the First Division, Fifth Corps, became isolated
from the rest of the Corps We-the 4th Mich
occupied the extreme left of the Corps on the
uneven ground near United States Ford. The
command did not seem to know what TO do
but finally concluded 10 move TO the support of
the Sixth Corps. Accordingly, hankers were
thrown out and the column put in motion to-
ward Fredericksburg. The writer of this was
in charge of Co. B fankers. The 4th Mich led
the column.
We advanced half mile or more, when we
were aware of a. demonstration which proved
rebels were i'm front of u.s. rebels 20 the right of
us, and rebels nearly all around us About
face" was ordered, and we marched back 10 our
starting point, fully expecting fight immedi-
Rtely, but the enemy did not know of our isola-
tion. We were kept quiet but were faced TO
front and rear half dozen times, not knowing
from which the attack would be made. The
pressure seemed 10 be on our right and we
withdrew in safety TO the bluffy ground near the
ford.
This was near shutdown. We occupied high
ground, and at once constructed temporary
breastworks. The 4th Mich was at the extreme
left of the line. We considered ourselves i'm
pregnable, and do not think that any force of
the enemy could have disodged us. We felt
that we had soft thing" but Sunday morn
ing We were told that the woods were full of
the Eleventh Corps, making coffee, and they
could not be induced 10 return TO ranks. We
were ordered to take the place that they had
vacated the night before. IL was hot weather,
and the double-qnick from our position to the
open space near Charlottesville was made
under trying circumstances. We found great
deal of confusion and some sharp skirmishing.
The 4th Mich. was ordered 10 skirmish the
woods in our front, supported by the 9th Mass.
We went in at double-quick, aud soon struck
rebel log works. We drove the rebel Skin
mishers over their works and stirred up a
hornets nest. The Johnnies came swarming
over the logs after u.s. and our bugle sounded
retreat. We gave them a volley and then
run for our reserve. When the rebels came in
range, the 9th Mass opened fire on them, which
sent whirling back what was left of them.
1t was a terrible volley at short range
There were a good many rebel sharpshooters
in the trees, and they were shot as fast as we
came 10 them. One fellow, who was To-
Gated in a tree some so feet from the ground,
was shot, and come tumbling TO tho ground
He had on an old plug hat, aud looked to be
nine feet long while coming to earth.
Just before leaving for Gettysburg the John
mics were on one side of the river and we on
the other, doing picket duty. long lank reb
sat on the bank dangling his bare feet in the
water. He was a good natural looking fellow
with mouth like the chat end Of a tanning
mill. A smart Aleck on our side thought to
chat him little, and called out TO him:
say, Johnnie Rob, why don't you wear
better clothes?"
We don't wear our best clothes when we
20 TO kill hogs"
The poor fellow was shot soon after, while
sitting there the bank OF the river. 1t was
a cowardly deed.-0. S. BARRETT, Co. h, 4th
Mich Adrian Mich