The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-08-01


! bered about ESQ men when it took its place
in the line. The assault was hopeless one.
but the men dashed forward calamity, to
be cut down by pitiless fire as they strug-
| gled on over stumps and fallen trees,
/ through gulies choked with brush and
! cane, and up their steep banks, climbing
| hand over hand. The Second brigade
/ reached n crest within fifty PAGES of bas-
! toned work in front and lay there until
dark. The colors of the Fifty-ffth were
riddled by Confederate bullets, but they
footed defantly within pistol shot of the
Confederates until the command was or
dered back to its own works.
Another assault was made on the 22d of
May. The column was preceded by volun-
teer storming parties, who planted flags
upon the enemy's entertainments. But the
main army could not face the whitening
fire poured upon it by the we'll shell
tered men in gray. The Fifty-ffth again
pressed forward close to the enemy's
breastworks and held its position until re-
called to its own works on the morning
following. In these two assaults the regi-
ment lost II killed outright, mortally
wounded and 50 wounded and recovered.
After Vicksburg the Fifty-ffth was en-
River, Miss, and at Mission Ridge, Tenn.
Its next desperate fight was at Little Kene
saw, Ga, June q, 1864. The regiment
had meanwhile re-enlisted, and on the 10Th
of June coined its old division and was as
signed TO the First brigade, under Gen
Giles A Smith 1t was 275 men strong
On the morning of the eth the brigade
was detailed to lead an assault upon the
7 - Ia bu
men were ordered to unsling all baggage
and parade in light marching order. The
place of assault was in view of their
bivouac, aud every man realized the desper
ate work before him. Messages were
hastily written, and keepsakes and valua-
bles were handed over to Doncombatants
to send north in case of disaster. The
regimental commander, Capt. J. NJ.
Augustine, confded to a brother officer
that he felt presentiment of death,
banded him a memento and message,
and then in tones as clear as a bell and as
calm and hopeful rs the prayer of saint,
called out Forward.
The field to be charged over was exposed
to the Confederate batteries, and was so
difficult to traverse. owing TO swamp aud
thick underbrush, as to exhaust the men
tous, rock strewn hill, where the Confeder
ate infantry lay behind stone shelter The
line was soon broken up into a mob OF
struggling men. clambering over powders
and fallen trees and wrestling with abatis
of sharpened branches planted TO impede
their progress. Capt Augustine pressed
forward, aud with handful of his follow
ers was almost under the enemy's parapet
when the brigade bugler sounded the re-
call. The gallant leader mistOok the mean
ing and again said. Forward, meup AS
be stood erect, animated with the spirit Of
the scene, bullet in the left breast sent
him to earth like a bolt
The survivors dropped back down the |
mountain side, and when the losses were
reckoned mp the killed and mortsily |
wounded were IS, the wounded % !
Throughout the Atlanta campaign the !
regiment took part in the heaviest fight |
ing. and its total losses reached 80 killed |
and So wounded, fully one half Of its fight |
ing strength In all its campaigns is /
losses amounted 70 IS killed and wounded. /
of which Isl were deaths Its frst fright /
was its last and after that episode IL dared |
everything that came IN It's way, and that |
was a good deal GEORGE l. kILMER