Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-06-26

port at once to regimental headquar-
ters." Orderly Coffin came to me and
says: Hank, take charge of the detail"
I reported at once with nv detail to
Lieut.. Col. Dunn, and asked what was
to be done. He informed me that we
were to go about five miles to the front,
near Pennington, and build corduroy
road; remarking that he thought there
would be no danger. But saw from
the way he acted that he did not con-
slider it would be very healthy local
ity. I reported first, and the last de-
tail to report was from Company 3D."
with Capt. H. G.. Davis in command.
After receiving his instructions, he
stepped to the right and gave the COM
mand, Attention! Count off by twos
Hank, you act IS orderly! Right face!
Forward march," And away we went.
After reaching Seven-Mile Greek we
filed out into q field, stacked arms, and
commenced work. Some were chop
ping down saplings, some carrying
them into the slough, and I was boss.
ing the job, as to laying them down,
while Captain Davis was out with the
boys who were chopping down trees.
Being Hoosiers, we were at home at
that kind of work, and everything was
going along nicely, when all at once
we heard firing in our front. Colonel
Innis, of the Michigan Engineers, had
attacked the Johnnies and brought on
an engagement. He may have been a
good engineer, but I think poor sol
der, or lie would have known better
than to stir up whole brigade of the
enemy. Back came one of his troop
ers with orders for us to REINFORCE him.
Captain Davis Immediately deployed
us as skirmishers, and moved to his as
sistance. Think of it! About seventy
OF us to hold in check whole regiment
(the Ninth Louisiana) which was on
our front.
1 shall never forget what Captain
Davis said to us when we were in thu
hottest of the fight, "Stand up to them
Twenty-ninth, and let them know yo1
are HOLSTERS"
| Nobly did every one of them obey
that command until, fanked on thu
right and left and confronted by over
whelming numbers, we were forced tt
fall back. Ed Oliver, widows son,
fell, pierced with a mimic ball, biz
bunk-mate, Sam Gilmore, carrying
him from the field. John Huntley ane
Joseph Mcdonald were each wounded
in the thigh, all of whom belonged to
Company G. James DuComb, Of
Company K, was wounded, taken pris-
oner, and died in the hospital at Cor.
inth on June 10, 1862. Harvey Lehr
of Company X, caught spent ball il
the shoulder, but never stopped to sec
who did it. He was good soldier, and
is now Auditor of Marshall County,
Indiana. The enemy's loss was un.
known, but was very heavy. Falling
back in good order, we formed our line
along the fence, but the Johnnies,
being evidently satisfied with what
they had received at our hands, failed
to follow us up.
In falling back, we all made good
time, but one of my boys deserves spe-
cial mention. Obeying the injunction
of the Scriptures, he "cast aside his
burden" consisting of gun, cartridge
box, etc., and never stopped until he
reached camp. Meeting Colonel Dunn,
who asked him where the boys were,
he replied "they were all killed but
me, and I came to tell you that I am
minus all but shirt and pants. "
Colonel Dunn at once started out with
the regiment, as it was supposed, to
bury us, but met us on our way to camp,
singing "John Browns Body. "-Amer-
ica7a Tribune.