Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1892-03-26

ReCOuu on tne ilSu IOF Inc HiShcN' Ne's'' 80
killed among Union regiments. This rre'
ord was made by hard, persistent lighting,
and the ranks were filled ut the outset and
ai,erwarl recruited from the men OF the
iui7,l counties in the northwest OF the
State. The one thing in the regiments fa-
:, un the start was good leadership. Its
q, mel. John w. McLane, was soldier by
, ,ire who had commanded militia troops
l Many years, and had served as an ofli-
g.. II the Mexican war. lie drilled u
m', .ial spirit into his men.
The Eighty third was organized in the
fuh Of 1861 drilled in the camps on the
! .dunac in the winter Of lSJl-2 and re-
=, 'iv.qt it's ''baptsm of fire" in front OF
,tlca.nond in May. 1852. The first hard
f-s.:ring encountered was at Gaines Mill,
i; ra1, 1872 This was one of the bloodi-
e., isittles of the war OH the Confederate
.i..s.. and one of the most stubborn on the
| iion side. The Eighty third was placed
III 4 not corner, and their brigade general
sent word to its commander to hold it.
"ilc needn't have sent me amy such word, )"
r.nl,si Col Mcl.anc. II intend to hold it"
'rhe enemy todk it. finally, after walking
g. McI.ane's body; but the Pennsylva-
mans held on until the same brigadicr hnd
I, ulv,l them IL second time. The position
!, :. the extreme left Of the Union army.
,-rp it rested Oh the Chickahominy river
Tue Confederate attack WAS made at that
p,int by fresh corps led by l.ongstreet.
The Union center and right were ut the
/, are engaged in IL fierce battle with Gems.
y p. Hill and Stonewall Jnckson. and
i.,,igstreet's aim was TO push his troops
through the Union left and sweep down
al,,ng the river bank to secure the bridges
nlMl cut off all clnnceS OF retreat.
The Eighty third lay in the front line be-
r,:rl breastworks of logs hastily built for
tne occasion. Three times the charges of
the Confedcrates were repulsed by the conf
taued efforts of the infantry and artillery,
nIid then it was discovered OH the line OF the
Eighty third that the line had hecn cut in
two on its right, the enemy was advancing
from TINT direction and it's position was
cut Oh from the rest Of the army. This made
u crisis to try the mettle of officers and
men. They had fought from behind breast
works to reptIlSe the attacks OH the front,
bus in warriing of the new danger would
lie compelled to come out from cover. True,
there were woods ut hand to lend II partial
screen, hut these woods screened the Con-
fedeU,tcs as well, who advanced Indian
fashion, lenpinS from tree to tree and firing
ss they advanced. So long rs the Prnnsyl-
vaninns had had brcastwork shelter the eff
fecs Of the enclny's bullets had been but
slight, bur under the new order Of things
the ranks thnued out rapidly.
/ Col McInnc was killed instantly by a
mimic ball, and about the same time the
SECOND in command, Maj Naghrl, was
killed by n shell. Men fell on all sides and
the prostitute wounded tried valiantly to
nandle their muskets and keep mp the fight
90 the ground. In the end the Confelerates
rAve way and the Eighty-third, led by a
captain. had breathing spell for re forlna-
riDiL The enemy had passed along Oh their
right. squurely to the rear, and the COM
niantler of the regiment prepared to meet
aii onslaught from that direction. He faced
Lls men to the east and gained an open
field directly in rear of the brenstworks
previously occupied. The first line, that mt
ihr bre;tstworks, had faced west the sec
..n. IN the woods, north, and the third in
- open field. faced east In short time
-.ri.r regiments were seen advancing to-
ward the Eighty-thirl in the direction
wtirre Union troops had been ut the OPEN
;,,x af the fight. Thinking that they might
in. supports coming to their relief, the
t.lshty third allowed them to approach.
After parley the troops proved To be
s,rmies, and the ball again opened. After
some sharp firing the captain leading the
regiment ordered retreat to the. old