Mower County transcript., 1892-08-10

Alter the Wilderness campaign the
scene changed. and the PennsyivaIiians
escaped from the dull round of wholesale
carnage to take part in some Of the bril-
liant exploits of that last Year Of the war
The upper Potomac. Maryland, the north
and even the capital Were at the mercy ot
Jubal \. Early's raiders, who render.
voused in the Shenandoah valley. Ge:,y's
division, Including the Sixty first, saile!
up the Potomac to enter the valley. and in
passing Washington the vessels were sig
nailed 70 land. The president was AT the
wharf, and a sigh Of relief went up when
the new arrivals We're seen to be veteran
troops of the Army of the Potomac. Early.
with 10000 troops, was actually at the
gates Of Washington, and even the most
hopeful believed that the Union capital
was doomed. A brigade was hurried oil
to the Notifications north of the city and
piloted by secret routes to the very front.
opposite Fort Stevens, where the Contci-
crates had seized two wooded hills over
looking the fort.
So intense was the feeling that Lincoln
and his cabinet went out to the fort TO
watch the issue. A straying shot wounded
an officer by the side Of the president, and
he was begged to think of the nation IL he
did not regard his personal self, and retire,
which he did. The fire that provoked this
episode was drawn by the sudden spring
ing up from Its cover of the Sixth corps
brigade, Bidwell's, which contained the
remnant of the Sixty-first. The charge
drove the Confederate advance from its
vantage ground and Early gave up the at
tack. The adjVtant of the Sixty-f1rst was
killed and Maj. J. w. Crosby wounded.
Maj. Crosby was the hero of Marye's
Heights, who didn't give up because of
one knockdown. He was also one Of the
Wilderness victims, and was lying in
hospital at Washington when Early's raid
ers appeared. His Wilderness wound was
unhealed, and the surgeons refused to
return him to duty, but in answer to his
appeal granted a furlough which enabled
him to join his men at Fort Stevens. He
paid for his daring by the loss of an arm.
and, was discharged to make way for a
sound leader at the front. During the
winter following, the regiment was re-
cruited up to nine companies, and Crosby
was asked to head it rs lietenant colonel.
He took the regiment into its last fight, the
charge upon and over Lees intrenchment
at Petersburg, April g. 1865, and fell dead
there, the last epauleted hero of the noble
nineteen.
After Fort Stevens the regiment went to
the Shenandoah valley with Sheridan, and
was in the thick of it at Charlestown,
Winchester and Cedar Creek. Five OFF,
GERS were killed in Sheridan's battles, and
the end of 1t all was this roll of dead lead
ers: Colonels-Oliver H. Rippey, killed at
Fair Oaks; George G. Spear, at Marye's
Heights; j. w. Crosby, at Petersburg.
Staff-Adjt. G. w. Wilson, killed at
Spottsylvania, Captains-Louis Reden.
back, Company B, mortally wounded at
Charlestown, Va; w. o. II. Robinson,
Company G, killed at the Wilderness; ID.
J. Taylor, Company D, and J. Barrett,
Company G, killed at Cedar Creek; Joseph
Gerard, Company G, killed at Fair Oaks.
Lieutenants-Compan A. John Pollock,
at Fair Oaks; II. NJ. Brown, at the Wilder
ness; J. N. Price, at Charlestown, Va.
Company B: William Scott, at Fair Oaks;
William Laughlin, at Fort Stevens, and
r. G. Koerner, ut the Wilderness. Conn
pany G; g. II. Rhodes, at Fair Oaks, and
J. w. Prophater, at Charlestown. Com
pany r: G. +. Harper, at Marye's Heights.
Company II. Alfred Moylan, at Fair Oaks.
After Capts. Barrett and Taylor were
killed at Cedar Creek there wasn't an
officer above the rank Of lieutenant in the
regiment. GEORGE L. kILMER