The Portland daily press., 1892-02-08


commander and Nicholas Greusel their
colonel and brigade commander. Col.
Greusel was German-American, who had
served in Mexico and in the militia.
The first important engagement of the
Thirty-sixth was at Pea Ridge, March Z,
1862, where the Confederates, led by Gems.
Earl Van Dorm, Sterling Price and Ben
McCulloch, attempted to cut Sigel's di-
vision off from the Union army under
Curtis. The regiment reached the scene
of fighting just as stampede of cavalry
took place after rash and Intellectual
charge. The men showed their mettle by
standing firmly as the disordered squadrons
swept past to the rear, riding down the
artillery and it's infantry supports. When
the crisis had passed Col. GfGusel sent two
companies of the Thirty sixth to the front
to see what the enemy was doing, and they
advanced with such boldness as to stir up
a large force that lay in ambush awaiting
Sigel's advance. The skirmishers opened
fire and retired slowly. Their report of the
ambush led to vigorous Smelling by Col.
Greusel's batteries that caused terrible
slaughter in the Confederate ranks, and,
what was of vastly more import, one of the
slsirmishers, Private Peter Pelican, shot
down Ben McCulloch, who was at the
front directing his troops. The death of
McCulloch and the terrible punishment
suffered from the Union batteries dis
heartened his followers and virtually put
an end to the fighting. The Thirty-sixth
lost 10 killed and % wounded.
The next battle of the regiment was at
Perryville, Ky, Oct. s, 1852. The Thirty
sixth was still under Greusel rs brigadier,
in the division led by Gen. Phil Sheridan.
Sheridan held position on the flank of
the advance Union corps, McCook's, con-
Meeting that with the remaining Union
corps, which were not all up. The Con-
federates were hurled upon McCook in
overpowering numbers, and after his de-
struction an attempt was made to crush
Sheridan. AS the Confederates advanced,
the Thirty sixth changed front under fire
to meet them. What then took place was
thus briefly described by Capt. Silas Miller,
who commanded the regiment "We had
hardly executed a change of front when,
hearing yell, we saw the banners of the
Confederates advancing over the fields.
We could see their bright bayonets glitter
in Just as beautiful line of battle as was
ever formed. We lay perfectly still and
did not display ourselves till they came
within range of canister. We then received
the order to fire, and from a thousand
pieces leaped forth the death dealing bull
lets which finally caused them to reel and
fall back in utter confusion" The Thirty
sixth lost % by death and so wounded, a
number unequaled by any other regiment
in Sherdan's division.
AT Stones River, a few weeks after Per
ryville, McCook again had the post of dan
ger, and Sheridan division was the con-
Meeting link between him and the reserves.
In fierce assault sprung at daylight Nc.
Cook was completely destroyed, and his
conquerors marched down the line against
Sheridan, heavy masses converging and
striking from two directions at once. The
Thirty-sixth was in Sheridan's advance
brigade under Gen. Joshua W. Sill, Col.
Greusel leading his own regiment. The
Confederates were allowed to come within
fifty PAGES and then the ball opened. Sc
dense was the enemy's mass, however, that
the bullets made little impression. The
troops on the right of the Thirty sixth gave
way and, driven to desperation, Col. Greu-
sci ordered the Thirty-sixth to charge. 1t
was handful against an army, but the
foremost Confederates yielded ground and
their line halted.