Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-06-03

uncd not only 20 lead that fighting
race In the contest for glory upon Amcri.
can bnttlenelds, but to stand number
one among DO regiments sent out by the
Empire State when the toll II honor should
BE- made mp from an actual count Of the
Killed In battle Needless TO say that n hot
place would be reserved for the alien band
with the challenging battle cry, "Remom.
Der fontenoyW
The Sixty.ninth was soon followed by
the Sixty third md the Eighty eighth New
York, the three constituting the Irish
brigade with MenghCf as hrigadicr gen
eral. After a few tflfllng encounters
southern heads aud Irish sticks came ~ n
dead issue at Malvern iill. on the Pinln
sula, July l. isGa The brigade was In
Rlchardson's division u Summers Second
corps On Malvern Heights MeaRhcr waa
aent In az support 10 Butterdeld's division
Of the FIFTH corps, which was getting tho
worst Of Il In hRht with some Of l.eca
crack brigadcs under Gems. Armlssad,
Gnrneit and Wright
The Sixty ninth led the column and re-.
licyed the Ninth Massachusetts, volunteers.
that had been cut TO pieces and was passing
a sickcning procession of IT, dead and man.
glcd to the rear The lrishmcn took their
stand coolly and fired with such rapidity
that their guns became ovcrheated aud
they soon had 10 retire. The Eighty-eighth
repeated the inaneuvcg aud the Sixty.ninth
again moved 10 tAe front aud was NJ last
relieved for want of ammunition. Two
color bearers had fallen. and 1. men killed
outright. 10 wounded aud - miuing-iS
IN nll-was the dole oNactcd for rallying
around the sunbunt on Malvern Heights
Ia one brief twilight hour.
The regiment had doat other work on the
Peninsula and NJ the Close Of the campaign
IN August numbered 800 rank and filc II
went 10 the field Of Antletam with tight
ing strength of 8i5. Still Ia Richardson's
division II was In the reserve line until thu
battle waxei warm. and then led the bri.
pnde IN the attack on the famous Sunkcn
Road, near bunker church. Moaghcr was
at the head Of the Sixty.ninth with its
commander. Lieut. Col. James Kelley. The
men advanced bravcly under u sharp mr..
tillcry nrc too crcs; overlooking the Sunkch
Road. and at that point the formation q
the ground broke up the division line, lcav-
ing the Irish brigade alone on the hill. II
couldn't advance with one flank exposed,
Il wouldn't retreat, 10 IL planted IL line
with doggod air aud began 10 fight. The
sunkcn Road and n sloping hillside beyond
it were alive with Confsderaies. who found
targets to their liking Ia thostubborn Irish.
men pcrttsi On the brow Of the adjacent
knoll without asquarc inch Of shelter. The
color bearer OF the Sixty.nlnth advanced
several PAGES and waved the green nag do
hantly at the enemy, an net which drew a
irc that completely riddlcd the banner.
One after another the men who held the
rtan were shot. until eight were down.
/ Capt James Niece then seized the fla;
and A. ho raised Il the stan was cut In two
| BY ball.
The contest was 90 desperate that mus.
kcts became foul anil ammunition gave
out, but the gallant fellows held on, using
tho weapons Of the dead, Of whom there
| were plenty, until relieved by a fresh bri'
| Fudc, and there on few square rods Of
earth the banner regiment OF the brigade
mud Of the state Of New York scored a re.
ord Of II killed and i25 wounded. That
means 100 victims among Si7 comhatants,
and every veteran knows how deadly the
Ere must be where the proportion Of killed
/ to the wounded Il greater than one 10 two.
Among the officers the mortality was even
higher. Five were killed and four wound.