The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-08-18

my entire front and charged with a brig
ade deployed in line, and one doubled
on the centre on each flank The
5th Michigan, 37th and 101st New York
and 18th Maine met the brunt of the
attack
The Corps commanders report says:
"The state of affairs when Birney' S
thing but promising. Their opportune
arrival first checked and then drove
back the advancing foe, who, yelling,
were in hot pursuit of the two exhaust
ed and retiring divisions of Meade and
Gibbon; saved all their guns, which had
been entirely abandoned by their sup
ports; saved Doubleday's division from
being cut off and taken in reverse; the
left Of Smiths corps from being turned,
and probably the whole left wing OF the
army from disaster. But in doing this
valuable and important service, the di-
vision lost upward of 1000 as brave men
as ever pulled trigger OF the conduct
of this fine division l cannot speak too
highly. The whole country may justly
Among the stragglers and skulkers the
"Kearney badge" was never seen, and the
new regiments seemed to vie with their
veteran brothers in arms in GOODNESS,
courage and efficiency" In the plan of
battle the duty of opening the road to
Richmond was assigned to the left wing
of the army. The divisions Of Meade
and Gibbon were assembled, with orders
to charge into the woods and roll the
enemy's lines out of the way of a general
advance The attempt was CALAMITY
made, but failed 1t fell to Birney's"
I Red patcha division.which included the
Seventeenth) to cover their retreat and
receive the return charge, made under
the delusion that the whole left wing
could be driven into the river. Inc
result has been narrated.
The veterans of Birney's command
wore red diamond on their caps, famll-
iarly known as the " Kearney patch" 1t
was the original and at this time the
only, distinctive army badge. Revered
as memento of their first commander,
the knightly Kearney, who introduced
and made it a potent factor In promotln1g
the esprit de corps" for which the
division was distinguished, it grew
dearer with every succeeding engage
ment, where it marked the battle line
of the living, and the caps OF the DEAD,
until, next their battle flags, the Kearney
patch was nearest these soldiers hearts
The traditions of the division did not
permit u new regiment TO wear the paage
until it proved worthy of having the name
of a battle in which it fought emblaz-
oned on IFS colors. The honor was then
conferred in orders. It's absence marked
an annrentice at war and a favorite
subject for veterans chaff. And so the
Seventeenth went to its baptism, carry
ing, with all other incentives to soldier
" conduct, ali unfagging determination
to win the badge.
Bullet and Shell were again chasing
each other overhead. thanks to the high
ground from which the enemy overshot,
and the men were in high felicitation
I over their achievement, as well as that
the front was now the place Of safety,
when connection down the line drew
attention and an officer, noted for cool
ness, was seen coming like a thoroughbred,
with the fire of agitation blazing in his
eyes. Colonel" he shouted, "a shell
has burst right in my company and
blown six men all to hell (this was be-
fore the late revision) what shall 90
with them?n The cool reply"if they've
gone to hell you've nothing more to d 9
with them" was quick sedatlve, ana an
the captain walked back musing on tne
philosophy of panics. The enemy soon soon
found the range, and as dropping snoIs
began to make havoc, General berry
ordered the brigade forward. 1t required
heroic effort to maintain soldlerly pear
ING while moving under fire straight Ior
the works where two divisions met a
bloody reprlse, but the plane OF deadly
missiles lifted higher and hlgner WIN
the advance, which was concealed by the
smoke of the enemy's pieces, ana Wne
the line of safety was reached halt W