The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-10-12

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loss, numerically, in killed and mortally
wounded. Different classifcations bring
different regiments to the front, as follows:
The First Maine Heavy artillery bore
the heaviest total in killed Of any regi-
ment of any arm in the service. that Is,
423; also the heaviest loss, numerically, of
any regiment in any one battle. namely, 2l0.
Among infantry organizations the Fifth
New York (Duryee's Zouaves) sustained
the highest numerical loss, killed and
mortally wounded, in single battle.
namely, III, at Second Bull Run. This was
% per cent. of the number engaged.
The First Minnesota lost the highest per
centage both in killed and mortaily
wounded and in aggregate Of casualties in
a single battle. At Gettysburg 2s per
cent. were killed, and the killed and
wounded together amounted to 81 per cent
The First Texas (Confederate) infantry
lost at Antietam 1913 per cent. killed and
wounded, aud in killed about 20 per cent.
The Second Wisconsin stands No. in
percentages of loss III killed and mortally
wounded during whole term Of service,
namely, 1917 per cent.
The Twentyfonrth Michigan suffered
the highest loss, numerically, in killed and
wounded of any Union regiment at the
battle of Gettysburg
Orr's regiment of Rifles (South Carolina
Confcderate) sustained "A loss, numerical
ly, in killed and MORALLY wounded during
it's whole term of service equaled by no
other infantry regiment in the war, name.
ly, 1884,
The killed and mortally wounded in the
II IA Ib ito hnla
term aggregated POS, a loss not equaed by
any other Union infantry regiment.
The Fifth was organized in the fall Of
1861 from the average of volunteers of that
time, after men had taken second
thought about the war, had seen the
wounded from Bull Run and knew by
many signs that somebody would have to
be hurt before the war should end The
first colonel, l.. +. Cross, was a New
Hampshire man, who had seen active life
in the west rs an editor, as Il regular cav
airy officer and as lieutenant colonel in the
Mexican army. He resigned his Mexican
commission to engage in the civil war.
The regiment went to the peninsula in
Gen Towards brigade, Richardson's di-
vision of Summers Second corps, and had
it's baptism of fire at Fair Oaks. With the
rest of the division it crossed the flooded
Chickahominy river, over Grapevine
bridge, on the first day OF the battle, to
help retrieve the disaster to the Fourth
corps. The Fifth had constructed Grape
vine bridge, by the way, the only one that
withstood the flood and which proved the
salvation of the army. The regiment acted
as advance guard and led the way through
the swampy thicket close up to the enemy
Night coming on, the cOntending armies
bivouacked within earshot Of each other.
On the morning of June II spirited Con
tolerate attack was made on Richardson,
but he returned the assault and Towards
brigade advanced to within thirty yards Of
its opponents Howard was wounded and
his men suffered heavily. Col. Cross took
the Fifth to the front to relieve the other
regiments of the brigade The Confeder-
ates were well posted and opened fire on
the newcomers only to receive answer in
kind
Col. Cross was hit, and ia killed and
wounded were %he casualties of the regi-
ment in about twenty minutes work.
The seven days battles at the close of
June cost the Fifth l6 more in killed, the
wounded swelling the loss to about 100
It's next pitched battle was at Antetam
where, on the 18th of September, it. fought
along Bloody Lane" and in the adjoin-
ing cornfeld. The Irish brigade of the
same division, Richardson's, opened the
ball on that immediate ground by bril-
liant charge that carried it to crest
overlooking the lane where the Confeder-
ates were sheltered. The Irish regiments
lost heavily, and Col Cross led the Fifth
in, IN, ,.nli. ~ IL.
command by companies through the shat
tered ranks of the front line and immedi
ately forming for further advance.
This was one of the hottest actions of the
war The Snnken Road, or Bloody Lane,
was between the contending forces, and
behind that on the Confederate side was