The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-06-18

SERGEANT OLIVER AT FORT sTEDMAN.
and Second corps considered themselves
the elect 81 the service, yet they didn't
stand on ceremony when the Ninth corps
could be useful in helping them out Of a
tight place Hancock performed gallant
work in the Wilderness ON the Brock road
and Plank road. but not with his Second
corps alone. Leasure's brigade was de
tachcd to rc-cnforcc the Second corps just
after that terrible collision and draw fight
i'm the thicket, where the cOmbatants
roamcd blindly and clinched for the death
tusslc like beasts in the jungle. Both
lines rested appalled, and baflled Leasure
was ordered by Hancock to leap his men
over the works and clear the enemy from
his front. He charged across the entire
space lengthwisc of the lines, driving in
Confederate dctachments and penetrating
to a line of intrenchmcnts filled with men.
The ground was strcwn with dead and the
dry forest in flames.
The daring reconnaissance proved that
the enemy was out of the fight, Temporal
rily at least, and Hancock proceeded to adj
/ just his lines and call up supports. \ lit
tie later the fire spread to the Union breast
works, and the troops in portion Of them
rctrcated before the flames. The Confed-
crates promptly seized the abandoned lines
and were rs promptly driven out at the
/ point of the bayOnct by Leasure's men,
/ led by the ROundheads At Spottsylvania
I "A week later the regiment lost 1876 men in
[ the charges ON the cncmy's works. On
| this field the Roundheads and Highlandcrs
/ parted company, but not without a touch
/ ing display of the chivalric ties which
bound them as comrades. The time Of the
Highlandcrs expired. and they were of duty
visiting the bivouacs Of the Pcnnsylva-
mans. One day Colonel Leasurc found the
line on the left Of the ROundhcads short of
defenders, and the Highlandcrs voluu-
tccred to fill the gap The enemy charged
/ the position and was rcpulscd, but not I'M
| til some gallant Scots had fallen.
I In every subsequent battle of the cam
paign until Petersburg was invested the
Roundheads lost men killed and wounded
At Cold Harbor, June =, and in the Peters
burg assaults, June Il, the loss was heavy
/ Lieutenant Colonel VI. NJ. Dawson, the
commander, was killed June II.
| In the Crater" fight, July &c. over 20
were sacrificed, and the commander, Ma
jOr Thomas j. Hamilton, was mortally
wounded. Three battles on the bloody and
contentious left" during the fall in
creased the roll of honor of killed and
brings the record down to the last thrilling
episode of the Ninth corps. Before day
light ON the morning Of March 25 1865,
GOrdon's Georgians preached the Union
lines at Fort Stedman and advanced down
the breastworks occupied by the Round.
heads. The right companies rallied be,
hind an old brrastwOrk in the rear, and
the left at Fort Haskell. From these posi-.
tiOns they poured "A relentless fire into
the Confederatcs occupying their late
cantOnment. The commander, Lieuten
ant Colonel j. H. Pentecost, was killed
early in the engagement. His successor,
Major Maxwell, with a small party OF
Roundheads and comrades of the brigade
charged down the line, recapturing Fort
Stedman, including prisoners and battle
flags. The ROundhCads secured five flags
The color bearer, Charles Oliver, captured
one by knocking down with his fist tn,
Confederate who carried it.
The regiment suffered SS7 wounds al
told, Of which PAS were mortal. Among
the latter were 10 officers, including, be
sides the commanders mentioned, cap
tains and lieutenants. The bivouacs O
these dead CrOmwellians lie i'm six differ
ent states, but their requiems are suns
only in the peaceful valley Of the Shenan
CO. where the kith and kin perpetuate the
iron faith and loyal blood of Colonel Lea
'urc's Roundheads.
Battles and losses of the regiment:
Legare's Point, s. c.. 8 Spottsylvania, Va. A
James Island, :. C.. - North Anna, Va.
Manassas, Va........G0 Bethesda Ch'rch, Va.
Chintilly, Na........s Cold Harbor, Va. 4