The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-05-05

ONLY A HANDFUL LED BY \ SERGE Ant.
trenches GO 20 100 rods from the enemy's
hreastworks and under nu almost constant
fire. The losses in killed i'm the trenches
during the last week in Juno included
Captains William IL. Shoppee and William
X. Currier and Licutcuauts Calvin Boston
and Hiram 9. Gage.
On July so the regiment led General
Pottor's stormiug column in the charge at
the mine crater, an affair planned for
repetition Of the surprise Cf June ] :, but
which resulted in "a disastrous failure.
The Burnside mine under a Confederate
fort exploded its mammoth powder maga-
zine long after daylight, and potter's divi-
sion charged through binding clouds of
smoke and dust upon the Confederate
works adjoining the crater. Colonel Dan
iel White, with the Thirty-first, Id the
advancc'cOlumn of Griflin's brigade. BY
the time Whites followers reached the
works alongside Of the deep crater the en-
cmy had recovered from his surprise and
poured an inces-ant rain of bullets and
grape upon the gallant boys Of Maine. A
division of Cnlured troops also charged
over the same ground aud broke into
panic, blocking the advance Of Colonel
Whites line. The Confpderates seized
this moment Of confusion among the Tn
ion troops to engage in a counter charge
with the bare bayOnet. The Maine boys
turned upon the assnilnnts and fought
with them hand to hand The col1rs OF
tho Thirty-frst disappeared from the flag
staff during the melee, but were rescued
from capture. Colonel White was wound
ed and captured, and every regimental
commander in Grilln's brigadc-six in all
was cut down For the first time in its
history the regiment lost heavily in miss
ing, The uHacCounted for numbered 81,
the killed 23 and the wounded L. The
roll Of honor was increased by the death
of Captains Almon II. Gsshee and byron
H.Gilmore, lieuteuants George W. .Thoiap-
son, John G. Whitteu and William b. Al
lyn. Lieutenant William h. Pierce was
mortally wounded and died in the hands
OF the enemy. OF the original "a commits
stoned officers, "a had fallen in battle, sew
eral had been disabled or captured and
but four remained on duty. These were
Captains James Dean and Joseph 5. Har-
low, Lieuteuants &. A. Bolton and +. A.
Sprague. Lieutenant Bolton was serving
as an aid to the general, and Dean com
manded the Thirty first. In their next
battle, the last Of the summer series fought
at Poplar Springs Church, Captain Har-
low, Lieutenant Sprague and IL men were
tain Dean, were made prisoners Of war.
Only handful Of men remained TO escort
the colors of the field after they had been
saved from capture 10y Sergeant kimba
Of Company II. Kimball was the ranking
officer and assumed command rs acting
colonel. The Thirty first had been IN the
field live months and was virtually wiped
out. Eight captains and two acting cap
tains had been killed Its total loss in
officers killed and murtally wounded had
reach ,d 10, a circumstance unparalleled
in the war. The SiNty-tirst Pennsylvania
lost an equal number, hut its battles began
in june, 1852, and ended In April, 1868
Stitl the lhirty-iirst did not abandon
the fight About 200 fresh men were trans
ferret to its ranks, and it remained in the
field TO the end The grand total OF killed
and wounded was '2S, Cf killed and NOR
tally wounded, ls3. and uf deaths from all
causes, 800. An "elev,uti hour regiment
indeed GEORGE J.. kGINFR