Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1896-06-04

the right, and some of them scaled the parapet
upon its sea face. The regiment in our rear,
which nal not removed the caps from the
rifles, hestatlng on the edge of the ditch,
poured heavy yolley into their friends in
front.
"From this point" continues the adiutant,
"my narrative becomes q personal one. Cross
ing the ditch near the southeast angle, found
myself. ON reaching the crest of the parapet,
III a corner " mere the bomDpIoo f, rising soiIo
six feet higher than the parapet. Afforded pro-
lection in front from the enemy's fire, and
cro"ueu upon Inc par.pet, Iuo siups OF Lhu
bombproof and in the corner were 100 or 30
men from all the regiments OF both brgades,
among whom the few could make out as be-
longing to my regiment were scattered. 1t was
in vain that tried in that tumultuous crowd
to get them together. Captain Brown Of Com
pany stood upon the bombproof trying to
tncite his men to follow him. Captain Rollins
OF Company F. in the center: Lieutenant
knowlton, Company d, OF the left flank and
Lieutenant Bennett Of Company b had all
crossed ut the same point. and no two men
standing together belonged to the Same com
pany, IL by chance to the same regiment.
"Colonel Putnam, having been delayed by
having his horse shot under hlIa, now entered
the fort and ordered an attempt to charge and
silence gun that thanked the SEQ face wall and
swept the top and sides OF our bombproof with
grape Lieutenant Bennett and myself then
Joined Captain Brown upon the top of the
bombproof, and a few men moved to follow us.
The position of tho gun could be plainly seen
in the gathering darkness by the burning
fragments of cartridges before its muzzle but
across the path yawned wide. deep black pit
opening into tho bombproof in rear of a sea-
ward embrasure, from out of which came oc-
casional shots. To the left there was a chance
apparently to get around. but the road was
blocked by a crowd Of men, sitting. lying or
-. ~ 1
tempted to force our way through them IA shell
burst in our midst Bennett was killed and
Brown mortally wounded and carried off by
some of his men. One Of my legs, with a
smart shock, went from under me and refused
to do duty. The men fell back and crawled
over the edge of the bombproof again, among
the increasing throng of wounded, to see how
badly was hurt. and was relieved to find it
more hruise than a wound, and from which
the numbness soon passed away.
"Colonel Putnam went upon the bomb
PROOF and endeavored to get up charge, but
in vain. after which. drawing his men into a
crowded corner of the fort, he endeavored to
hold out until re-enforcements should arrive.
The enemy made one charge upon u.s. but We're
driven back by our fire. Shortly afterward a
shot in the head stretched our gallant colonel
among the slain. Just as he announced to Cap
tain Rollins his intention to hold out to the last
Major Butler of the Sixty seventh Ohio. Cap.
tain Rollins and myself were now the only of
fcers left, and the small force of men was
woefully thinned, while the dead and dying
were piled over the small space held. So
long time had elapsed since re-enforcements
had been sent for that Maj Butler, the senior
officer present began to fear that the aide dis
patched to summon them had fallen in cross
ing the belt of fire outside the ditch. Expect
ing every moment sortie by the enemy, to
which our small force could offer but feeble
resistance he at last gave the order to retreat.
Taking parting shots over the bombproof, we
stealthily skedaddled back to our lines
The Seventh stood under fire just an
hour and a half Its loss was 2lS killed
and wounded. Out of IS officers present
IL Were killed, also ~ men. The loss in
officers was the highest suffered by any
Union regiment in a single battle. Few
regiments ever suffered a greater loss in
men killed in a single battle. 1t was a sad