Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1896-11-06
GENERAL EMORY UPTON.


The enemy's works were of the most elaborate
character, being loopholed ut the top and &C.
oupied by the guns of McCartney's, Rhodes
and Cowan's batteries and Dolcs' brigade Of
Georgians."
Upton's exploit that day was one Of the
most daring of the war and won for him
a star. It was also the Irrst Of IL serie3 of
assaults upon iorIil, points for which
the Army Of the Potomac became famous
and which cost enormously in lives during
the campaign from the Rapidan to the
James. -,
Upton led 10 picked regiments in the as
sault on tho 10th. On the 18th helWas or
dered to take his own brigade of four regi
ments to the support of Hancock's line in
the "Bloody Angle" Says the historian:
The command was given to the Ninety-ff
Pennsylvania, Captain Macfarlain, to rise ur
and 60 toward double quick. Led by the gal-
liant Upton in person. we soon reached the So
Nent, an angle of the f1eldworks for the recov'
cry Of which the Confederatos were making
deadly effort. Immediately in our front an
abatis had been arranged. consisting Of limbs
and branches interviewer into each other.
forming footlocks of the most dangerous char
acter. Through this we forced our way, lash.
ed by furious storm of bullets, leaving many
prone upon tho ground and struggling in the
aQonies Of death, ensnared in this tangle. The
lines now dropped and withered. and many
fell as though kissed by the scorching lips of
hell. The works were soon reached.
Colonel Upton saw at once that this point
must be held at all hazards, for If the enemy
succeeded i'll getting possession Of the angle
they would be enabled to sweep back our lines
right and left, and the fruits Of the morning
victory would be lost. The order was given at
once to lie down and commence firing. The
left Of our regiment rested against the works,
r1s. ,I>k1r kSxnrpv
on an elevation in 'front.' and now began
struggle between the contending foes at close
quarters which for pertinacity and despera'
ton is seldom equaled in modern warfare.
The rain was falling in torrents The smoke
from our firing, together with that OF the enc
my's, hung like pail before US and would not
rise. Under cover Of this the enemy was push
ing large bodies of troops forward, determined
at all hazards to regain lost ground Could
we hold on until the balance Of our brigade
came to our assistance? That was the Ques-
ton to be decided then and there and in q very
few minutes Thanks to the heroic Upton and
the brave men who stood by him 1t was de-
oided in our favor. Regardless Of the heavy
volleys of the enemy, which were fearfully
thinning our ranks. we stuck to the position
and returned the fire with telling effect upon
the advancing foe and soon had the SAUSAGE
ton of seeing the other regiments of our bri-
gade coming to our support. Thus REINFORCED
we, redorbled our exertions.
After describing the long hours Of this
deadly struggle with the rain still falling,
the .heroism of individual officers and men,
the advance to the breastworks of Metcalf's
regular battery and its destruction by the
enemy's fire, Mr.. Galloway concludes:
The battle, which during the morning ragged
with more or less violence on the right and
left of this position, gradually slackened and
attention was concentrated upon the angle. 30
continuous and heavy was the fire that the
head logs Of the breastworks were cut and
torn until they resembled hickory brooms.
Several large oak trees just in the rear OF the
works were completely gnawed off by our con-
verging fire and about O'Clock fell among the
enemy with q loud crash. Toward dusk prep.
arations were made to relieve us. BY that
time we were nearly exhausted and had nred
800 to 400 rounds Of ammunition per man. Our
lips were incrusted with powder from "biting
cartridges" Our shoulders and hands were
coated with mud that had adhered to our
rifles. Troops to relieve US moved up and
opened fire as we fell back short distance to
rearrange our shattered ranks and get some
thing to eat, which we were sadly IN need OF.
When darkness came on, we dropped from ex'
hsustion. 's..e-~.
The Ninety fifth was engaged In 81 bet-
ties and lost 1872 killed on the field. The
mortality among field and staff officers In
this regiment had but one parallel tn the
wharf.-the case Of the Twentieth Massachu-
setts. Each lost on the field Of battle.
- tI GEORGE L. K1LMER.