Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1898-02-18

-1@ "recordof the Sixth
g. 6; 3: !:
service and losses
In killed on the field, both numerically
and by percentage, the history OF the Sec
ond Wisconsin is identical with that Of the
banner Georgia regiment. Both entered
the fold In 1861. The record of the Sixth
Georgia, as found In the only regimental
history preserved, closes in July, 1864,
with the regiment in he trenches at Pc
tersburg. The Second Wisconsin was mus
tered out in June, 1854. having closed its
fighting career at Spottsylvania. Its death
ROLL was the heaviest of any infantry regi'
ment in the Federal army according to
numbers enrolled. Placed In juxtaposi-
ton, the figures indicating the strength
and losses Of these two regiments are seon
TO be remarkably close:
Enrolled. Killed. cent Wounded.
Second Wisconsin. l,2o3 2Ss 1917 SIS
Sixth Georgia.. -. 1852 258 1915 6D
Ten different counties contributed tho
ten companies organized as the Sixth
Georgia regiment, in May, 1861. The regi-
ment was the first in Georgia, and posi-
bly, in the whole Confederacy, to enlist for
the war. Captain Alfred Fl. Colquitt was
elected colonel. Proceeding at once to
Richmond tho Sixth was sent to York
town in the column forming there to stay
the advance of the Federal forces up the
peninsula from Fortress Monroe. During
year in the Yorktown army the regiment
lost 1876 men by sickness No heavy fight
ing fell to its lot until the battle of Seven
Pines, ut tho close of May, 1869. The regi-
ment was in the brigade Of General Rains,
which charged upon the Federal flank
when it was surprised at Seven Pines.
Compared with other portions of the divi
sion engaged there under A. P. Hill the
loss in the brigade was slight. The Sixth
lost heavily in its right companies, its ad-
jutant was killed and Lieutenant Colonel
J. NJ. Newton wounded.
At the battle Of Gaines Mill, which the
Confederates call Cold Harbor. the Sixth
fought in brigade newly organized under
Colonel Colquitt, who had been made a
brigadier. 1t was attached to the division
Of ID. II. Hill and under him supported
Stonewall jackson in the flank attack
which he had brought bis valley army
down to spring upon Fitz John Porter's
line north of the Chickahominy. !
The following brief account of the ex.
pei4ence of the Sixth that day, written In
the field by IN officer, shows what a mat.
ter Of fact affair the going into battle be.
comes: "We marched rapidly and reached
the battlefield about o'clock in tho after
noon. Under hot fire from the batteries
on the adjacent hills we were thrown first
on one part Of the lines and then on the
other as the enemy seemed to be concen.
trating on ono or the other point. At
last we were ordered forward and soon
met the foe. With shout our boys oharg-
cd, and the enemy gave way until re-en.
forced by second line Of battle, when We
were halted and with our thinned ranks
fought most desperately for more than two
hours. Just at this time achievements
were sent to our relief, and, installing US
for the enemy, poured a desperate volley
into our rear. Even under tho conoen-
trated fire from friend and foe our shat
tered ranks stood unbroken. The re.en-
forcements swept by, driving the enemy
before them. Darkness coming on, we
slept on our arms. Our loss was exceed.
ingly heavy-more than 300 killed and
into action"
The struggle described took place on
the MCGEE House hill, first with the regu-
lar battalions under Sykes and then with
the volunteers of General J. J. Bartlett's
brigade. ::
During the "seven Days battles" Hills
division remained with Jackson's column
and didn't get into action until the after
noon of July l, when it marched up to
the Federal batteries ranged liter above
tier" at Malvern Hill. At the signal for
attack Hills division charged alone. See
ing that there were no troops supporting
his leading brigade under General Gar
land, Hill sent the Sixth Georgia across
the bullet swept field to the task. Fortu-
nately for the regiment Toombs' Georgia
brigade marched up from the flank and
drew the enemy's fire or the Sixth would
have been wiped out. 1t escaped with a
loss of so men.
The Sixth missed the bloody field of Sec
ond Bull Run, Hills division remaining
ut Richmond when Lee marched north
against Pope, but it made up for it in the
battles in Maryland. At Antietam it
fought in the cornield along the pike,
where it's Federal double, the Second Wis
.eonsin, was engaged. General ColQuitt's