Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-12-07

GREETED.
The duty of crossing the river in
boats and carrying the enemys first
line for the purpose of covering the
laying of the pontoon bridges. was
assigned to our brigade. The order
was received at u o'clock the night
of the 2Sth. the brigade being camped
at the time about one and one half
miles back from the river. The plan
for crossing, as shown by the order
received, was for the two flank regi-
ments 18th Wisconsin and oath Michi-
gan) to cross over in the first boats.
The other regiments of the brigade
end and 7th Wisconsin and 10Th Ind
lana) were to cover them while cross
ing, and to follow as soon as the boats
could return. The crossing was to be
made at o'clock A. NJ. of the goth
Immediately upon the receipt of the
order we moved near the river
but from some cause, unknown to me
the boats were not ready to launch
until daylight, when the enemy open
ed brisk fire upon us from their rifle
pits. This was warmly returned by
our skirmishers. Our artillery got
into position upon an elevation in our
rear and shelled the enemy till o'clock
A. NJ. when we were ordered to cross
over. The men threw off knapsacks
and haversacks and the brigade moved
down to the bank in double quick the
9th. Wisconsin and oath Michigan
leading. The enemy opened CALLING
fire and we were ordered to Jump into
the boats without regard to companies
or regiments and cross over; which
was done amid a storm of balls from
the enemy's rifle pits, and storm Of
enthusiasm from the '.0ld Brigade. +"
Boats were seized from the wagons on
the bank, thrown into the river and
filled with men as soon as they touch
ed the water. As near as could see,
every boat had representatives from
every regiment in the brigade. From
the time OF receiving the order to cross
over till the enemy's line was carried,
prisoners taken and our line of battle
formed with every man in his place in
his own regiment, was about twenty
minutes.
The pontoon bridges were then
thrown across and the other brigades
of the division crossed over We en-
trenched and held our position till
Saturday morning, May 2nd., (artill-
cry DUES being fought daily over our
heads between our batteries on the hill
on this side of the river and the enemy's
on the opposite heights) when we were
ordered to reeross the river for the
purpose of reinforcing General Hook
er on the extreme right.
This retiring across the river by day
| light was rather a hazardous move
ment, as the ememy's guns not only
entiladed the entire plain on the south
side of the river. but also swept the
north side to the distance Of mile
back.
Our brigade was the last 10 retire,
and five companies of the Seventh were
left to cover and support the pickets
in retiring. The companies left were
A. First Lieutenant Sloat, command
ing; D, Captain Bean; c, Captain New
man; T. Captain Young: G, Lieuten-
ant Miller, commanding. Company
f, Captain Pond, was out on picket
After the division had crossed over
and passed out of range, the pickets
retired and these companies moved
over in good order. deliberately aud
handsomely.
We reached the vicinity Of United
States ford late Saturday evening and
arrived on the battle field OF the Rapi
dan, near Charlottesville. about ;
o'clock on Sunday morning.
We weres Immediately deployed {
few yards to the right Of the point
where the battle was at that time rag
ling. This position We held until We'd