The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-10-06
REUNION OF a7th MICH INFY.
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CONTINUED FROM PAGE TWO.
plans. Here undoubtedly was the first
blunder which caused the disastrous re-.
suit of the effort. On the morning of
the Both of July the explosion took
place Eight thousand pounds of pow
der were fired. For an instant was
heard a rolling subterIahean thunder
like some mighty earthquake heaving
the crust of the globe, then shot from
the surface 900 feet toward heaven, a
hurricane of guns, cannon, caissons,
men and earth mixed in one indistin-
guishable writhing mass. For mo-
ment it was poised at its magnificent
altitude, then with dull thud fell
again to earth, hlling the air with dust,
smoke and debris. No sooner had the
explosion taken place than simultan-
eously and at the signal of the report
all along the union line opened every
available piece of artillery and soon re-
piled to by the rebel cannoneers there
occurred the grandest artillery battle of
the war. Four hundred cannon blazing
out their hailstorm of iron filled the air
with bursting bombs and whistling
shells. For an instant where the burst
ing shells fell short of their mark
stream of flames stretching from hori-
zon to horizon hung between
the conflicting lines like long
threads of aurora rising above
northern clouds. AS soon as the smoke
had partially cleared after the concus.
sion the first division charged to the
lips of the crater. There they paused
and mixed with the second division on
coming all became confusion, when
sliding down into the hole 30 feet deep
they stumbled over guns and bodies,
cannon and huge blocks of clay as hard
and as firm barriers as massive rocks
During the confusion among the north
ern troops the confederates recovered
from their surprise and poured in
murderous fire upon the approaches to
the crater. The Sd division charging
supported the other divisions and to
the left of the crater straight for
the enemy's works charged the first
brigade led by the boys of the 9th
Michigan. At their head Colonel
Wright cheered his men and forward
and over their works they went and $50
feet beyond. But what one regiment
charging an army! Under the most
whitening fire with their colonel NOR
tally wounded they tried to hold their
position but unsupported they were
compelled to fall back to save their
shattered remnant. Then charged the
"Black Division" and under the murder
Gus fire from the rebel lines fought hand
to hand with the charging rebel squad
rons. But what was the use of fighting
when back in the camp sheltered from
rebel bullets, protected at ease, generals
quarreled at the sacrifice of their men,
At about noon Gen. Burnside was or.
dered to recall his troops from the
crater, and at great loss they succeed
ed in reaching the federal lines. In
this engagement 1000 federal soldiers
were lost and simply because of the
disagreement of the men in command.
l would like to speak of that brilliant
engagement. made brilliant by this
regiment, when the confederate fort
Mahon was captured, but time will not
charge of the regiment then. But we
must stop here and as at last we COM
plete the story and glance back over
their career, someone is heard to muir
mer in that song once sung at every
hearthstone, Brave Boys were They"
Today what remains on earth of that
heroic regiment has met in an annual
reunitingto shake the hand of comrades
anp1a not coan for ,,,onu xyaaro I;,,o