Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-09-11
WAR HISTORY FOR G. A. R.
Sketches of Union Corps in the
Rebellion Being Written.
Battle Memories Revived-Old Stories
of the Great Conflicts OF the Strife
Retold-Peature OF the Next En-
campment-Novel Literary and
Historic Tt eat for Veterans.

Colonel John II. McElroy vice grand
commander of the Grand Army of the Re-
public, IL writing brief sketches of the
several army corps that constituted the
United States army in the War of the Re-
bellion. These give the more prominent
features In the history of the corps and
are intended for use during the annual en-
campmcnt next month. Sketches of tho
first ard and second corps have appeared,
says the Washington correspondent of the
Philadelphia Ledger.
While these sketches will revive mem
cries of battle and bvouack among the
old veterans they will serve to thrill those
born since the close of the great con-
fict over the bravery of those who were
participants in the War of the Rebellion.
Thc first corps was organized in 1852, with
fprty-siN regiments of infantry and
Twelve batteries of artillery. General Nc
bowel was its commander, with Rufus
King George A. Mccall and William Il.
Franklin as division commanders. Nc
lowell was superseded by General Joseph
booker who had as division commanders
General Meade, General Ricketts, and Cen
raj Hatch. At South Mountain Hooker
'd his corps mp the steep mounta in side
N a fierce assault which turned the enc
nvs flank and compelled his retirement
Three days later Hooker led his corps at
Nntctam, whore its losses were heavy, be-
Ing one in three of those who went into
the fight
Hooker was succeeded by Gen. John Rey-
nolds, who was killed in the first days
FIGHT at Gettysburg. He was succeeded
by Doubleday, who led his command back
from its advanced position to Cemetery
Ridge. Gen. John Newton was assigned
TO the command of tho corps after Gettys-
ha6 CHI hat
1t was consolidated into two divisions. and
OF the Fifth corps. One of these was com
manded by Gen. James Wadsworth father
of the New York congressman, and the
other by Gen. John C. Robinson General
Wadsworth was killed in the Wilderness.
SECOND ARMY CORPS.
The Second corps organized in
March, 1859. under Gen. e. V. sumner. one
Of the best cavalry officers Of tho old army.
Generals Richardson and Sedgwick wera
Its divisions commanders. At the battle
of Fair Oaks. Summer changed defeat
into victory. The corps made a splendid
record in the fighting on the peninsula. At
Antietam ii went into action with 1900
men and came cut with loss of 513S.
Among those killed was General Richard
son. The famous Irish Brigade was Of the
Second corps. At Fredericksburg General
Hancock became identified with the Second
Corpss service Colonel McElroy says:
Much has been said in history of the
desperate daring of General Picketts
charge at Gettysburg. but it was SUR
passed by that of the Second corps at
Fredericksburg, where it pushed for
ward in the face of the most withcrin.,
fire in a hopeless assault and was only
stopped within 100 yards of the impreg-
nabe position. Caldwel's brigade. the
leading one OF Hancock's division, lost
A. per cent of its members. killed and
wounded. At characteristics the prin-
cipal part of the Second corpss fighting
fell upon its skirmish line. commanded
by Colonel Nelson A. Miles, who distin-
guished himself by repulsinG n vastly
outnumhering force of the enemy. Cen
oral Hancock succeeded to the com
mand Of the corps after ChanCellors-
Vile, and impaired TO 1t very much Of
his own fiery earnestness and indomita-
bic staying qualities, These were bril-
lanty manifested at the battle of
gettysburg, where II sustained the
hrunt of Ficketts charge, which was
tho last desperate effort Of Lee to win
the fight. 1t took into the battle $50
muskets and lost 7e6 killed, 1886 wound
cd, GSS missing. making a total of 1850
or over 43 per cent"
A GALLANT CHARGE.
One Of the remarkable Incidents In the
hat;le was the gallant charge of the First
Minnesota At a crisis of the battle OF
the second day, General Hancock found II
necessary to gain five minutes time to re-
arrange his lines. 1t was worth while sac
rifcng regiment or more to gain this
The First Minnesota happened to be al
hand, and Hancock ordered 1t to charge
the head of an advancing Confederate col.
umn The regiment instantly responded
threw itself in the midst OF the Confeder-
ates, confusing them with the suddenness
End audacity of its attack. 1t took Inc
the charge 265 men every man responding
to the command and lost pa or Sc per cent
killed or wounded, not a man missing; but
II came back with the Colors of the leading
Confederate regiment. This deed was in
comparably finer than the charge of tho
Light Brigade at Balaklava or any mill
tary feat recorded in European history
md tho loss of the First Minnesota was
more than double the percentage of the
famous Light Brigade.
The Second corps fought magnihcentlS
through the Wilderness and at the siege
NJ Petersburg, during which it suffered
nearly one-third OF the entire loss of tn,
Army of the Potomac. Its most brllIan
law during the campaign was at SpottsNl
vania where it made a splendid assault
broke Lees lines, and captured whole
division. II had never lost a color or +
gun although it had captured fortyfoul
rolors ard large number of guns from
| tho enemy.
From first to last, over $50 no mon serve,
. IN the Second corps. 1t was continually
! losing In it's incessant and bloody fighting
Of the 100 regiments of the Union Arm,
which had the heaviest losses in battle
| e belonged to the Second corps.