The National tribune., 1902-01-02
A FIGHTING REGIMENT.
From Fair Oaks to Appomattox With the
66th N. Y

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: ] enlisted
IN Go. g, 9th y. y. Militia, April 10, 1861
for three months; later in Co. *, G6th n.
\. for three years. Our first commander S
name was I'IncKmey; Gen. trench was oul
first brigade commander
| Our first battle was Fair Oaks. Next
came the seven DAYS battles, ending with
Malvern Hill. The 66th was engaged at
the Peach Orchard; our whole division
was engaged here, and again the evening
| of the same day at Guiney's Station. We
We're next engaged at White Oak Swamp.
There we covered the retreat of our whole
army TO Malvern Hill. Our division was
on the left of the Second Corps. The 66th
| y. Y. withstoOd repeated charges and suf-
| fered heavy loss.
Six weeks later we went on transports
| to Georgetown, ID. G.
Our next battle was Antietam, Sept. II.
was detailed to Pcttit's Battery. Gen.
Richardson, commander of our division,
was killed while sighting a gun. | saw
him fall. The batterys loss was heavy.
We were next engaged at Fredericls-
burg, Dec. Il, 1862. The 66th was in
Hancock's Division. All the officers of
the Goth were killed or wounded. At the
lclose Of the fight a First Sergeant com
imanded the regiment. Licut.-COl. Bull
and Maj. W"hle were killed, Adj't Ham
nell was wounded.
Our next battle was Chancellorsville
| The 6Gth was in Hancock's Division. Our
division was stationed near the Chancel-
Tor House, HOOker's headquarters. The
loss OF the GGth was light, as there was
but little hShting on our part of the line.
We next met the rebs at Gettysburg.
The 66th was in Crooks Brigade of Han
cocks CorDs.
Gen. Crook fell in the first days fight
lIeut.-COl. Hammell commanded our regi-
ment. Our First Sergeant was in command
OF Co. * from the beginning to the close of
this battle. We were stationed near Lit
tie Round Top.
At Mine Run we again met the John
MES. Gen. Warren commanded the Second
Corps. Fighting was not severe. We fell
back
| re-cnlistcd rs Il veteran remaining in
Co. x, GGth y. y: went home on veteran
furlOugh; returned 70 the army Mt Brandy
Station May !, 1861. Hancock's Corps
crossed into the Wilderness. Lieut. Col.
llammcll commanded the Goth: Capt. Da-
Wis commanded Go. X: Gen. Brooks our
brigade, Gen. Barlow our division. Our
loss here was heavy.
We marched To SpottSylvania. May -
the Second Corps charged the euemy's
works, capturing Johnson's Division. The
Giith was in the center of BrOUlle'S Bri-
gade and ours was the advance division.
we were relieved about ] p. m. by the
Fifth Corps and then We marched to
Bowling Green. Here we fought Long
streets Corps and drove them back to
Cold Harbor.
At Gold Harbor the GGrh. Brooks Bri-
gadc. Barlows Division. was OH the right
OF the division. Gen. Brooke was wound
ed | SAW him carried from the field.
We crossed James River and marched
on Petersburg. June II, 1864, Cant. Davis
was wounded in 4 charge: we drove the
rchs back some distance.
The GGth, under Col. Hammcll. was on
the skirmish line. About p. m. the rebs
got through gan in our skirmish line.
and coming up behind us forced Us to sur
render. ] was taken to Gen BeaUregard,
who asked me if there was any commits
stoned officers among the prisoners.
'ave him .hc name of Col. Hammcll.
He inquired what corps we belonged to.
Hanmcll told him Hancock's Corps. He
then asked Col Hammell if the Fifth
Corps was mp. The Colonel would not
tell.
We went TO Andcrsonville: I boarded
with the Southern Confcderacy for six
months. ! was exchanged, and got back
tn Co. X in time to he at App0mattoX.-
GEoRGE RowERs, Co. X, Goth \. Y, Sun
River, Mont.