Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-12-22

|
! envy attacked Casey's division, which
was in position about a quarter-mile
beyond the Nine-Mile road, when the;
battle opened. Our brigade (Aber!
crombie's) of COUGHS division was in
bivouac along that road, from the Will
liamsburg road, to and across the
York river railroad, and the right Of
/ the 23d Pennsylvania rested in the
fallen timber to the left of the rail-
road. AS soon as the action began a
shell from the enemy landed in a
clearing in front Of the camp, and the
men at once got into line. General
Reyes came riding up the road,
passed the 23d Pennsylvania, and Or
dered it to support Casey's right.
Moving across the Nine-Mile road and
through some low bushes, we came
upon the enemy, who were driving in,
Naglee's brigade of Casey's division
With cheers we charged, striking
the rebels in flank, driving them
through clearing and woods, where
we continued the fight until recalled
The 23ds Pennsylvania advanced
through the woods and drove the en-
envy into the clear fields. where
masses of the enemy (Pettigrews,
brigade) were moving to cross the
railroad. We opened upon them. and
became so holly engaged that we
were driven back slowly to the Nine
Mile road. The enemy could be seen
passing down the road and the rail-
road. We maintained this position
with no support on either flank I'M
der a most severe fire. Colonel NeiII
then ordered the men to retire to
their camp on the Nine-Mile road.
1t appears now that Couch, in or
der to gain time, so he could form
the regiments above named to the
right and rear of Fair Oaks station, at,
the Adams farm house, left the 23dj
Pennsylvania in the angle of the
woods to hold the enemy. Reaching
the camp, we faced to the rear to
receive the attack of the enemy. who
had passed around the fallen timber.
and while thus engaged a regiment
moved up the Nine-Mile road and re-
celved a volley from the enemy. They
broke, and coming back on the 23d
Pennsylvania threw our line into con-
fusion, but the men quickly rallied
and held the position fully half an
hour until ordered out The resist
ance of the regiment in it's old camp,
in conjunction with the 9th New
York on its left, was evidenced in the
number Of the enemy killed
A new line having been formed in
its rear, the regiment was ordered
back and placed in the center of the
line, where it remained until ordered
back to the Williamsburg road. At
this time none of our troops were on
the right of the Williamsburg road
or beyond the Nine-Mile road, and our
fire to the right of the Nine-Mile road
caused the enemy considerable dam
age. At this juncture troops from
HeintZelman's division arrived, and.
again crossing the Nine-Mile road, we
drove the enemy's advance back to
his main line
It had taken the enemy all the
afternoon to drive our line back 1000
yards. We were relieved at dusk, and
bivouacked at the breastworks down
the Williamsburg road. The troops
we were engaged with were the 9th
Georgia, 9Th South Carolina, 2Sth
Georgia and the Palmetto sharpshoot-
ers of Anderson's brigade, under Col.
Micah Jenkins. The last line that
held the enemy in check was Of troops
composed of COUGHS and Casey's divf-
sions and a portion of Kearny's divi-
sion.
Our regiment fired about 60
/ rounds Of ammunition, lost 10 killed
and wounded none captured), and
brought in So prisoners. Company c.
was on picket, and took part with
Birney's brigade farther down the
railroad, while Company B was left,
in camp and supported MiIler's bat
terry at the clearing in front of the
/ camp. When the enemy appeared,
they did good execution, as they had
gathered arms from the wounded, and
each man had several muskets load
ed. Company Joined the regiment
! as it formed in the new line to the
/ left Of the camp.
The next day our regiment was
sent with squadron of the 8th Penn
sylvania cavalry to the extreme left
/ to look after the approaches on that
| flank, and lost few wounded. We
rejoined our brigade the next day, and
/ learned that the enemy had been
swept from the field and had gone
| to their intrenchments at Richmond.
Experiment With New Shell.
The army ic eyrerinenfinp with q