Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1912-11-01
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18TH PA. AT SHEPARDsToWN
Eyewitness Tells Story of Crossing
of River by 4th Michigan aho
SiIenced Battery.

X A. Ludlow, Holden, Mo-, compil-~
ments Comrade McElroy on ms ac-
count of the crossing OF the llotn d
AT Shepardstown. / was an eye-"l'-
ness to that affair, writes A. v. core
of Hastings, Neb., In the Nationai
Tribune. On Sept. 10, 1862, lhlnh'
the 4th Mich was moving down a raF
vine on the north side Of the Potomac.
near Shepardstown Ford. A reOel
battery stationed on the south sloe OIL
the river near the ford opened nre on
us, A member of Co. was kilieu
and others were injured. rms Incl
dent did not cause the regiment 10
feel very friendly toward that battery
and as we approached the canal WEIGH
runs along the north bank OF the nv,
er at that point, we were matted anu
the Colonel (Childs) said: Boys are
you willing without orders) 10 lora
the river and try to silence that pat
tery?"
AS remember 1t, there was no dis
senting voice. AL lsaid, Yes" AS 1t
was now getting quite dark, we nlea'
down into, the canal. We forded inc
river, captured the battery, and dump
ed it over the bank. No one on our
side was killed, but two or three were
slightly wounded. It was SURPRISE
to the enemy. They had not thought"
of an attack of that kind after dark.
After accomplishing what we started
out to do, we formed for our return 10
the north side.
At this point the wagon raod, or 1oot,
path, ran at the foot of the bluff near
the river AS we were crossing this
path on our return we heard the Cat
ter of horses feet crossing up the rlV'
err We waited for their approach, and
to their dismay we took them in
There were seven of them-some
members OF Gen. Lees Richmond re-
porters We returned to our camp on
the north side of the river without fur.
Their interruption.
The next morning before we had
cooked our coffee or had our break
fast, we we're ordered to return to the
south bank Of the river. We took the
same position that we had occupied
the night before, gathered in few
prisoners, a wagonload of -four that
had been abandoned, and many other
things. 1 never shall forget two pris.
oners we captured, one long. lank
North Carolinian, the other a short
Irishman. The North Carolinian COM
menced to whine and beg, saying he
hadn't fired shot. But Pat says: Il
fired a shot and will do it again if I
get a chance" We had some respect
for the Irishman, but very little for
the man that whined. After we had
accomplished what we were ordered
to do, we again returned to our camp
on the north bank for the purpose of
getting our breakfast, after which we
were to prepare to march.
While we were doing this, the 118th
Pa, crossed the river and took the
same position that we had occupied
an hour before. They had been in
line but short time when a strong
force Of the enemy came out Of the
woods and attacked the 118th with
such vigor that they were compelled
to retreat. They were driven over
the bank into the river, some below
the dam and some above, The ford,
was just below the dam. Those that
went in above the dam had to swim
for their lives, and l understood at
the time that some were drowned.
l believe that this was the 118th's,
first experience, as they had just come
to the front. They were known as
the Corn Exchange Regiment, the
Pride of Philadelphia Seventy or Is
of their number were killed as this,
their first, experience. We were on
the north bank of the river, where we
could see every move that was made,
and yet we could not get to them in
time to render any assistance. Whose
fault was it that caused the slaughter
OF those noble Pennsylvania boys?
Neatly Rebuked.