Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1912-07-10
"Form Your Company"

solored troops from the Ninth Corps,
and we crossed to the south side OF
the Appomattox river, and formed
part of Hartranft's Division, Ninth
Corps. Our winter quarters were in
a depression little north of the Avery
House. division headquarters.
The night of March 24-25 was fog
gy and damp. The smoke of smoul-
dering campfires hung low; all night
long the usual crackle of the muskets
Of the pickets kept up, punctuated
with an occasional "hee-haw" Of the
army mules. We slept fully clothed
About 4:30 a. m. l was awakened by
an occasional cannon shot, more in
tense crackle of usketry-nearly
vol1ey fring-and the rebel yell.
thought best to get ready for trouble.
and, without waking my messmates.
I took the three canteens and went to
a low spot in the swale, where we had
a pork barrel sunk in the mud, and
filed the canteens with water. When
l returned to the hut a mounted Off
Ger or orderly lin the darkness
could not determine which, galloped
by from division headquarters and as
he passed shouted: Form your COM
pany, and doubIe-quick for Fort Sted-
man. Don't wait for anybody"
The company OBJ was quickly
formed. and we started for the fort
To the left rear of Fort Haskell we
ran into the rebel skirmishers We
then lay down and began firing. Our
line was nearly at right angle to our
main line of works and our left about
100 yards to the rear of Fort Haskell.
Mortar shells were dropping, by the
ton, at an angle from the left, and
shrapnel from the same general di.
rection; mimic balls and, later, CAMS
Ger. from our own cannon, which had
been captured at Fort Stedman and
turned on us. from the front
Fort Haskell was a rim of fire to
the north and west. In the darkness
We could not determine if or not the
foe was in possession of Fort Haskell,
and it was difficult to prevent the
men from firing in that direction. The
other companies of the regiment
formed on our right.
As daylight approached slight air
movement made a rift in the pail of
smoke over Fort Haskell, and We
could see Old Glory waving from it's
ramparts. 1t looked good. and, OF
how we did cheer! The starry flag
never before looked so good.
It is a matter of official record tina:
the 2OSth Pennsylvania was the first
regiment to charge the line of the en-.
envy. and cleared the rebels out Of our
line from Fort Haskell to Fort Stea.
man, recapturing Batteries II and ~
and capturing $50 prisoners. Scott
Fckert Go. b was the first man back
In Fort Stedman, and he was followed
by the right of our regiment
The order to charge" reached
Lieut.. Col. Heintzelman 15 to 20 min.
utes after we had regained full DOS.
session of the works. When the or.
der to charge was given 1 was on nv
knees, opening a box of ammunition.
Many of the men were out of car
tridges and were taking from car
CF10SS Jokes VI I1S WOuAluSu dnQ DEAD.
Your description of the close and
deadly fighting does not paint the
word-picture as red as conditions kSs-
tilted. 1t was the first place I saw
footprints Of men in puddles of hui
man blood. Blood was on my boots
when the fighting ended. 1t was hell!
When we gained full possession Of
kha works firing t>aasad