The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-05-30

ana patriots, nor does it claim for
them any superiority over the many
attachments of the army who were
called upon to suffer exactly as did
this brigade Of whose endurance we
write; but it serves to bring before
the reader war and its suffering, and
may serve to direct the thoughts of
our citizens at this memorial season
to the character Of the men whose
death we commemorate.
We are writing Of the opening of
Grants campaign in the Wilderness;
not to discuss strategy or tactics, but
to describe what that campaign meant
to US who commanded on the fight
ing line.
Shortly before the arrival of Cen
eral Grant, who had determined to at
tach the headquarters of the armies
Of the United States to the headquar-
ters Of the Army of the Potomac,
which was under the command of
Major Gen. George G. Meade, the First
brigade Of the Second division, Sec
ond corps, after the consolidation of
corps and divisions, was composed of
the Twentieth, Nineteenth and Fiji
teenth Massachusetts regiments, the
Fifty-ninth, Forty-second and Eighty
second New York regiments, the Nine.
teenth Maine, the Seventh Michigan
and the First company of the Massa-
chusetts sharpshooters.
It had formed the major part Of
General Sedgwick's old division, which
fought under General Sumner on the
peninsula. It became afterward Glib
bon's division, and since the battle of
Gettysburg, in 1868. had been webb's
division Of the Second corps.
By the war department the regi-
ments had been authorized to carry on
their colors the following battles: Bull
Run, Balls Bluff, Yorktown, West
Point, Fair Oaks, Peach Orchard. Say
age Station. White Oak Swamp, NAL
vern Hill. Bull Run, Antietam, Fred.
!ericksburg, Charlottesville, Gettys-
burg, Bristow Station, Mine Run and
Wilderness, and at the end Of this
campaign they were to be directed
to add spottsylvania, Petersburg.
Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom,
;Ream's Station and Boydton Road,
and how many other fields of battlel
Youare about to decorate the graves
Of the American volunteers, the vet
'eran volunteers, the men who were
on the fighting line. The noblest and
the best soldier in the world saved the
Union. and to respect him and revere
him as he should be respected and re-
vered, you must hear from us who
fought by his side these tales Of his
heroism and patriotism.
It is well to introduce hero the
losses of the divisions Of which the
brigade we have been speaking Of
formed part. From Gibbons re-
port, page 434. Rebellion Record"
war department, we find the division
left camp May 3 with three brigades,
numbering in the aggregate. 6,7ss.
On May 6 this brigade had lost
nearly one-seventh of the number. A
fourth brigade was added after the
battle Of Appomattox Court House,
and Of the four brigades he reports
as follows: The brigades had had sew.
enteen different commanders. of whom
three had been killed and six wounded.
OF the 279 officers killed and wounded
forty were regimental commanders.
OF course the bravest and most eff
Gent officers and men were those who
fell; it is always so.
You may be planting flowers and
raising flags DER the graves of some
Of the men who died during the few
days of the battle of the Wilderness.
Some bodies were identified and were
removed to the North. If you do hold
your services over the new grave of
one of these men, remember that he
Is but type Of the Union volunteer.
and recall what was said at the OPEN
ing Of this narrative. This is only
written to enable you to realize what
were the services of Union soldiers
who were in front. May the reflection
1t may give rise to make those who
read this article realize that men who
enlist for national defense must be
ready to make just such sacrifices.
And it is only the realization Of
this fact, at this time especially.
that will make the United States sol,
der proud Of his uniform and make
you and others respect him for wear
ing It.