The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-05-30

George Fox, also badly wounded, lay far out on the
fre-swept field. Private Sweat could not with
stand the agony on the fathers face. David Good
hue volunteered to go with him, and together they
dashed across the field, the target for hundreds Of
the enemy. AS the two heroes were lifting Fox
from the ground GOOdhue was shot and killed.
Another ball struck Fox while Sweat was carrying
him off. A moment later the enemy were upon
them, and all three were taken prisoner.
Samuel c. Wright enlisted in 1851, fought in q
pitched battles, was seriously wounded five times
and was reported dead three times. He belonged
to the Twenty-ninth Massachusetts volunteers, AT
Antietam Wright showed his mettle. AS sergeant,
With IS volunteers, he charged a fence at Bloody
lane" and under a terrific fire destroyed 1t so as TO
open the breach by which the Confederate lines
were later pierced and forced back. Wright was
one of six Of the band Of volunteers who survived
the charge, the others being killed or MORALLY
wounded. 1t Knoxville Wright sustained a COM
pound fracture of the right leg. Although the bone
protruded through the flesh, Wright dragged him
self over the rough ground a distance of 13 miles.
much Of the way between the opposing fires OF
both armies. and finally got to the hospital. He
got a furlough home, but was again with his old
regiment in April, 1854, rejoining the army of the
Potomac, taking part In Grants campaign. At
Cold Harbor Wright was hit in the left arm, but
he kept in the field. He participated in battle
after battle down to the explosion of the mine In
front Of Petersburg, July 80, 1854, when a bullet
pierced his right eye. The ball passed through,
lodging against the back of the skull. Then he had
to quit.
Bore Charmed Lives.
William II. Howe enlisted as private In Company
X, Twenty-ninth Massachusetts infantry, In April,
1861. and served until June 20, 1855. He was
wounded at Newport News, Cold HarbOr ard at
Petersburg. He received his medal and was pro-
noted from first sergeant to first lieutenant for
heroic conduct at Fort Haskell, Va, March %,
1865. He was captured with his entire company.
in the darkness of the morning, between Forts
Haskell and Stedman, but escaped and ran to Fort
cred here, but the CALLING fire Of the enemy In
front had silenced all the batteries Of the fort and
no effective resistance could be offered. Unless
one of the batteries could be manned the whole
Union force would be compelled to surrender.
Capt. John Al. Dean called for volunteers. Howe
and three others responded. manned one Of the
abandoned guns, and for three-Quarters Of an hour
poured canister into the ranks Of the unprotected
enemy In front, tearing huge gaps In their line and
finally putting them to flight. During all this time
the Ave gallant men were exposed to the whole
fire Of the enemy.
Here. by way Of variety, is a freak story that
illustrates how luck, chance. Providence, Kismet-
call 1t what you will-plays Its part in war. John
L. Metcalf. Troop A, Fifth cavalry, had severai
miraculous escapes from death during the Civil
war. His record included As engagements. He
was In the battles Of Bull Run. Antietam and Get
tysburg. IL was shot through my clothing at the
sacopd hattie az Rul. Run - said MHtcalf ~.AzsassA