History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan, Part 26

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, D.W. Ensign & co.
Number of Pages: 716


USA > Michigan > Clinton County > History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan > Part 26
USA > Michigan > Shiawassee County > History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan > Part 26


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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Again, at Shelbyville, Tenn., June 27, 1863, the Fourth, as a part of the brigade of Col. Minty, assaulted an in- trenched position held by a superior force of the enemy's cavalry, and how the regiment did its work on that occa- sion is told in the official report of Col. Minty, as follows : " At Shelbyville I found myself, with a force of fifteen hundred men, in front of formidable breastworks, with an abatis of over one-fourth of a mile in width in front of them, behind which Gens. Wheeler and Martin had an opposing force of four thousand men and three pieces of artillery. I detached the Fourth Michigan, in command of Maj. Mix, well to the right, with orders to force their way through the abatis and assault the works, and if suc- cessful to turn to the left and sweep up the intrenchments,


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IIISTORY OF SHIAWASSEE AND CLINTON COUNTIES, MICHIGAN.


promising that so soon as I heard their rifles speaking I would make the direet assault on the Murfreesboro' and Shelbyville pike. They did their work so well that as I entered the works on the main road they joined me from the right, having carried the works and taken prisoners from six different regiments. The fruits of that day's work were the whole of the enemy's artillery and six hun- dred prisoners, while over two hundred dead bodies were afterwards taken out of Duek River, into which I had driven Wheeler and his entire command."


The fight at Shelbyville was delivered during the move- ment of the Army of the Cumberland from Murfreesboro' to the Tennessee River. Through all that movement the Fourth Cavalry was nearly always in the advance, and was repeatedly engaged with the enemy. In these fights and skirmishes it was always successful until it reached the vicinity of Chattanooga, where it was several times re- pulsed. On the 18th of September-the day before the opening of the great battle of Chickamauga-it took part in a severe fight with a greatly superior foree of the enemy's cavalry near Lee and Gordon's Mills, Ga., in which the Union cavalry was compelled to retreat, but so stubborn was the fighting on that occasion that the brigade commander, Col. Minty, said in his report that " with less than one thousand men the old First Brigade disputed the advance of seven thousand from seven o'clock in the morning until five o'clock in the evening, and during that time fell back only five miles."


The next day, September 19th, the regiment fired the first shots in the disastrous battle of Chickamauga, and subsequently protected the left and rear of Rosecrans' army and the trains moving to Chattanooga. On the 20th, while assisting to hold the enemy in cheek until the shattered Union forces could retire from the field, Minty's brigade attacked and defeated Seott's rebel brigade of cavalry and mounted infantry, driving it back across the creek. The regiment bivouacked on the ground it had held, but the next day was compelled to share in the general retreat.


On the 30th of September it was driven by Wheeler's rebel cavalry near Cotton's Ferry, on the Tennessee ; but from the 1st to the 3d of October the tables were turned, and the Fourth had the pleasure of following its late pur- suers with ardor and success. By the 1st of November, 1863, the service of the regiment had been so severe that only three hundred of the men were mounted. This bat- talion was actively engaged on picket and scout duty in Sontheastern Tennessee and Northern Georgia and Ala- bama throughout the winter ; the number of mounted men being reduced by the latter part of March, 1864, to one hundred and twenty-eight. Meanwhile, the dismounted men had been employed in various duties in the same lo- eality, and also in Middle Tennessee.


The regiment, except the one hundred and twenty-eight mounted men, set out for Nashville on the 28th of March, 1864, where the men received new horses and equipments, and were armed with Spencer earbines. On the 14th of April, under the command of Maj. F. W. Mix, the regi- ment joined the Second Cavalry Division at Columbia, Tenn. Thence it advanced with eight hundred and seventy- eight men into Georgia, where the cavalry began its arduons


and dangerous service in co-operation with Gen. Sherman's army, which was then advancing on Atlanta. In this campaign its hardest conflict was at Lattimore's Mill, on Noonday Creek, where it took part in one of the most bril- liant achievements of the war. A small detachment of the Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry had crossed the ereek, and, becoming hotly engaged with a superior force of the enemy, Capt. Pritchard, with two battalions of the Fourth Michi- gan, was ordered aeross to its support. This foree had scarcely reached the position assigned it when a whole rebel division, eight times their own number, swept down upon the Penn- sylvania and Michigan men, with the evident purpose of driving them back across the creek. They did not, how- ever, propose to go immediately, so, dismounting and avail- ing themselves of the protection afforded by the inequali- ties of the ground, they met their assailants with terrifie and continuous volleys from their Spencer carbines. Again and again did the rebels bear down upon them, making desper- ate efforts to destroy the little force of Unionists, but being as often repulsed. At length, after holding their ground against the repeated assaults of the enemy for more than two hours, they retired slowly and in good order at the epinmand of Col. Minty.


The following extract from a letter published in the Memphis Appeal, at Atlanta, Ga.,* June 25, 1864, gives the rebel version of this fight, and shows very plainly the gallantry of Minty's brigade and the immense preponder- ance of the rebel force :


" On the 20th instant two divisions, Kelly's and Martin's, and one brigade, Williams', of our cavalry, went round to the left flank and rear of Sherman's army,-it was said to capture a brigade of Yankee cavalry situated at MeAfee's. We succeeded in getting to the right place, where the enemy, Minty's brigade, was vigorously attacked by Williams' and a portion of Anderson's brigade. After a sharp conflict the enemy were driven from the field, Hannon's brigade having come np and attacked them on the flank. The Yankees fought desperately and fell baek slowly, with what Joss we are unable to ascertain, as they carried off their wounded and most of their dead. To one who was an eye-witness, but not an adept in the 'art of war,' it seemed very strange that the whole Yankee force was not sur- rounded and captured. Dibrell's brigade was drawn up a few hundred yards from and in full view of the battle- ground, with Martin's whole division immediately in the rear. This is one of the best fighting brigades the Yan- kees have, and to have captured or routed it would have added a bright feather to the plume of the successful hero accomplishing the feat. After he (Minty) had been driven from his first position, Martin's whole division was brought up, and lost several men of Allen's brigade. Brig .- Gen. Allen had his horse shot. The Eighth Confederate and Fifth Georgia, of Anderson's brigade, lost several killed and wounded. Williams' Kentucky brigade also lost sev- eral good soldiers."


Col. Minty, in his report, after quoting this statement, added :


* The Memphis Appeal was published at half a dozen different places, to which it was successively driven by the victorious Unionists.


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FOURTH CAVALRY.


" According to the above, there was the following rebel foree in the field : Kelly's and Martin's divisions, consisting of the brigades of Anderson, six regiments; llannon's, five regiments ; Allen's, five regiments ; and Johnson's, five regiments ; and the independent brigades of Williams and Dibreli, composed of five regiments each ; say in all, thirty- one regiments, of which the Fifth Georgia numbered over eight hundred. The entire force I had engaged was, of the Seventh Pennsylvania one hundred and seventy men, and of the Fourth Michigan two hundred and eighty-three; in all, four hundred and fifty-three. These few men held their ground against the repeated assaults of the enemy for over two hours, and when I ordered them to fall back, they re- tired slowly, in good order. I beg to call the attention of the general commanding to the heavy loss sustained by this small force. In a loss of over twelve per cent., the very small proportion reported missing shows how steadily and stubbornly they fought."


In a note appended to this report Col. Minty said :


" My loss in this engagement was two officers and sixty- five men. The Marietta (Ga.) papers acknowledge a loss of ninety-four killed and three hundred and fifty-one wounded. Two battalions of the Fourth Michigan repulsed three sabre charges made by the Eighth Confederate and Fifth Georgia, numbering over one thousand meu, and one battalion led by Capt. Hathaway repulsed a charge made by Williams' Kentucky brigade by a counter-charge."


Of the two hundred and eighty-three officers and men of the Fourth engaged at Lattimore's Mill, thirty-seven were killed aud wounded, and three were reported missing.


After the capture of Atlanta, the mounted men of the regiment followed Hood's army northward nearly to the Tennessee River, harassing his rear and taking many prison- ers. By this time only about one hundred of their horses remained fit for service. These were turned over to another command, and the Fourth, dismounted, concentrated at Nashville in October. It was remounted at Louisville, Ky., and by the last of January, 1865, was back in Ala- bama, on duty near Gravelly Springs, where it remained till the 12th of March, when it joined with other regiments (all under command of Gen. Wilson) in a long raid through Alabama, swimming rivers, building corduroy roads, fighting the rebel cavalry Gen. Forrest, and finally capturing the city of Selma, Ala., which was defended by at least seven thousand of Forrest's men, behind very strong fortifications. At one point fifteen hundred dismounted cavalrymen, of which those of the Fourth formed a part, charged stroug intrenchments, and captured them in twenty minutes, hav- ing had three hundred and twenty-four men killed and wounded. This was on the 2d of April. On the 20th, after numerous adventures, the command reached Macon, Ga., where the news of the surrender of Lee was the signal to cease fighting.


The Fourth Regiment had won an enviable reputation for gallantry and steadfastness on the field of battle, but it was destined to gain still another title to renown by the cap- ture of Jefferson Davis, the " President" of the now dead Confederacy,-the figure-head of the " Lost Canse." While the regiment lay at Macon, Ga., it became known that the arch-rebel and his suite were fleeing through Central


Georgia in the hope of escaping from the country ; and on the 7th of May the Fourth Michigan, four hundred and forty strong, under Lieut .- Col. Pritchard, left Macon for the purpose of capturing the rebel chief and his party. Having struek the trail of the fugitives at Abbeville on the 9th of May, Col. Pritchard selected one hundred and fifty-three of his best-mounted officers and men, and moved rapidly by a circuitous route to intercept them. At Irwinsville, at one o'clock in the morning of the 10th of May, the colonel learned that a train, which probably belonged to Davis, was encamped a mile and a half distant. Moving out into the vicinity of the eamp, he sent Lieut. Purinton, with twenty- five men, to wait on the other side of it. At daybreak Col. Pritchard aud his men advaneed silently, and without being observed, to within a few rods of the camp, then dashed forward and secured the whole eamp before the astonished inmates eould grasp their weapons, or even fairly arouse themselves from their slumbers. A chain of mounted guards was immediately placed around the camp, and dis- mounted sentries were stationed at the tents and wagons. The result was, that this detachment of the Fourth Michi- gan Cavalry captured Davis, dressed partially in female attire, and that Col. Pritchard, with twenty-five officers and men of the regiment detailed as a special eseort, took their prisoner to Washington, whence he was transferred to the casemates of Fortress Monroe.


Soon after this event the regiment marched to Nashville, Tenn., where it was mustered out of the service on the 1st of July, and nine days afterwards it was disbanded at De- troit. Ninety-four battles and skirmishes are inscribed on the record of the Fourth Cavalry of Michigan, and every one in the bright list is an addition to its fame.


CLINTON COUNTY SOLDIERS IN THE FOURTHI CAVALRY.


Field and Staff.


Lient .- Col. Josiah B. Park, Ovid; com. Feb. 18, 1863; maj. Ang. 14, 1862; re- signed Nov. 26, 1804.


Company d.


2d Lieut, Hiram D. Treat, St. John's; com. Nov. 24, 1864; sergt .; must. out July 1, 1865.


Luther W. Holmes, trans. to Vet. Res. Corps.


Geo. W. Niles, disch. for disability.


Company B.


Ist Lieut. Julins M. Carter, Ovid; com. Dec. 24, 1862; 2d lient. Ang. 13, 1862 ; wounded in action at Kingston, Ga., May 18, 1864; pro. capt. Co. M ; brevet maj. U. S. Vols., March 13, 1865, for gallant and mer.torious ser- vices in action ar Kingston, Ga .; disch. for di-ability, May 17, 1865.


Sergt. llenry A. Potter, Ovid ; enl. July 28, 1862; pro. 2d lient. Co. E, Feb. 16, 18G3.


Sergt. John N. Gilbert, Ovid; enl. July 28, 1862; disch. for disability, Ang. 9, 1863.


Sergt. Edward Watson, Duplain ; enl. July 19, 1862; died of disease at Bow- ling Green, Ky., Nov. 10, 1862.


Sergt. Conrad Wresler, Duplain ; enl. July 28, 1862; died of disease at Mur- freesboro', Tenn., March 23, 1863.


Sergt. Lorenzo J. Southworth, Ovld; oul. July 28, 1862; pro. 2d lient. Co. II, Dec. 10, 1864.


Corp. Jos. M. Hlarr son, Bingham; enl. July 28, 1862; died of disease at Nash- ville, Tenn., Dec. 26. 1862.


Corp. Theo. Il. Gleason, Duplain ; enl. July 18, 1862; died of disease at Stan- ford, Ky., Oct. 28, 1862.


Corp. Wm. W. llammond, Ovid; enl. July 28, 1862; died of disease at Louis- ville, Ky., Nov. 29, 1863.


Franklin Aldrich, disch. for disability, March 23, 1863.


John Adams, must, out Jn'y 1, 1865.


W'in. Bavi, died of disease at Nashville, Tenn. Nelson 11. Beche, Duplain; trans. to Vet, Res. Corps, July 1, 1863.


Gro. IT. Bennett, must, out July 1, 1>65.


John W. Bradner, must. out July 1, 1865.


Wm. W. Crow, must. ont July 1, 1865.


Lewis T. Coon, died of disease at Murfreesboro', Tenn., March 2, 1863.


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HISTORY OF SHIAWASSEE AND CLINTON COUNTIES, MICHIGAN.


R. F. Dayne, died of disease at Stanford, Ky. W'm. R. Eggleston, must. out July 1, 1865. Levi Fishbeck, disch. by order, June 9, 1865. Andrew E. Ferdon, disch. for disability, Nov. 5, 1863. Thos. H. Goodrich, must. out July 1, 1865. Philip Hall, died of disease at Nashville, Tenn., Dee. 2, 1863. E. M. Hencox, disch. for disability, July 25, 1864. Samuel llempstead, Duplain ; disch. for disability, Dec. 15, 1863. Franklin S. Jones, disch, hy order, June 6, 1865. llerman D. Knowles, died of disease at Murfreesboro', May 10, 1863. Herman I1. Lounsbery, died of disease at Murfreesboro'. Geo. MeClintock, died of disease at Nashville, April 29, 1863. John Morrisey, died of disease at Nashville, Feb. 15, 1864. Guy C. MeIntyre, trans, to Vet. R .s. Corps, April 10, 1864. Franklin Oldrich, disch, for disability, Jan. 18, 1864. Asa l'ound, trans, to Vet. Res. Corps, Sept. 1, 1863. Henry Ryan, died of disease at Nashville, Tenn. Charles II. Smith, died of disease nt Nashville, Tenn.


Norman Smith, died of disease at Murfreesboro', Tenn., April 3, 18G3. Samnel E. Simpson, minst. out July 1, 1865. Jos. E. Scaver, Duplain ; must. out July 1, 1865. John F. Sherburu, must. out July 1, 1865. Chas. A. Starkweather, must. out July 1, 18G5. Lewis II. Wilcox, must. out July 1, 1865.


William II. Wood, must, out July 1, 1865.


Company D.


John S. Harvey, must, out Ang. 15, 1865.


Company E.


2d Lient. Ilenry A. Potter, Ovid; com. Feb. 16, 1863; pro. Ist lieut. Co. H, March 31, 1863.


Company II.


Capt. II. A. Potter, Ovid; com. Aug. 1, 1864; Ist lient. March 31, 1863; must. ont July 1, 18G5.


2d Lieut. L. T. Southworth, Ovid; com. Dec. 10, 1864 ; must. out July 1, 1865. Company M.


Cipt. J. M. Carter, Ovid; com. July 9, 1864; Ist lieut. ; disch. for disability, May 17, 1865.


SHIAWASSEE COUNTY SOLDIERS IN THE FOURTH CAVALRY.


Company A.


Timothy Hill, must. out Ang. 15, 1865.


Edward Byno, must, ont Aug. 15, 1865.


Company B.


Ist Lieut. Chauncey F. Shepherd, Owosso; com. Aug. 13, 1862 ; res. Dec. 24, '62. William Armidon, must. out July 1, 1865.


Erastus W. Blair, must. out July 1, 1865. Baxter B. Dennett, must. out July 1, 1865. Abel A. Bradley, most. out July 1, 1865, Albert Babcock, must. out July 1, 1865. Albert R. Bradley, must. ont July 1, 1865. Daniel F. Blair, trans. to Vet. Res. Corps, April 10, 1864.


Henry J. Bearce, disch. for disability, Nov. 18, 1862.


George A. Chase, minst. out July 1, 1865. Charles Dean, died of disease at Nashville, Tenn., March 10, 1863. Cyrus Dean, trans, to Vet. Res. Corps, Sept. 1, 1863.


Benjamin Dutcher, disch. by order, July 25, 1865. Welton D. Fox, disch. for disability, May 11, 1863. C. S. Fox, died of disease at Mumfordsville, Ky. 1. W. Harrington, died of disease nt Nashville, Tenn. Ira Johnson, disch. for disability, March 5, 1863. George Jacobs, must. out July 1, 186G. Charles F. Parker, must. ont July 1, 1865. Jacob 1. Powell, must. out July 1, 1865. William P. Stedman, must. out July 1, 1865. Theodore Sanford, disch. for di-ability, July 30, 1864. John D. Smith, disch. for disability, March 5, 1863. Darias Watkins, disch. for disability, July 14, 1862. William Weswell, disch. for disability, Jan. 6, 1863.


Company C.


Khenezer Brewer, must. out Sept. 2, 1865. Thomas Brewer, disch. by order, JJune 26, 1865. Thanldens MI. Carr, disch. for disability, April 14, 1863. Edwin L. Howe, disch, for disalality, March 19, 1-63. Patrick Sweeney, disch. for disability, Ang. 1G, 1863. Il. H. Stewart, disch. for disability, April 14, 1863. Emery T. Warle, must. out Aug. 15, 1865.


Company E.


1st Lient. Joshua W. Mann, Owosso; com. Ang. 13, 1862; pro. capt. Co. M, March 31, 1863.


Ilomer A. Bristol, died of disease at Lonisville, Ky., April 15, 1863.


Edgar P. Byerly, disch. by order, Dee. 22, 1863.


George A, Bullard, must. out July 1, 1863.


Silas Bullard, must. ont July 1, 1865.


Dewitt C. Carr, must. ont July 1, 1865. Stephen G. Fuller, died of disease at Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 15, 1862. David B. Green, mu-t. ont July 1, 1865. L. R. McUmber, died of disease at Nashville, Tenn., July 14, 1863. Jolin Nelson, disch, by order, June 14, 1865. George M. Rose, disch, hy order, July 24, 1865.


Anson L. Simons, disch, for disability, Jan. 19, 1863. Thomas L. Spafford, diedl of disease at Bardstown, Ky., Oct. 10, 18G2. Jolın G. Stevens, must, ont July 1, 1863. William C. Stiff, must. out July 1, 1863.


George A. Underhill, must, out July 1, 1863.


Company F. Gilbert M. Hemingway, must. out Aug. 15, 1865. James St. John, must. out Ang. 15, 1865.


Company H.


Albert Spinks, must. out July 1, 1865.


Company I. William S. Howard, trans. to Vet. Res, Corps, April 30, 1864. George W. Titus, trans. to Vet. Res. Corps, Jan. 10, 1864.


Company K.


George Sumner, disch. by order, Aug. 2, 1865. George W. Willets, died of disease at Gallatin, Tenn., Jan. 24, 1865.


Company L.


Stillman W. Green, must. out Aug. 15, 1865.


Company M.


Capt. J. W. Mann, Owosso; com. March 31, 1863; res. Aug. 1, 1864. Jacob Spotts, Owosso, must. ont Aug. 15, 1865.


CHAPTER XVII


FIFTH CAVALRY.


Rendezvous at Detroit-Winter Quarters near Washington-Can- paign of Gettysburg, and in Virginia in 1863-Winter Quarters at Stevensburg-Campaigns of 1864 and Spring of 1865-Service in North Carolina-Transfer to Fort Leavenworth and the Plains --- Muster Out and Disbandment.


EARLY in 1862 authority was given by the War De- partment to Joseph T. Copeland (then lieutenant-colonel of the First Cavalry), William D. Mann, and Richard Baylis to raise a regiment of cavalry in Michigan ; and in August of the same year this authority was confirmed by the Gov- ernor of the State. Upon receiving the Governor's sanc- tion, Col. Copeland established his rendezvous at Detroit, and in the exceedingly short period of two weeks from that time the ranks were filled sufficiently for muster. While being recruited and organized, and until it received its des- ignating number, the regiment was known as " Copeland's Mounted Rifles."


The counties of Clinton and Shiawassee were represen- ted by men in nine companies of this regiment, but most numerously in Company G, of which the original com- missioned officers were Capt. William T. Magoffin, of St. John's, First Lieut. George W. Townsend, of Green- bush, and Second Lieut. John Gunderman, of Essex ; while its ranks were principally filled by volunteers from Clinton County. One of the original field-officers of the regiment-Maj. Ebenezer Gould-was of Owosso, Shia- wassee Co., and he was afterwards promoted through the intermediate grade to that of colonel. The adjutant of the Fifth was Richard Baylis, of Ovid, Clinton Co. He had previously (immediately after the close of the Mexican war) been a non-commissioned officer in a cavalry company in the United States regulars, and with that command had


103


FIFTHI CAVALRY.


seen three years of Indian service in Texas and New Mexico, having been twice wounded, and discharged from the service on that account.


The officers and men of " Copeland's Mounted Rifles" were mustered into the United States service on the 30th of August, 1862, as the Fifth Cavalry Regiment of Mich- igan, under command of Col. Copeland.


For about three months after muster, the Fifth remained at the headquarters waiting for arms, and at the time of its departure-December 4th-the men had been but par- tially armed, though fully equipped. From Detroit the command moved to Washington, D. C., and remained at " Camp Copeland," on East Capitol Hill in that city, through the winter. In the spring of 1863, after being fully armed, it was attached to the Second Brigade of the Third Divi- sion of the Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac. This brigade became known and widely famed as the Michigan Cavalry Brigade. It was commanded successively by Gens. Kilpatrick and Custer, and gained the highest reputation of any cavalry brigade in the service.


Moving from Washington in February, 1863, the regi- ment crossed the Potomae, and was encamped for more than two months at Fairfax Court-House, where it was visited by the Governor of Michigan. Its duty while en- camped here was arduous, and it was several times en- gaged in skirmishing, but without much loss, until the opening of the campaign of Gettysburg. It moved north- ward on that campaign on the 27th of June, and on the 2d of July was sharply engaged with the enemy at Hun- terstown, Pa. On the 3d it was moved, with the brigade, to the York turnpike road (leading to Gettysburg), where it was dismounted and placed in position in front of the centre and left of the brigade line. The enemy advanced soon after noon, and how he was met by the meu of the Fifth Michigan Cavalry is told in Gen. Custer's official report of the engagement, as follows: "The enemy was soon after reported to be advancing on my front. The de- tachment sent to the Oxford road was driven in, and at the same time the enemy's line of skirmishers, consisting of dismounted cavalry, appeared on the erest of the ridge of hills on my front. The line extended beyond my left. To repel their advanee I ordered the Fifth Michigan Cavalry to a more advanced position, with instructions to maintain their ground at all hazards. Col. Alger, commanding the Fifth, assisted by Majs. Trowbridge and Terry, of the same regiment, made such admirable disposition of their meu be- hind fences and other defenses as enabled them to success- fully repel the repeated advance of a greatly superior force. I attributed their success in a great measure to the fact that this regiment is armed with the Spencer repeating rifle, which in the hands of brave, determined men, like those composing the Fifth Michigan Cavalry, is, in my estimation, the most effective firearm that our cavalry can adopt. Col. Alger held his ground until his men had ex- hausted their ammunition, when he was compelled to fall back on the main body. The beginning of this movement was the signal for the enemy to charge, which they did with two regiments, mounted and dismounted." Then follows the account of a counter-charge made by the Seventh Michigan Cavalry, in which the latter was compelled to re-


-


tire, pursued by twice their number of the enemy ; but " by this time Col. Alger, of the Fifth, having succeeded in remounting a considerable portion of his regiment, gallantly advanced to the assistance of the Seventh, whose further pursuit by the enemy he checked." This was the last fighting done by the Fifth during that day. The brigade held possession of the field until dark, and then returned to its camping-place of the previous night. On the following day it was engaged at Monterey, Md., and in the pursuit of the enemy to the Potomac it fought at Cavetown, Md., July 5th ; Smithtown, Md., July 6th ; Boonsboro', Md., July 6th ; Hagerstown, Md., July 7th; Williamsport, Md., July 7th ; Boonsboro' (2d), July 8th; Hagerstown (2d), July 10th ; Williamsport, July 10th ; and Falling Waters, July 14th. It is impracticable to give a detailed account of the almost innumerable marches and constantly changing movements and counter-movements which sue- ceeded during that eventful year. It is sufficient to men- tion that having crossed the Potomac soon after the fight at Falling Waters, the regiment took part in the following- named engagements, viz. : Snicker's Gap, Va., July 19th ; Kelly's Ford, Va., September 13th ; Culpeper Court-House, Va., September 14th ; Raccoon Ford, Va., September 16th ; White's Ford, September 21st ; Jack's Shop, Va., Septem- ber 26th ; James City, Va., October 12th ; Brandy Station, Va., October 13th ; Buckland's Mills, Va., October 19th ; Stevensburg, Va., November 19th; and Morton's Ford, Va., Nov. 26, 1863. Sixty-four men were killed and wounded during the year 1863, besides one hundred and twenty-one reported missing in action, many of whom were killed. Other reports of alterations and casualties show that from the time the regiment was organized until the elose of 1863 forty men died of disease, sixty-eight were discharged for disability, twenty-one by sentence of general court-martial, fifteen by order, two for promotion, twenty officers resigned ; one officer was dismissed, and the total number of recruits received was thirteen. During the winter of 1863-64 the Fifth had its quarters at Stevens- burg, Va., and was employed mostly on picket duty along the Rapidan.




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