USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > History of the Twenty-fourth Michigan of the Iron brigade, known as the Detroit and Wayne county regiment > Part 15
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2. Wounded-Field and staff officers, 3 ; line officers, II ; non-commissioned officers, 48; privates, 170. Total, 232.
3. Prisoners Taken South-Officers, 3; non-commissioned officers, 10; privates, 44. Total, 57.
. 4. Prisoners Paroled-Non-commissioned officers, 6 ; privates, 32. Total, 38.
5. Missing-Non-commissioned officer, I ; privates, 5. Total, 6.
6. Aggregate of casualties and losses, 422.
7 . Deduct prisoners counted among wounded, 17; wounded in battery, 9. Total, 26.
8. Total net loss (besides those in battery), 397.
9. Remaining with flag first night of battle, 99.
10. Entering battle with regiment, 496.
Henry W. Randall, wounded, D.
Albert A. Wallace, D. Joseph Hirsch, E.
Henry C. Chapman, wounded, F.
David H. Campbell, F.
Sheldon E. Crittenden, F.
Peter Ford, F. Adolph Fritsch, F.
Fox places the death loss at 94, but since the war closed two of the reported dead have turned up alive. This leaves still two unaccounted for as between his research and our own. Total killed and wounded, 317. Per cent. of killed and wounded, 64. Per cent. of loss, 80. Of the captured, 5 died in confederate prisons and two died of prison disease after exchange. Of the wounded, 6 died of disease, 62 were transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps for wounds and 5 for disability ; 47 were discharged for wounds and 12 for disability. There returned to the regiment, 93 of the wounded and 64 of the prisoners and missing, a total of 155, while out of the 496 who went into the battle, 240, or very nearly one-half, never again saw the face of the regiment.
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.
BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.
PERSONAL INCIDENTS.
Many incidents of interest occurred in connection with the Twenty-fourth Michigan in this engagement. We can mention but few. Lieutenant William R. Dodsley was the first officer of the regiment wounded, and Lieutenant Gilbert A. Dickey, the first officer killed. Captain Malachi J. O'Donnell was the last officer killed outright. Lieutenant Newell Grace received three mortal wounds soon after. Captain A. M. Edwards, Lieutenants George Hutton and John Witherspoon were the only officers left. uninjured. Of the other twenty-five officers, eight were killed, fourteen were wounded and three captured. First Sergeant E. B. Welton of H was the only Orderly Sergeant left.
Color Sergeant Abel G. Peck was the first man of the regiment killed on this bloody field. He was a stalwart farmer of Nankin and bravely met his fate. Colonel Morrow said of him: "He was singularly pure in his private life, and in all the engagements in which his regiment took part, he was conspicuous for his gallantry." Said Chaplain Way: "Where his body lies, none knows but 'Him who watches all our dust,' but his memory is embalmed in the hearts of his comrades."
Private William Smith of B was the first man of the regiment wounded here, losing an arm. Seven of the Companies had not a single officer left, and the other three companies but one officer each. B had but ten men left, C had but three, D had eleven, I had only eight, and so on.
Edward B. Harrison of H was wounded and John Malcho was helping him off the field. John W. Welsh of G took Harrison's other arm, and while thus assisting their wounded comrade, a Confederate bullet killed Welch instantly, and at the same moment another bullet
LUTHERAN SEMINARY, GETTYSBURG.
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HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
instantly killed Harrison, and tore off a part of Malcho's shoe. Harrison and Welch fell side by side. In life they had been friends, and were buried in one grave.
Corporal Thomas Suggett of G was one of the color guard and mortally wounded. Some time before, when Colonel Morrow called for volunteers for the color guard, saying, they must be men of iron, as the bullets would rattle off from them like hail from a roof, Corporal Suggett was the first to step out of the ranks to be one of the brave color defenders.
Corporal Andrew Wagner who was shot through the breast while carrying the colors, lay twenty-four hours where he fell, and was robbed by the enemy of his money and shoes. Then they made for him a pillow as they thought, for his dying head. He was the only survivor of two entire color guards on that day, but died of his wound three years later.
Many received an additional wound while lying on the field, and relief did not come for several days and nights, nor until the maggots began to crawl and fatten in their festering wounds! Gladly would we continue these incidents, though some would be revolting to tender feelings. The recital of other events will crowd them out.
On the morning of July I, four members of B-Andrew J. Arnold, George H. Pinkney, Richard Conners and John S. Rider had obtained the Surgeon's permission to fall out of the ranks. Upon hearing the booming of the cannon they realized that a battle was coming and desiring to keep their record unbroken by being in every action with their regiment, they hurried to the field to be with their Company. Within an hour every one of the four lay on the field with , a bullet in his body. Rider lost an arm and died of his wounds. Such devotion to duty is worthy of record.
" OLD JOHN BURNS."
On the first day of the battle, Constable John L. Burns of Gettysburg, over seventy years of age, upon hearing the firing, seized his old-fashioned rifle, ran across the field and offered his services to Colonel Wister of the One Hundred and Fiftieth Pennsylvania. Afterwards he went over to the Second Wisconsin on the right of the Iron Brigade. He wore an old banged-up, bell-crowned hat, and swallow-tailed coat. His unique dress and temerity in venturing into so dangerous a place without occasion, seemed the act of an insane zealot, and invited the jibes of the men. Thence he passed on to the
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BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.
Seventh Wisconsin where he remained awhile. Next he passed over to the Twenty-fourth Michigan and was with the latter regiment in the east edge of McPherson's woods, when he was wounded. He
JOHN BURNS OF GETTYSBURG - FROM A PHOTOGRAPH SOLD BY HIMSELF AFTER THE BATTLE
fought till three bullets were lodged in his body. His wounds were dressed by Assistant-Surgeon Collar of the Twenty-fourth Michigan. On July 15, 1863, Chaplain W. C. Way wrote of him thus:
We called upon the old patriot, Mr. Burns, the other day and found him quite comfortable. He is the man, though past seventy, who shouldered his musket and went to the field and fought with the Iron Brigade. He is made of the right kind of stuff. Let his name be recorded in history as an example of mature patriotism.
General Doubleday commended his conduct and the old man's fame has found a place in the school literature of the land. Many a youth has declaimed the poet's lines on his patriotic conduct. He lived to be over eighty years old and lies buried by his wife at Gettysburg.
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HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
EXTRACTS FROM WAR-TIME LETTERS.
Members and friends of the Twenty-fourth Michigan remember with what interest were perused, in war days, the articles of S. D. G. in the Detroit Free Press. Their author was Sergeant Sullivan D. Green of F and the N. C. S. Below are some extracts from his letters in those days:
CULP'S HILL, July 2. 1863 .- If ever one sat down with a sad heart to write, that task is mine this morning, surrounded by the broken fragments of the Twenty-fourth which has now indeed "been all cut in pieces." Seven officers and four of them wounded are all we have with us, out of twenty-eight; and ninety-nine men out of five hundred and seventeen* in yesterday's field report, after the fiercest battle of the war. Our list of killed and wounded receives additions every few hours, from the missing who bring us the names of those they saw fall. This fearful list tells in what a storm of balls they stood their ground, slowly falling back with grim and bloody front to the foe, foot by foot, first to the fence then behind trees and piles of wood, and finally through the town, while a deadly fire, in flank and rear, cut through the streets. The day for us was fearful and our thoughts turn to those at home whose dear ones lie on yonder field; some in their last gory sleep, others suffering from wounds and no aid near them. Some were struck while passing through the town and most of those captured were taken there.
ON BATTLE-FIELD, July 4, 1863. Colonel Morrow has just come out of the city, which the enemy left during the night, but their lines still inclose our first and bloodiest field. Last night the Colonel visited that scene of conflict and brought in some of the wounded who had lain there three days with no care except what the rebels bestowed, who gave them water and treated them well. They, however, stripped and robbed the bodies of the dead who still lie there so bloated as to be unrecognizable. Our wounded were full of enthusiasm, though unable to move, with limbs crushed and swollen, and without food. They greeted the Colonel with a cheer and asked him how he was now satisfied with the Twenty-fourth.
ON BATTLE-FIELD, Sunday, July 5, 1863 .- We have changed position to near the scene of the rebels' desperate and final charge. Here are evidences of the struggle - the ground trampled down ; buildings riddled with shot or in black ruins ; trees cut and fences splintered with grape on Pickett's charge. Details are still burying the rebel dead, and the long trenches of fresh filled earth attest the fullness of death's harvest, while lesser heaps of rocks and clumps of bushes show where a sharpshooter met his fate. Yonder is the crest of a shallow ravine, thickly wooded, and the field whence came the attacking forces to defeat and death. Between yonder belts of timber a mile away is the field of the Twenty-fourth's dead. Our comrades lie there unburied on the field consecrated with their blood. Some of our boys have visited the field and the doubt that hung over the fate of the 'missing' has been partly cleared away. That list, so full of suspense, has been diminished and the ‘killed' and 'wounded' lists increased. There is no time for search for the killed that lie on all
* NOTE -- Twenty-one of the regiment had been detailed to do duty at Corps Headquarters and though carried in the field reports, were not in the action. These deducted from 517 left the 496 who fought on the field.
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BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.
portions of the field. The army is in motion towards the retreating invaders. Stranger hands will bury our late comrades and your friends, mourners in the Peninsular State, and you will think of
" A nameless grave on the battle-field."
They are as near heaven as if they lay in Elmwood. In this their last battle they did nobly sustain the honor of their State.
Captain A. M. Edwards wrote as follows to the Detroit Tribune:
CULP'S HILL, July 5, 1863. - I send you a list of casualties and losses as far as known. The list is terrible. I forbear comments. Our wounded and missing are mostly prisoners. Five color-bearers were killed but our colors are safe. All three of our surgeons are prisoners. No regiment from our State ever suffered so much in one battle. There will be many sad hearts in Wayne County, but we carry the sweet reflection that our blood was not spilled in vain. We have gained a glorious victory. Our boys, what is left of them, are in good spirits.
The following are extracts from Chaplain William C. Way's letters to the Detroit Tribune :
GETTYSBURG, PA., July 7, 1863. - It is sad to look upon the decimated ranks of one of the bravest regiments that ever left the Wolverine State. Gettysburg is one vast hospital. The Court House, College, Seminary, Churches, Schoolhouses, warehouses and private buildings are filled with wounded. Very many are kindly cared for by citizens in their residences. Our surgeons, Drs. Beach and Collar are in full charge of one of the hospitals. Dr. Towar has gone to the regiment. I went upon the field with two of our regiment and buried several of our fallen comrades, and there witnessed a savage vandalism -our dead were robbed of everything, their bodies stripped of clothing and shoes !
GETTYSBURG, July 15, 1863. - I have been constantly engaged in the comfort of our wounded and astonished at their cheerfulness. Their "stumps" are doing nicely. Our regimental band deserve credit for their efforts as nurses. The town is filled with sad hearted relatives. It is saddening to stand near the Express office and see the coffined remains of hundreds being sent to their former homes. Many are dying and it is almost impossible to get a coffin.
GETTYSBURG, August 7, 1863. - Some of our noble boys are not yet out of danger, yet we trust that God will answer prayer and restore them to their friends. Many of the Rebel wounded are loud in their praises for their kind treatment. They receive the same care as our own men, which contrasts strangely with the treatment of our prisoners in Dixie.
Soon after news of the battle reached Detroit, Rev. George Duffield, a very patriotic Detroit clergyman, hastened to the battlefield and wrote to the Detroit Tribune as follows :
GETTYSBURG, July 9, 1863. - Many of our dead are still unburied. A hundred times to-day would I have given a score of "D. D's" for one "M. D." A single day here would pay for the study of surgery for a lifetime. Yesterday we started for a field hospital two miles from town, where were some of the Twenty-Fourth. Soon
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HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
the road appeared full of wounded to whom the order had come that all able to walk might go to the depot and thence to Baltimore with a prospect of a furlough home. Oh, the magic of the word home, and what almost superhuman efforts of the wounded to get there! Such bandaged heads, battered faces, naked and swollen limbs, I pray never to see again. And then such extraordinary efforts at locomotion - some with one crutch, some with two, some hopping with a stick, some holding on by the fence, and crawling even, to lose no time. Ever since the battle the heavens have been pouring their tears over the scene of blood. The weather continues cool and thousands will owe their lives to the rain and opportune weather. The bullets taken from the bodies of our soldiers and which they proudly show, will be more precious in the eyes of posterity than pearls.
The Detroit Board of Trade sent a committee to the battlefield to look after the Twenty-Fourth's men and "C. R. B." thus wrote to the Detroit Tribune :
GETTYSBURG, July 12, 1863. - We find ourselves amid scenes only seen near a battlefield - streets filled with soldiers with arms in slings or heads bandaged, surgeons and strangers from every part of the North. The windows are removed from most of the houses to allow more air to the wounded within. It is sad to see noble forms stretched out on the floors, wounded in every way; many trying to repress groans of anguish; some doomed to a lingering death; others maimed for life. I was shocked at the sight of one of Company D lying in a feed store, shot through the thigh, but happy in the hope of restoration to friends. Alas, the doctors say he is doomed to die .*
I walked over the field where the Twenty-Fourth fought and its dead lie buried. The scene of their severest fighting was in a beautiful grove, covered now with graves almost as thickly as in a cemetery, and nearly all the trees are bullet scarred. Many of the graves of our fallen are marked, but many are unrecognizable. The fathers of Lieutenants Dickey and Wallace found where their sons lay, and bitter tears were shed by these afflicted parents over the graves of their noble boys. This spot should be marked by a monument to Wayne County's own regiment, that strangers and future generations may know of the brave conduct here, of the Twenty-Fourth Michigan. Is the cause they are fighting for worth all this? Go to the wounded soldiers on this gory field, and with sparkling eyes and flushed cheeks, they will answer, yes.
Brigadier-General Meredith, who was wounded, wrote to Colonel Morrow on July 17, 1863, from his bed in Washington, as follows :
I cannot longer delay tendering to you and your brave men, my heartfelt thanks for the gallant bearing of yourself and regiment in the battle of the Ist inst. No troops ever fought with more bravery than did the Twenty-fourth Michigan on that occasion. The old Iron Brigade had to meet the first shock of a desperate attack of a far superior force, and nobly did it do its duty. You and your officers and men are justly entitled to a full measure of the honors won in that great conflict and will receive the gratitude of all who love our glorious Union and its holy cause.
* Peter C. Bird, late Deputy Register of Deeds, Wayne County.
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BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.
General A. P. Hill of the Confederate army declared while in Gettysburg that he "never knew troops to fight better than those who opposed him on the first day." General Ewell said he was surprised when Colonel Morrow's men fired upon his advance. Ewell's troops purposely withheld their fire "to capture them alive," but when they received a volley at very close range from the Twenty-fourth Michigan and Iron Brigade they could not do otherwise than return the fire. A conversation occurred between General Ewell and Colonel Morrow while a prisoner. Ewell said the Twenty-fourth Michigan were foolish that they did not surrender, in preference to being so badly cut up. The answer of Colonel Morrow was to the point, and brought a blush to his fellow-born Virginian : "General Ewell, the Twenty-fourth Michigan came here to fight, not to surrender."
SPEECH OF COLONEL MORROW IN DETROIT.
While on a visit home after the battle, Colonel Morrow declined a reception but consented to address the entire people on the Campus Martius, on Thursday, July 30, 1863, at 4 o'clock P. M. A very large concourse of people assembled to hear him, and many eyes were suffused with tears during his eloquent and pathetic speech, from which we give the following extracts :
FRIENDS AND FELLOW CITIZENS : I have no language to express my feelings on this occasion. Less than one year ago, I left this beautiful city with the husbands, sons and friends of the people of Detroit and Wayne County. Less than a year has sufficed to wipe that splendid regiment almost out of existence, and I stand here almost alone out of all the brave men who marched through these streets for the seat of war on the 29th of August last.
Where are those boys that went with me? Alas, many occupy graves in southern soil. They died as soldiers should die, with faces to the foe, upholding the banner of our country. They have indeed gone, but they will live in your hearts and in the memory of their countrymen for all coming time. I come back to you after having led my boys to victory to render my account.
At Fredericksburg your regiment received its baptism of fire, winning praise for its coolness and gallantry. It has behaved everywhere. At Fitzhugh Crossing it had the honor of planting the first flag on the opposite bank.
On the first of this month, we were marching and joking, with no idea of being on the verge of a battle. An occasional booming of cannon was not strange, yet indicating that our cavalry had met the enemy. It became more constant and with a quickstep we marched for Gettysburg, passing to the left of the town. We crossed an insignificant branch and were moved forward into line on the double-quick. An order came to charge at once. The regiment had unfixed bayonets and unloaded guns. I halted the men, had them fix bayonets and they had partially loaded, when the order came again to advance, the men finishing loading while advancing and
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HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
came to the brow of a hill. We then saw our danger, charged down into the ravine through which flows Willoughby's Run, where we captured a Rebel brigade of 1, 500 men with General Archer its commander.
I had lost my color-sergeant, Abel G. Peck, several of my color guard and men. We changed front, advancing to the crest of the hill beyond the Run, but soon after withdrew to the eastern bank of the stream and formed in McPherson's woods. During this movement my Adjutant was severely wounded, and Lieutenant-Colonel Flanigan lost a leg. I helped him off his horse where he lay for two hours. Company B under Lieutenant Buhl, a brave and gallant soldier, dignified and efficient officer, were sent out as skirmishers. Captain Rexford had already been wounded. From some prisoners sent in by Lieutenant Buhl, I learned that the entire corps of Generals Ewell and A. P. Hill were in our front. I several times sent to the General commanding suggesting a change of position as it was, to my judgment, untenable. The only reply was that the position must be held.
Soon after the rebels advanced in two lines of battle with their splendid banners, greatly overlapping us on the left, almost surrounding us. The Twenty-Fourth was lying down resting. I called them up, and when the Rebels got near, gave the order to fire by file. The Nineteenth Indiana, on our left, after maintaining their line until their dead were thick upon the ground, became overpowered and gave way, which left the Twenty-fourth Michigan to bear the brunt of the battle alone. We fought until nearly surrounded, to prevent which, Captain Speed (acting as Major in place of Major E. B. Wight, who had been wounded), started to change the front of two companies, and was instantly killed. Over fifty fell here and we were forced to fall back a little distance, where all my color guard were shot down.
We then fell back and rallied again, losing over one hundred men. Again we fell back and rallied, the men being literally slaughtered as they tried to form. Finally the whole corps having fallen back, the Twenty-fourth also fell back to the Seminary. Here I was wounded in the head and stunned, when I turned the regiment over to Captain Edwards.
My head was dressed by a lady of Gettysburg, a true Union girl, who wanted to hide me when the rebels came into town. I refused as they were sure to search the house. There were other wounded there and soon the rebels ordered us all into the street. We were marched four miles to the rebel camp where I found fifty-four of my regiment, some wounded and some taken while firing their guns. I slept in an open field and the next morning a rebel surgeon dressed my head. He said I was not fit to march [both were Master Masons] and sent me to the hospital, while the other prisoners were sent to Richmond.
When I got back to Gettysburg I was left to myself and I cut off my shoulder straps and became a sort of surgeon. With Assistant-Surgeon Collar, indefatigable in season and out, I visited the hospitals and battlefield of July 3, determining the names of the fallen, and helped bring in the wounded. In a barn among 200 others, I found a brave little Irish boy from Detroit-Patrick Cleary-who told me that the doctor said he could not live. I told him the doctor was the best judge and he had better prepare to die. Said he, "Colonel, if you'll have my leg taken off, I'll be with the regiment in a week. Ain't you proud of the Twenty-fourth now?" God bless that boy. His leg was taken off but he is dead now. [A voice, "He is yet alive."]I am glad to hear it He is a credit to his native and adopted country.
One of the officers captured by us at Fitzhugh Crossing met me at Gettysburg while I was a prisoner. He came up to me and said, "You don't seem to know me. Your regiment captured me at Fitzhugh." Said I, "Glad of it. Didn't we treat you
.
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BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.
well?" "Bully," said he. "Then treat me the same." "We will. Where are your straps ?" "I have lost them for the time being," said I. Ile replied, "All right. I'll not say a word." He kept his promise and the rebels took me for a surgeon.
On the last day of the great battle, I went into a steeple to see the great attack upon the Union centre. An old man who had come up into the steeple, white-haired and venerable, stretched up his hands and made such a prayer as I never before heard, beseeching most earnestly for victory of our arms. It was an exciting moment. The terrible cannonading ceased and there was an awful pause, just before their infantry attack. The rebel lines stretching as far as the eye could see, advanced to the charge. Our skirmishers fell back, every Union gun was turned upon the advancing column, and finally the firing ceased. The smoke arose and revealed the enemy fleeing in confusion. We had won a most glorious victory and that night Lee retreated leaving 15,000 wounded in our hands. I went down and told the boys in our hospital warning them not to shout as the rebels still held the town. Of course all were immensely pleased.
A word for our dead. Braver men never went to war. Captain Speed was gallant and noted for his amiable qualities. Well posted in military tactics, had he lived, he would have entered the regular army. Captain O'Donnell went out as a Second Lieutenant and his bravery and virtues had won for him a Captaincy. He was killed near the last rally, shot through the head. He had fought by my side for three hours and fell with his sword aloft, cheering on his men. The enemy stripped his body of clothing as they did all our dead, and it was impossible to identify his remains. I saw Lieutenant Dickey fall. He has the glorious honor of falling nearest the rebel lines of any soldier at Gettysburg. I picked him up myself. Lieutenant Grace commanded his company during the battle. He was wounded near the rail fence and taken to the Seminary. Being told that his wounds were mortal, he disposed of his effects and died on the 3d while the battle waged fiercest. The other Lieutenants were daring men, as well as all my non-commissioned officers and privates who fell on that terrible but glorious day. The whole regiment discharged its duty acceptably and won the admiration of the whole army of the Potomac.
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