USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > History of the Twenty-fourth Michigan of the Iron brigade, known as the Detroit and Wayne county regiment > Part 19
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41
After the reading of the above poem, Colonel Morrow made a long speech exhorting all to rally to the support of the President, to stay up his hands as Joshua stayed up the hands of Moses of old. He bore the new flag back to the regiment and the following color guard volunteered to carry and protect it :
Color Bearers : Sergeant George R. Welch of C and Corporal Thomas Saunders of K. Color Guard: Corporals George Higbee of B, Patrick Coffee of E, Marshall Bills of H, Joseph U. B. Hedger of I, Amos B. Cooley of F, William Thompson of A, John T. Paris of G and Walter Morley of D.
Several of these were promoted to Corporals for this honorable and dangerous task. The old flag was cut in pieces and divided up among the men of the Twenty-fourth as mementos.
Colonel Morrow having returned to the regiment on May 1, 1864, immediately put it in shape for the campaign about to open. Marching orders were received on the 3d of May. The following was the roster of the officers of the regiment at that date, present for duty :
Colonel, HENRY A. MORROW.
Captain, GEO. W. BURCHELL, B. JOHN WITHERSPOON, C.
Lt .- Col., W. W. WIGHT.
Major, A. M. EDWARDS.
GEORGE HUTTON, E.
Adjutant, SERIL CHILSON.
EDWIN E. NORTON, H.
Surgeon, J. H. BEECHI.
WM. R. DODSLEY, K.
Asst. Surgeon, GEO. W. TOWAR.
Ist Lieut., MICHAEL DEMPSEY, A.
Chaplain, WM. C. WAY.
Qr. Master, DAVID CONGDON.
16
W. B. HUTCHINSON, C.
Com. Sergt., C. H. MCCONNELL.
GEO. W. HAIGH, D.
Qr. M. Sergt., ALONZO EATON.
BENJ. W. HENDRICKS, F.
Hosp. Steward, E. D. WALLACE.
E. B. WELTON, G.
Prin. Musician, EDWIN COTTON,
E. B. WILKIE, I.
66 GEO. H. PINKNEY, K.
Sergt. Major, A. F. ZIEGLER.
GEO. A. Ross, B.
228
HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
Captain Richard S. Dillon of A was Acting Assistant Inspec- tor-General, and Lieutenant Andrew J. Connor of E was Acting Aide, on the Iron Brigade staff. Both had been appointed to such duties January 6, 1864. Captain John M. Farland of D had been in the hospital in Washington for treatment since March 20, 1864. Captain William Hutchinson of G was in Michigan on recruiting service. Of the thirty-nine commissioned officers originally with the regiment, including the surgeons and chaplain, but ten were left at this time, besides three who were held in Southern prisons: Captain Gordon of I, First Lieutenant Sprague of F, and Second Lieutenant Whiting of A.
NELSON ENT CO.
THE OLD FLAG.
1
CHAPTER XII.
GRANT'S CAMPAIGN -- 1864.
BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS.
M AY 1, 1864, the Army of the Potomac lay along the north side of the Rapidan, and Lee's army was well intrenched a few miles south of that stream. Grant had 99,000 men and 274 guns; Lee had 62,000 men and 224 guns. Grant had the most men and reserves from the North to fill up his depleted ranks. Lee had no such reserve from the South to draw on. Boys of seventeen and old men of fifty-five had been gathered into his ranks and the last successful levy had been made. But Lee had the advantage in defensive and inner positions, the country being better adapted to a defensive than offensive campaign. At midnight of Tuesday, May 3, the bugle once more sounded the fall-in call, and the army began its march on the great forward movement to exhaust the military resources of the rebellion.
Left Camp mean" may 4, 1864.
Brandy sta.
- E
Culpeper C.H
Rappahannock
R
StwEnsburg
Pony mt.
S
O. K.A. R.R.
Germania Ford
Rapidan River
ROUTE OF IRON BRIAGDE TO THE RAPI DAN.
(229)
230
HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
Soon after midnight on Wednesday morning, May 4, the Twenty-fourth Michigan with the Iron Brigade and Fifth Corps, broke camp near Culpepper. They passed around to the south of that town, thence by Pony Mountain through Stevensburg, about twenty miles, and on to Germanna Ford by 10 o'clock A. M. The march was very hard and the weather warm. After a halt of an hour, it crossed the Rapidan without opposition, on pontoons, and continued along the Germanna Plank Road to its junction with the Orange Court House Turnpike; then east to the Wilderness Tavern, and bivouacked where Grant and Meade came up the next morning, Thursday, May 5, and made their headquarters during the battle.
The Wilderness is a few miles west of Chancellorsville battle- ground and is so named from its makeup of dense second-growth woods and entangled thickets amid deep scrub pines, in which troops could be seen but a few rods away, nor could artillery be used to advantage.
Early this morning, May 5, the Twenth-fourth was ordered out, and coffee over, it was drawn up in line and men and guns counted. There were present 302 men in the ranks, (some of whom were recruits), three field officers besides the Adjutant and 14N Sergeant-Major, and thirteen line officers, a total of 320.
Shortly after the roll had been called, the Corps took up its line of march for Parker's store on the Orange Court House Plank Road, Crawford's Division leading, followed by Wadsworth's, with Robinson's and Griffin's bringing up the rear. The Corps advanced along a woody road, and shortly after the GERMANNA CROSSING. head of the column had reached the open ground at Chewning's farm, about a mile from Parker's Store, the enemy's skirmishers were encountered. A halt was ordered. The head of the column countermarched a short distance, turned to the right and formed a line of battle at right angles with the woody road, facing southwest. Griffin was ordered to form his Division on the right of the Orange Turnpike and Wadsworth on the left, supported on the left by Dennison's Brigade of Robinson's Division. As the line of battle was formed, it placed the Iron Brigade at the left of the
231
GRANT'S CAMPAIGN-1864.
Division and the Twenty-fourth Michigan on the left of the Iron Brigade. On its right was the Nineteenth Indiana, followed by the Second and Seventh Wisconsin on the right. The Seventh Indiana and Sixth Wisconsin were held in reserve. In these positions the two Divisions, about 10 o'clock, were ordered forward to attack the enemy. Pushing through the dense thickets, at times marching by the flank to close up with the right, then again in line, the two divisions advanced about one mile with the skirmish line in front. Here the Confederate line of battle was encountered, two lines deep, made up of troops from General Ewell's Corps. The firing at once became brisk all along the line, and the battle of the Wilderness had begun in earnest. After a short but very sharp engagement, the Iron Brigade with its old-time yell, charged the enemy, completely destroying the first line of battle which consisted of Jones' Brigade of Johnson's Division, capturing about 300 prisoners, the Twenty-fourth Michigan securing the battle flag of the Forty-eighth Virginia of Jones' Brigade. This flag was taken from a Confederate color-bearer by Major Albert M. Edwards of the Twenty-fourth Michigan. This act was witnessed by Sergeant William C. Bates of Company A of the latter regiment. We are thus particular because some accounts attribute the capture of that flag to another regiment. Major Edwards carried the flag to the rear. When Colonel Morrow was brought to the regiment on a stretcher after he was wounded, he made a brief good-bye speech to the boys.
Major Edwards tore the captured flag' from its staff and put it in Colonel Morrow's haversack. The latter took it to the hospital in Washington with him, and then to Detroit where it was on exhibition. It was afterwards placed in the archives of the War Department at Washington.
Pushing ahead for the second line of the enemy without waiting to reform its own ranks, the Iron Brigade was soon engaged in another sharp fight with this second line which proved to be the "Stonewall Brigade." Driving them back, they were believed to have retired from the field. Instead, the commanding officer of the "Stonewall Brigade," having discovered that the left flank of the Iron Brigade was entirely unprotected, had fallen back beyond the range of the Union guns, reformed his ranks, moved by his right flank and placed his brigade on the left flank and rear of the Twenty-fourth Michigan, and between it and Dennison's brigade which should have protected that flank .* McCandless' Brigade of Crawford's Division had been
*An officer of the Stonewall Brigade, who was in the battle, during a conversation with a member of the Twenty-fourth Michigan some years ago, stated that his Brigade executed the movement described above3
232
HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
ordered to make connection with the left of the Iron Brigade when it advanced through the woods, but had failed to keep up with the rapid advance of Wadsworth's Division. This movement of the enemy compelled the left of Wadsworth's Division to fall back in some confusion and thus all the advantage gained by the hard fighting
Stonerall Brigade, 1st position.
Stone wall Brigade, 2nd /position.
Iron' Brigade, 2nd position
Creek
Jones Brigace.
Iron Brigade, Ist position.
24 th Mich .
19th Ina
2 nd ITis
7th Wis
6th 1115
7th Ina.
Dennisoris Brigade
The IKilderness May 5th, 1864.
was sacrificed by the failure of Dennison's Brigade properly to protect the left flank of the Division.
Historians generally have asserted that in the advance the left of Wadsworth's Division changed its direction so as to project its left flank directly in front of the enemy's line of battle. Possibly the direction man have been changed, but upon positive proof by actors in the fight, the line of the enemy was struck squarely in front by the
GRANT'S CAMPAIGN-1864.
233
Twenty-fourth Michigan, and not until that movement of the " Stonewall Brigade " described above, did the Iron Brigade receive a single shot from the left flank and rear. Some of the men of the Twenty-fourth Michigan were captured before they had gone twenty feet to the rear, running directly into the Confederate lines.
The whole line of Wadsworth's Division fell back through the woods in considerable confusion and reformed near the Lacey House. Here the troops were ordered to throw up intrenchments, and while engaged in this work, Wadsworth's Division was ordered to stop and march to the left to support the right of the Second Corps. Moving into a dense woods, Stone's Pennsylvania Brigade in the advance, the
GERMANNAK? FORD
A
N
MILS
CULPEPPER FORD
ELYS FORD
610 CORPS
RUN
J. S. WELEORD
GREENWOOD MINE
WILDERNESS
W JACKSON
SAW MALL!
EWELL
TAVERN
MAY LADY A GRANT'S HEAD QUARTERS
DEMPSEY
FRIDAY & LARAP YHAY OUT
CHARTER
HICENSCN
HATON' RAWKIAS CRUREI
· POWELL
DOWDALL
OHANSELLOR
O. BLOOWDALLS TAVERN
-
7
LAIKVIEW
-ROAD
BIRNEY :
SPRING
REREL BATTERY
PLANK
ER
AFARKER'S STORE
HANCOCK
A.P.HILL FIRST DAY
TURNADES
LONGSTREET
W-
· E
-
GRANTS ABAD QHAR
S
TODDE TAVERNA
CATHARPENT ROAD
CORBINS BRIDCB
RIVER
MEETING HOUSE?
WHITE HALL QUARTZ MILLY
COURT'
RIV
HANCOCK IN . RESERVE
-
ORAIO9-
RCDISON
Po
SHARPEN
ROAD
THE WILDERNESS BATTLE-FIELD.
ROUTE TAKEN .BY SECOND CORPS
B.V. HOẠCH
GTA CORPS
MILLI
HOLD WILDERNES
Any ANIN
EHANOL
WADSWORTH
GETTY
QUARTERS SIE CORPS
REBEL BATTERY SECOND DAY
ROAD
THILL & LONGSTREET SECOND DAY
HO BY WAICH THE &!T &E MY
>> ROAD 'BY WATER EWELL & HILL
REACHED . SPOTTSYLVANIA
FIRST
CERKANNA
ER
JACCES MILL FORD
234
HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
lines of the enemy were soon developed, and a heavy musketry fire resulted between this brigade and the enemy's skirmishers. The Twenty-fourth Michigan in this movement and the fighting of the next day was faced by the rear ranks. The enemy retired slowly and about 8 o'clock P. M. the firing died away. The troops of Wadsworth's Division laid on their arms all night in close proximity to the enemy, the skirmish lines of the opposing forces not being over one hundred feet apart. Frequent alarms were given during the night which resulted in the killing and wounding of a number of the Twenty-fourth who were out on picket.
To show how close the lines were and the density of the forest, the skirmish line on the right of the Twenty-fourth was ordered forward, when a voice rang out a few paces in front, " Halt ! who comes there?" "Friends," was the answer. "What division do you belong to?" "The Fourth," was the reply. "What State do you come from?" " New York." The reply came back "shoot the - yankees." Many from both armies in looking for water during the night, found themselves prisoners within the opposing lines, so close were they and so thick the underbrush.
About five o'clock on the morning of the 6th, General Birney's Division of Hancock's Corps advanced past the left of the Twenty-fourth Michigan, in line of battle, and marched straight for the enemy's lines, the whole of Wadsworth's Division advancing at
IRON BRIGADE FIGHTING IN THE WILDERNESS.
235
GRANT'S CAMPAIGN-1864.
the same time, General Rice's Brigade forming the first line and the Iron Brigade the second and third. The battle was resumed with determination on both sides. Warren attacked Ewell's right which had been strengthened during the night. The attacks on both sides were frequent and persistent. It was learned from prisoners that Longstreet was expected with 12,000 men to attack our left. Hence Wadsworth's Division, as above noted, had been sent to assist Hancock. Returning to the Iron Brigade, in a few minutes a heavy fire of musketry was opened by the contending lines, the woods being too heavy to permit the use of artillery. The Confederate line, consisting of Hill's Corps, had been driven back at all points, when Longstreet's Corps came up, formed quickly, and at once attacked Birney's and Wadsworth's Divisions. A very severe conflict ensued between these Divisions and the enemy, the lines at times swaying backwards and forwards.
The Union troops by this time had approached near the open ground of Tapp's farm which was held by the enemy's artillery. At once the guns were turned upon the Union lines with deadly effect, and as not a single gun could be brought into action by our forces, the result was very demoralizing to the troops subjected to the heavy fire, coming at the time when Longstreet's fresh troops were charging upon them. The Union line began to waver, break up and fall back in confusion, finally giving way. The troops of the Second Corps fell back to their earthworks on the Brock Road from where they had started in the morning, while Wadsworth's fell back to the open ground near the Lacey House. Some of the Twenty-fourth getting mixed up with Birney's troops in the retreat, fell back with them to the Brock Road and aided in repulsing the Confederates when they charged on Hancock's position. Twice they massed their forces and fell upon the Federal position, but were repulsed each time with terrible slaughter. On the afternoon of the 6th, the Iron Brigade built earthworks and remained there all day the 7th, the opposing lines only being known by the continuous yelling.
While gallantly trying to rally his flying troops who were hard pressed, General Wadsworth had two horses shot under him, and he was soon after mortally wounded, dying in the hands of the enemy. His death produced profound sorrow. A man of large wealth, he offered his services to the government and served without pay, nobly sacrificing his life in its defence. The Union loss by his death was equalled only by that of General Reynolds. Colonel Williams of the Nineteenth Indiana was killed and General Robinson wounded. Several leading Confederate Generals were also killed and wounded, including General Longstreet. The loss on both sides was fearful.
236
HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
GENERAL JAMES S. WADSWORTH, KILLED IN THE WILDERNESS, MAY 6, 1864.
.
The woods took fire in many places and it is estimated that 200 Union wounded perished in the flames and smoke, among whom were several of the Twenty-fourth Michigan, undoubtedly, as they have never been heard from since. The Union loss in killed and wounded was 12,485 in addition to the captured. The following were the losses of the Twenty-fourth Michigan in the Battle of the Wilderness, May 5 and 6, 1864. Those marked with a star (*) occurred on the second day, all the rest occurred on the first day of the battle:
DIED ON THE BATTLE-FIELD.
Captain GEORGE HUTTON. of E. Body supposed to have been burned up in the woods.
First Lieutenant WILLIAM B. HUTCHINSON,* of C.
Sergt. Charles Pinkerton, C.
James McKee,* C.
Erastus W. Hine, F.
William McLaughlin, C,
Oren S. Stoddard, F.
Theodore Palmer, D.
Corp. Anton Krapohl, B.
John Stoffold, F.
John A. Bartlett, C.
Edwin Delong, G.
Edward H. Hamer, G.
Gilbert Dubuc, H.
Henry McNames (R), H.
George Teufil, H.
Seymour L. Burns, I.
Francis E. Miller, K.
James Malley, A.
Privates Burns and McNames were desperately wounded and their bodies are supposed to have been burned up in the woods.
237
GRANT'S CAMPAIGN-1864.
WOUNDED.
Colonel HENRY A. MORROW, severely in leg.
Captain JOHN WITHERSPOON, breast, C. First Lieutenant BENJAMIN W. HENDRICKS, wrist, G Sergeant Major Augustus F. Ziegler, (N. C. S.)
Sergt. Joseph R. Boyle, neck, E.
Wm. H. Hoffman, breast, H.
Albert E. Bigelow, leg, I.
Corp. Jas. P. Horen, arm amputated, A. Peter N. Girardin,* hand, A. George A. McDonald, ear, A.
Clark Eddy, scalp, C.
James Ford, hand, G.
Charles Stoflet, knee, G.
Thomas Burnett (R ), hand, H.
Michael Donavan, arm, H.
Edward L. Farrell, body, H.
Jacob H. Canfield, knee, I.
Albert Peyscha, both legs, A.
Edward B. Chope, contusion, B.
Robert H. Collison (R.), scalp, B.
John B. McCrudden,* hand, B.
Wm A. Herrendeen, knee, C.
Frank T. Stewart, hand, C.
Robert C. Bird, leg, D.
Samuel Brown* (R.), hand, D.
George W. Kynoch, w'd, C.
Andrew B. Lanning, C.
Nelson Pooler, C.
E. Ben Fischer, D.
Eugene F. Nardin, w'd, I.
George P. Roth, D.
66 Augustus Hussey, H.
Emile Mettetal, I.
William Jewell, G.
Corp. Wm. H. Blanchard, A. Mark T. Chase, w'd, A.
Charles W. Fuller, A.
Clement Saunier, (R), G.
.. John M. Andres, w'd, D.
Philip T. Dunroe, H.
Rice F. Bond, E. Levi S. Freeman, F.
George M. Riley, H.
Israel Harris, H.
Hiram Bentley, I.
James S. Innes, I.
Jonathan D. Chase, A.
George W. Ormsbee, I
Alexis Declaire, A.
Joseph Peyette (R.), I.
Francis Griffin (Recruit), A.
Max Pischa (R), K.
Robert Phillips, A. Lewis A. Baldwin, B
Frederick Smoots (R.), K.
Samuel Fury, B.
MISSING.
Peter Velie (Recruit), B.
Julius Schultz (R.), A.
Charles R. Dobbins, C.
Samuel Reed,* (R.) hand, D
Joseph Collins, (R.) arm, E. John Moynahan, body, E.
John G. Klink, hand, F.
Frank H. Pixley,* body, F.
Samuel Brown, thumb, G.
Aiken Holloway, bowels, C. John A. Sherwood, arm, C. John W. Proctor, thumb, E.
Peter Desnoyer, (R.), arm, A.
Palmer Rhoades, body, I.
William J. Chase, hand, K. Charles Gaffney, body, K.
Isaac I. Green, leg, K.
Isaac M. Jenner, hand, K.
Barney J. Litogot, hand, K.
Charles A. Sutliff, hand, K.
CAPTURED AND TAKEN TO SOUTHERN PRISONS.
Capt. EDWIN E. NORTON, H. Sergt. William C. Bates, w'd, A.
George Dingwall, A.
Alfred C. Willis, C.
Patrick Connelly, F.
Marion Hamilton, G.
Andrew Musberger (R), G.
Marquis L. Lapaugh, H.
Henry L. Houk, I. Joseph U. B. Hedger, w'd, I.
James Johnson (R.), I.
Wilber F. Straight, w'd, K.
Summary :- Died on Battle-field, 19; wounded, 42 ; wounded and captured also, 7 ; other prisoners, 39. Total 107, equal to one-third of the regiment in two days. The casualties of the rest of the Iron Brigade, in this and the rest of the engagements will appear in a later chapter.
238
HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
THE SITUATION. - LEFT FLANK MOVEMENT.
The fearful losses of the past two days satisfied both commanders, Grant and Lee, that no advantage could accrue to either, by a renewal of the bloody contest in the Wilderness. Saturday morning, May 7, found each army behind its intrenched position. The contest so far had allowed no maneuvering and little generalship. The armies were but a few rods apart and yet scarcely able to see each other's works, the noise of the guns and cheers of the men only, disclosing their positions. Like two huge serpents they had rolled against each other and fought till each seemed tired out. It was neither a victory nor a defeat for either, and there was grim determination on both sides. The day was spent with but little fighting and with some changes of position, the Iron Brigade moving its line half a mile to the right in rear of some other troops.
General Lysander Cutler who had thus far been in command of the Iron Brigade now took command of the Division in place of General Wadsworth, killed, and Lieutenant-Colonel Robinson of the Seventh Wisconsin assumed command of the Iron Brigade.
Before setting out on this campaign, General Grant had resolved upon the "left flank movement " to Richmond, by which was meant, that in case of failure to defeat or rout the enemy in one place, he would flank him out of such position and compel him to fight on another field. This was done by moving by night one corps, usually the right, around to the left of his army, and so on. About 9 o'clock Saturday night May 7, Grant began his first left flank movement, towards Spottsylvania Court House, about thirteen miles distant. Lee · discovered the movement and started his army by a parallel road about a mile south, for the same place, he moving on the chord and Grant on the arc of the circle. (See map on page 233.)
FIGHTING AT LAUREL HILL (FIELD OF SPOTTSYLVANIA ).
Warren's Corps (in which was the Iron Brigade ) started by way of Todd's Tavern on the Brock Road, but by reason of impeding trains, fallen trees, and the enemy's cavalry, it did not reach Spottsylvania, Lee's forces getting there first. The Iron Brigade arriving at Todd's Tavern, seven miles distant, at daylight, Sunday morning, May 8. The enemy held Laurel Hill a position about half way between Todd's Tavern and Spottsylvania, and before which the Iron Brigade arrived at 8 o'clock. While some of the Brigade was preparing coffee, the Brigade was ordered into line, the men drinking their coffee on
239
GRANT'S CAMPAIGN-1864.
the run. Forming under fire of the enemy's artillery, they advanced to the assault of the enemy's intrenchments on Laurel Hill. The Twenty-fourth Michigan was in the center of the Iron Brigade and the Second and Seventh Wisconsin on its flanks. After a severe contest they had to fall back to the edge of the woods where they reformed and again advanced, driving the enemy over the ground where they had just fought. Taking a strong position 300 yards from the enemy they fortified it with earthworks. Several times the
TODD'S TAVERN.
enemy charged upon these works but were repulsed each time. In this position they spent the night. In losses the Twenty-fourth had suffered some but not severely, but the losses in the rest of the army were great. Two of our boys in Battery B were killed, William Irving of I and Isaac L. Vandecar of K.
[One of the touching incidents of this slaughter was the death of Isaac Vandecar from the Twenty-fourth Michigan. For some time he had taken care of "Old Tartar" (Old " Bob-tail"), who was always esteemed one of the most important and meritorious "comrades" in the Battery. Ike was serving on one of the guns and an exploding case shot literally made a sieve of him-no less than four missiles hitting the poor boy. He was struck in the face, breast, abdomen and groin by shot. Captain Stewart said to him, "Van, my poor boy, what can I do for you ?" "Nothing," replied Ike, with perfect composure, "I know I must die, and I want you to see that " Old Tartar" has good care after I am gone."-From the Cannoneer.]
Monday, May 9. The Iron Brigade early made additions to their works and an abatis in front. There was active picket firing during the day, one shot killing General Sedgwick. Lieutenant-Colonel W. W. Wight having gone to the hospital, the command of the Twenty-fourth devolved upon Major A. M. Edwards. In the evening the enemy advanced, driving in the pickets of the Iron Brigade, and established a body of their skirmishers in a thick wood but fifty yards from our breastworks, but a volunteer party from the Seventh (16)
240
HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
Wisconsin and a detail from the Twenty-fourth Michigan drove them back.
Tuesday, May 10. Skirmishers were pushed forward at noon through thick woods to develop the character of the enemy's position, followed by the Iron Brigade. The enemy's skirmishers were forced back into their works, and our men got up near enough to learn that Lee had strengthened his lines with heavy artillery throughout, and had a flank fire along his lines, his works being concealed in great part by dense woods. At 4 P. M. his position was assaulted by Crawford's and Cutler's Divisions. The forest of dead pine and cedar trees with hard, sharp-pointed branches made it very difficult for our troops to advance under the heavy artillery and musketry fire which they met at the outset.
Moving forward into the open ground near the enemy's works with disordered ranks, in face of the terrible enfilading fire, they pressed on, some to the abatis, others of the Seventh Wisconsin to the very crest of their parapet, but such as survived were driven back with heavy loss. In this attack, Cutler's Division was formed in three lines, the Iron Brigade being in the third line. The enemy broke the first line and sent them over the left wing of the Twenty-fourth Michigan which broke and ran for their works, but immediately reformed and joined the regiment. General Rice, commanding the Second Brigade of this division was mortally wounded. The assault
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.