History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin, Part 128

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899. [from old catalog]; Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1298

USA > Wisconsin > Richland County > History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin > Part 128
USA > Wisconsin > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin > Part 128

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Voted, That J. H. Miner, D. E. Pease, J. B. MeGrew and D. L. Dows are hereby appointed as a committe to call upon all subject to the draft and urge the payment of the $28 recom- mended by meeting.

Voted That the names of those paying the $28, as requested, be published in The Observer. Voted, That the proceedings of this meeting be published in The Observer.

Nearly every one liable to draft met this de- mand upon them and the quota was filled. It was discovered after the peace, that the State of Wisconsin had furnished a considerably greater number of men than was her proportion, and Richland was one of the counties which had a greater number on the credit side of the ac count.

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

But two men had the honor to serve in the three month's service, from Richland county, and these were, Jesse S. Miller and William Worden.

The first man from Richland county that was killed in the late war, was George Ilamlin, a son of Charles Hamlin, of Richland Centre. This young man laid down a precious life on the altar of his country, at the battle of Pitts- burg Landing, April 2, 1862, and was at the time a member of the 11th Ill, Infantry, al- though a resident of this county.

In almost every one of the regiments that left the State for active service in the field, were some of the brave boys of Richland county. The first company that was raised in the county exclusively, however, was the Scott Guards, who enlisted in the spring of 1861, when the first flush of patriotism burned throughout the land. This company was assigned to the 5th regiment and given the letter HI as its designation. Dur- ing its four years the company saw much active service and the history of the gallant 5th will not suffer by comparison. On mustering into the service of the general government, the regi- ment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, its first active duty commencing in the spring of 1862, when they were placed in the front and right nobly did they their devoir, taking a foremost part in the battle of Williamsburg. Arriving on the field about ten o'clock, skir- mishiers were thrown out to the front and left, the regiment crossing Queen's creek and taking possession of the enemy's earthworks on the right. Here they again formed in line, three companies being deployed as skirmishers, facing the second work, of which the regiment also took possession, suffering severely from a galling fire, which the enemy opened from three other works on the front and left. The regiment again advanced about four hundred yards, two companies being sent forward to support the line of shirmishers, the remainder of the regi- ment supporting a battery which had taken a

position near some low farm houses, and were engaged in shelling the enemy's works.

This position was maintained until 5 o'clock in the afternoon when vastly superior forces made a retrograde movement highly necessary. Col. Cobb, in his official report, says :

"In falling back to the point indicated, the regiment was immediately unmasked by the buildings, and found itself in front of the ene- my's center ; a heavy regiment, afterwards ascertained to be the 5th North Carolina, which was supported on either flank by other troops, all of whom advanced rapidly, concentrating upon us a rapid and heavy fire. The regiment fell back in good order, every man loading as he retreated, wheeling and returning the fire of the enemy. with the rapidity and coolness of veter- ans. In this way they fell back to the line of battle of the brigade, which had already formed, taking position in the center, a space having been left for that purpose. A charge being then ordered, the whole line moved forward with a shout and a well directed fire, driving the enemy before them like chaff, they fleeing in wild confusion, leaving the field, over which they had just pursued the retiring line of the 5th, literally strewn with their dead and wounded, and leaving their battle flag behind them, which was captured by a member of the regiment.

This charge turned in our favor the wavering scale of battle. For this they received the thanks of Gen. MeClellan.

Gladly would we follow all the movements of this gallant regiment, of which the boys of Richland formed a part, did but space allow. Ilow they struggled at Spottsylvania, the seven days conflict on the Chickahominy, at Rappa- hannoek, Sailor's creek, Winchester, Petersburgh, Mary's Heights, Fredericksburgh and other fa- mous battles.

In the battle at Mary's Heights, the 5th Wisconsin headed the famous charge which carried a part of the almost impregnable Mary's Heights at Fredericksburg. Greeley says,

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

"Braver men never smiled on death, than those who climbed Mary's Hill on that fatal day." The one gleam of success in that gallant but disastrons fight, was the capture by the 5th Wisconsin of a rebel battery. All else was failure where "we had reason for sorrow but none for shame."

We have inserted here an account of the charge at Rappahanock Station, made by this famous regiment and its twin mate, the 6th Maine, as it is thought to be the only trne and most graphic account of one of the most heroic actions of the war, at the request of a number of the men of company HI, of the 5th.

A FAMOUS ASSAULT.

[By J. S. Anderson.]

On the 6th of November, 1863, the Army of the Potomac lay in camp in the vicinity of Warrenton, fronting the confederate army, commanded by Gen. Lee, which occupied the line of the Rappahanock river. A short time previous, Lee had repeated against Meade the tactics and strategy which had been so success- ful against Hooker and Pope, and passed around the right flank of the army of the Potomac. He had compelled Meade to fall back nearly to the vicinity of Alexandria.

Meade selected a position in the neighborhood of Centreville, and Lee, finding his antagonist had pursued a cantious and judicious course, and was ready to confront him upon ground of his own choice, fell back to the line of the Rappahannock, destroying the railroad and all other public property in his path. Meade, smarting at having been out-manœuvred, and anxious to deliver a return blow, followed him a little to the south and cast of Warrenton, striking the enemy a sharp blow at Bristoe Station, but failed to bring him to battle. Both armies rested near the line of the Rappahan- nock, Lee holding the fords and crossings of the river.

On the evening of the 6th of November, 1863, orders were issued to fill up to the maxi- mum with amunition, to have three day's

cooked rations in the haversacks and be ready to march at day-break. Always prompt, the bugle sounded at the headquarters of "Uncle John" Sedgwick, the grand old commander of the sixth corps, just as the sky began to redden in the east.

The first division of the sixth corps led the advanec; the third brigade, commanded by Gen. David Russell, and consisting of the 5th Wis- consin, 6th Maine, 49th and 119th Pennsylvania regiments in front. The 49th Pennsylvania led the entire column. After passing the picket line about two miles ont, a line of skirmishers was thrown out to the front and flanks of the column, and in this manner marched without opposition until about 2 o'clock, P. M., when at a distance of two and a half miles from the river, a small party of cavalry was struck.

They fell back without seriously attempting to oppose the advance, contenting themselves by observing our approach. We soon arrived near the range of hills bordering the river and the head of the column turned to the left so as to pass down the river. We marched down and parallel with the river, nearly to the rail- road and connected with the advance of the fifth corps, under Gen. Warren, which soon after came up in force. The second division of the sixth corps, as it came up, deployed by the right and supported a couple of batteries, which took position on a height from which the rebels could be seen in medium shell range. The enemy were found to be strongly en- trenched on the same side of the river, on which we were, holding a tete de pont back of which was a pontoon bridge.

Their works consisted of several strong forts. On the south side of the river, immediately in our front, on commanding ground, was an elab- orate redoubt pierced for four pieces of artillery, and containing two twelve pound Parrott guns taken originally from Milroy, at the capitula- tion of Winchester. Further to the rebel right, at a distance of six hundred feet, was a smaller redoubt, containing two three inch guns, said to

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

have been taken from us, one at Antietam, the other at Chancellorsville. This redoubt was on ground a little lower than the first, and com- manded the approaches along the line of the railroad and the river below. The two redoubts were connected by a strong line of rifle pits, and to the rebel left of the larger work, an elaborate and carefully constructed line of breastworks extended up the river and parallel with it for a long distance.

On the further side of the river, on a high hill, that dominated the whole, was a strong fort, in which were planted several heavy guns, 1 should judge field 32-pounders, and further up, on the same side of the river, a smaller redoubt.

These works were fully manned. In the works on the side of the river facing the federal troops there were two entire brigades. "Stone- wall" Jackson's famous old brigade was there, and with them also were the famous Louisiana Tigers. This Louisiana brigade was com- manded by Brig. Gen. Hayes, who as senior offleer commanded all the forces on that side of the river. The other brigade was that of Gen. Hoke, who commanded a brigade of three large regiments, the 6th, 54th and 57th North Caro- lina. They were the flower of the rebel army. Well dressed and splendidly equipped, they no doubt considered themselves a match for any equal number of men in the world. The Louis- iauaians ocenpied the two redoubts and the rifle pits connecting them and a small party of the line to their left of the larger redoubt, directly in front of the pontoon bridge. The line to their left was held by the North Carolina regi- ments. Our troops took some little time to de- ploy and form the desired connections with the fifth corps. As soon as the lines were formed, the skirmishers of the 49th Pennsylvania were called in and the entire right wing of the 6th Maine, under Maj. Fuller, deployed as skirmish- ers, with orders to push the rebel skirmishers back inside of their works if possible. This was quickly and gallantly done, the artillery aiding in the work, and the men lay down be-

hind stumps, fallen trees, hillocks, and any ob- ject which afforded shelter, keeping up a sharp but desultory fire on the entrenched line of the enemy.

In the meantime several batteries had taken position on the ridge in front of the in- fantry lines and had opened a heavy cannonade on the enemy's entrenehments. Shot and shell flew like hail through the forts on both sides of the river, but without any perceptible effect; the enemy's infantry would lie down in the rifle pits while the storm passed over them, perfectly protected. The artillery, shielded by the heavy curtains of earth, could not be si- lenced.

Gen. Russell, who commanded the first divis- ion of the sixth corps that day, solicited per- mission to make an attempt with his brigade to carry it by storm. The desired permission was given by Gen. Wright, who commanded the corps that day, in place of Gen. Sedgwick, who had charge of the entire right wing of the army, and preparations were immediately be- gun. It was trying ground for a charge. Be- tween onr lines and the enemy were two long ranges of hilly ground, with several hundred yards of broken deelivity between, at the bot- tom of which was a small stream.

The storming party selected consisted of the left wing of the 6th Maine, and the entire 5th Wisconsin. They were to be supported at some distance by the 49th and the 119th Pennsylva- nia. Just as the sun touched the horizon the left wing of the 6th Maine deployed on the summit of the first ridge, in the form of a strong skirmish line. The 5th Wisconsin formed a hundred yards behind them, and the whole moved forward.

When the 5th Wisconsin reached the little creek I have spoken of, two or three shells whizzed above the heads of the regiment and burst close by. In another moment the regi- ment would be under fire. There was an omi- nous growl along the line, and a half stop. "What is the matter, men ?" cried an officer.

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

"We're not loaded ; you're taking us in with empty guns," cried half a hundred voices. Some officer riding in the rear, I think one of Gen. Russell's staff, eried out, " Forward ! Your orders are to depend entirely on the bayonet." The only answer to this was the deepening of the hoarse murmur along the line and the rat- tling of the ramrods. Nearly every man had bitten off a cartridge, and was trying to shove it down his rifle barrel as he marched in line. Finally, Col. Tom Allen, who was riding in front of the regiment, had his attention called to the confusion, and ascertaining its cause, thundered out : "Ilalt ! Load at will, Load !" "Be quick, men," Col. Allen added. "Don't cap your guns," cried out the same staff officer from the rear again, "rely entirely on the bayo- net." The only answer was a half contemptu- ous growl, accompanied by the clicking of gun locks all along the line, as the bright pieces of copper were fitted to the tubes.

"That fellow must think we're a pack of greenhorns," the writer heard one of the men say.

The rifles being loaded, the line moved quietly and rapidly forward. The delay caused by loading had considerably increased the in- terval between the 6th Maine skirmishers and the line of battle. These gallant fellows had pushed fearlessly forward until they came up with the skirmish line formed by the right wing of the regiment, and the two thin lines together rushed headlong on the enemy.

There were less than 370 of them, officers and men, and they had charged nearly ten times their number. The audacity and impetu- osity of the attack was such that the enemy re- coiled for a moment before it, but seeing how small was the number of their antagonists, they sprang back to the attack and the work became hot.

No better regiment than the 6th Maine ever marched. They had never known defeat, they had never failed to break the enemy in a charge, nor to well back the waves of attack

from the front. Between them and the 5th Wisconsin there was a peculiar affection. The men of the two regiments had fraternized from the first. They were together all through the war and had helped each other in many a hard spot.

They had a right to expect that the 5th Wis- consin would not fail them, and they did not. As soon as the 5th Wisconsin passed over the erest of the second ridge, behind which they had loaded their guns, they became exposed to artillery fire. A number of shells were thrown at them, most of which passed over their heads. The deepening shades of the twilight and the rapidity with which they marched down the open slope disarranged the aim of the gun- ners so that they suffered little or none from this cause. As they came nearer the whistling rush of canister greeted their ears.and the regi- ment broke into the double quick. As they clambered over the swampy river the crakle and roar of musketry burst forth in their front, and as they climbed the bank on the other side they could see the Maine boys elinging to the parapets of the redoubts, or standing in little groups of twos and threes, at the very edge of the breastworks, with their bayonets at a charge, or loading their guns and casting anxious glances to see if help was coming. They were falling thick and fast. Then arose from that line of battle a terrible shout. It was not the usual charging cheer. It was a yell of rage, a shout of encouragement, an imprecation of vengeance all in one. Only one shout and then a terribly significant silence. They had no breath to waste. Knapsacks and haversacks were thrown right and left, and through the storm of bullets rushed the 5th Wisconsin to the rescue. A stalwart lieutenant of the 6th Maine leaped on the parapet of the large redoubt and shouted, " For God's sake, 5th Wisconsin, hurry up." The call was not needed. In an- other instant the line of battle reached the rebel works. The greater part of the 5th Wisconsin rushed over the parapets into the larger redoubt,

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

the remainder swept down the rifle pit to the left and threw itself into the smaller one. They emptied their rifles right and left among the enemy, the muzzles sometimes touching the bodies of their opponents.

Men were found dead next morning with their flesh scorched with powder. A terrible and indescribable struggle ensued. It was "hand to hand and foot to foot." The men from Maine and the men from Wisconsin, without a semblance of organization, fought side by side. The Louisianians, cut off from the pontoon bridge, and with a deep river in their rear, fought desperately. Muskets were seized and torn from the grasp of those who held them, and men grappled and fought with their fists. Inside the large redoubt the melee was frightful. The rebel artillery men stuck by their guns to the last, and fought savagely with rammers, hand spikes, swords or whatever was at hand. A handsome, enrly haired young man of the 6th Maine, who curiously enough bore the name of Jeff Davis, killed one of the rebels with a blow so terrible that the stock of his rifle was swept off, and the skull of his opponent shattered to fragments. The next instant he himself fell shot through the head. Sergeant Joe Goodwin, of company A, 5th Wisconsin, and one or two others of the regiment, wheeled one of the captured cannon around to the rear of the tray- erse on the left of the redoubt, and seeing a line being formed near the pontoon bridge, apparently to charge back upon the fort, hurled among them a double charge of canister intended for us, breaking them up and driving them away from the bridge. As he put his shoulder to the wheel to run the gun back, he fell, shot through the heart.

These two regiments carried on this terrible and unequal struggle for fifteen or twenty min- utes, and in that time sixteen out of twenty-one commissioned officers, and 123 out of 350 en- listed men of the 6th Maine had fallen, and of the atlı Wisconsin, seven officers and fifty-six men were killed or wounded. Without com-

mander, without organization, the men fought doggedly and desperately on. Lient. Col. IIar- ris, commander of the 6th Maine, lay in the ditch with his hip shattered. Col. Tom Allen, of the 5th Wisconsin, partially crippled in one arm by on old wound received in battle when with the Iron Brigade, was struck in the other arm with a rifle bullet, when he had nearly reached the works. Major Wheeler, then next in command, just recovering from an old wound received at the storming of Fredericksburg Heights, fell mortally wounded, near the foot of the slope. Horace Walker, of company A, senior captain of the regiment, fell dead with a rebel bullet through his brain, near the right angle of the large redoubt. Capt. Ordway, of company D, next on the list, fell headlong from the parapet, killed, as he was cheering on his men. Thus the four senior officers of the regi- ment were struck down. Near Walker, lay dead the gallant Capt. Furlong, of the 6th Maine, who had hitherto passed through all the battles of the regiment unhurt. Ile was a large, handsomely built man, and was known through the brigade as "the big captain." A warm hearted, genial fellow, he was brave as a lion, and fairly worshiped by his men.

Inside the fort, and a little to the left of Ordway, lay Lient. McKinley, of the 6th Maine, with his brains blown out. Around him too, lay half a dozen of his men, who had followed him to the death. Thus it was all along that terrible line. The air was filled with a medley of shouts, shrieks and groans, calls to surren- der, yells of defiance, imprecations and curses, and through and above all other sounds the un- ceasing crash and rattle of musketry. The artillery on both sides was silent, for federals and confederates were so mingled together that they could not tell friend from foe.

That portion of the storming party which had passed to the left of the larger redoubt swept down the rifle pits to and beyond the smaller redoubt, crowding the enemy back inch by inch, toward the river at theirright flank and

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

rear. As they were broken up they would pass up toward the pontoon bridge, thus strengthen- ing their fellows in the fight, going on around the larger redoubt. A number of them, how- ever, were cut off, and attempted to escape by passing out of their works at the extreme right and wading the river near the abutments of the railroad bridge. Here a terrible affair hap- pened. The water was up nearly to their arm- pits, and as they were in the stream the Union soldiers, mad with the rage of battle, pushed clown to the water's edge and poured a pitiless fire upon them. Many sunk, wounded, in the water, with a bubbling shriek, losing thus what- ever chance of life was left after the bullet had done its work. The horrors of the situation struck even the battle maddened soldiers, and suspending their fire, they shouted to the con- federates to come back and surrender. The greater part of those in the river started back to surrender, but when they came near the shore an officer stepped from behind a stone abutment and ordered them to return again, en- forcing his order by flourishing his sword. The men again wheeled around in the water and be- gan splashing their way to the opposite shore, and again the pitiless hail of bullets was show- ered upon them. At last they gave up the at- tempt and sheltered themselves behind the ruined abutments of the bridge, where they cried out for "quarter," and about seventy-five surrendered.

I have no means of knowing who the officer was that prevented his men from surrendering sooner, and thus kept up the useless slaughter, but I have reason to believe it was Col. Good- win, the commander of the Louisiana brigade, who surrendered afterwards with his men.

Meanwhile, and as soon as a lodgment had been effected on the enemy's works, Gen. Russell had sent back to bring up the 49th and 119th Pennsylvania in support. There seemed to be an almost interminable delay in their coming up, and staff officers were sent in quick succession to hurry their movements. At last

they came, and with a cheer the 49th and the greater part of the 119th went up to the assis- tance of their comrades. They were none too soon. The rebels had prepared for a last des- perate attempt to regain the large redoubt, from which an incessant storm of bullets was sweeping the pontoon bridge, striking down all who attempted to escape.

They had gathered in force as near to the bridge as they dared. A part of the force on their left, which had not been closely engaged, was brought up to assist the disordered ranks of the Louisianians, and a hot enfilading fire had al- ready been opened on the overtaxed forces in and around the large redoubt. This fire, pass- ing through the thin and shattered ranks of the 5th Wisconsin and 6th Maine, smote full on the right wing of the 119th Pennsylvania and threw them into disorder. Many of them cast them- selves into the dry ditch at the foot of the slope, and added to the horror and confusion of the moment by returning the fire of the rebels, regardless of the fact that a line of their own comrades was between the two fires. They were, in a moment, however, gallantly rallied by their major and led up in line with the rest.

And now the lines thus reinforced swept on. The rebels pushed to the river's brink, threw down their arms by scores, and were sent to the rear. The enemy were entirely swept away from their extreme right up to the large redoubt and along the rifle pits to a point in front of the pontoon bridge.

The last stroke was now given. Gen. Russell at last seeming to realize the fact that he had led his brigade into a battle against large odds, had sent orders to Gen. Upton, commanding the second brigade of the same division to charge with two of his regiments on the right. That officer selected the 5th Maine and 121st New York regiments, and forming them in line of battle behind the crest nearest to the rebel lines, ordered them to pile up their knapsacks and all other superfluous weight; and then marched rapidly forward. As they neared the

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

rifle pits they received a scattering volley of musketry. "Steady! forward men! don't fire a shot," shouted Upton, and with a ringing cheer, forward they go over the rifle pits, with a rush, crowding the enemy to the river bank, where they surrendered, and now the conflict is over. The sullen prisoners were marched to the rear. Some few escaped up the river in the darkness, which by this time had settled down like a pall. A few stray swimmers plunged into the water, and swam over to tell the tale to their comrades across the river. The rattle of the musketry died away into silence, and soon the lanterns were flashing over the field as the sad work of gathering up the wounded was begun.

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History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin, Part 128

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899. [from old catalog]; Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company Number of Pages: 1298

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899. [from old catalog]; Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1298