Editor’s Note: This article was transcribed by Bryce Suderow and is included in a collection of articles from the Detroit Free Press. His transcription of this article is published here with his written permission.
FROM THE FIFTH INFANTRY
Near Petersburg, August 4
. . . On the 26th ult., broke camp, and after traveling all night, crossing the Appomattox and James, found ourselves in front of a portion of the enemy. Went in with a charge, drove rebels back, took possession of their works, and advancing in front of them commenced throwing up some of our own. The monitor Montauk and a wooden gunboat mounting a heavy battery assisted us materially. Our loss was light in the division and our regiment was only called upon to mourn the death of one veteran — the Colonel’s bay mare. She was shot under him while he was doing duty as general officer of the day, rallying the pickets who had been attacked by the rebel picket reserves. Remained there that night and next day and on the evening of the 28th started back, and after a tedious tramp of 15 miles, found ourselves back near the left of our line. . .
S1
Source:
- “From the Fifth Infantry,” Detroit Free Press, August 10, 1864, p. 3 col. 2 ↩