Editor’s Note: This article was transcribed by Jackie Martin.
FROM THE NINTH ARMY CORPS.
_______
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE INQUIRER.
PROVISIONAL SECOND PENNA. ARTILLERY,
CAMP NEAR COAL HARBOR, VA., June 7, 1864.
This regiment, recently organized from the surplus men belonging to Colonel GIBSON’S Artillery, was detached from duty at Fort Ethan Allen, Va., on April last, and assigned to the dangerous duty of guarding the trains running from Alexandria to Brandy Station, which the regiment continued to do until General GRANT commenced its march to Richmond, at which time the Second Provisional were attached to BURNSIDE’S Ninth Army Corps. The regiment has participated in the terrible conflicts of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania Court House, and been subjected to all the fatigue and privations incident to long and forced marches, and stood the storms of the bloodiest battles ever fought on the Continent. The men have endured without a murmur the hardships, worthy of older and more experienced troops, and manifest the most fervent zeal in the cause of their country, evincing a fixed determination to participate in the downfall of Richmond and the annihilation of the Rebel army.
The regiment has lost, since crossing the Rapidan, two hundred and fifty men in killed, wounded and prisoners. Captain SAMUEL H. DAVIS, of Company C, was killed before the order to muster into the United States service the officers of the regiment was received. He was shot by a Rebel sharp-shooter while visiting our picket line, as officer of the day, on the 1st inst. He was in the act of cautioning his men of the danger to which they were exposed, and to keep well covered from the view of the cold-blooded murderers who always comprise the front of the enemy’s lines, when he became their first victim, a ball entering his right side and passing through his body and left arm. He died within an hour, perfectly conscious of his condition. He was a brave and intelligent officer, and commanded the highest respect from all who knew him. His loss will be severely experienced by his men, as well as the officers of the regiment. On the evening of the same day a heavy battle ensued, in which our regiment was engaged, during which Captain GEORGE W. WEBB and seventy men, of Company F; First Lieutenant ANDERSON of Company H; Second Lieutenant DAVID F. WISWUNDER, of Company F, and Second Lieutenant JOS. H. HARVEY were taken prisoners.
In obedience to special orders from the War Department, the following named officers, assigned to duty in the Provisional Second Artillery, by special order, were mustered into the United States service, a camp near Coal Harbor, on the 7th inst., by order of the Secretary of War:—
Col Thomas Wilhelm 1st Lieut Charles Maurer.
Lieut Col Ben G Barney. 2d Lieut Stephen B[?]gel.
Major M H Marsland. 1st Lieut Thos C Sharp.
Ad[illegible] W B Phillips. 2d Lieut Samuel Clark.
Capt John Eaton. 1st Lieut Benj F Creigh.
Capt Jesper M Holman. 1st Lieut John Kelton.
Capt Jos W Ha[?]g 2d Lieut John Keller.
Capt Christian [illegible] 2d Lieut Wm Davis.
Capt Reese J Mallard. 2d Lieut W A De Corsey.
Capt B F Smiley. 2d Lieut J B Frick.
1st Lieut Daniel L Dobbs. 2d Lieut Al[illegible] J Marsland.
2d Lieut James W [illegible]. 1st Lieut W H Ross, Q M.
The officers and men have the most implicit confidence in General GRANT’S ability to accomplish the herculean task before him. All are in good health and spirits, and look forward to a speedy termination of the bloody contest.1
Source:
- “From the Ninth Army Corps.” Philadelphia Inquirer. June 15, 1864, p. 2 col. 1 ↩