The New York press at the time made the following comment on the part taken by the 17th at South Mountain:

"The enemy, as usual, sought every advantage, particularly that of numerous stone fences, behind which they assailed our men fiercely. But the impetuous charges of some of our regiments, particularly that of the 17th Michigan, but two weeks from home, carried everything before it, and the dead bodies of the enemy on that mountain crest lay thick enough for stepping-stones. The greatest slaughter at this point was among General Drayton's brigade, composed mainly of South Carolinians and some Georgians. Nearly the whole of this brigade was either killed, wounded, or captured."

Extract from the report of Captain F. W. Swift, covering operations of his regiment on November 16th, 20th, and 25th, 1863:

"On the 16th we marched for Knoxville. Our regiment being detached as rear guard, was attacked by the enemy's advance guard about half-past 9 A. M., near Campbell's Station, and after severe fighting through the day, we retired during the night to Knoxville. Lieut. A. P. Stevens was mortally wounded, and died at Knoxville December 11th following.

"On the night of the 20th the regiment was ordered to burn a house occupied by the enemy's sharpshooters. This was done successfully; but while returning to camp, Lieut. Josiah Billingsly was killed by a shell from one of the enemy's guns.

"On the 25th a musket ball from the enemy's skirmish line struck Lieutenant-Colonel Comstock, wounding him so severely that he died the same evening."

THE EIGHTEENTH INFANTRY.

In the summer of 1864 the 18th Michigan, a regiment composed of as fine and intelligent a body of men as went to the field during the entire war, was known wherever it served as one of the best disciplined, as well as one of the most reliable in the service.

Its rendezvous was at Hillsdale, and for the purpose of organization the camp was placed in charge of Hon. Henry Waldron. On the 4th of September the regiment left Hillsdale, in command of Colonel Charles C. Doolittle, under orders to report at Cincinnati.

On the 1st of November, 1862, this regiment was stationed at Lexington, Ky., and remained at that point until February 21, 1863, when it marched toward Danville, arriving on the 22d. On the 24th, with the forces under General Carter, it retreated from Danville to the Kentucky river, skirmishing with the rebels under General Pegram during the retreat. On the 28th the regiment joined in the pursuit of Pegram, following the rebels as far as Buck Creek, making a long and rapid march, partly over a rough, mountainous road. On April 2d it returned to Stanford. On the 7th it was ordered to Lebanon, and thence proceeded by railroad to Nashville, arriving at Nashville April 14th.

The regiment was stationed at this point, doing provost guard duty, until the 11th of June, 1864. On the 12th it arrived at Decatur, Ala., where it formed part of the garrison. On the 28th it made part of a force which surprised the camp of Paterson's brigade of rebel cavalry, at Pond Springs, Ala., capturing all their camp equipage, wagons, ambulances, and commissary stores, with some prisoners. On the 25th of July the regiment assisted in routing the same rebel brigade at Cortland, Ala. In both of these expeditions the regiment was in the advance, and was the only in

fantry engaged. On the 1st of September it left Decatur to reinforce the garrison at Athens, Ala., against a threatened attack by General Wheeler, then engaged in a raid through Tennessee. It arrived in Athens just in time to prevent the command of the rebel General Roddy from entering and pillaging the town. The regiment remained at Athens until the 8th, when it joined Colonel Streight's brigade, of General Steadman's command, then in pursuit of Wheeler, and marched to Shoal Creek, within seven miles of Florence, Ala. Being in the advance, it here overtook and skirmished with Wheeler's rear guard. The pursuit being abandoned, the regiment returned to camp at Decatur, September 11th.

On the 24th of September following a detachment of the regiment, consisting of two hundred and thirty-one officers and men, under Captain Weatherhead, of the 18th, with a detail of one hundred and fifty men from the 102d Ohio, the whole commanded by Colonel Elliott, of that regiment, left Decatur to reinforce the garrison of Athens against an attack from the forces under the rebel General Forrest. When within two miles of that place, they were met by a force of the enemy, since ascertained to be about four thousand strong. They fought their way through in the most gallant manner, and, after five hours of hard fighting, during which they had expended all their ammunition, and having got within sight of the fort, found it in possession of the enemy, it having been surrendered but a short time before, and being overwhelmed by the superior force of the enemy, they were compelled to give up the contest. Only one officer and seventeen men escaped; the others were either killed, wounded, or captured. The determined fighting and gallant conduct of these detachments is acknowledged not to have been excelled by any troops during the war.

At the time of the advance of General Hood's army upon Nashville in 1864, the regiment formed a part of the garrison of Decatur, the whole force of the post being in command of Colonel Doolittle, and on the 26th, 27th, 28th, and 29th of October, the 18th in command of LieutenantColonel Hulbard, participated in the defence of that post against the rebel army of Tennessee, estimated variously at thirty or forty thousand, under General Hood. The place was ably and gallantly defended and the assault most bravely repelled by Colonel Doolittle, with his small force, having on the first day only fifteen hundred men, on the second twenty-five hundred, and five thousand on the last day. During the attack, Captain Moore, of the 18th, with about fifty men, was sent out to dislodge a line of the enemy's sharp-shooters, who had established themselves in the rifle-pits, within three hundred yards of our works. This movement was executed in fine style, under a galling fire from the enemy's main line, which was not over five hundred yards distant, Captain Moore driving them from their cover and bringing in five officers and one hundred and fifteen men as prisoners. This brilliant exploit of Captain Moore and his men has probably not been surpassed for daring bravery throughout the war. On these occasions the 18th was most signally distinguished, and while faithfully illustrating the reliable and superior fighting qualities of the regiment, they will also be recognized as prominent affairs in its history.

On the 1st of November, 1864, this regiment was in garrison at Decatur, Ala., where it remained until the 25th, when the evacuation of the line of the Memphis and Charleston railroad, from Decatur to Stevenson, was commenced. Then it left Decatur, marching along the line of that railroad to Stevenson, a distance of eighty miles, reaching that point December 2d, where it was employed building fortifications until the 19th.

when it was ordered back to Decatur, via the Tennessee river. On the 23d the regiment was landed at Whitesboro, and marched to Huntsville, to aid in repelling a threatened attack by Forrest, and on the 24th returned to Whitesboro and re-embarked for Decatur, arriving there on the 28th. It remained at that point, doing garrison duty, until the 11th of January, 1865, when it proceeded by rail to Huntsville, and was there engaged on post duty. On June 20th the regiment was ordered to Nashville for muster

out.

THE NINETEENTH INFANTRY.

The 19th was raised in the counties of Branch, St. Joseph, Cass, Berrien, Kalamazoo, Van Buren, and Allegan. Its camp was at Dowagiac, and was commanded by Colonel Henry C. Gilbert, who went into the field as colonel of the regiment, and nobly met his death for his country while leading his regiment upon a rebel battery at Resaca.

It broke camp at Dowagiac on the 14th of September, 1862, and took its route to Cincinnati, and thence to Nicholasville, Ky.

On the 1st of January, 1863, this regiment was stationed at Danville, and belonged to the Army of Kentucky. This army, having been transferred to the Department of the Cumberland as a "reserve corps," the 19th moved with its brigade to Nashville, where it arrived February 7th, proceeding thence to Franklin. On the 4th of March, with 600 cavalry and 200 additional infantry, it took part with its brigade in a reconnoissance in force. After a march of four miles, skirmishing commenced with the enemy's scouts and advanced pickets, but the rebels retiring, the brigade encamped, the 19th having lost in the skirmish one wounded. The march having been resumed on the following day, the enemy were met in force at Spring Hill, near Thompson's Station. It was then serving in Colonel Coburn's brigade, of General Baird's division, Army of Kentucky.

On March 4th the brigade, composed of the 33d and 85th Indiana, 22d Wisconsin, and 19th Michigan, numbering in all about 1,587 men, strengthened by 200 of the 124th Ohio, with detachments of three regiments of cavalry, about 600 strong, and one battery of six guns, left Franklin to make a reconnoissance in force on the Columbia pike. About four miles out, the scouts and advance pickets of the enemy were met, when sharp skirmishing commenced, in which the 19th participated with slight loss. In the skirmish the enemy was driven back, with a loss of fifteen killed and wounded. Moving forward, he was again encountered at a short distance, but night coming on, the force went into camp.

Early on the morning of the 5th the march was resumed, leaving the 124th Ohio in charge of the wagon train. After marching about two miles the cavalry met the enemy's pickets, and a heavy skirmish was continued until the command came in sight of Thompson's Station, the enemy falling back. Advancing a short distance, and where the railroad joins the pike, the enemy opened fire with a heavy battery. Colonel Coburn immediately formed his line, and ordered a section of the battery to occupy a hill on the left of the pike, sending the 19th Michigan and 22d Wisconsin to support it. The 33d and 85th Indiana, with the other guns of the battery, took position on a hill on the right. The enemy had two batteries on a range of hills three-quarters of a mile in front, and south of the position occupied by the Union troops. The 33d and 85th Indiana made a demonstration on the left of the enemy to draw him out, or charge his batteries, according to circumstances. This was commenced and continued under a most galling

fire from the enemy's batteries. Upon reaching the station, the skirmishers unmasked two whole brigades of dismounted rebel cavalry posted behind stone walls and other defences. It being impossible to advance farther under the incessant and severe fire, the regiments were ordered to retire to their former position on the hill, supported by two companies of cavalry; but for some reason or other the cavalry did not accompany them. No sooner had the two regiments commenced to fall back than they were pursued by two rebel regiments, one from Arkansas and the other a Texan, both firing rapid volleys into the retiring ranks, and at the same time were under fire from the rebel batteries. As soon as they reached the hill they faced about and drove the enemy in turn in double-quick, killing Colonel Earle, of Arkansas. The rebels again rallied, and charged desperately, but were driven. It then became evident that Colonel Coburn had encountered the entire cavalry of Bragg's army, commanded by General Van Dorn, about 18,000 strong, in six brigades, under the command of Generals Forrest, Wheeler, French, Armstrong, Jackson, Martin, and Crosby.

The rebels then advanced upon the left, where were posted the 19th Michigan and 22d Wisconsin. These regiments opened fire upon the enemy and held him in check for some twenty minutes. At the time the left was first attacked, that portion of the battery there stationed, hurriedly left that part of the field without orders, leaving the two regiments without artillery to assist them in repelling the enemy, then charging desperately. At the same time Lieut. Col. Bloodgood, of the 22d Wisconsin, with three companies of that regiment, left the field without orders, moving off by the left flank, and joining the retreating cavalry and artillery. Forrest checked in his advance, made a circuit with his whole force, beyond the ground occupied by Coburn, to the east, with the intention to turn his left flank. The 19th and 22d was then moved on the west side of the pike, leaving the 33d and 85th to protect the hill on its south face. The four regiments had scarcely formed line, lying down behind the crest of the hill, when Armstrong's brigade charged from the east and the Texans from the south, when a severe contest ensued, and the fighting became terrific. Three times the rebels gallantly charged up the hill from the east, and thrice were they forced back. In one of their charges the 19th Michigan captured the colors of the 4th Mississippi and four prisoners. The fighting was close and desperate. The enemy having gained possession of the hill on the east of the road, were hurling grape and canister into the ranks like hail, and the battle raged furiously. But it was a hopeless struggle; defeat was only a question of time. The ammunition was getting short, and Forrest getting between them and Franklin was advancing from the north. A new line was formed by Coburn's force, facing north, to meet the new line of advance. Forrest was met and held in check until the last round of ammunition was fired. The gallant and brave little band then fixed bayonets to charge and break the enemy's lines, and escape; but just as they were about to charge it was discovered that the enemy had still another line in reserve, and a battery began to open and form a new position. Escape was hopeless, and to avoid useless loss of life, the command surrendered, having lost 113 in killed and wounded out of 512 who went into action.

Colonel Gilbert had his horse shot under him in the early part of the engagement, and behaved most gallantly. When he offered his sword to the Confederate commander, he declined to receive it, saying, that "an officer who was so brave in battle, and commanded so gallant a regiment, deserved to retain his arms."

During Sherman's advance upon Atlanta the 19th was in the 1st brigade,

4th division, 20th corps, and at Resaca, May 15th, 1864, became conspicuously and desperately engaged, when, with the brigade, it gallantly charged a four-gun battery, captured the artillery, and held the position. In this charge Colonel Gilbert, commanding the regiment, was mortally wounded while leading and urging on his men, and died at Chattanooga on the 24th of that month. In the same engagement Capt. C. H. Calmer was killed at the muzzle of a gun while leading his company in the charge; while the loss in the regiment was 14 killed and 66 wounded. On the 19th the regiment, in command of Major E. A. Griffin, charged into Cassville and assisted in driving out the enemy, losing one in killed, four wounded, and capturing four guns. It again engaged at New Hope Church on the 25th of May, where it sustained a loss of five in killed and forty-seven wounded, including among the killed Lieut. Charles Mandeville and among the wounded Capt. Charles W. Bigelow, who died on the 29th of his wounds. On the 15th of June it was again engaged at Golgotha, losing four killed and nine wounded, and at Culp's Farm June 22d, where its casualties were thirteen wounded. Among the severely wounded was Major Griffin, who died of his wounds next day. Following up the rebel army after its evacuation of the position at Kenesaw Mountain and crossing the Chattahoochie, the regi ment, under the command of Major John J. Baker, participated in the repulse of the fierce attack of the enemy on our lines at Peach Tree Creek on the 20th July. The loss of the regiment in this battle was four killed, with Major Baker, and thirty-five wounded.

During the siege of Atlanta, from July 22d to August 25th, the regiment, in command of Capt. David Anderson, constructed several strong lines of works, but, although under the fire of artillery and sharp-shooters, did not participate in any of the engagements that took place. Its loss during the siege was two killed and six wounded. The regiment did not take part in the flank movement to the south of Atlanta, but falling back with its corps, took position at Tanner's Ferry, on the Chattahoochie river, where it remained until the 2d of September. At this date the greater portion of the regiment, with a force under Col. Coburn, of its brigade, made a reconnoissance toward Atlanta. This force advanced to the city limits, and finding it evacuated by the enemy, excepting by a few cavalry, took possession. On the following day the remainder of the regiment entered the city with

its corps.

The 19th formed part of Sherman's army on that remarkable march from Atlanta to the sea, participating in the numerous engagements of its corps with credit and distinction.

At the battle of Averysboro', N. C., on March 16, 1865, the regiment bore a brilliant part, acquitting itself with its usual bravery and vigor. Colonel David Anderson, then in command of the 19th, in a recent report,

says:

"On the 16th of March the enemy was met near Averysboro', and a battle ensued, in which the regiment, then in the 2d brigade, 3d division, 20th corps, took an active and important part. The brigade to which the regiment was attached being ordered to assault the enemy's works, the order was gallantly and promptly obeyed, resulting in the taking of the works, the regiment capturing two pieces of artillery and many prisoners. In this assault we lost two brave officers, Captain Leonard Gibbon and Lieutenant Charles G. Purcell, and four men killed and fifteen wounded, several severely."

Although the 19th may have acquired celebrity in other engagements, yet those named will undoubtedly be remembered as prominent events in its