leaving the 38th under its gallant and experienced colonel, Hobart Ward. Ricketts was soon ordered to take a new position near the Henry House. The Zouaves followed in support, and finally formed line on the right flank of the battery, with two companies in

reserve.

44

Up to this time the enemy had fallen back, but now he formed the remains of his brigades engaged with Hunter in the morning, viz.: Bee's, Bartow's, and Evans's, in a new line, appuied upon Jackson's brigade of fresh troops, making altogether 6,500 infantry, 13 pieces of artillery, and Stuart's cavalry, according to General Beauregard's report. This force was posted in the belt of woods which skirted the plateau southwardly and lying in the angle formed in that direction between the Warrenton and Sudley roads, about a mile from the Warrenton road, and with its left resting on the Brentsville and Sudley roads. Rickett's battery had crossed the Sudley road from its post near Dogan's House, and was within musket range of the woods which stretched from that road around from his right towards his front, and forming a pocket which almost enveloped the battery with its support.

"The enemy were first discovered by Colonel Heintzelman, lining the woods in our front. He ordered up the Zouaves, commanded by Colonel Farnham. The ground was slightly rising before us, and the enemy opened a heavy but not destructive fire as we reached the crest. The Zouaves returned the fire, but immediately fell back, bewildered and broken. Stuart's cavalry charged upon them from the woods on the right, but were scattered by a fire from the two reserve companies, with a loss (as ascertained from the Southern papers) of twenty-nine killed and wounded.

"Meantime Rickett's cannoneers were being picked off. With Colonel Heintzelman's approval and a promise of reinforcements, I collected some one hundred Zouaves, and, with Captain Douney and others of their officers, made a dash into the woods on our right, and killed, wounded, and captured about thirty of the enemy. Returning in a few minutes, I found the field cleared of both friend and foe except the killed and wounded.

"The horses, men, and two officers of Rickett's battery lay stretched upon the ground, but the enemy had not yet seized it.

"Recrossing the Sudley road, I met the First Michigan, Major Bidwell commanding, and marching back with this regiment we found the enemy now drawn up in a thin line across the field and in possession of the battery; advancing to the fence on the roadside the 1st Michigan opened fire, the right wing fell back to reload, owing to a blundering order, but the left stood firm, expelled the enemy, and retook the battery. The troops here opposed to us I believe to have been the 7th Georgia.

"Colonel Heintzelman now came up and ordered us promptly forward, and with the promise of another regiment it was my design to turn the enemy's left. The left wing of the 1st Michigan recrossed the field, struck into the woods beyond the Zouaves, and succeeded in destroying and capturing a small number of the enemy and pushing back his extreme left out of that part or point of the woods adjacent to the Sudley road.

"Meantime the right wing of the 1st Michigan reformed and advanced in good order. I met it and we pushed on toward the next point of woods. From this point I found the enemy's left discovered us by our fire and we became engaged with their rear rank, their front being occupied by the advancing troops of Franklin's or Sherman's brigade. The officers and men of the 1st Michigan stood up bravely at this critical moment, holding on anxiously for reinforcements. But from all I can learn, the 38th, which was ordered up to me, were directed to the left of the Henry House (instead of to the right and along the Sudley road), came in contact with the enemy's center, and never reached me.

"It was now nearly four o'clock. General Beauregard had been gathering new reinforcements; General Kirby Smith had joined him with a portion of Johnston's army. Our scattered troops were contending in fractions against the enemy's army in position and massed on the plateau, with his artillery sweeping every approach. General Johnston was bringing fresh troops to turn our right. The 28th Virginia attacked my own handful from the rear in the woods, and I had the ill fortune to be wounded and a few moments afterwards captured. But I was spared witnessing the disaster which further pursued

our arms.

"In this report I have only endeavored to supply partly the information that was not known or found in any other report in consequence of my capture. Permit me to add further, that the 38th New York was distinguished for its steadiness in ranks, and for gallantly repelling a charge made upon it by the 'New Orleans Tigers.' The Zouaves, though broken as a regiment, did good service under my own eyes in the woods, and detachments of them joined various other regiments in the fight. The 1st Michigan deserves the credit of advancing farther into the enemy's lines than any other of our troops, as their dead bodies proved after the battle. I only regret that from the fact of my separation from Arnold's battery, I cannot add any testimony of my own to the well known gallantry with which he and his command conducted themselves."

In General Heintzelman's endorsement forwarding this report, he says:

"This report is respectfully forwarded. It gives some details not in previous reports. The 38th New York, Colonel Ward, was in the rear and a little to the right of the Robinson House, and did not get up as far as the house. After the Zouaves, I led up the 1st Minnesota and then the 1st Michigan, and both were repulsed. They, however, rallied and passed to the right into the woods, and the 1st Michigan, on the extreme right, held the most advanced position we occupied that disastrous day.'

A survey of the field after the battle discovered the fact that the Michigan dead were found nearest the enemy's works.

The regiment in command of Major Bidwell returned to the State on the expiration of its term of service, and was mustered out of service August 7th, 1861.

Notwithstanding the services of this regiment were short, it established even on the disastrous field of Bull Run a standard which was a noble example for Michigan troops, and which a review of the record of Michigan regiments will attest has been uniformly followed.

The enrollment of this regiment was 798 officers and men, its losses nine, of which three officers died of wounds, three men killed in action, and three died of disease.

NOTE.-While a captain of the 1st Michigan was out with a small scouting party near Alexandria, soon after the regiment reached Washington, and before the battle of Bull Run, he was desirous of carrying out the custom then in vogue of administering to captured rebels the oath of allegiance and letting them go, coming suddenly on a few rebels, made them get down on their knees, then he administered to them the common oath of allegiance to the United States of America, and, not forgetting his own State, added, and particularly the State of Michigan, then let them go. Advancing a little further the party started up a good-sized snake. One of them, an Irishman, captured it; the captain asked what he was going to do with it. "Do wid him?" said Pat; obey the orders; swear him and let him go, begorrah!"

66

i

"The combat deepens, on, ye braves,
Who rush to glory or the grave!
Wave, Michigan! all thy banners wave,
And charge with all thy chivalry!"

The reorganization of the First Regiment for three years commenced on June 28th, 1861, and prior to the return of the three months regiment to the State.

Lieutenant Colonel Loren L. Comstock was designated by the governor to superintend its recruitment, with sufficient officers from the regiment in the field to assist in accomplishing the purpose.

The rendezvous was at Ann Arbor, to which point all recruits were forwarded by detachments.

The regiment was mustered into the U. S. service at various dates with a strength of 960 officers and men, in command of Colonel John C. Robinson, then a Captain in the U. S. army, leaving the State for the field in Virginia on the 16th of September following, with the exception of two detachments, which soon after followed.

son.

FIELD AND STAFF.

John C. Robinson, Colonel, Captain U. S. army. Horace S. Roberts, Lieutenant Colonel, Detroit. Franklin W. Whittlesey, Major, Ypsilanti. Joseph Tunnicliff, Jr., Surgeon, Jackson. Andrew J. Hobart, Assistant Surgeon, Niles. Edward H. Ring, Adjutant, JackDavid A. Wise, Quartermaster, Ypsilanti. Arthur Edwards, Jr., Chaplain, Trenton. A. Captain, Russell H. Alcott, Manchester. First Lieutenant, Henry C. Christiancy, Monroe. Second Lieutenant, Irving F. Wilcox, Twinsburg, Ohio. B. Captain, Ira C. Abbott, Burr Oak. First Lieutenant, Samuel E. Pittman, Detroit. Second Lieutenant, William Byrns, Burr Oak.

C. Captain, George P. Sanford, Ann Arbor. First Lieutenant, Lyford Peavey, Marshall. Second Lieutenant, Perry L. Hubbard, Pontiac.

D. Captain, Eben B. Griffith, Jackson. First Lieutenant. Eben T. Whittlesey, Ypsilanti. Second Lieutenant, J. Benton Kennedy, Jackson.

E. Captain,

First Lieutenant, George H. Eggleston, Coldwater. Second Lieutenant, Oliver C. Comstock, Marshall.

F. Captain, William A. Throop, Detroit. First Lieutenant, Emory W. Belton, Chelsea. Second Lieutenant, Wilkins Bloodgood, Detroit.

G. Captain, G. Collins Lyon, Jackson. First Lieutenant, Edward Pomeroy, Jackson. Second Lieutenant, Philander C. Perry, Ann Arbor.

H. Captain, Charles E. Wendell, Detroit. First Lieutenant, George C. Hopper, Detroit. Second Lieutenant, Alfred W. Beardslee, Detroit.

I. Captain, George W. Grummond, Detroit. First Lieutenant, Hiram S. Warner, Marshall. Second Lieutenant, Edward D. Judd, Saline.

K. Captain, Byron B. Adsit, Sault Ste. Marie. First Lieutenant, George C. Mogk, Ann Arbor. Second Lieutenant, Henry C. Arnold, Ann Arbor.

The regiment was principally officered by those who had served in the three months' regiment. It was recruited in all parts of the State, and its organization was completed at Ann Arbor.

Colonel Robinson continued in command until April 28th, 1862, when he was appointed a brigadier general of volunteers. He was succeeded in command by Lieutenant Colonel Horace S. Roberts.

During the winter which followed its muster in, it was encamped at Annapolis Junction, Maryland, guarding the Washington and Baltimore Railroad. In March it moved to Fortress Monroe, where it encamped for some time, attracting much notice by its fine military appearance and excellent discipline, while its stylish dress parades became a matter of notoriety among the other troops stationed at that point. Subsequently, in command of Colonel Roberts, it proceeded to the Peninsula and entered on the campaign, serving in the 1st brigade, 1st division, 5th corps, under McClellan. It was engaged at Mechanicsville, June 26th; at Gaines's Mills, June 17th; at Peach Orchard, June 29th, and at Savage Station on the same day. At Turkey Bend, and White Oak Swamp, June 30th, and on July 1st at Malvern Hill.

The part taken by the regiment in these battles was, unfortunately, not reported, although it is known to have been actively engaged, and to have served with efficiency and gallantry. Its losses were 35 killed and died of wounds, and 97 missing in action, including Captain O. C. Comstock, who was killed at Gaines's Mills.

The Peninsula campaign having closed, the regiment, serving in the same brigade, division, and corps, returned with the army and entered on the campaign under General Pope. It became engaged with the enemy at Gainsville, August 29th, supporting Battery D, 3d U. S. Artillery, and losing one killed and one wounded, and on the next day became heavily engaged at Bull Run. The regiment, in command of Colonel Roberts, was in General Fitz John Porter's corps (5th), and had taken a position in some woods fronting the enemy's lines, and not far from one of his well posted and important batteries. The order was given to advance and dislodge the rebels and silence this battery, and at 4 P. M. the 1st Michigan, with the 13th New York and 18th Massachusetts regiments of infantry, deployed column and advancing, a terrific infantry fire from a force in ambush and five unseen batteries opening a crossfire upon them with murderous effect, the 1st losing, within a few minutes, eight officers, and fifty per cent of the regiment were either killed or wounded. The men, under these trying circumstances, behaved coolly and with much bravery, standing their ground like veterans, and not until success became hopeless and the order to retreat was given did they fall back, and then in good order, when they resumed their former position in the woods, and reformed with their division. Had there been any possibility of victory under such circumstances, their courage and persistency would have secured it.

The chaplain of the regiment, the Rev. Arthur Edwards, who was present in the engagement, rendering most valuable service, and whose exemplary conduct during his whole term in the army endeared him to all who came in contact with him, wrote at the time as follows:

"The regiment deployed column and with cheers advanced towards the enemy, our right resting near the railroad embankment, the center and left near a stone wall and railroad cut, in each of which places was posted a rebel battery. On our right and front was a force of the enemy's infantry, and as we advanced the regiment was subjected to a murderous fire from infantry and a cross-fire from five rebel batteries. The regiment suffered severely in crossing the open space. Colonel Roberts fell at an early moment after it

deployed out of the woods. Four captains and three lieutenants-Captains Charles E. Wendell, Russell H. Alcott, Eben T. Whittlesey, Edward Pomeroy, and Lieutenants H. Clay Arnold, J. L. Garrison, and W. Bloodgood-met their death, and more than fifty per cent of the regiment were either killed or wounded.

"Colonel Roberts was an active, efficient, brave, beloved, and is now a sincerely lamented leader. Captains Wendell, Alcott, Whittlesey, Pomeroy, and Lieutenants Arnold, Garrison, and Bloodgood were excellent officers, whose loss will be felt by the regiment, and mourned by their personal acquaintances.

"The regiment went into battle with twenty officers and two hundred and twentyseven men. Of the former but four are in camp unhurt, and of the latter hardly one hundred and fifty. In the action the 1st was placed in the center. In front was a rebel battery, and so destructive was its fire and so commanding its position, that General Porter ordered our brigade (Martindale's, of Morrill's division) forward to capture it. The service was so desperate, and so very sure were our officers of the death that awaited them, that they shook hands with each other in farewell. Like heroes they pressed on to the charge, until, coming within range, the enemy opened four additional batteries, hitherto masked, and poured in a deadly fire. Thus they were exposed to a cross-fire from five batteries at short range, throwing grape and canister, and to a flank fire of infantry. The result may be easily seen. Men fell like grain in harvest. Colonel Roberts was shot in the breast by a minie ball, and lived about ten minutes. His words were, I am killed; tell Captain to take command of the regiment.' He seemed to feel that he was about to fall, for previous to his going to his place in the line, he called me aside, and, after leaving some private messages, said: 'I trust that Michigan will believe that I tried to do my duty.'

"

"But strew his ashes to the wind

Whose sword or voice has served mankind,

And is he dead, whose glorious mind

Lifts thine on high?

To live in hearts we leave behind
Is not to die."

General Pope, in his report, thus describes the conflict of the 30th:

"The enemy's heavy reinforcements having reached him on Friday afternoon and night, he began to mass on his right for the purpose of crushing our left, and occupying the road to Centreville in our rear. His heaviest assault was made about five o'clock in the afternoon, when, after overwhelming Fitz John Porter and driving his forces back on the center and left, mass after mass of his forces were pushed against our left."

In Mr. Greeley's "American Conflict" Porter's Corps, to which the 1st Infantry belonged, at the battle of "Gaines's Mills," is noticed as follows:

* At 5 P. M. Porter, though he had lost little ground, telegraphed again to General McClellan that his position was critical, when French's and Meagher's brigades of the 2d corps were ordered to cross to his support. They moved promptly and rapidly, but before they could reach the field the rebels, rallying all their forces just at sunset for a last desperate effort, had stormed our entrenchments both on the right and on the left, and driven back their defenders with mutual carnage, capturing several of their guns.

Porter, seeing his infantry beaten, now called into action all his reserved and remaining artillery, and thus bringing about eighty guns into action, was covering the retreat of his infantry, and dealing fearful retribution on their assailants, whose advance was suddenly checked.

After the disastrous affair at Bull Run, the regiment, in command of Captain E. W. Belton, entered on the McClellan campaign in Maryland, and was in the engagement at Antietam on September 17th, and on the 20th was engaged with the enemy at Shepardston Ford.

After the death of Colonel Roberts, Lieutenant Colonel Frank W. Whittlesey was Commissioned Colonel, but was absent from the field on account of injuries received in the Peninsula campaign.