Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 218, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 September 1913 — STORIES of CAMP and WAR [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

STO RIES of CAMP and WAR

FIGHTING BY JERSEY BOYS

Many Illuminating Side Lights on Operations of Army of Potomac After Crossing Rapidan. John P. Beech, sergeant, Co. B, 4th N. J., First Brigade, First Division, Sixth Corps, Trenton, N. J., writes the National Tribune: ‘1 have been wondering If there was a Jersey brigade in that magnificent Sixth corps and whether they took any part at the Wilderness or Spotsylvania, as no mention was made of them. May 5 the 4th N. J., on the extreme right of the Sixth corps, alone prevented the Sixth corps from being flabked while getting into position. We drove them back, capturing a number of rebels and receiving the congratulations of our beloved General Sedgwick. Later in the day, with the 6th Md., we drove them back by a gallant bayonet charge clear to their works. In a little pamphlet of the 16th N. J., Colonel Campbell claims his regiment was the only one in the Sixth corps to go ‘over the works at the Angle, but in this he is in error, as the 4th N. J. was the first to charge through the abatis, the 15th N. J. being on our right. Of 35 men my company (B) lost 20 men, five of whom were killed, 15 wounded, two of whom were captured. Both commissioned officers, Captain Johnson and Lieutenant Brooks, were wounded, a loss of about 60 per cent. “As Metcalf’s battery went into position horses and men began to go down. We had opened a heavy fire upon the enemy, but it seemed as if his section was in danger of being captured or destroyed. Realizing its condition, I threw my musket down, and appealed to Capt.- Howard Ring, Co. C, who lay and the only commissioned officer I Baw, to tell some of the men to get up and help work the guns. I started at once to serve ammunition. At this time there were but four rounds of canister left. I carried the word to the officer, and his orders were to use shell with onesecond fuse. SergL Wm. E. Lines says they fired 14 rounds from his guns. When Lieutenant Metcalf and he were unable to work the guns they withdrew, and I rejoined my regiment

"Your narrative says the battery went into position with the Vermont Brigade. The battery went into position on the right of Upton’s Second brigade and left of the Jersey brigade of the First division. Sergeant Lines saye he was assisted in firing the last four rounds by an officer of the 95th Pa. and a Vermont officer, both of whom were shot. There were others who assisted, for Captain Gaul, who succeeded to command after Colonel Ewing wqs wounded, says Captain Ring and Peter S. Shemelia and othere of the regiment whose names he does not remember responded, and some of them were killed and wounded around the guns. , “For my conduct on that day I was recommended by Colonel Gaul, Colonel Hufty and Captain Howard for a medal of honor, which I now hold. Captain Gaul said, in recommending me for the honor, that It eeemed certain death to serve the guns. It makes me shiver to this day when I think of the missile-laden air that day. My regiment alone lost about 100 men that day and the 15th N. J.s loss was very heavy, more so than the other regiments of the brigade. The field presented a sickening sight; dead lay all around and blood and rain mingled. Where Metcalf was in position horses and men lay in heaps, literally torn to pieces by bullets.”