Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 April 1881 — Gen. Upton’s Bravery. [ARTICLE]

Gen. Upton’s Bravery.

It was at the battle of Winchester, and at that time General Upton commanded the Second brigade of the First division of the Sixth army corps (Sedgwick’s). During the early part oftheday there had been heavy skirmishing aud an advance was anticipated by the troops. Our soldiers were dismayed ana disheartened—they had been, whipped and whipped again, and the material known as “spunk” was not» commodity of general distribution at the time.* Earthworks hail been erected, and behind these the union soldiers were ensconced, secure from danger. Orders were given for a general attack on the rebel line. Realizing the condition and feeling of the men, General Upton mounted his horse, and, accompanied by bis full staff*, rode along the line. At every convenient point he stopped, dismounted, mingled freely with the men and conversed with tnem iu cheering tones —counseling a saving of ammunition, a liberal use of “cold steel” and a short, shaip and decisive fight when the bugle should summon the command to advance. The stimulus fie inspired among the soldiers was perceptible, aud there was not one of them that did not feel better for his kindly admonition. The charge followed and was stoutly resisted by the rebels. Every inch of ? 'round w*as stubbornly disputed, and or hours it was nip and tuck who should wi the day. General Russell commanded the division. With his usual impetus he was always at the front, forcing the engagement. There was a lull in the action and the skirmish line could make no headway, so stoutly was their advance opposed. Seeing the condition of affairs, and noticing a group in a clump of trees on the flank, General Russell galloped forward and passed the Union skirmish line, accompanied bv his staff and orderlies, with the division flag flying boldly in the breeze, from a staff* in a socket on the stirrup of a non-commissioned officer in charge of the squad of orderlies. But a change suddenly comes over the scene. In the clump of timber which General Russell was heading for was a masked rebel battery’, and when he had neared the place there belched forth from it a sheet of flame in advance of which were shells, the fuses of which had not been cut. One of these struck General Russell and passed through his body, knocking him out of the saddle and wounding him so that he died in a short time. Adjutant General Dalton ordered the staff* to the rear and quickly the skirmish line was advanced, so that the body of the' dead general was recovered. . •

Then the staff and orderlies were directed to report to General Upton, who. succeeded to the command of th* division. He was found in the rear, suffering from a bullet wound through both legs. No sooner was he apprised of the situation, however, than he directed the detailing of eight me., from the ambulance corps and the Crocurement of a stretcher. On th.s e was at once carried to the front, and during the rest of the engagement he was constantly in the rear of the line of battle, directing the movement of the troops in person and as calmly as if in a parlor, despite the storm of shot and shell which raged. And there, on his stretcher, while the bullets whistled around him, lay this gallant general throughout the contest. He was then a young, graceful, dashing, handsome man. bi>ve,j]uick in action, beloved by his troops. As he raised himself-slightly on nis elbow and darted his restless eyes over the scene of battle, giving out his orders in quick, impetuous tones, he seemed to the soldiers like some chained lion, fretting and chafing because he could not dash into the midst of the conflict. History records the victory of the Union troops in the engagement, but history fails to note that to General Emory Upton was due that suceess to the Unton arms. All day, until the eagles of victory perched upon the stars and stripes, ne remained upon the field. His very presence fortified the troops, and his ringing voice, heard above the din of battle, lent .additional enthusiasm to their efforts. When the reveille of the brave dead shall sound in heaven, while the morning stars sing their peans of praise, no nobler soul than Emory Upton will answer to the roll.