missing. On the 28th it returned to its camping ground near Peeble's House, where it remained on the 31st of October following. On the 25th of March, 1865, the regiment participated in the affair at Fort Steadman, sustaining a heavy loss, and on the 3d of April was engaged in the capture of Petersburg.

The correspondent of the New York Tribune, in writing regarding the stampede from Bull Run, says:

"I was told that a few regiments, beside the three faithful ones of Blenker's brigade, had come in in fair order; and that they were the 2d and 3d Michigan and the Massachusetts 1st, of Richardson's brigade. I should be glad if it were so."

It is to be hoped that the correspondent lived long enough to be made glad, on being fully satisfied of the fact that he had been correctly informed of that well-established truth regarding the conduct of Richardson's brigade referred to, and which was so well understood and made so generally known immediately following the battle, by the issue of a general order by McDowell, in which it was stated that Richardson's brigade were the last troops to leave the field.

The following is the official order relative to the part taken at Williamsburg by Berry's brigade, composed of the 2d, 3d, and 5th Michigan:

HEADQUARTERS 3D BRIGADE, KEARNEY'S DIVISION,

ON WILLIAMSBURG BATTLE-FIELD, May 8, 1862.

Special Orders: The commander of the brigade takes great pleasure in making this official communication to his command: That they, by heroic fortitude, on Monday last, by making a forced march through mud and rain, each vying with the other to see who could most cheerfully stand the hardships the time called for, making thereby a march that others shrank from, coming into a fight at double-quick, made doubtful to our side by the overwhelming mass of the enemy poured upon our centre; by a rapid deploy and quick formation, and by coolness, precision, and energy, beat back the enemy, recapturing our lost position and artillery, and also by a heroic charge, took a stronghold of the enemy, and thereby dislodged him and drove him on the plain below his well-chosen position, have done themselves great honor, have honored the States of Michigan and New York, and have won a name in history that the most ambitious might be proud of. Our loss of brave comrades has indeed been large. We mourn the departed. "Green be the turf above them." They have a place in our heart's memory, and in the history of our common country.

Soldiers! you have won by your bravery the hearts of all your commanders-brigade, division, corps, and even those higher in command. Soldiers, I thank you; my superiors thank you; your country thanks you, and will remember you in history.

Our labors are not yet over; the insolent rebels that have endeavored to destroy, and have laid to ruin and waste portions of the best Government and the finest land of earth, are still in force, and to be conquered in our fights. I have pledged you, men of the 3d brigade, in all future trials. I know my men; they are not pledged in vain.

Commanders of regiments will have this order read at the head of their respective regiments this afternoon.

R. G. BERRY,

Brigadier-General, Commanding 3d Brigade.

Official: EDWIN M. SMITH, A. A. A. G.

Extracts from correspondence of New York Tribune in relation to the battle of Williamsburg:

The 2d Michigan took into action only sixty men, the rest being left behind, exhausted with the quick march through the mud and rain. Yet they lost one out of every five engaged. The regiment was in the hottest of the fight. By the confessions of prisoners, 800 of Berry's men (mostly Michigan) drove back at the point of the bayonet 1,600 rebels.

"There were four companies of the 2d Michigan heavily engaged at Williamsburg, two in command of Captain William Humphrey and two commanded by Captain W. J. Handy. The other companies of the regiment were partially engaged. The regiment lost in the action 17 killed, 38 wounded, and 4 missing..

"In the rifle-pits in front of the 5th Michigan, sixty-three dead rebels were found, every one of them killed by the bayonet.

"On June 30th the enemy had advanced about noon. The Union troops had fallen back about two miles and taken a position near Charles City Cross-roads or White Oak Swamp. The battle commenced about 1 o'clock. The 2d, in command of Major Dillman, was engaged from half-past 4 P. M. until an hour after dark, being under a continuous fire of musketry during the whole of that time, but having the cover of the woods and of a temporary breastwork of logs, rails, and sods hastily thrown together, the loss of the regiment was comparatively light. The enemy charged three times in heavy columns on the position held by the division to which the 2d belonged. They advanced under a heavy fire from a long line of infantry and six pieces of artillery, and were most gallantly repulsed each time, being compelled to retire, under a heavy and murderous fire, under cover of the woods on the opposite side of the field, leaving the open space between the two lines literally piled with the dead and wounded.

"Down to the time our troops fell back in the night the enemy were busy, close up to our line, carrying away the dead and wounded. The wounded were continually calling out the number of their regiments and the States from whence they came, in order that they might be found by their friends. In this way it was ascertained that at least twenty-one regiments had been engaged with Kearney's division during the afternoon.

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On July 1st, at 2 A. M., the pickets were ordered in, and the retreat again commenced. At 5 A. M. the regiment reached Maxwell's Landing, on the James river, and was soon after marched, with its brigade, to the right and front of the line then being formed to meet a threatened attack of the enemy. On reaching the position indicated the brigade was placed in position to support our batteries, then playing with terrible effect on the enemy's advancing columns or replying to the fierce fire kept up from his batteries. The 2d remained in this position until 12 M., when it was drawn back under shelter of Malvern Hill. During the whole of that time the shot and shell from the enemy's guns came sweeping through the Union ranks dealing out death in every direction. At midnight the regiment again commenced the march down the river, and reached the encampment near Harrison's Landing next morning at about 9 A. M.

"On the retreat to Harrison's Landing, and in the various engagements occurring on the march, the gallant conduct of Sergeants Sheldon, company C, Tulloch, company H, McGee, company I, Higgins and Delano, company E; Corporals Sannard, company F, Fuller, company D, and Thurlby, company B; Privates Henry H. Harrington, company B, and Philander Walworth, company D, are specially noticed in the report of the commanding officer of the regiment. In the battles of Charles City Cross-roads and

Malvern Hill Philander Walworth, of company D, who had been wounded on a scout on the 19th June, with his leg swollen and stiff, refused to leave the ranks, and was constantly in his place gallantly doing his duty."

The regiment is mentioned in connection with the operations at Knoxville on November 24th, 1863, in the "Rebellion Record as follows:

"November 24th.-Skirmishing commenced early and briskly on our left front this morning. The rebels had gained a hill and thrown up rifle-pits near the round house during the night. The 48th Pennsylvania and 21st Massachusetts, during the morning, charged the pits and driving the rebels out at the point of the bayonet, covered the trenches, and returned to their own with a loss of two killed and four wounded. On our left, for some hours, the fire of the sharpshooters was quite hot from a house above and the rebel trenches. The 2d Michigan charged there also in the most gallant manner and drove the rebels back, a fierce and bloody engagement ensued with great loss on both sides, our boys remaining in possession of the works, which they obliterated and fell back."

The regiment also lost heavily at the charge following the springing of the mine July 30th. It belonged to Wilcox's division. In the Annual Cyclopædia is the following notice of its division and corps:

* * "At length the 9th corps was reformed after a fatal delay, and with Gen. Potter's division on the right, Ledlie's in the centre, and Wilcox's on the left, under cover of the fire of two guns, began the charge. At every step the fire of the enemy in front and on each flank concentrated with greater fury upon them, and ploughed their ranks with slaughter. The charge was checked on the side of the crest, there was a halt, and finally, the whole line wavering under terrible odds, recoiled to the fort." Lieut. Edward A. Sherman was wounded before Petersburg June 18th, 1864, and died of his wounds August 18th following.

Lieut. Nelson Fletcher was killed in action near Ox Ford, North Anna river, May 24th, 1864.

Lieut. George S. Williams, wounded at Cold Harbor June 3d, 1864, died of his wounds June 15th following.

In General Wilcox's report of the attack made by the rebels upon Fort Steadman on our line of works before Petersburg, March 25th, he says of that affair, and regarding the defence of Battery No. 9, also in the line of the Union works, and near the fort mentioned:

"At a quarter past 4 o'clock, on the morning of the 25th March, 1865, the enemy attacked the entrenchments held by the 3d brigade of this division, (1st and 9th corps.) The brigade picket officer, Captain Burch, 3d Maryland, reports that he visited the picket line at 4 o'clock of that morning, and saw that the men were on the alert. After visiting the line he returned to his headquarters in front of Fort Steadman and Battery No. 11. He states that in a few minutes after his return a man on the lookout gave notice that the enemy were approaching; at the same time the men on the post fired their pieces. One column moved towards the right of Battery No. 10; a small column moved towards a point between Fort Steadman and Battery No. 11; a third column moved direct towards Steadman. These columns were preceded by a strong storming party, which broke through the pickets, clubbing their muskets, and made openings in the abatis. The trench guards made sufficient resistance to arouse the garrison of the enclosed works in the immediate neighborhood; but the column which struck to the right of Battery No. 10 quickly succeeded in breaking through and effecting an entrance to that battery, which is entirely open in the rear. This success gave them at once a great advantage over Fort Steadman, as

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the ground just in rear of Battery No. 10 is on a level with the parapet of the fort.

"The fort had also a comparatively small line of infantry parapet, particularly was this the case in front, which was cut up with embrasures for artillery. The garrison of the fort consisted of a detachment of the 14th New York heavy artillery, under Major Randall, and made quite a spirited resistance; but were finally overpowered, and most of them captured.

"The commanding officer of the brigade, Brevet Brigadier-General A. B. McLaughlin, had reached Battery No. 11 from his headquarters before this, and given some directions about the disposition of the troops on the left flank.

The guns and even the mortars in both Steadman and Battery No. 11 were used against the enemy. Detachments of the 1st Connecticut heavy artillery at the mortars behaved very handsomely. General McLaughlin was captured near the gorge of the fort, but whether after the enemy had got in, or while they were attacking is unknown. Captain Swords, ordnance officer on my staff and division staff-officer of the day, also reached Fort Steadman from these headquarters before it was fully in the enemy's possession, and was captured at the fort.

"The right column, with the aid of troops from Steadman, now succeeded in gaining Battery No. 11. Their left column turned down the works to their left towards Battery No. 9, taking the 57th Massachusetts in the trenches in flank and rear, capturing a part of them. The remainder retired to the rear, reassembled, and afterwards did good work as skirmishers with General Hartranft's troops. The 2d Michigan fought the enemy on this flank, from their bomb-proofs and traverses, in the most spirited manner, until they were drawn in by order of their brigade commander (Brevet Colonel Ralph Ely) to Battery No. 9, which, though small, is an enclosed work.

"In pursuance of my orders, Colonel Ely deployed perpendicular to and to the rear of his entrenchments, a portion of the 1st Michigan sharp-shooters as skirmishers promptly taking them from the right of our line for this purpose. I also directed him to press the enemy on his left as much as possible. Finding themselves opposed in this direction, the enemy halted for more of their troops to come up.

"The enemy's skirmishers now came down the hill directly to the rear of Steadman, and moved towards my headquarters, the Friend House, the Dunn House battery, and in the direction of Meade's Station, and this for a time rendered my communication with the 3d brigade long and circuitous. Meantime, I had ordered out the 17th Michigan, acting as an engineer regiment attached to my headquarters, and sent word to the commanding officers of the 200th and 209th Pennsylvania, encamped between Meade's Station and Dunn House battery, to move respectively, one to the Friend House, and the other in front of the Dunn House battery. These regiments promptly appeared. Brigadier-General Hartranft, commanding the 3d division, now came up in person, and I requested him to move his available force direct upon the fort. He promptly and gallantly took command of the two regiments already out, without waiting for the rest of his command. I ordered the 17th Michigan to deploy as skirmishers on his right. This regiment, with only one hundred men in its ranks, under command of Major Mathews, moved forward at the same time with General Hartranft's line, capturing most of the enemy's skirmishers in their front, about twenty-five in number, and inclining to the right, connected with the skirmishers of Ely's brigade. While Hartranft was operating in rear of Steadman the

enemy's force, which had moved towards Battery No. 9 and halted, was reinforced by Ransom's brigade, and opened an attack upon that battery. This attack was handsomely repulsed by my skirmishers and troops of the 2d brigade in Battery No. 9, assisted by artillery, particularly one piece of Romer's battery, under Major Romer himself. The enemy attempted to retreat back to their own entrenchments when they were charged by detachments of the 2d Michigan, who captured some prisoners. Troops of the 20th and 2d Michigan also threw themselves into the picket line of the 2d brigade, and poured such a fire on the flank of the enemy that over 300 threw down their arms and surrendered themselves on the spot."

After several other sharp engagements the enemy were repulsed on both flanks by troops of Wilcox's division, and much demoralized by the artillery fire, broke in small detachments from Steadman back to their own lines, pursued by the Union troops. The 17th Michigan, on the extreme right of the division, dashed forward and gained the trenches held by the enemy, taking many prisoners.

The 2d brigade was commanded by Col. Ralph Ely, 8th Michigan, in which were the 1st Michigan sharp-shooters, 2d and 20th Michigan infantry. The 17th Michigan was on detail at division headquarters as engineer regiment.

THE THIRD INFANTRY.

The 3d infantry, raised at Grand Rapids, was patriotic and prompt, and in command of Colonel Daniel McConnell, who had organized the regiment, took the field soon after the 2d regiment, in time to participate with the brigade (Richardson's) in the engagement with the rebels at Blackburn's Ford. It afterwards belonged to Berry's celebrated brigade, of Kearney's division, and passed through the battles of the disastrous Peninsula campaign. It fought at Williamsburg, May 5th; at Fair Oaks, May 30th; at Glendalale, or Charles City Cross-roads, June 30th; at Malvern Hill, July 1st; being particularly distinguished at Fair Oaks, while in command of Colonel S. G. Champlin, where its losses were 40 killed, 124 wounded, and 15 missing. Among the wounded was Colonel Champlin, and among the killed Captain Samuel A. Judd.

Lieutenant-Colonel A. A. Stevens, commanding the regiment after Colonel Champlin was wounded, makes mention in his report of the part taken by the 3d in this engagement as follows:

"At about 2 o'clock P. M., an order was received to take our position in rear of the redoubt on our right, which was immediately complied with. We remained in this position but a short time, when we took up the line of march across the fields and parallel with the Williamsburg road, hastening as rapidly as possible towards the front, where our troops had for some time previously been actively engaged. The distance being about one mile and a half from the redoubt to the scene of action, was soon passed over, when Colonel Champlin received orders to lead his regiment at once into action, deploying at the same time in line of battle upon the left of the road, our right resting upon an abatis, while the left was thrown forward at a double-quick into a thicket of pines.

"The engagement now became general, and it was with the greatest difficulty that our corps of sharp-shooters, under command of Captain Judd, could penetrate this mass of fallen timber and dislodge the enemy from their strong position; but the steady and cool behavior of our men, and with the telling effect of the deadly aim of their rifles, soon compelled