The demonstration was made, but it was found that he was still in force, and the command fell back to the main line of works again, when a movement was made one mile to the left, where line of battle was formed in rear of Fort Sedgwick, and preparations made to charge at daybreak on the following morning, and at 4 A: M. on the 2d, the regiment charged on the rebel Fort Mahon, capturing its eastern wing. Fort Mahon, prominent among the chain of forts in the line of works before Petersburg, and the key to the position on that part of the line, was a large, strongly built frame and earth-work, protected on the front and both flanks by a deep ditch and two lines of chevaux de frise; the front was still farther protected by a strong line of rifle-pits, which extended the whole length of the Petersburg fortifications outside the chevaux de frise.

The assaulting column was formed by regiments in mass in front of the works, which at that point were about three hundred yards distant from the fort. The main assault was to be made by a large brigade of new troops, that had never participated in an engagement, and the brigade to which the 27th belonged was to act merely as a support, and for that purpose was drawn up in two lines, the 27th on the right of the rear line.

Just before daybreak the assaulting column was ordered to advance. They moved forward rapidly and silently, but were soon discovered by the enemy's outer line, and a heavy fire was opened. The inner line almost instantly responding to the alarm, opened a deadly fire of artillery and musketry. The new troops wavered for a moment, then dashed gallantly for ward, and soon after their hearty cheers announced success, their men coming to the rear with wounded, shouting exultingly to the old brigade, "Now boys, we have taken the fort for you, and, for God's sake, see if you can't hold it." But the firing every moment increasing in vigor, the news from the front began to be doubted, and soon the command was given: "Forward, 1st brigade;" when, with a hearty cheer, they advanced gallantly on the double-quick. Soon the head of the column came up with the new brigade, and found them only in possession of the rifle-pits, and it was found impossible for the 1st brigade to pass them, and the assault was likely to prove a failure, when the quick eye of Wait-the gallant young colonel of the 27th Michigan-took in the situation at a glance--failure and death to halt and await orders; disgrace to fall back; the only alternative to attempt the fort with one hundred and twenty-three men. A moment's delay would have been fatal; he instantly changed the direction of his regiment by the right flank, unmasked his command, charged again to the front, and nobly advanced, at the double-quick, on the fort. The brigade commander, fearing the result, shouted at the top of his voice: "Don't attempt the fort, Colonel; break the lines to the right." The Colonel's strong, clear voice, rising above the deafening uproar, answered back with gallant spirit: "Fort or nothing!" Taking up the cry, the whole regiment, with one voice as it were, shouted exultingly: "Fort or nothing!" Partaking of the bravery of their Colonel, the men doubled their exertions and rushed onward for the fort. The formidable chevaux de frise which they had dreaded for months was soon reached and quickly cleared, and on they rushed. The rebel artillery, heavily charged with grape, soon belched forth in awful salvo, but it passed harmlessly over the regiment, being too near the fort, and, happily, out of range. The ditch was soon cleared, and clambering up the embankment, the colors of the 27th were planted on the parapet. The enemy resisted, but with a rousing cheer, such as victorious troops only can give, the whole regiment in mass poured into the fort. One hundred and fifty-nine-twenty-six more than

the regiment numbered-surrendered on the spot. Without a moment's delay, the captured guns (six in number) were turned upon those who escaped, and with good effect. The 27th was thus in possession of this stronghold, and the first break had been made in the works on that side of the city. Next day, as the brigade returned to their old quarters, after having passed through Petersburg, the 51st Pennsylvania, a large regiment, which had held the brigade line during the charge, crowded to the side of the road, and taking off their hats gave three hearty cheers for the 27th Michigan, a high compliment, and seldom paid by one old regiment to another, showing in the strongest manner possible the merit of the 27th in the assault on Fort Mahon.

Major Moody, in his last communication before his death, made to the Adjutant-General of the State, giving the casualties of the regiment in the battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania, says: "In conclusion, the brave and gallant conduct of both officers and men of my command in these engagements, have not only sustained but added new honor to our State and country." He wrote in pencil at the foot of the page: "This statement has been made in our rifle-pits, and this is all the paper I could get." The Major was then suffering from a wound received in the Wilderness May 6th. He died June 20th following, from a wound at Cold Harbor June 3d.

NOTE. The late Major Moody of the 27th Michigan, formerly a well known Lake Superior as well as sea captain. while in command of his company at Jackson, Miss., and while in line of battle behind some protection, being desirous of saving his men from the fire of the enemy, repeatedly cautioned them against exposing themselves, and failing to do so satisfactorily, losing all patience with them, rushed in front of the company, calling aloud at the top of his voice: "Boys, bear a hand and keep down, or by Jupiter if you don't, I'll send every mother's son of you aft," (meaning the rear,) inferring that he would do their part of the fighting himself. On another occasion, while advancing in line of battle in the Wilderness under a heavy fire, anxious to keep his alignment in the excitement around him forgot his tactics and military phrases, and went back to his native element, the sailor, and was heard all over the line giving his commands: "Luff, boys, luff-steady, steady-luff, luff-there, steady-now give 'em every shot in the locker."

The following is an extract from the report of Captain Charles Wait: "The regiment was engaged at Cold Harbor June 3d, and charged the enemy's works in our front, carrying his first line with heavy loss, but holding the position until about 10 P. M., when it was relieved and withdrawn to the second line. In this engagement, Major Moody received a wound which caused his death. The loss of this gallant officer is deeply mourned in the regiment. Though suffering from illness and a wound received in the Wilderness, he had steadily remained at his post of duty, on all occasions manifesting rare courage and entire devotion to the cause in which he yielded up his life."

THE TWENTY-EIGHTH INFANTRY.

The 28th, raised and rendezvoused at Marshall, under the direction of the Hon. S. S. Lacy as commandant of camp, left the State for the field in Tennessee October 26, 1864, under the command of Lieut. Col. Delos Phillips. It arrived at Louisville, Ky., on the 29th, and on November 10th it was ordered to Camp Nelson, Ky., for the purpose of guarding a wagon train from that point to Nashville, where it arrived on the 5th of December, and was assigned to temporary duty at that post. The advance of Hood on Nashville soon brought the 28th to face the realities of war, and under command of Col. W. W. Wheeler, participated in the defence of that place by General Thomas, from the 12th to the 16th of that month, when it fully established a reputation as a gallant fighting regiment, and at once reached the uniform high standard of Michigan troops.

After the battle of Nashville the regiment was attached to the 23d corps, which was soon after sent to the Atlantic seaboard to constitute a part of the force concentrating in the vicinity of Wilmington intended to co-operate with General Sherman's army on its approach to the coast. The regiment belonged to the 2d brigade, 1st division, (Ruger's,) and arrived at Morehead City February 24, 1865, and on March 2d moved with its division towards Kingston, and joined General Cox. Meeting the enemy at Wise Forks, the 28th, commanded by Col. Wheeler, took an active part in the battles of the 8th, 9th, and 10th, at that point. On the 8th the regiment was engaged in heavy skirmishing during that entire day and the night following. On the 9th the enemy pressed Cox's lines strongly, without making an assault, and at the same time attempted to turn his right, but failed on account of a prompt reinforcement, of which the 28th formed a part. On the morning of the 10th the enemy made a fierce and determined charge upon the left, breaking the lines, but were repulsed. The brigade to which the 28th belonged charged the rebels on the double-quick, driving them back, and taking over three hundred prisoners, among whom were several field officers. About two o'clock the same day they made a heavy and desperate onset on the left and centre of General Cox, but most signally failed, the point having been strongly and promptly reinforced from the right. The 28th, with its brigade, being among the first to arrive, fought the enemy most gallantly for about two hours, when they were most decisively repulsed, leaving their dead and wounded and a large number of prisoners, and during the night they fell back across the Neuse, burning the bridge in their rear.

In this spirited engagement the regiment lost Lieut. Mathew Holmes and six men killed, and thirteen wounded.

Continuing the march, the regiment reached Kingston on the 14th, and Goldsboro' on the 21st, when the brigade was placed on duty guarding the line of the Atlanta and North Carolina railroad. On the 9th of April the regiment marched again to Goldsboro', and on the 13th arrived at Raleigh, and after the cessation of hostilities was engaged on duty at Goldsboro', Raleigh, Charlotte, Lincolntown, Wilmington, and Newbern, until June 5, 1866, when it was mustered out of service.

Lieut. John E. Kenyon died February 2, 1866, of wounds received January 27th previous, while arresting murderers in Pitt county, N. C.

THE TWENTY-NINTH INFANTRY.

When the rebel General Hood was on his Northern campaign in 1864, for the purpose of overrunning Tennessee, getting possession of Nashville and Louisville, and threatening the cities on the Ohio river, the 29th Michigan, (recruited and rendezvoused under the supervision of the Hon. John F. Driggs, M. C.,) under command of Colonel Thomas M. Taylor, was stationed at Nashville, where it had arrived from Michigan October 3d; and on the advance of Hood upon Decatur, Ala., it was sent forward to that point, arriving there on the 26th, just in time to march from the cars to its position in line, to meet the advance of Hood's forces, then attacking that place. Col. Charles C. Doolittle, of the 18th Michigan, was in command of the post of Decatur, and for some days previous to the 26th had been watching the movements of Hood's army, as well as those of Forrest and Roddey, and had scouted the surrounding country as thoroughly as possible. On the morning of the 26th he sent out several detachments on

the Sommerville and Courtland roads, one of which met a pretty strong force about three miles out on the Sommerville road, and was obliged to retire. Not expecting the advance of Hood's army, for a day or two at least, Col. Doolittle was of the opinion that it might be a scouting party of Roddey's command; but, at half past one o'clock P. M., on the same day, his videttes reported the enemy advancing on the place. He immediately made preparations for action, and rode to the advance post on the Sommerville road, and on seeing the enemy's columns forming into line with skirmishers out, he ordered the 2d Tennessee cavalry to hold the enemy in check, and then hurried back to headquarters, and made the necessary disposition of his force to meet the coming attack.

Battery A, 1st Tennessee light artillery, supported by the reserve picket of the 18th Michigan that had been ordered up, soon got into position in a small redoubt commanding the Sommerville road and vicinity, and at once opened fire on the enemy's line of battle. The 10th Indiana cavalry had also been ordered up, and was engaged at various points looking after and checking the advance of the enemy. Finding that he could hold the rebels in check, Col. Doolittle, about twenty minutes after the artillery opened fire, ordered the right wing of the 29th Michigan, which had just arrived by rail from Nashville and been placed behind the breastworks on the left flank, to move to the front and occupy the line of rifle-pits on the left of the redoubt. This they accomplished in the most gallant style under a hot fire from the enemy's artillery and musketry, which they withstood with firmness. Soon after the other wing of the regiment was ordered out, and one hundred of the men, in command of the major, was sent to what was known as Fort No. 1. Battery I, 1st Ohio light artillery, had been ordered forward and opened on the enemy, the fight continuing until dark, the rebels being unable to gain any advance, notwithstanding he made several attempts to charge the line. Col. Doolittle then withdrew the advance force inside the main works, leaving one hundred men of the 29th Michigan to strengthen the picket line and hold the line of the rifle-pits. In the engagement of this day the pickets on the Union line, from the redoubt to the river on the right, remained in their position, and when night came the picket line was in tact. It was ascertained that the attack was made by Walthal's division, 5,000 strong, of Stewart's corps, Hood's army, and were fought by Col. Doolittle with less than 500 men and a small amount of artillery. During the night of the 26th the Union forces were receiving reinforcements, and on the 27th nothing more important occurred than the driving back of the enemy's skirmishers on the front and right flank. On the 28th, about 3 A. M., the enemy drove in a portion of the pickets on the right, and established themselves in gopher holes within four hundred yards of the works. An attempt was made early in the morning to dislodge them and re-establish the line, but the enemy were too well protected to be moved. Some time afterwards they were surprised by Capt. W. C. Moore, 18th Michigan, with about fifty men of that regiment and a few clerks and orderlies from district headquarters, who made a most daring and dashing attack on them, driving them from their holes like scared rats, and taking 115 prisoners. During the day the battle became general, the Union troops having been reinforced and numbering about 5,000, had made a most determined defence; and early on the morning of the 29th it was ascertained that the enemy's forces had all been withdrawn except a strong rear guard, and at about 4 P. M. he was driven out of his last line of rifle-pits.

The noble and successful defence of Decatur by Col. Doolittle against such enormous odds was among the most gallant and remarkable of the

war, and its importance, in view of its effect upon the great battle of Nashville which soon followed, was second to no minor engagement during the rebellion.

The exemplary conduct, vigorous and splendid fighting of Col. Taylor's regiment and his officers, although less than a month in the field, could scarcely have been excelled by long tried veterans.

On the 31st of October, 1864, this regiment was stationed at Decatur, Ala., garrisoning that place until November 24th, when it marched to Murfreesboro', Tenn.; arriving there on the 27th, it composed a part of the force at that point during the siege of Nashville and Murfreesboro' by the enemy under Hood, and was engaged with the enemy on the 7th of December at Overall creek. On the 13th it was sent out as the escort of a railroad train to procure fuel, when it was attacked by a superior force of infantry and artillery near Winchester Church, when a severe battle ensued, in which the enemy was repulsed with loss, the regiment losing seventeen killed, wounded, and missing. The enemy having taken up the track, the regiment succeeded in relaying it under fire and saved the train, bringing it into Murfreesboro' by hand after the engine had been disabled by a shell. On the 15th and 16th, while guarding a forage train at Alexandria, near Murfreesboro', it became engaged with two brigades of the enemy's cavalry on the Shelbyville Pike with slight loss, and was also engaged at Nolansville on the 17th. In the affair on the 15th Lieut. Frederick Van Vliet was killed. On the 27th it was moved by rail to Anderson, and was assigned to duty guarding the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad; remaining there until July following, it moved to Dechard and thence to Murfreesboro', arriving there on the 19th, and was employed on garrison duty until September 6th, when it was mustered out of service, and on the 8th left for Michigan, arriving on the 12th at Detroit, where it was paid off and discharged. The 30th regiment was raised under authority from the War Department for special service on the Michigan frontier, its term of service being for one year; and by orders from this Department dated November 7, 1864, its recruitment commenced, under the direction of Col. G. S. Wormer, with rendezvous at Jackson, which was afterwards changed to Detroit, where the organization was completed January 9, 1865. The companies were stationed at different points along the Detroit and St. Clair rivers and in other parts of the State, as follows: A and B at Fort Gratiot, D at St. Clair, E at Wyandotte, K at Jackson, H at Fenton, G in Detroit, and C, F, and I at Detroit Barracks. The regimental headquarters were for some time at Jackson, then at Detroit, and on January 24th were removed to Fort Gratiot. The regiment continued on duty at those points until June 30th, when it was mustered out of service.

THE COLORED REGIMENT.

The only Michigan colored regiment in the war was the 102d U. S., raised by Col. Henry Barns, of Detroit, organized by Lieut. Col. W. T. Bennett, and in March, 1864, took the field in command of Colonel H. L. Chipman, then a captain in the regular army, who had procured a leave of absence for that purpose. The regiment first faced the enemy at Baldwin, Florida, in August following, where it was suddenly attacked by a force of rebel cav alry, which it easily repulsed and scattered, and by its splendid conduct on that occasion fully convinced its officers of the reliable and gallant fighting qualities of their men. But these qualities were more fully manifested at