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THE TWENTY-EIGHTH AT BULL RUN.

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Army. During the remainder of the month, it was almost constantly on the march.

On the 30th, it was engaged in the battle at Bull Run, supporting a battery until night; when its position was changed to a piece of woods, where, next day, it was under heavy fire nearly an hour. When ordered to retreat, it retired in good order, and went to the support of a battery, sustaining a severe fire from the enemy's guns. The same evening, it moved with the retreating forces of Gen. Pope to Centreville, having lost in that battle eighteen men killed, and a hundred and nine wounded; and, in the engagement at Chantilly the next day, its loss was ninety-four in killed and wounded.

The Twenty-eighth left camp on the battle-field, Sept. 2. On the 5th, it was at Meridian Hill; on the 14th, at South Mountain; and, on the 17th, it was engaged in the great fight at Antietam. At eleven o'clock, A.M., of the memorable 17th, the men advanced under a murderous fire; the enemy's artillery having perfect range, and the shot falling with fearful precision within their ranks. They were ordered to lie down, and, for more than an hour, were in a position more trying to a soldier's nerves than

the shock of battle.

They afterwards drove the rebels before them, encamping at night on the side of Antietam Creek nearest the enemy, having lost in killed and wounded forty-eight men.

On the 19th, the regiment again took up its line of march, and was in motion, with very brief intervals, until the 18th of November; Col. Byrnes, one of the best and bravest officers, having assumed command at Nolan's Ferry on the 16th of October. Leaving camp, near Waterloo, Va., the Twenty-eighth encamped near Fredericksburg on the 23d of November, where it became a part of the second brigade, first division, Second Army Corps. It remained here, erecting winter-quarters, until the 11th of December, when it removed to a position opposite the city, which it entered next morning. Advancing with the division, it became engaged. with the enemy on St. Mary's Heights on the 13th. Its loss in killed, wounded, and missing, was a hundred and ten men. After changing position in the vicinity of Fredericksburg for the next three days, the regiment went on picket-duty for the rest of the winter on the banks of the Rappahannock.

April 27, the camp was again abandoned for the march; and, through the remainder of the spring and the first months of summer, the Twenty-eighth was engaged on picket, and was crossing

the enemy's path, or pursued by him; stopping at Falmouth, Thoroughfare Gap, Monocacy River, Uniontown, and Havana, within three miles of Gettysburg, reaching this point on the 2d of July.

Of the part the regiment took in these important and decisive battles, an officer writes:

July 2, at seven o'clock, A.M., resumed the march towards Gettysburg, passing by the Cemetery-hill Road, and took up a position with the brigade, on the left of Cemetery Hill, in which position the line of battle was formed; and remained so until four o'clock, P.M., when the regiment moved forward, and became engaged with the enemy, who was strongly posted in an advantageous position on the crest of a rugged, rocky hill. We forced him to retire from this eminence, and advanced over the top, and almost to the bottom of the other side, being the whole time exposed to a heavy fire of musketry, losing many men from the concentrated fire of the enemy, who was on both our flanks, causing us to retire a short distance to reach our support. During this engagement and the following one next day, the regiment lost a hundred and one men in killed, wounded, and missing.

On the 5th, the regiment commenced another series of marches, including in its encampments, up to Dec. 7, old battle-grounds, and points of interest, along the Rappahannock and Rapidan.

The regiment remained in winter-quarters at Stevensburg, Va., performing picket-guard and other duties, from the 1st of January to the 3d of May, the evening of which day it broke camp, and marched with twenty commissioned officers and four hundred and eighty-five enlisted men, under command of Lieut.-Col. George W. Cartwright, crossing the Rapidan River, and reaching the Chancellorsville House the afternoon of May 4, passing over the old battle-field; thence to Todd's Tavern, the regiment acting as flankers, with extremely arduous duties to perform in this capacity, and, towards night, working on breastworks, and skirmishing. May 5, the regiment was again deployed as skirmishers. In the battle of this day, - the Wilderness, the regiment lost sixteen killed, sixty-seven wounded, and fifteen missing. Here fell, while nobly performing his duty, the brave Capt. James A. M'Intire, and here also the gallant and efficient Capt. Charles V. Smith received his death-wound.

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In the subsequent fights and skirmishes of the next six days, the regiment lost in killed seven, and in wounded and missing twentyseven. At daylight of the 12th, near Spottsylvania, it made a desperate charge on the enemy's works, assisting in the capture

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of many prisoners, and pieces of artillery, but losing, in killed and wounded, fifty men. The same thing was repeated at daylight on the 18th, which resulted in carrying the enemy's first line. In this assault, the regiment lost many gallant officers and soldiers.

Here fell, mortally wounded, the brave Major A. J. Lawler, and the much esteemed and regretted Capts. Magner and Coch

rane.

The regiment moved from Spottsylvania Court House on the 22d; crossed the North Anna on the 24th; and continued to advance with very frequent skirmishes, arriving on the 3d of June at Cold Harbor. In the engagement at this place, the Twentyeighth suffered greatly, without having the opportunity of firing a shot.

It formed in line, and made a charge on the enemy's works; was exposed to a tremendous fire of musketry and artillery, and suffered heavily. At this fight, the brave soldier and respected officer, Col. Richard Byrnes, received his death-wound, as did also First Lieut. James B. West. The casualties were, this day, ten killed, forty-six wounded, and one missing. Towards night, the regiment fell back behind their intrenchments, and remained in this position until June 14. The evening of this date, the regiment crossed the James River, and proceeded that night and the 15th in the direction of Petersburg. On the afternoon of the 16th, it made a charge on the enemy's works, carrying one line, and following up vigorously until checked by superior force of the enemy; losing three killed, fourteen wounded, and two missing.

June 20, the regiment was transferred from the second to the first brigade (Brig.-Gen. N. A. Miles commanding), first division, Second Army Corps. It marched in the afternoon, acting as flankers, and exposed to the enemy's fire. On the 22d, the regiment was deployed as skirmishers to meet an attack of the enemy. Here, as a thin skirmish line, the regiment did noble work by determinedly holding its position; and assisted materially in checking, while flushed with victory, the enemy's progress, receiving on the field the compliments of both brigade and division commanders. The loss was one killed, nine wounded, and one missing.

reserve.

From this time until the 9th of July, the regiment was kept in It was then employed in picket and fatigue duties until the 26th; when, Capt. I. Fleming commanding, it made a long and weary night-march, crossing, both the James and the Appo

mattox, and arriving at Deep Bottom on the morning of the 27th. It was here deployed as skirmishers, and soon became hotly engaged with the enemy.

The regiment succeeded in getting on the enemy's flank, driving him in confusion from his works, where he left in his flight four twenty-pounder Parrott guns, with caissons and ammunition; while several prisoners were captured, including one commissioned officer. During the remainder of the day, the regiment was on picket. On the evening of the 28th, it moved back to the New-market Road, and assisted in throwing up a line of works.

The 29th, at dark, the regiment with the corps recrossed the James and Appomattox Rivers, and returned to its position before Petersburg, Va., on the morning of the 30th, and acted as a support to the Ninth Army Corps. The regiment lost at Deep Bottom two killed and two wounded.

On the evening of July 30, the regiment was again in its old encampment, where it remained until the afternoon of the 12th of August, when it broke camp, and marched to City Point, a distance of ten miles. The next day, the regiment embarked on transports for Deep Bottom, and disembarked there the morning of the 14th. During the forenoon, it made a demonstration against a rebel battery, suffering a loss of four killed and eleven. wounded. On the 15th, it moved to the right of the line, and bivouacked for the night. On the 16th, it moved out on the Charles-City Road (supporting cavalry), advancing as skirmishers, and engaged the enemy. After a stubborn and well-contested resistance against superior numbers, the regiment fell back upon its brigade, losing heavily in killed, wounded, and missing. At dark on the 20th, it marched back to Petersburg, reaching that position on the morning of the 21st. The regiment lost here two killed, sixteen wounded, and twenty-two missing.

On the 25th, it was engaged in the fiercely contested action of Ream's Station, on the Weldon Railroad, and was publicly complimented for its gallant conduct.

From this time until the 13th of December, the Twenty-eighth was constantly changing its positions and camps, and employed on picket-guard and fatigue-duties in front of Petersburg; when, its term of service having expired, two officers and twenty men (being all with the regiment that had not re-enlisted), under command of Col. Cartwright, proceeded to Boston to be mustered out of service. The rest of the regiment was consolidated into a battalion of five companies, and was known as the Twenty-eighth

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Battalion Massachusetts Volunteers. Until March 25, 1865, the battalion remained in front of Petersburg; when (we quote from official reports), under command of Lieut.-Col. James Fleming, it broke camp, and moved to the front line of works, remaining under arms several hours; after which, an attack was ordered to be made on the enemy's lines in our front. The enemy advanced from their works to meet us, and were twice repulsed with heavy loss. On this occasion, the battalion remained under fire until all their ammunition was expended, but still maintained its position, although exposed to a galling fire of musketry and artillery. The loss of the battalion in this well-contested engagement was four commissioned officers wounded; viz., Lieut.-Col. James Fleming, Capt. John Connor, Capt. Patrick M'Intyre, and First Lieut. T. J. Parker; seven enlisted men killed, and sixty-five wounded, many of whom have since died, out of less than two hundred men taken into action.

The battalion was subsequently engaged at Hatcher's Run, South-side Railroad, and was with the army on the occasion of Gen. Lee's surrender of the rebel forces to Gen. Grant.

In all these marches and skirmishes with the enemy, the men behaved in a splendid manner, frequently eliciting the commendations of their commanding officers; and, considering the shortness of the campaign, the losses of the battalion have been remarkably large, there being six commisioned officers wounded, eleven enlisted men killed and sixty-six wounded, out of a total of a hundred and eighty-four with which it started at the commencement of the campaign.

The battalion was encamped at Burkesville until ordered with its division to Alexandria, where it arrived May 15, and took part in the grand review at Washington, May 23.

On the 25th of June, it was ordered to report at Readville, Mass., to be mustered out of service; at which place it arrived July 5, was paid off, and discharged.

This regiment nobly performed its part in preserving and perpetuating the Government, which now welcomes to its protection the people of all nationalities and races.

The Twenty-eighth took part in engagements as follow,James Island, Second Bull Run, Chantilly, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Bristow's Station, Mine Run, Wilderness, Po River, Spottsylvania, Tolopotomy, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, Ream's Station, Petersburg, South-side Railroad, and Hatcher's Run.

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