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From: "Schmidt" <>
Subject: [NY-CIVIL-WAR] July 5-1864: Letter of June 23, 8th NY
Date: Mon, 14 May 2007 17:08:59 -0400


Republican Advocate - Batavia NY
July 5-1864

Correspondence of the Republican Advocate.

Headquarters 8th N.Y. Vols.,
Near Petersburg, Va., June 23, 1864.

Friend Waite: - I mailed to you a very hurried note this morning in
reference to our charge of last evening, but will give you the particulars
now.
About 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon, the rebels flanked a division in
front of us, and captured four guns of the 12th N.Y. battery, drove our men
back, and turned the guns upon us, as we lay only a short distance in the
rear. About five o'clock we were ordered to advance and recapture the guns.
We advanced some 500 yards, and prepared for the charge, but were not
supported at all. The order came to charge and our men went steadily forward
under a terrible fire, and succeeded in getting within fifty yards of the
enemy's works, where we halted and built up a line of works under a heavy
fire, and held them. This morning at daylight we were again ordered to
advance and take the works, which we did in splendid style, driving the
"rebs" out, but found they had taken away the guns during the night. The
loss is very heavy, in fact our whole brigade suffered severely, which
consists of the 8th N.Y. Art., 164th, 155th, 190th, and 69th, N.Y.
Volunteers, or "Irish Legion." This brigade has done more charging the past
four weeks than any brigade I know of.
Partial list of casualties June 22d:
Killed:
Corp. Harvey Baker, E
Corp. Summer Barker, E
Mark Hamston, E
G.F. Hill, E
H. Morgan, E
Luther Wordon, E
Samuel Ashley, A
T.M. Wye, B
John Ames, B
John Daniston, K
Daniel Caxton, K
Wounded:
Lieut. Col. Bates, abdomen, mortally
Lieut. Glass, F, mortally
Lieut. W.L. Totten, shoulder
Lieut. L.B. Donsmore, L, arm, slightly
Serg't LeRoy Williams, G, slightly
Corp. A.T. Pete, M, finger
D. Chamberlin, I, arm
Jno. Temple, A, amp. left leg
A. Amidon, G, arm
Geo. Metzer, abdomen
Capt. Geo. Hoyt, G, leg
Lieut. Van Dyke, L, arm
Lieut. Baldwin, E, shoulder and thigh
Lieut. G.N. Rector, side, slightly
Corp. Jerome Clark, G, shoulder
Geo. Stewart, D, head
A. Leland, A, right side
J. Moore, G, shell, in head
E.H. Noble, G, leg
I cannot at this time give the names of all the wounded, but will say
that eighty-seven men have thus far been reported wounded last night and
this morning, and as there are quite a number missing, an accurate account
cannot be given.
Capt. S. Dexter Ludden, is reported a prisoner; as he was in the
skirmish line and has not since been seen, this is probably the case.
Col. Blaisdell, commanding our brigade, was killed; this being the third
brigade Commander we have lost.
Yours &c.,
"Jack"
transcribed/submitted by L. Schmidt, 14 May 2007.

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