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American Civil War
SIXTEENTH REGIMENT INFANTRY
The regiment had borne on the rolls 2, 318 officers and men, losing 343. Killed in action, 10 officers and 155 men; died of wounds, 2 officers and 48 men; of disease, 128 men.
The blended rage of shot and shell, Though from the blackened portals torn, Has not such havoc bought a name Immortal on the rolls of fame?"
NOTES. -At the second battle of Bull Run the 16th was heavily engaged and exposed to a severe fire of shell and solid shot. In the afternoon it charged on a rebel battery, in face of volleys of musketry and artillery fire of grape and canister. The infantry of
the enemy being protected by a railroad embankment, it was found impossible to dislodge them and a retreat became necessary. Under this fire many officers and men had been killed' or wounded, and several color-bearers had been shot down. The regiment was being closely pressed by the enemy, and the regimental colors much in danger. At one time when a color-bearer had been shot down, and the color falling to the ground, Captain Stephen Martin, at great risk, took possession of it and placed it in the hands of another bearer, with instructions to save them at the risk of his life.
The retreat was continued, a heavy force of the enemy following and delivering a murderous fire, especially directed on the color; the attention of Captain Martin was again directed to its safety, and under a shower of rifle bullets he, with the color-bearer, succeeded in placing the flag beyond the reach of danger.
The saving of this flag by Captain Martin was acknowledged by Colonel "Welch, commanding the regiment, in a complimentary letter, and he was entrusted with its delivery to the Governor of the State,
A Prison in Richmond, Va., August 2d, 1862.
General Jno. Robertson, Adjutant General, State of Michigan.
General, —Lest you have not received the few lines that I wrote you soon after my capture, on June 27th, I send this to report that after that bloody fight in which we were defeated, I was taken prisoner, and have been here ever since, with some l20 other officers.
I have not received any official information from my regiment since, and cannot, therefore, make any report of the actual loss since the 27th, nor even a full one of that. I had been on the sick list for over a week before the battle, and only took command of ray regiment after it got on the field. Captain Case was killed, Lieutenant Williams mortally wounded, Lieutenant McGraw lost a leg and died in hospital, Captains Mott and Fisher wounded and taken prisoners; they are here with me, and well. Captain Myers and Lieutenants Eddy and Chandler were wounded and got off.
There are about one hundred of my men prisoners here, some forty of them wounded. A few of them have died. Probably in killed, wounded, and prisoners my regiment lost over 200.
The regiment was in the battle of Malvern Hill on the 30th of June, and I hear suffered again, but I have no certain information. As the cartel for a general exchange has been made, and nearly all of the wounded gone, the officers hope to follow very soon. A& soon as that is done I will send you a full report, with names for promotion. Very respectfully, your most obedient servant,
T. B. W. STOCKTON, Colonel 16th Michigan Infantry.
At the battle of Fredericksburg, after fighting all day and part of the night, a Michigan regiment lay down on their arms and were soon asleep. Their ammunition wagon coming: up late, the mules hungry and thirsty, being halted near the sleeping place of the colonel, gave several of their peculiar howls, which suddenly awoke the colonel, who, much provoked at being thus so unceremoniously disturbed, and in his bewildered condition thinking that the noise was made by the musicians of the regiment at band practice, called to-his adjutant, saying, "Put these devilish buglers under arrest and send them to the rear; they will jeopardize the safety of the whole army. "
John Steele, a private in Company K, 16th Michigan, having his right arm shot off at Middleburg, Captain Hill said to him a few minutes after: "John, you cannot carry a musket any more. " John replied with tears in his eyes: "No, Captain, but I can carry the colors can't I? "
While the 16th Michigan was engaged at Cold Harbor a Maryland regiment broke while under fire, and when falling back was checked and held by the 16th. The colonel of the regiment struggled to rally it, but without success, when he hurriedly advanced to Colonel Partridge, and with tears streaming down his manly face, exclaimed: " Colonel, would to God that I commanded a Michigan regiment!" He had hardly said these words when a rifle bullet passed through his body, killing him instantly.
The following anecdote is told with all due respect to the cause therein alluded to, and also for the colonel and chaplain referred to, and is only recited as an extreme example of how tenacious and jealous commanders of regiments become of the standing of their commands.
One of the Michigan regiments in the Army of the Potomac was brigaded with a Pennsylvania regiment into which their chaplain had infused considerable of religious feeling. Several had been baptized; this feeling also prevailed to some extent in other regiments of the brigade, but had not taken effect in the Michigan regiment. The chaplain referred to, having the welfare of the Michigan regiment at heart, conceived the idea of calling on the colonel, a soldier from his youth and every inch a man, gruff but brave, not sudden and quick in quarrel, nor full of strange oaths, but bearded, like the Pard; gaining reputation even in the cannon's mouth. Consequently the chaplain waited upon him, calling at his tent and finding him, stated that several members of other regiments of the brigade had recently experienced religion, and in his own regiment he had baptized fifteen the previous day; remarking also that he was very desirous of a like result in the Michigan regiment, but unless the Colonel made some effort in that direction the regiment would be left behind in the matter. The colonel, a little nettled at what he considered over-zeal of the chaplain, and especially at the idea of having his regiment suspected even of being slow or behind in any respect, started to his feet, called the sergeant major, and hurriedly said: "Give my compliments to the adjutant and direct him to detail immediately with orders to report to the chaplain here, twenty men for baptism;, my regiment shall not be beat in any way by any regiment in the brigade. " The chaplain gave him one serious look and left quick.
Michigan in the Civil War
Page 105
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