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George C. Burmeister diary, 1864
1864-04-05
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charged upon it and discovered too late that they could not cross on it the enemy concealed behind trees poured into them a dreadful volley of musketry, a number of our brave men were killed there. Our cavalry retreated and skirmished with the enemy till we arrived we prepared for a charge a cheer and on moved the 5th Minn. the enemy fled as soon as he heard the cheering. Then my co. was sent out as skirmishers, but found no enemy. Our left wing had been sent out to our right under major John. It was a sorry sight to behold so many of our brave men carried dead or wounded to the rear. I saw men with awful wounds, one poor young man had his countenance dreadfully disfigured by having his nose severed by a musket ball. The enemy inflicted great mischief on our cavalry which fought gallantly, but it seems the rebels escaped unpunished. We lost eight killed and twenty wounded a great many of whom are officers whom it seems the enemy’s sharpshooters picked off particularly. We took two or three prisoners. The country where the enemy was posted is heavily timbered and nearly surrounded by a lake, so that it was difficult to approach him. We passed through Campte on our return and burned part of the town. We had to wait at the landing till late at night for our boat to take us abroad. Tuesday 5 Again we marched at a little after sunrise, this time without breakfast, my company and co. I. of our regiment had the advance. We marched three miles up the river with the same expedition as yesterday under command
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charged upon it and discovered too late that they could not cross on it the enemy concealed behind trees poured into them a dreadful volley of musketry, a number of our brave men were killed there. Our cavalry retreated and skirmished with the enemy till we arrived we prepared for a charge a cheer and on moved the 5th Minn. the enemy fled as soon as he heard the cheering. Then my co. was sent out as skirmishers, but found no enemy. Our left wing had been sent out to our right under major John. It was a sorry sight to behold so many of our brave men carried dead or wounded to the rear. I saw men with awful wounds, one poor young man had his countenance dreadfully disfigured by having his nose severed by a musket ball. The enemy inflicted great mischief on our cavalry which fought gallantly, but it seems the rebels escaped unpunished. We lost eight killed and twenty wounded a great many of whom are officers whom it seems the enemy’s sharpshooters picked off particularly. We took two or three prisoners. The country where the enemy was posted is heavily timbered and nearly surrounded by a lake, so that it was difficult to approach him. We passed through Campte on our return and burned part of the town. We had to wait at the landing till late at night for our boat to take us abroad. Tuesday 5 Again we marched at a little after sunrise, this time without breakfast, my company and co. I. of our regiment had the advance. We marched three miles up the river with the same expedition as yesterday under command
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