July 2023
they would end up captured, or thought cowards who ducked the fight, Melcher believed “Our only chance was to cut our way through.” Finding a lightly defended place, the small group attacked from behind. The sudden surprise nabbed some Confederates as prisoners while others fought Melcher’s little group hand-to-hand. Two of Melcher’s men were killed, and
several wounded, but they ended up capturing 32 Confederates, who were hustled to the Federal lines. Melcher’s men turned over the prisoners and located their regiment.
Lt. Col. Charles Herring of the 118th Pennsylvania also gave a brief official report. He noted that “after charging and engaging them, they were found on the flanks, pressing to our rear; the regiment returned with the brigade by order.” The regiment’s commander, Col. James Gwynn, was wounded in the action. In addition, two men were killed, 26 wounded, and 27 missing.
Bartlett himself barely escaped May 5 alive. In the chaos of the battle, the general received a facial wound and had to make a mad dash back toward his lines on horseback only to have his steed shot and tumble over on him. Amazingly, he withstood the crushing blow and walked off the field.
Bartlett’s regiments, being formally spent most of May 6, 1864, in support roles. However, the 118th Pennsylvania and 18th Massachusetts reported being shelled by Confederate artillery, and the 1st Michigan noted harassing enemy sharpshooters. More difficult combat for these regiments was just ahead in the coming weeks and months at Spotsylvania, Petersburg, and on to Appomattox.
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Te Artilleryman is a quarterly magazine founded in 1979 for enthusiasts who collect and shoot cannons and mortars primarily from the Revolutionary War, Civil War to World War II.
