Wisconsin in the War of the Rebellion, Vol. 1

              FIRST (three months) INFANTRY. 221
the colors until Corporal George M. Sabin, of Company K, seized them, who bore them until the contest was over. When young Drake was shot. Jay Crocker, a regimental marker, took his gun and place, and fought till the enemy was routed. Company E is spoken of with much credit for its part in the skirmishing under Lieutenant W. H. Miller, marching up in the rear of the enemy's ambuscade, amid a storm of bullets that would have driven back veterans.
The foe fled, carrying off the most of their dead and wounded, and leaving some of their equipage scattered along their route. They were pursued some four miles, but not overtaken. Their loss was estimated by some at from seventy to one hundred killed and wounded, judging in part from the fresh graves found afterward in that vicinity. But the rebel account given by Pollard is, that Jackson with his forces engaged our troops "for a considerable time, inflicted a heavy loss, and. retired when about to be outflanked, scarcely losing a man, but bring¬ ing off/orii/^we prisoners." The last part ofthis statement being untrue, the rest may be also. General Patterson commended the Wisconsin troops, and said, that with scarcely any assist¬ ance they put a rebel force of some flve thousand to flight. Colonel Abercrombie, who was promoted for bravery at Buena Vista, expressed much surprise and admiration at the coolness land bravery of the Wisconsin men.
GEORGE  DRAKE.
George Drake was dead.    He was the only living son of
¦William and Jane C. Drake, of Milwaukee, and was a little less
Ithan nineteen years of age.    He had been absent from home
three weeks and two days when he fell.    As he was loading
for the  second volley, a ball  pierced  him near the heart,
^iid falling he exclaimed, "Oh!"   then turning over in his
Sueath spasm, said, " My mother !"    He clearly seems to have
Vjoined the regiment from patriotism, not for pleasure.   When
Reasoning with his mother about his duty to go, the tears
foinetimes ran down his cheeks to his chin, and he would say,
r How can I stay at home and see the flag of my country so
Tlishonored!"    And again; walking with his mother in Camp