Thus closed in blood and gloom the second day of the sanguinary battle of the Wilderness. When darkness settled on those smouldering forests the roll-call bore witness to the sacrifice we had offered that day on the altar of Freedom. Eighty-five were absent. Of this number, twelve were known to have been killed, fifty-three wounded, and of the twelve reported "missing in action" several were supposed to have been killed or wounded, and consumed in the burning of the underbrush between the contending lines. The brigade lost five hundred and four in killed, wounded, and missing; the heavy loss of the Thirty-sixth being occasioned by our great exposure, and the severe fire on our left flank and rear. The scenes and events of the day were recounted, and entrusted to the keeping of faithful memories. Sergeant Rawson had his story to tell of the coolness and thoughtfulness of Color-Sergeant Todd. As they were about to enter the battle he said to Rawson, "If anything happens to me, take good care of the State color." But for this timely charge the flag might have fallen into the enemy's hands, for Rawson, deeply impressed with the words of his friend, was near him when he fell, ready to take the flag from Todd's dying grasp.
In the line the severest loss was sustained by Company I, commanded by Orderly Sergeant White, losing three killed and ten wounded (three of them mortally) out of thirty-five taken into action.
The following is the list of casualties:—
Commissioned Officers.
Wounded.—Major William F. Draper, Lieutenant Joseph A. Marshall.
Enlisted Men.
Company A. Killed.—Corporal Albert H. Carter. Wounded.—Corporal Michael Long, Private Henry A. Thompson.
Company B. Killed.—Color-Sergeant Henry Todd, Private Charles M. Westcott. Wounded.—Sergeant John Lamont, Privates Louis P. Abbott, Daniel Lamont, James H. Robertson, James E. Spear.
Company C. Killed.—Private Myron M. Daniels. Died of Wounds.—Private Frank S. Kelley. Wounded.—Corporal Walter Chisold, Privates Jacob W. Bixby, Frederick S. Gates, William Harty. Prisoner.—Private Hartwell C. Twitchell (died August 21, 1864, at Andersonville).