The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-08-09
.cker also distinguished themselves on the

Acker also distinguished themselves on the
field. .Y> - 4aa eGl e.sf
Downie Of company B, on the left, be.
sides the Fire Zouaves, rallying with few
of them in addition to his own command,
made three distinct and successive charges
on the enemy, with an energy that but for
superior force would have routed them.
DR.. Stewart remained at the hospital
about one mile in the rear of the battle
ground, and is no doubt taken prisoner !;
while the reports of the fate Of the Assist.
ant Surgeon and the Hospital are contra
dictory and their fate enshrouded in uncer-
tainty.
A cannon ball struck the musket of one
member of company" A" breaking it in
two pieces, but without infficting any in
jury to him. Many of the boys exhibit bull
let holes through various parts of their gar
ments, and if we ever live to see our friends
at home, after peace is restored to our
country, we can bring with us flags, guns,
revolvers, swords, sashes, &C., as trophies
of the late battle field. No doubt many
incidents of interest transpired on the event.
full day, and will reach you through other
sources. l am not in possession of any
more at present.
1t is generally thought we will remain
here some time to recruit, get some dimes
from Uncle Sam, and have little good
times, before we again advance in the re.
bel States to fight the battles of our coun>
try. PRIVATE.
Interesting Letters from Lieut.. Col.
Miller and Rev. E. ID. NeiIl.
We give below extracts from private
letter received by Gov. RAMSEY from Lieut..
Col. MILLER, dated at Washington, July
25th. He says:
l have just returned from one of the hardest
fought and most disstrous battles in our history.
Minnesota, with but few exceptions, did her
duty we'll. We took 900 of the regiment into
action. We were led like sheep to the carnage
had about 10000 to %, 900 men on the road,
and did not fight more than Is, 900 of them at
any one time. The enemy had probably lOo,.
600, and all our officers were perfectly ignorant
of the locality of the ground, the numbers of
the foe, and the position of the numerous
masked batteries. So insane an attack by civ
ilized men never heard of. While our officers
generally behaved we'll, of those under my
notice, Captains Wilkin and Pell were specially
brave and active. We left upwards of 100
with the baggage. My pistols (state) were
stolen out of my holsters, and one of my own
lost on the battle field. My mems chests,
blankets, &C.. were thrown away on the route
as our panic stricken teamsters fed before the
foe. Our soldiers laid their blankets, coats,
&c., in pile just previous to the battle, and
have lost the whole of them. Ii..S Co
'" MR.. NELL 8 LETTER.
From Chaplain NEILL's letter, dated the
Oath inst, we make the following extracts !:
The conductors of the advance to-
ward Richmond forgot the better part of valor
discretion. Our regiment, as you
have learned, was in the advance of Helm tzle.
mans colnmn and have never seen men be-
have with so much dignity and cheerfulness,
with the entire absence of all shouting, as they
descended into the battle field. Occupying
tho extreme right on the battle field, and in
proximity to the Fire Zouaves, l have no
doubt their red shirts led the rebels to suppose
they were all Of the same corps, and directed
their fire upon our men with greater energy.
1t was painful, l assure you, to be on the
battle field and have nothing to do but dodge
cannon balls.
TWAS impossible for me to lag behind, as
side as they entered the engagement; and yet,
when they skrmished around and left me near
to the artillery, felt singular loneliness, and
would have felt much better off, if had had
some distinct military duty to perform.
As the battle ceased, however, l found my
hands full, in dragging our wounded men to
the hospital near by. Afterwards succeeded
in bringing Captain Acker, Lieutenant Harley,
(of Captain Pell's company and five other
wounded men, in an ambulance 70 Centreville,
near where we had camped before the battle.
Hardly had reached that place before we
were ordered to retire to Washington. We
reached Georgetown at IL A. NJ. on Monday,
having been on our feet, with the exception
of few halts, thirty hours. During that time
l saw the battle; was in an ambulance
and surrounded by thousands of panic strick'
en- men forced to make wounded man tear
off his red flannel shirt, which hung out of the
ambulance on a sabre, as hospital sign, so
that the rebels, who were alleged to be in thr
rear, would not fire on the suffering ; and wit
messed the wreck of artillery wagons, baggage
wagons, etc., on the road, which has been so
fully told in all the papers. i"|
From Saturday night at six o'clock until
Monday at dinner time, had the privilege of
eating two pilot crackers, piece of cake and
drinking cup of coffee.
All my luggage was thrown into the road
to make way for the wounded, and fear that
the trunk may be captured. In that case l am
left with only the clothes on my back.
We were quite anxious for Drs. LeBOutillier
and Stewart, fearing that they may have been
captured but tonight wednesday, the for
mer arrived and we learn that the latter is out
at the hospital not far from the battle field.
M N Laho uvo nj