The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1861-08-16


take in our line of march. At this mo-
meut, the several regiments forming in the
fields beyond us and all round-the trum.
pets of the cavalry ringing piercingly and
thrillingly in the sunny air-the lifted col
ors at various points glowing through the
crowded scene--the field batteries rafting
and rumbling up the road-the bands
striking up the "star spangIed Banner"
and rousing every heart-the dark and
towering woods frowning all along our
left and beyond us far as the eye could
contributed to form, on bold and
sweeping scale, picture far more striking
and exciting than any had ever seen.
War, assuredly, has its destinations as well
as its horrors, and there is an encbantment
in these brilliant and exhilirating prepara>
tons for the conflict which blinds one ut
terly to the ghastly penalties that have to
follow them, and SO emboldens and spurs
the tamest into heroism.
1t was fully 10 o'clock, the morning Of
the 18th of July, when the Goth came in
sight of Fairfax Court House, the road
along which the Regiment passed being
obstructed, every half mile almost. with
enormous heaps of fallen trees, which the
Confederates had levelled and massed to-
gether, and which had to be cut through
by our axemen before the slightest pros
gress could be made. In this rough and
dangerous pioneering, the Engineers Of
the 69:h, under the command of their high
spirited young Captain, did quick and
clear work, splendidly maintaining their
character with the Regiment for useful
ness, promptitude and boldness. Arriving
in sight of Fairfax Court House, and within
au easy cannon shot of il, the Goth, leav.
ing the Ohio and other Regiments drawn
up in line of battle along the road striking
off at right angles to the left of the main
line of march, passed on so as TO flank the
village and cut off the retreat Of the Con-
federates.
Proceeding in the execution of this
movement we came IN sight Of portion
of the enemy, apparently from 1000 to
1900 strong, drawn up in line Of battle
outside the village in field directly 'front.'
ing our line of march. The order to halt
was promptly given, the right wing of the
Goth was thrown into the fields to the left,
and uniting there with the I'd of New
York-as vigorous and spirited body of
men as any one need wish to see-moved
rapidly down upon the enemy. AS they
neared him, however, he retreated into the
village, and then out of it towards Centre
vile, leaving it to be peacefully entered, a
short time after by the forces from Airing
ton House and the encampments between
that and Alexandria, and beyond it. The
fine battery Of the Sth, N. Y. s. NJ, sent
three or four complimentary adieur, in the
shape Of shell and round shot, upon the
retreating Southerners, which, learnt af>
terwards from ex Governor James Lynch,
who modestly and manfully served with
the battery as private, seemed to quicken
their departure from Fairfax. Two or
three shots, also, were dropped into them
from Ayre's battery, which ratified up
from the rear of our brigade, past our reg
iment for the purpose; and the same splen-
did battery threw two or three more dis
charges of canister and grape, right and
left, into the woods ahead of us with the
view of starting any skirmishers or pickets
that might be lying low in so suspicious
and entangling quarter. Nothing how
ever, turned up, and the enemy having
retreated from Fairfax, the line of march
was resumed, considerable deviation to
the right and southwark of this town be-
ing observed. -aa
1t was in one of the short halts on this
march that Captain Breslin was severely
wounded in the right shoulder, stack of
muskets being accidentally over set, and
the full charge Of one of them striking him
as be stood within few inches of them.
At first it was feared, from the dreadful
appearance it made, that the wound was a
fata! one; but the surgeons hurrying up
from the right Of the regiment as fast as
their horses could carry them, allayed our
fears, whilst they did all in their power for
the sufferer The wound being dressed the
ambulance was ordered up, and from that
out until the evening preceding the last
battle at Bull Run, poor Rreslin was jol,ed
along to CeuterviIle in the rear of the Reg
iment-an unnecessary torture, it seemed
to US all, which he bore most patiently
and bravely, and for which our Brigadier,
Colonel Sherman, rude and envenomed
martinez, is alone responsibility having,
with the utmost spitefulness of tons and
feature forbidden the 69th moro than one