The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-07-31

ravIne Sd as TO flank their batteries. IL tnls IL
so, and fully believe it, success ia two days is
certain, but Il terrible battle will be fought and
many lives lost on both sides
Men are here from Washington picking up
shell, shot, &c-had they been here two days
ago, they would have had more than wanted.
"Fall in, Fall in" sounds along the line, and
though tired out, the men spring actively to the
ranks.
! will write YOU every day during the battle,
aud YOU will inform our friends of the position OF
affairs. Goodbye.
Yours. for God and Victory,
FRANK.
CAMP McCoSNELL, ARLINGTON HEIGHTs,
July "a, 1861.
J. NJ CRAvATn-Deor Sir: Ny last was writ
ten amidst the booming of cannon and the rattle
of iron hail. Even now Wilma give-I hear the
whistling buzz of shell, or the more srhill
whirr of a ,iiled cannon shot. We have surely
passed through tery-furnace, aid most of Us
have come out unsca;hed. From the battle of
Thursday to the great battle OF Sunday | have
given particulars in private letters written daily
from the battle field.
Sunday, July Goth, We remained as on Friday,
ready for battle at any moment. There was
no interchange of shots except some indepen-
dent scouting parties, who, fond OF adventure,
advanced beyond our own lines and into those of
the enemy. While we were out on one OF these
expeditions early in the mornng, we discovered
the body of a member of Go. Il. We immedi-
vey Of the vicinity, TO make sure that no skuk-
ing rebel WAS near whose bastard cowardice
would lead him to shoot Us as soon as our
back turned, On examination of tie
body it found TO he still warm, but life en-
trely extinct. There were some circumstai ces
to indicate that he committed suicide. | hope
however, that it was not the case a. there was
ample opportunity to die hOnorably, il he was
particularly ANXIOUS to shake off the mo, tai coil
There were some other incidents of the day wor-
thy of note but thcv are all overshadowed by the
great events of Sunday. Saturday night the
Massachusetts, LIST occupied the position on the
field that we occupied on the previous night
while We lay in the road ready for action at a
moments warning, and anticipating attack mo-
mentary.
Sunday morning dawned sloriously brig lat ard
it seemed impossible that the sun, then appearing
from behind the eastern hills, and painting with
gold as beautiful a landscape a. We ever behed
should this day light up scene OF blood and
carnage, such as was never known before on the
Western Continent. There is nothing in the
heavy tramp of armed men, in the movement OF
artillery, and in the general parapharlaia of
war TO indicate that this is the Sabbath Instead
of "the sound OF church going BELLS" the very
earth shakes with the thunder of the cannonade ;
have the shrill assembly of the bugle.
The Michigan Sd had assigned to them the
front of the lett column, Mr.. Tyler's column-
We took the field early in the morning and lay
there anxiously awaiting the opening of the cot
lion, for which ball tickets had been issued to our
rebel friends on Thursday previous. The first
gun was fired by the column TO the right Of US
az 6:55 - at $50 the first gun was fired in our
column, by Green's battery. In our column the
cannouade continued during most of the fore
noon without any reply from the rebel batteries.
About 1850 the cannonade and musketry on our
right was heavy and rapid. At 1918 the battle
on our right ragged with the greatest fury. At
l:3l there were large achievements for the reb.
ell army skirting the hills at the distance of
miles. A few shots from 80 FOUNDER scattered
fhnr Ii h.tf b.. -
around, and out of sight. AT . ?. N, our col
umn failing to provoke the rebels into a reply 10
the cannonade, sent out several companies OF
skirmishers TO discover the whereabouts of the
enemy. They were found in immense numbers
In ravine close by Us, and soon drove in our
men pursuing us with demon like wells, and il is
said, actually bayoneting some of the wounded
who could not leave the field. Some grape and
canister soon sent them bowling back to their
den in the ravine, where it seemed impossible to
remove them.
On our left are seen number of Filters con.
veying off the dead and wounded
4:3O Z. M.-The heavy firing on our extreme
right has ceased, and We are jubient thinking our
army has been victorious. About T. NJ the
rebels in front of US made the hills ring with
their enthusiastic cheers, aud We saw indications
that they were about TO advance Or our lines
At $50 P. N. they had closed in Oh cur pickets
on three sides it was only now tha, We ad-
mitted the possibility of the Union forces being
compelled 10 retreat. The mere conception of
the idea seemed to paralyze Us, and we would
not admit its truth. The Lansing boys were on
duty on the extreme front, guarding the colors
and quarters of Col. Richardson, at the same
time observing the movements of the enemy in
tina, direction. About this time, $40 P NJ, the
entire brigade retired in good order to cover the
retreat or rather rout Of the Grand Army. We
know they had lett their position, but We did not
have any knowledge of retreat; We supposed
they had merely moved to another portion of the
field We were consequently sole occupants of
the he!d for considerable length Of time. Be.
ing almost surrounded, We gave the rebel cavalry
a farewell shot, tore down our coors, and retired
in double quick time and rejoined our regiment at
Centrevile, where We only escaped shot from
our friends by showing a white flag.