The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-08-08


from a former resident of Edwards
burg, in this County, but who, with
two companions-Russel Allen and
Henry Dean, from the same place.
being in Minnesota at the breaking out
of the war, enlisted in regiment from
that State. At the battle of Bull Run,
Mr.. Dean was killed, and the writer
slightly wounded. The letter was
written to friend in Edwardsburg:
ALEXANDRIA, Va, July "a.
Since my last, have experienced all
the horrors of war. We started out
of camp, for the scene of action, with
bouyant hearts and longing to see the
enemy, after chasing them for twenty
five miles, we fell back to Centerville
and encamped, till the memorable 21st,
when we were marched up to the place
of action, distance of ten miles, part
of the way in double-quick time. When
we reached the scene we were entirely
run down and in no condition to enter
battle, but We were rushed into it
without q chance to rest, and there we
stood and fought like tigers. The first
place that we had chance to try our
spunk, was in a hollow. Not a seces-
sionist could be seen. In less time
than am describing it, thousand of
them seemed to come up out Of the
ground and commenced firing. We
let into them with vengeance, and
many one of them bit the dust. AT
ter we had fired five rounds, was lay
ing on the ground loading my gun, one
of the rascals managed to give me
scalp on the head with bullet, which
rolled me over like log. Fortunate
ly it is not very bad. The ball entered
the back of my head and passed down
between my shoulders. l have been
In the hospital until this morning, when
got my discharge and came over to the
camp.
Oh, you have no idea of the horrors
of war, to stand and and see the boys
shot down by your side, while the
grape and canister fell like hail around
us but never a man flinched from his
duty, although the odds against us was
four to one, and NIL the advantage in
the world, on the side of the enemy,
with masked batteries which we could
not see until they would belch forth
their iron hail at us, and NOW us down
like grass before the scythe. But they
were not enough for the brave freemen
of Minnesota and Ellsworth Zouaves
that stood before them fighting for the
union. The Zouavcs were on our left
and we formed the right flank. The
enemies batteries were extended for a
mile, and as fast as we drove them
from one place, they would retreat to
another
We fetched in good many prison
ers with us, and they said we killed
three to one, all day. We had them
fairly whipped out once, but General
Johnson's forces arrived in time to save
them. At one time, we got regiment
of the secessionists into ravine, be-
tween two of our regiments, where
they could not get away, and not
man of the rebels left the field alive.
1t looked bad, but we had to do it.
Henry Dean was shot through the
head and killed instantly, all he said
was, "Oh, my God," and died without
a struggle. A large number of our
men were left on the field wounded,
and were either killed or taken prison
ers. One poor fellow in our company
had his head taken clean off his should
ers, by cannon ball. 1t kept us dodg
ing the balls and shells, a good share
of the time.
The first day l was hurt, I walked
eight miles to Centerville, where staid'
all night. The next day l started for
Alexandria on foot, distance of twen-
ty-one miles. When I reached there
l was nearly worn out with fatigue
and pain of my wound but after one
days rest felt better. On the 23d, l
went to Washington, and was sick
enough, and think l should have died
was it not for the kindness of broth
er Odd Fellow, who took me home,
and whose family watched over me,
and did more than could have been ex-
pected even of a mother or sister.
1 do not know whether you will see
the letter Russell Allen wrote home or
not. He wrote that Dean and myself
were both shot dead on the field, but
the next day l made my appearance in
camp. Russell told me what he had