The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1861-08-07
Washington Correspondence.
wAsniNoroN, d. c., July 90, 1861.
E. L. FULLER, Esq,

Il. IL. FULLER, Esq,
My dear Sir:
was in Col. Aldrich's room on the
evening in which he received your letter
and handed it to me. AS have a boy in
Missouri, and for old acquaintanco's sake,
l have hunted up your son, and have had
some pleasant interviews with him. /
can assure you, also, that he seemed very
glad to see me. In regard to himself,
personally, can say that his Company
was cut very severely-losing quite as
many men as any one Company, and per-
haps more. His comradc, who enlisted
with him, was shot down by his side.
He has slight wound in the hand, tho
not at all serious. He talks of the matter
with perfect coolness-says he is even
with them for killing his chum-lhat as
be was lying on the ground, firing, he
"pointed " ut three Of them. His COM
rades tell mo that he was as cool as if
eating his breakfast.
He is now not able to attend duty, on
account of lameness and soreness through
the bowels, from exertion and carrying
his cartridge box. They were at the right
of the Fire Zouaves, at the time the
Black Cavalry charged, bringing Union
flag. Our boys supposed them TO be our
troops until they fired. But they paid
dearly for the fraud-for but eight re-
turned to tell the tale. A gentleman
who saw it says that it seemed as if each
had picked his man. Your son was, and
his company were, in the face Of a masked
battery for two hours; and it is wonder
that they were not all killed! The Min
nesota troops have lost more men than
any other regiment In fact, it seemed
as if our officers were trying to kill as
many men as possible! .
If the officers had done their duty,
there would have been no stampede. We
had some good officers, and their men did
all that men could do; while others shold
be shot for their ignorance and cowardice.
L myself sa,O two officers, riding like
tile very deoa, on one horse! and tie
Colonel Of New York Regiment I
saw fourteen miles from his regiment!
aOho told me Mdt they mere all killed and
taken prisoners, ercept about one hun
dred, and they sCere scattering! When,
however, his regiment came in there were
only eleven missing, and they will proba-
bly, be in, MS they were not even fred at
A full Company came in Tuesday eve-
ming, every officer Of which, above Order
ly Sergeant, were in Washington twelve
hours before the Company
These are tho men placed over our
sons To butcher them. / can give you
hundreds Of Instances like the above; and
when off duty they are never at their
camp to look after the comfort Of men.
shall see your son this afternoon and
look to his comfort, though L think he
will be all right in two or three days.
All the men arc very sore. They were
marched nine miles, two Of which double
quick, fought eight hours, and came back
to Fairfax Courthouse that night. A
pretty good days work.
"ED" wishes me TO write and say that
he will write you as soon as he can, and
wishing TO be remembered TO all of the
family. From what he tells me, he has
probably been little fast, but this is cur
ing him, think. lie wants, much, he
says, to visit home; and l think would