The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-07-11
The Battle at WiIIiamspOrt---The Ke-
nORh n Rows i'm the Eight

The Battle at WiIliamspOrt---The Ke-
nOsh n Boys i'm the Fight.
We have been permitted to make the following
extracts from letter written by private, Il Hill,
Company G. to his wife in this city The letter is
dated townsville, Nd though most of it was
written on the Virginia side after the battle.
AT O'Clock, July End we dashed into the Po-
tomac and welded across to Virginia soil Wejust
stopped to put on our dry stockings, when we
started, quick time, in search of the rebels. We
came across a house where we had seen a seces-
sion flag the day before. Here we hoisted the
Stars and Stripes. For the first five miles we saw
many signs of the rebels and one camp Here we
were joined by two l2-pounders and two oompan-
les of cavalry, also three regiments Of infantry,
who caught up with us, as we had TO halt frequent
ly to get the reports of scouts who were out. We
pushed on in earnest, our Regiment taking the
lead. At length we were ordered 10 advance at
double quick time, into a wood. Here we were
formed into line of battle while the Colonel went
to reoonnoitre the ground. After a time we lett
this place and advanced again. Very we
heard few shots fred, then more; then came a
cannon ball, whistlng over our heads, then per
feet voley of small arms from our scouts put us
on the run, to some rising ground. AS we came
up, we saw sight that made our hearts leap
On a little knoll was a cannon belching out death
to our men. In the rear and on the right and left
covered by woods, were long lines of men drawf
up, and firing upon our regiment as we came up
Already two men had been passed to the real
wounded and now came Co. G's turn to suffer
O., Al i'm of mo 7
the leg. His name was William Mather. A min
ute after shot struck Henry Young on the fore
head, CHANGING up the skull and passing up, wen
through his cap peak. He fell and was carried
off Then came balls whistling by my head, anC
one passing between my legs struck German il
the leg, went through and struck Myron aker OF
the ankle, but only carried away portion of his
pants, without hurting him. All the above mel
are doing well. Tom Clark tainted in the rank
from exhaustion. One ball struck r. Fuller oil
the right ear, infictlng slight scratch.
At this point we got orders to advance, double
quick time, across a field. The boys yelled gu
the word "Kenosha T. and charged across the field
and the rebels running like deer. They soon go
out of our reach, knowing the ground better thar
we. All this time our artillery was pounding then
handsomely, till they got out of sight All th'
time we advanced on them skirmishing and firing
we could see them creeping off by the sides of fen
ces and along stone walls. We followed them un
til recalled by the Colonel, when the were 81
used up that many of them fell down from exhaus
ton, myself among the number, having had onl!
81 hours sleep out ofthe previous AZ hours. hav'
got off with few scratches about me, so that
have reason to be thankful. One of our men wa
knocked down by the wind of cannon ball tina
passed him He thought it was all up with him
In my run across the fields after the enemy,
| went into house. 1t was deserted by the owners
evidently few minutes before. 1t appears tina
the secessonists tell them will kill the men ant
violate the women, and they believe it. But
think we will disabuse their minds of this impress
| sion.
A party of our men took lot of baggage wag
ons and horses, and some muskets, and came nea
capturing wagon with lot of their wounded mel
in it but our men were too weary 20 keep up witt
them and so they got off. They left one dead mai
on the road, and lots OF their filings they threw
away, 80 they could run the better. We mus
have killed and wounded great many 1t is sup
posed their number was three thousand, cavalr
and infantry, and one gun The only men VIII
did the fighting was our regiment and the artillery
We let them know that a Northerner is as coed il
fight, as a Southern man.
AS far as 1 can learn we have one killed in Com
pany A. and six wounded-not more--and tire
of them out of our company. Our men be
haved well under fire, and great credit is due then
Tor their bravery and GOODNESS. l do not know
what they will call this battle, but it took plac
about eight miles from the river.
We did not rost from half past one in the night
until two in the afternoon when we camped, tw
fields from where part of the rebels were ell
! camped, three of whom we have seen to cay.
/ We have now about &c, 900 men across the river
With these Gen. Patterson will make an advanc
on Martinsburgh, where the rebels are entrenche
12,O00 strong, with gojd battery.
The enemy left over 30 dead and wounded Oh
the field, and carried off three wagon loads before
they retreated. We are praised by all the army
in unmeasured terms. We shall advance on MAJ
tinsburg to-day-Wednesday July 3rd
! Charles Wait is hurt. He was getting
fence when a ball struck it, and he went dowI
whether struck with splinters or not, cannot say
but the Doctor is afraid that two of his ribs ar
shook or cracked. He was excited, that he di
not feel it for some time. We hope the hurt h
has got will soon be all right
War is an awful scourge to any place, and Vii
GINA will suffer in this awfully. Iu our arc
we tread down wheat fields, growing corn, an
everything suffers where we go. But our men d
not commit wanton damage to property.
i E. HILL.