The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-06-12

| hiS StutiIeiss neUce tn6 aIaru. Inc mis-
take was found out before our regiment had
gone far md they stopped at u little river
about four miles from here. They are mov-
ing their tents and other camp fixings out
there to-day. Il is very difficult to get con.
veyances, and many things, such rs trunks
will DO sent back TO Richmond. Wagons
are not very plenty and what are here don't
wish TO accommodate. but the soldiers press
them and take them anyhow. 1t seems hard
to make man do thing whether he wish
es or not, but that seems to be the rule in
war. But you will wonder how it is that !
am left behind. When we left Richmond
several Of our men were sick, nineteen too
sick to travel, and were placed in the city
hospital, others took sick On the way -
Measles being one of the diseases it was
desirous to keep them separated from the
others, consequently they had TO have two
hospitals Our Surgeon put He in charge
Of one of them and rs was in that service
when the regiment left, had to remain and
cant say when | will leave, us some Of the
men promise to be sick Tor some time. ]
hope it wont be long though, for don't like
to be separated from my company were it
not for that would like it much better than
being high private" rs it clears me from
al! camp duty.
We had a"Railroad smash up" ut Orange
c. ii. between tins md Richmond as We
were coming. You have no doubt, through
your exchanges, heard the particulars. al.
though was on the train and was an eye.
witness TO the atfair, could not give you
all the particulars and do it correctly.
have heard that it had been reported
throughoui South Carolina, that sixty men
were killed. There was ouiy one man killed
instantly; he was n negro belonging to Col.
Gregg's regiment. A Virginian who was
on the train meeting US, died shortly after
the accident A negro belonging TO Capt.
lales company and white man belonging
TO Capt. Richardson's company, each had
foot severely mashed. so much 30 that they
were ampu,ated. Mr. VIM. TruesdaIe, of
ed ON the head and abdomen, his case is
considered critical. What have mention.
ed are all the severe injuries tha. were re.
ceived. Several other men were slightly
hurt, but none serious. The lnvincbles
think escaped entirely, have not heard of
man being scratched among them. Capt
tlpie's company was most exposed, they
were on the cars that got smashed to pieces
Its singular that none Of them were killed.
Many think very strange how the accident
occurred. They believe it was plot laid
for our lives by the engineer. They argued
that he was coming up grade and could have
stopped. The other side says our conductor |
left seven minutes ahead of time, which he |
had no right to do. Whether the engineer
was guilty or not, he left very coon, but
suppose the man was scared 10 death, Us
several soldiers wanted to shoot him and
some heard were about to do it, BY the
accident We were detained at Orange sever. |
ul hou's. The people were kind to US, ex.
tending their hospi.ulties TO the farthcst,- |
enjoyed tie best dinner there have had
since ] left home-the whiskry was also
fine and water excellent.
II was after dark when We arrived at Man
assas Gap and about twelve o'clock before
we got our baggage off the train. Having
travelled all the night before and being in
u box car which you know must have been
very uncomfortable all seemed 10 be much
fatigued and worried, conseq uentiy you
could see soldiers lying on the ground in
every direction comforting themselves the
best they could. The next morning We had
an alarm and i believe every man lLougl,
We were right into fight The enemy Was
seen within few hundred yards Of our
camp. Cartridges were distributed, guns
were loaded all At the shortest notice, when
it was ascertained that instead of The enemy
it wah Col. Gregg's regiment coming 10
from some place below tliis, where they had
marched the evening before for the purpose
Of guarding. The mistake originated with
some Virginians here who were ignorant rs
TO Col. Gregg's movements.
Our Colonel is having battery erected
on this little river where he is encamped.-
That would seem TO indicate that our reg,
ment is to remain there, but n private sol.
dier knows nothing about whnt is to happen,
except what he can surmise from general cir.
cumstanccs. The general opinion is that
We will have fight soon. General lie. is
here and President Davis was expected last
night, / have not heard whether he came Or
not, Men, women and children ARE coming
up here every day from Alexandria. saw
n gentleman this morning who said he was
from there, his account Is that Lincoln has
only about four thousand troops there.
] heard that Col. Gregg's sen,inels had
captured quite prize, viz : two Pennsylva
mans driving stock to Alexandra for Iin.
coins army. Thew had thirty head Of cattle
several sheep, some horses an six hundred