The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-07-25
letter from Capt. ID. G. nEevean.
MARTIEsBURG, VA,
L 4

Napt' Ds IL Nse cam
MARTINsBURG, VA,
July 10, 1861. i
This city, which we have
taken possession of, and placed under martial law
contains about 5000 inhabitants, located in bean
tiful valley. The traitors destroyed one million
and halfdollars worth ofproperty. 50 first class
Locomotives belonging to the Baltimore & Ohio |
Railroad are here in line burnt up-all the
bridges are nlse destroyed, very expensive one
in the city, which took ten months to build. They
also destroyed by fire IS miles of freight and coal
cars-they intended to fire the depot and some
very extensive shops and the round house, but
our sudden advent among them caused them to
abandon their plans.
have often imagined what battle field was
! like but person can form idea of it by
reading books and seeing pictures-to appreciate
the thing, he must be thar 1t is indeed an excl
ting and imposing scene. This was not an open
| battle field. The enemy were under cover of the
woods, adopting regular Indian style Of fighting
They managed most admirably in keeping out of
sight of us in their hasty retreat, at the time
keeping up a regular Ere One of our Co.
remarked that he thought the enemy very careless
in handling their arms, ''they point them right at
a fellow and just as soon shoot him as not We
succeeded in routing them completely, driving
them over five miles, through fields and woods
over rivers, mountains and raviues.
/ When our regiment first advanced on the enc
my, they had formed themselves in the edge of
| dense wood and commenced pouring a perfect
shower of lead at us but fortunately they aimed
too hight for good soldiers, and the bullets
whistled over our heads thick and fast ai1d SO
close that we 'could not take any comfort u
great many also struck the ground before reaching
us. From the arms left on the field by the rebels,
l conclude that they are badly armed-old rifles
and swords, once used in good cause, but now
used by being disgraced were left on the field
the best rifles we captured were similar to those
used by the Kenosha Rifles, before we exchanged
for the Mimic Musket.
must admit that we felt little nervous atfirst
as we advanced on the enemy, through raking
fire, without being allowed to let my company re.
turn the fire. L turned around to look at theboys
to see how they stood it. and, sir, tell you as the
general afterwards told them, did that "they never
finched inch, but done nobly, every one of
them" We advanced in a solid and close column
four ranks deep; closoe observer might perhaps
hav noticed little nervousness but this is nat
ural-and Gen. Patterson told us we ''stood the
fire like old soldiers" We were now held as a re-
serve with OF ders not to fire; at the same time
thousand bullets were whistling about our heads
and our men were being shot down, Still we were
held in check at halt, and not one of Co g had
got fired his rife This is the very worst place you
can possibly place soldier, to be target for the
enemy, and not permitted to return the fire;
coward never } ct stood III such position. We
were at halt by order of Col Abercrombie, who
commands our brigade. Our pickets in adj.
vance, scattered III wheat field but the rebels
did not fire at them, they were firing at our col
umn, which was solid mass OF men, ana present
ed q much better target We stood firm at ready"
begging the Colonel to let us fire, who told to
remain steady, and have patience until another
Regiment would come 10 our support-not man
in company q taltered or moved, unless 1t was to
lump into the place made vacant by the falling of
soldier-as soon our boys fell, they were car
red to the and placed i'll the hands of the sur
geons, and their places were Immediately filled by
the rear-rank men. Thus we kept unbroken
front to the enemy. The left wing, under Major
, Lane was now held as reserve, waiting for
enforcement TO come up, as we had some Is, 600
troops behind U.s. The color sergeant bearing our
fug was the first man shot dOwn-he fell-but the
flag never touched the ground. a dozen rushed
forward to its support, and its beautiful sken
stripes never looked as bright before, and never
was it as high at this moment The first of Co.
q, that fell was Henry q. Young, of Salem. /
heard an exclamation, and turning to my COM
pany, l saw him tall i'll The arms of his comrades,
s!IOI III the forehead, supposed of course he was
killed; for I saw where the bullet hit him. The
duty of & soldier fOrbids him even to enquire the
fate o. his comrade at such moment, and It was
not till after the action learned it was only
slight wound, the bullet cutting the skin only. He
was carried to the rear, and his place filled imme
diately. An instant later, and VIM. A. Mather
who stood almost directly behind me, dropped his
gun and fell, as his comrades raised him 10 be
conveyed to the rear, he made the exclamation
ri
was shot in the leg below the knee, the ball
qrazina the hana lis place had hardly been fill
ed when one more OF our best men, Fred. Pun
mer, was shot doWn-he was shotln the leg taking
4 piece of the bone. A shell from the enemy had
entered the roof of house near us, and bursting,
shattered the upper portion OF the house to atoms
no one was injured by this. a she'll from
OF eur batteries entered barn, surrounded by
the rebels, making great slaughter, and setting
the barn fire which left place for to charge
on them. AS the bullets were flying thick and fast
around US, with an occasional shell and cannon
ball, not word was spoken III the ranks by our
boys, and every order given, was promptly obey
ed, and with r1H. And while every member of
Go. G, appreciates the generosity of our noble
friends in HeIosha, would have them dOubly
assured that we have eudeavolcd TO do our duty
and to be worthy OF their continued kindness
while the Wounded IN the hospital are now enjoy
ing the benefits of that useful box OF clothing for
warded by the ladies' The beautiful American
flag presented TO US, now proudly hoatS III Virgin
on the same soil whel cone week ago the traitor
flag the only one allowed to wave, under penil
ty ofdeQth Before our troopsook p0ss ssion OF this
city hundred secession flags were flying. The
Stars and Stripes had become a curiosity TO the
| Inhabitants Eand in the place OF ione hundred p-
rate flags, two thousand Star Spangled Banners now
wave from as many buildings and tents-and none
so beautiful and NICE as the one given us by the
good ladies OF the city OF kenOshu. @ have adj
| vanced with 1t over ,2U0 miles, and never have
we retreated one inch and if we can only plant
It ia the Caroimas then will consider our mission
not entirely useless
| hear almost daily from Mathers and Pummer
who have been confined in the Hos ptal at Hagers-
town, Md, since our engagement-they are doing |
well, but fear they will be unable to Join us |
again, betOIe our term of service expires. 1t is |
remarkable thai accident has as vet occurred |
| in the First Wisconsin Regiment, from nIe arms |
| Not day passes but there or more funer- |
ais of persons that have been shot accidentally |
| The 9Th N \, has had three men shot. Accidents |
OF this character In large army cannot be avoid
| ed When 10000 men are constantly handling
loaded guns and revolyerS and always sleeping
on them, and 1t is a miracle that not person has
| been even hurt Ill our Reg. We are the observed
OF all observers. We are the only corps dressed
in grey" all the others have blue, and With the
single exception OF one Regiment, from N. York
| CIty-we are the best equipped regiment i'll the
service The rebels are dressed in grey, and some
| OF us came very near being fired upon by our
friends during the engagement, and since then
while on duty as pickets white badge
on our right Ito distinguish us from the enemy
and the enemy thinking ali the Union troops were
dressed in gray similar to Them have a white rbon
tied around their caps-the consequence is that it
is death 10 person who wears white rag tied
round his cap i'll this country.
The citizens of Martinsburg are to present us
with flag, III consideration of our conduct and
for being the first engaged in an action in their
county. Our dress parades always attended
by an immense crowd from the city and tncamp-
ment, and many the compliments the Wiscon-
sin boys receive from the ladies when around the
city. / believe the entire Regiment could get
boarded free of charge, by the Union people of this
place The ladies tGod bless them aliczys are
very enthusiastic. When we first entered this
city, with the Star Spangled Banner, playing Yam
kee Doodle, found the town completely de-
serted Ihe enemy had retseated throuyh here