The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1861-08-02
News from the sixty-Ninth Regiment.

~ !" 49, sA&S SAosy AsA@~hAA 49,
Letter from private tn the Regiment to
his faher-Aecount Of tie gallant con-
duct of the Sirty NinM--Reekless dar-
ing of the troops while ander a terrible
fre-7hey lose their Colors and ,etake
them ogain-The death Of Captain Hog-
garty, etc, etc.
The following letter received from Al
exander Carolin, private in the Sixty
ninth regiment, to his father, Mr.. Denis
CaroliD. Private Carolin took part in
the entire combat, and was an eye witness
of the death of Captain Haggarty:
FoRr CoRcoEAS, July %, 1861.
DEAR FATHER-We had orders to
move on Saturday evening at six o'clock,
from our encanpment near Centreville.
We did not start until two o'clock in the
morning. At about Eve o'clock we reach
ed place between Bulls Run and Ma
nassas Gap, where we came to halt
Two Ohio regiments and the Seventy
ninth of New York were with our col
umn. Our regiment moved about, trying
to get the enemy to attack US. We had
Sherman's battery with us, besides a bat>
terry of rifle cannon. Our column kept
up fire on the woods, on the opposite
side of the ravne, distance of about three
quarters of a mile, trying to find out the
masked batteries but the enemy would
not return the fire. About ten o'clock we
discovered two batteries, and drove the
enemy out. The Sixty ninth advanced.
We went off at run, but could not over
take the enemy, as they scattered in ey
cry direction in the woods.
We kept up the run, turned to the right,
waded through streams, climbed steep
hills, left our battery behind US and out
fanked the enemy, and came on them when
we were not expected. The Louisiana
Zouaves were doing big damage when we
came on them. We gave yell that
would be heard far above the roar of the
cannon We fired into them, and charg-
ed with the bayonet. They were panic
stricken, and fled. We covered the field
with their dead. Haggarty rushed for
ward to take prisoner and lost his life.
The man turned and shot him through the
heart. We drove the enemy before US
for some distance, then got into line and
had them surrounded. General Mellow
ell came up just then, took off his hat,
and said, "You have gained the victory"
Our next fly was at South Carolina reg
iment. We killed about three hundred
of them. After fighting hard fer some
time, we cleared the field of all the enc
my. The enemy again rallying, the real
fight then commenced. We were drawn
up in line, and saw other regiments try
ing to take the masked batteries. They
were cut to pieces and scattered. We
were then ordered forward to attack the
batteries. We fought desperately, but
were cut down. We lost our flag, but
took it back again with the assistance of
few of the Fire Zouaves, who fought
like devils. We charged second time,
but were moved down BY grape and rifle
Of the enemy. We came together again
to make another charge, but we could
not get together over two hundred men.
We formed into hollow square, when
we saw the enemy turn out their cavalry,
about mile in length, and the hills all
about covered with them, trying to sur
round US. All the regiments on our side
were scattered, and in disorder, except
what were left of the Sixty>ninth. The
Fire Zouaves had to retreat, leaving num-
Der Of wounded On the field. Haggarty's
body was laid in house when we were
returning back. Col. Corcoran asked me
to assist in carrying back the body, and |
accordingly went back. We carried the
body for some miles on a door, the shot
falling thick around US. We had to leave
the body on the road Col. Corcoran, I
hear, was afterwards wounded and taken
prisoner. What We could gather together
of our regiment marched back to Fort Cor
coran during the night. 7 am trying to
get across the river TO send you tele
graph despatch, but government will not
allow any soldiers to cross. escaped un.
hurt, although the men on each side and
in front and rear were either killed or
wounded.
| remain, yours, affectionatelv,
ALEXANDER CAROLYN.