Worcester daily spy., 1861-11-01

ran through the center of the battle ground
from the river to the woods in front. A regi.
ment of the rebels were posted on the edge of
the woods to the right Of the ground, while
pickets were in advance in a road running be-
tween the corn field and the open field between
it and the woods.
About three P. NJ, Mon 'ay Capt. John
Saunders, with the 'Andrew SharpShooters
of Massachusetts, crossed to this grouhh, ana
ranged themselves behind the rail fence, "hleh
| have said runs through the center o. ine
battle ground from the river to the "oo''s -,
front. Their line extended nan wa! ""r" W.
the fence Shortly after their arIlnai ' nf
rebels issued from the woods on 'he iisn' i
the ground, or in front OF tue s"a' pSu"o,;
abont three tourths OF a mile distant. oohe VI
them appearrd to have United states army
hats on as seen through glass, ami capt ..
hositated about firing, not wishing 10 shoot
o,r avn mem But a brave chaplain VINO ii'd
yeniured quite near the woods came ruh"i"s
toward him. and normed the captain lIlal ne
Lod bpeu suot M, ThereupOn Capt. D. tOlu
him he would give him ample satisfaction ior
it, and commenced firing at hait past lout +: N M
At the first fire several OF the fcueis lei'i
an,onO them a mounted officer. After about
ten minutes firing on their part, during winch
many shots were fired, the rebels fedi
ate such havoc among them at a distance OF
three tourths of mile
The Boston Tiger Zouaves then explored
the woods and found that the rebels had SUI
tered severely from this target rifle firing.
Tuesday morning early the sharpshooters
were again posted at that fence, while the In
diana regiment went into the woods and held
the bridge over Goose Greek. Gen. Lander
arrived from Washington. The enemy did
not appear again until afternoon, and then
came suddenly from the woods near the end
of the ieuce, and vainly attempted to capture
Capt Saunders and six of his men, who were
sitting together at a camp fire. 1t was while
a whole regiment of rebels were firing at these
men without hitting them that Gen. Lander
was wounded And now the sharpshooters
went to work again. The letter says
"Our sharpshooters did not fall back until
Capt. S. gave the command. They then fell
back, firing as they went SO deadly was
their fire that they completely turned the head
of the rebel force, which at this time number
cd about two thousand eight hundred men,
and with few shots from Ricketts battery
prevented severe disaster AS the standard
bearer OF the rebel force issued from the woods,
the sharpshooters picked him off. Another
party raised the standard and was in turn shot
down by their rifles. Then third caught up
the standard, but had scarcely raised it before
he fell, and the rebels did not again attempt to
show their coors. In ten minutes more the
sharpshooters had occupied their former posi-
ton, and maintained it during the night and
the next day, until or forces were withdrawn.
The Tiger Fire Zouaves behaved .ravely,
and are deserving OF great praise. MAJOR
Howe OF the nineteenth Massachusetts, who
commanded them, proved himself gallant
officer, and won the entire confidence OF his
command, by his conduct upon the field.
Gen. Lander expressed himself highly pleased
with this little band Of about one hundred and
| fifty men, and was loud in his communication
| OF the Andrew Sharpshooters and their arms.
Particularly to this little band and their infant
peacemakers' is due the credit OF turning the
| right OF the enemy's column and causing them
to retire, although over twenty-eight hundred
strong
Thus did the Andrew Sharpshooters SHOW
their quality and win position in the camps al
effective soldiers. 1t is said that they did no
waste shot Every ball they used hit
ISbeI. L HIS SllONs why ttlS ms vi tiio nun
dred riflemen was as effective as that of 200
e-i:,,; ~ ,ha ordinary way with arm
more rapidly, but it can not hit with such lei
rible certainty, nor at such long distances
Sharpshooters can not do all the worl
necessary OIL a battle field, but, if they ar
properly appreciated and employed by those il
command of brigades and divisions, they will
probably play part in the winning of battles
as important as tlat of the field batteries |
appears from this letter, that it is due to Capt
Saunders men, aided by few shots iron
Ricketts, battery, that there was not at Ed
wards Ferry disas ter somewhat similar tt
that at Balls Bluff