Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-12-21
Manassas Correspondence.
CAMP FISHER, So BRIGADE
ARMY OF THE PoroNAo, Dec. 18th, 1SG

.-s..r CAMP FISHER, So BRIGADE
ARMY OF THE PoToNAC, Dec. 18th, 1861.
! ]. o. GR1FF1rH, EsQ- Dear Friend of Old You
are doubtless just little surprised at the recep
ton Of letter from me. 1 will just say that
have just finished reading the UNION AND AMERICAN
of the 22d November, and finding no item in it from
our army of the Potomac, (wishing too, to get you
to forward me the U. & A. l have determined to
j1t down for your private perusal, or, if desired
publication, few items of soldiers experience
on the grand old Potomac. First 1 will tell you
that when left Nashville in July, CO. went to the
town of Koopa, Miss, where assisted in organiz
ing cur company, (the Prairie Rifemen) we received
orders to leave home and rende at Cornth the
first of May, there formed cur regiment and came
on to Virginia.
After few days rest st Lynchburg, we went on
to Hsrper's Ferry, where we arrived the goth May,
and left the 18th June. Our division then composed
the army of the Shenandoah under Gen. J. E. John
son. We makeuvred, marched and counter march
ed in opposition to General PArrERsoN's command
until the 18Th of July, when we left Winchester
on force march to reinforce Gen. BEGUREGARD
! Only part Of Gen. JoHNsoNs Division arrived at
Manassas in time to participate in that glorious
victory. Of our Brigade, (Gen. B. E. BEE's), the
LIST Tennessee Regiment, Col TUREEY's) and eight
companies of our regiment, did not arrive in time
to get shot Two companies of our Regiment and
the three other regiments composing Gen. BEES
Brigade-to-wit: 4th Ala, I'd Mics, and 9th n. c.
were in the hottest Of the battle. l was with my
company Zone of the unfortunate eight which, with
the Ist Tennessee, arrived just in time to see the
enemy scanpering of in full retreat. We had
made long hard force march, had eat nothing for
thirty.siX hours, and were not allowed to join in
the pursuit, although my feet were badly blistered,
felt like giving chase The day after the battle,
seen a battlefield, while its hundreds of dead lie
unburied you could no. have a correct i'd. "a of the
scene. One incident, aud pass this battle While
strong the bloOd-stained field, looking on the
dead, saw one dead body ian enemy too) that
cited all my better feelings he seemed quite
youth, his head was supported eff the ground
by his left elbow and hand and pine bush his
right hard grasped tie frame of a miniature
and before his glazed eyes held the ambrotype Of
the beautiful treasure he had left behind The mai.
den was indeed very beautiful. The dead man was
finely formed and hand come features. 1 assisted
to bury this fallen fos-placed the miniature over
the wound on bis breast, and left him to his sleep
on the plains of Manassas.
After General BEES death, Msjor WHITING was
promoted to Brigadier General and placed in CONS
mand of our (3l) Brigade. We remained encsmped
in the vicinity of Manassas until the 18th Sepsem-
Der. During our stay there our brigade suffered
very severely from 8 kind of camp Effilction. We
came to this place (three miles north of Dumfries
on the lS;h of September. General TRMBLE's Bri-
10 il hoFn umfriaS nd has nhorUn If fhn
blockadlng batteries there, on the Potomac Col.
Bates Regiment Ia Tennessee) is in that Brigade.
Gen W1GFALLs Texas Brigade ia encamped near US,
also HAMPrON's Legion. We have had good many
short marches from our. camp to meet the enemy,
but so far have had no fight on this part of the
lines except between batteries and some Fede-
raj vessels. For two weeks past we have constant.
ly BEEN and still are expecting the emmy to attack
U.s. They have had large force on the opposite
side of the Potomac, east of our camp, snd large
! forces on this side, around Alexandria
while we anxiously look for news from
our southern coast and the Mississippi Valley
we wait mpatiently for them to advance upon Us,
or for our commanders to lead us to the attack
Most of troops here have built huts and cabins
The weather is mild for December. Our brigade
is in fine health so are TRIEBLE's brigade and
HAxProS's Legion. Gen. WIGFALLs Brigade Is suf-
fering good deal For week past have been
on special service in the Commisssry's Department
have been having wheat hauled from several
farms to the Neabsco Mills, and having it grouHd
for the Brigade. This morning sent two wagons
to Captain j. W FAIRFAx's barn, at Freestone Point
which stood immediately on the bank of the Potos
mac. They got their loads and started away.
had been having wheat hauled from that
place some some four days, and the Fede-
raj feet above our batteries had got no.
tice of it. When the feet dropped down opposite
the Banr threw shell into it and burnt it up, with
the fishing huls, straw and hay ricks, boat shsds,
&c. They threw several shells at our wagons. l
/ rode Down TO see the damage they had done.
Wagons got away safe. When l exposed myself
and horse had three shells thrown at me- the first
passing sCms twenty thirty feet in front and ex-
ploding about forty yards from ms the second pass
ing over and to my rear, touching the hill thirty
yards from me and bouncing away into the woods,
the Sd striking the gr0uui and exploding about
hundred yards before it got to me, it WAS coming
straight. / tried TO find piece of the first but
could not succeed. These rife shell whistle norris
Tible. l remained at one place while they were
firing, but left it, as had gun of sufficient range
to return their fire with.
Yours, IREDELL.