Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-06-21

energies takes place, awful to behold; thew
tremble like an aspen, sink into ditches and
covert places, cry like children, and arc totally
insensibe to shame-dead to every emotion but
the overwhelming fear Of instant death We
had few, aud but few, of such In our nrmv
As the two armies were facing each other, il
WAS remarkable to see the cOolness OF our men
there they stood, chewing bits Of biscuit, and
talking about the Mexicans-s0me wondering II
they would fight; others allowing that thew
would aud like demons, etc. kept my eye on
the artillery Of the enemy, and happened to be
looking toward their right wing, when suddenly
white curl Of smoke sprang up there from one
of their guns, and then | saw the dust fly some
distance in front, where the ball struck. In
stantly another, and then another, rich curl OF
smoke arose, succeeded by booming sound and
the shot came crashing toward US. The enemy
Tired very rapidly, and their balls knocked the
dust about us in all dreetOus-some went over
our hands, others struck the ground in front and
bounced away
Our batteries now went to work, and poured
in upon them IL perfect storm Of iron; Lieut.
Churchill mud his men began with their eighteen
Founders, and when the first was fired, il made
such loud report that our men gave a sponta-
neous shout, which seemed to inspire us with
renewed confidence | could hear every word
the Lieutenant said to his men. When the first
shot was fired, lie watched the ball, saying "Too
high, men try another n'-"too low, men try
again-the third time is the charm I" The third
shot wns fired and saw with my own eyes the
dreadful Effect Of that and the following shots.
That's it, my boysl" shouted Churchill
jumping up about two feet you have them
now keep ut thatl' aud 80 they did and
every shot tore complete lanes through the
enemy's lines; hut they stood it manlully. The
full chorus of battle now ragged twenty three
pieces or artillery brchei forth their iron hail
We were ordered tn lie down in the grass to
avoid tue ahOt this puzzled the enemy, and
they could not bring their guns to bear upon us,
making our loss very 'nuch Many were the
narrow escapes one ball came within six inches
OF my left side Tho force Of tho shot was tre--
menlons; horses body Was NO obstacle at all;
| a mans leg was u mere pipe-stem. | watched
the shot as 1t struck the rUola Of the grass and
1t was astonishing how the dust flew. In about
al hour the grass caught on fife, and the clouds
of smoke shut out the opposing armies from
view. We had not as yct lost man from our
regiment la the obscurily the enemy changed
their line. and the eighteenth Founders, supported
by our regiment, took new position on little
rise Of ground. As we moved GU 10 the spot, a
six pound shot carried away the lower Jaw of
Capt Page aud then took OIL a mans head on
the right us clan MS with knife. The blood Of
poor Page was the first blood saw; he Wns
knocked down in the grass, and rs he eudeavored
to raise himself he presented such CHASTITY
spectacle that sickly, faintng sensation came
over me, and the memory of that night | shall
carry with me to my dying day. A little later.
Major RinggOld was MORALLY wounded at his
battery saw him just after it,. The shot had
torn away portion Of the flesh Of his thighs
its force was tremendous, cutting OIL both his
pistols at the locks. and also the wiihers Of his
horse-a splendid sleel, which was killed 10 re-
leve him Of his misery The enemy tried hard
but without anvil, to hit our eighteen poupdorsI
The battle continued until night put an end to