Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-08-23
Prom the Manchester journal
A CHARACTERISTIC LETTER.
From an lrishman in tho Castleton Com
nnnv of the ID VI Hnpfmont

From an Irishman in tho Castleton Com
pany of the ID Vt. Regiment:
BpsH HIN. Fairfax Co.,
July 26, 1861
DEAR FRIEND PArRIcK.--T received your letter last
night with the greatest pleasure. II is the word
have herd from any n my old friends since have been
worth more 10 than the whole Southern States. Pat
rick You asked me II | was in that fight Oh, yes in
deed Was, and God only knows what fight we bad to
IL was one ofthc hardest battles fought ltwas a
ycy hot day and very much furtuged so
long march, but we fought very brave but an in vain
Ihcre were only 2OtO0 81 men and they had about
so 600 aud fresh and hid in the woods, and had 43
ff cannon behind heavy brcastwork. We oney had 20
pieces u CANNON aud in an opcu field aud after we gnt
out n amanaion forsed 10 retreat for lives.
and lc them ia possession u the field, and h' The id
sayages rallied tlcy our wounded men through
with their hayoncts aud hurnedan old house whcr there
was good many q our wounded carried 10 have their
wounds drcsstd They took all Of the advantage they
could. They raised the stars aud stripes once, and
thought they were going TO give up, hut when got
cl,st mp TO them drawcd Il down and raised their d-h
palmetto, then opened upon with vollcy NJ grape
which killed about 200 Of the Michigan First Regiment
whip hut killed more of there men, yes Times
many They tried TO surround us, but did not succcad,
They made an atact on returned. IN those
long woods they had company II 900 black horses Is
called the black horse cavalry WE kllcd good part OF
thcn, and the rest was glad TO retreat and leave US
wish you had been there 10 have packed up some 90 the
swords and rcvolyers aud ills picked uu as many
coulg carry, but we had 81 crosse over bridge, aud
there they had cannon that was worked BY the in
fernal black Nigars and weakened the bridge, and it
broke down with and lost in The strecm,
md was forscd To drop my load u stuff They killed
about 900 IN all To the btldge lost our tents
and every thing had onley what had cur back
aud We marched all hat night aud the nest day ull
r1on. 1t commenced to rain the morning and we
were as wet as druuncd rat. feet sued bliss
Ter and was 50 lame and ard that could lain down
hy the roadside and died with the greatest pleasure
We all went 10 Alcxandra We got together and went
down 10 Bush Hin last night about finr miles from Al
eSHndria. TO camp and recruit for another fight which
will he before long We have been fnr the last weeks
where money was " no shot hogs and and
hens AID every thing could gct aud stuck IL on a
stick and roasted u and eat IL without ony salt ony
bread, but 80 hopes Of better times now. and
hope We shall have better times never hard time,
before, and hope never shall again, but viii
run away. will fight as long a. ! can
wish you could see some II the women here, the,
very pior and lean with ragged Clothes aud ha
m hopes ounothing but shirt aud old nasty tom,
dress with four or five Nasty young hanging ON u
her She puts ia mind II an old setting turkey that
has sot about eight weeks rotten cggsaud they cat
not read write live ia the woods in little old los
house, and thcr men hunt and f.h and gamble and
drink champagne and whiskcy; are married and
some are not married did ony stoves; all oil
them has an old fashioned frcpasc he hog. run wild
hire. The water il very poor. You du not know how
the country is covered with woods it i,a kd wild ba
hcraus place; the timber is mostly OAK white. How
many is Killed FINN our Regiment do not know fou
from our company IL j. agoug To be awful hard jp
whip them we ever do Give my best respects 81
my acquaintance In haste, yours truly.