Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1861-08-22
UNION MILLS.
NEAR MANASSAS JUNCTION,
August 6. 1861.

brief description of the various II
lcidents which have transpired with
: in the last two or three weeks. /
, iseems that fate was against us OF
Jour way to this place. We wer
nearly one week On the way ant
unfortunately arrived too late t.
participate in the grand battle
Our regiment came in the night
after the fight, but until its arrival
had not heard the result. The
two succeeding days were occupied
in hauling the wounded into the
hospitals. / ersaw such sight
in my life. To hear the groans OF
the wounded and the deep means
of the dying was enough to make
the soul revolt. At first | shud-
dered at the awful sight and
thought of the truthfulness of the
stanza In Burns how "Man's
inhumanity to man, makes count
less thousands mourn which
until then l could imagine but nev-
er realize, but l soon learned to view
with utter indifference death in its
mostappalling shapes. Soitisw with
the world; constant association
with death, browns the tender
sensibiIities of the soul and hard
ems the nature of man, until it
is almost impervious to the APP
proach of pity.
A vast amount of booty was ta-
ken, arms of every description,
wagons, ambulances Of
all kinds, and quantities of pro-
visions, and two or three wagons
filled with handouts. Cards were
found in possession of some of the
Federal prisoners, inviting their
friends to attend a ball which
they anticipated giving upon their
arrival at Richmond. Alas, poor
devils, "the best laid plans of
mice and men are subject to
decay" The recent victory has
kindIed the enthusiasm of the
soldiers more than could have
been expected, and they are with
out exception eager for another
opportunity to display their PROV
ess and heroism. jeff Davis up
on his arrival at Manassas in
CURED particularly for the 18th |
Mississippi Regiment tours, yon
know and said he much regret
ted they did not come in time
for him to lead them into the |
fight; however, he promised us
one of the most prominent posi-
tons in the next battle.
The Washington Artillery from !
New Orleans gained greater hon
or than any other battalion,
though all of the regiments dis
themselves for their
bravery and unparalleled courage;
Our regiment is brigaded with the
ith and 9Th Alabama egiments and .
a South Carolina regiment. Brig.
General Ewell commands them.
believe he is a Virginian. We
are enca1nped four miles from Ma
nassas on the road towards Cen
terville. Our tents are pitched in
an old field covered with clover.
The mountains are a short dis-l
lance off, and at evening look
grand and truly sublime. To view
the clover covered with the morn
ing dews and rejecting the rain
bows "varied FORM and behold !
the tall cliffs which heavenward .
rise, and the majestic cedars which !
in beauty wear, fills the soul with
emotions of pleasure and venera-
ton, and awakens the keenest
desire for chivalry and arms. We
are abundantly supplied with ex-
cellent water which mildly gushes
forth from the mountain sides, for
ming the many "crystal rills
which like ribands of silver unwind
from the hills" In a word,
this is one of the loveliest and most
romantic places l ever saw, and
if am not killed in this war / in
tend at some day (far in the future)
to bring my fair Dulcenia to this
delightful region of bliss, where
she can delight her beautiful eye in
surveying the scenes once so
with interest and anxiety
to all. You must grant some lit
tie indulgence for my idle fantastic
speculations, but I might as well
talk while / can, for / am liable
at any moment to be called forth |
upon the field to learn my fate
amidst the din of battle and the
clash of ctnel