Worcester daily spy., 1861-11-13
CAMP Foster, Poolesville, Md,
Novem her DI 1851

1t is impossible for me at present to write to
each individual separately, so l avail myself
of your generosity to favor them and me.
One of the most provoking things that has
occurred, is the fact that our soldiers are miss
ing, and we cannot even satisfy ourselves what
has become Of them, much less tell our dear
friends the particulars of their drowning inn
prsonment, or death.
We are compelled, then, to state in general
terms, that in Capt. Studley's company ID,
only two persOns-Yiz., john w. Smith and
Charles Ii. GOff-are known to have been kill
cd on the field. The names of the wounded
are very correctly stated in the Spy of 28th
October The fate OF the missing is almost
as much OF mystery to those Of us the
ground aud i'll the vicinity, those hundreds
of miles distant. Large sums of money have
been offered Tor the bodies of missing officers
and men, all up to the present time Of no avail.
Neither can the river or the sacred sell Of
Virginia be visited under any pretence what
ever, without encounering bullets from con
federate rifles. 1t is fondly hoped that cur
prisoners will be allowed the same priv
ileges that we allow to the rebels. Col
onel Devens fed rebel prisoners from
his own table allowed them to write to their
friends and relatives, and actually forbid any
language that would even wound their lacer-
ated feelings, appealing to his men in the fol
lowing language-"DO not, for heavens sake
initiate the conduct of the wretches in Rich
mond who have abused our prisoners these
men are prisoners and they shall be treated
kindly and humaney" Good!
Various reports are in circulation in regard
to our missing fellow soldiers, and we are in
painful suspense, for none OF these stories are
worthy Of record. Company D mustered on
the field sixty fighting men i'm round numbers
only about one half of whom returned after
the battle. This proportion runs through the
whole regiment nearly The survivors mourn
daily the loss of the officers and soldiers who
have so n0bly and bravely and patriotically
marched side by side and shoulder 10 shoulder
with US. May we be SO happy as to attain
their skill III arms, initiate their virtues, and
leave us good name on the page OF history
behind us.
AS AN frequently called upon TO give a
little statement OF the manner in which the
battle affected me, | state in my own way the
following.
About midnight of Monday, Oct 21st, the
"ong roll" called the fifteenth regiment icr
the first time into lire of battle Marching with
overcoas and blankets about eight miles in
three homs, we arrived at the Potomac; after
considerable delay in crossing by policing
scows and batteauX, we attained the Virginia
shore, lending in slippery mud. We as
cended the high bluff by a zig gag path
the bluff being very steep and difficult
and the rocks sometimes almost perpendicular
After various abors and delays, we at last
found ourselves drawn up in the order Of
battle. Commencing the attack with two
howitzers and one brass feld.piece, we soon
received the fire of the rebels--not even
hearing the rustling of a leaf, or the word
of command. The first iatimati0n y G had OF
their presence was the crack Of The confederate
rifle, leading one to conclude that they make
it point to fire on the very first sight OF the
heads Of any el the Union troops. We stood
and took their fire like regular United States
troops. Rebel prisoners remarked 10 us that
sit all had stood fire like those with light blue
pants, they woud have been driven from the
field" and that we killed more OF their men
than we had in number Of our own.
1t is It most difficult task to state ones feel.
ings and sentiments after being engaged in
very houy contested battle, where the very
ground was shaken with the thunder of heavy
artillery, and the very air you breathe rent
with the lightning of murdtrous rifles, and
the senses almost benumbed and bewildcred
and stunned with the effects of gunpowder,
the rattle and clangor of arms and the voices
OF angry men and officers pitched to the
highest degree OF anxiety, are well calculated
language TO express.
Before tile battle commenced l sat down
and leaned agains a small oak tree, and
read the 9th Psalm, and | remember how
we looked into each others eyes, 10 see the
effect upou one and another and | do not
hesitate to say that the true Christian man
is the man of true courage. When | hear
men tell about "no fear on the field of BATTLE"
simply say that such man is liar, and the
i, ia, 'l,,G
all, and all the difference there is between The
coward and the man of courage is that one
allows the animal passion of fear to predOmi.
nate, and the other keeps the fear Of God be-
fore his eyes" and pungent sense OF duty up.
permost. ! loaded my musket, lying on my
side and breast charging the cartridge with
the piece horizontal, and then lifting it to per
pendcuar to allow the powder to drop down
TO the breech, and then rising OH my knees to
fire again, dropping fiat a little persimmon
tree three inches in diameter was cut, and
marred, and hit from all directions only a few
inches from the ground, within twenty inches
from where | lay, its leaves and branches cut
like lightning and dropping all around me.
Thousands and thousands of leqden hail
flew thick around us aud over us, killing and
wourding those close by us, screaming and
whistling through the air reminding you eve
ry moment OF eternity, your sins, of friends
and home, and the Astounding mercy of God.
Being at last compelled to leave the field, |
sought refuge in the cleft Of rock where it
was twenty feet in perpendicular height. Reb.
els came all around me, and fired over me, and
passed by me, and when darkness favored my
escape / came forth, and after thinking the
whole matter over, concluding that / would
prefer the bottom of the Potomac 10 being a
prisoner to Jefferson Davis. | reached lhe
shore, and followed the trunk of an
oak tree lying in the river towards
Harrison's Island. A stick seemed to come
into my hand My first thought was to use
it for propelling raft across the river, and
while waiting for a raft 10 be built, concluded
that if sent over it would soon be swamped,
like the boats preceding it, While waiting
and thinking what TO do, an individual in pit
eous tones asked me to give the stick to him,
and not complying Immediately, lie again
asked for asked it. Finally | consented that
he might have it, but for some reason he did
not accept OF it, or even thank me toT the ol-
fer. About this time the moon began 10 rise
rightly in the east, lighting every object
with dreaded light. l then stepped into the
water, and waded till it came up to my breast /;
then laying the stick on the water, | laid my
breast on that, when those behind me strip
ped themselves OF all their clothing, following
me closely, and gaining upon NE, making hid
eous and unearthly clies for help. turned
my stick from right angles TO parallel with my
h0dy. Having all my uniform on and button.
cd up closely | made slow progress. The
4 oon was obseured by snail black cloud
about this time, which saved me from baing
seen in the water. As strange as some may
think it, | could not keep out Of NV mind nv
NIL lit,pa tn, tIa u,,rIff ffsI, -