Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-06-25
AnnIY cnRRRsPoNnRNcR.

One or two accounts Of he Vienna affair
have been already published in the LrADER,
but the following letter from Mr.. Baldwin,
recently appoiated Lieutenant in the army
which we are permitted to make use Of, con-
tains some particulars which viii be of in
terest to Olevelsndsrs;
FArLs CHURCH Csoss ROADS, VA,(
June lsth, 1861.
DIAN ONES AT HoNr;-We have seen what
we came fora fght-and the Colonel says
we may see many larger battle, but never
undergo a warmer fire. Ohio and South
Carolina met first. ( only hope we may
meet them again, with something like fair
odds. Just before noon, on the l7th instant,
we had orders to fall in with blankets, and
rations in hsversacks for tweaty-four hours.
In q few minutes eight companies OF the
Regiment were crowded aboard three open
platform and two passenger cars. We oceu-
pied the front platform car, the locomotive
being in the rear. Alter q little delay We
moved down the road toward Vienna, four
teen miles distant from Camp Lincoln, our
FIRST encampment in Virginia. Along the
rad we kept dropping of, company after
company when within three miles of Vi
emma q man stopped the train and informed
the officers in command that we had not
enough men to attempt to enter Vienns, as
he knew of $50 men being there, and he did
not know how many mOrei but sill we kept
on, being under command Of Brigadier-Gen-
eral Schenck, until a curve in the road
brought US in sight Of a body Of cavalry
posted on the top Of a hill directly in our
front. Still we kept on to the foot Of the
hill, when a masked battery Of three guns
opened upon US with shot, shell and small
bombs; the first shot fired I could see
coming as plain as could be- and watched it
until it passed about a fsot above our heads
and struck the second car behind Us, Of course
killingand wounding some, as the cars were
all packed as full as they could be-the out
side tier sitting down with their legs over
the side, and the centre filed with those
standing up as close as they could stand.
Immediately following the round shot, came
discharges thick and fast Of round shot
grape. canister, &c. We formed on the left
Of The road, and remained there until the
order was given to fall in under cover of the
woods, q few rods to our rear, which was
done in good order; part of the men did not
hear the order, anidid not move. Jim Pick
ands, not hearing the order Of Major Hughes,
thought they were running away; he used
his utmost endeavors to bring them back,
until be understood the reason, when all fell
in at the edge of the wood in good order.
When we were finally under cover, up sprang
hundreds of infantry, lining both sides OF the
hill; they cheered most Justify. 1t was hard
to bear, and we would all have gone back if
the officers had not known the folly; which
they learned too late to save many valuable
lives. When coming into the woods l came
upon one poor fellow with his arm shot
away close 10 his shoulder; / took off my
blankets, laid bis head upon them, took out
ny shoe strings and tried to stop the blood,
which spirited out three or four feet every
time he drew breath. The stump of the arm
was 50 short that the strings would nothold;
I fually gave him a drink out Of my can
teen, left it by his side, and joined
my company. Soon the order was given
to fall back on the reserve. Throwing
our %skirmishers out on either side, and
bearing the wounded in 'front.' we went
slowly back to the place where we now are,
a march of eleven miles from the battle
field. Our tents came on this morning
along With q few of the boys who were left
behind sick and on guard. They brought
all u knspsacks, which were we come, as
we all need q change Of linen, l mean tan
mel badly. l am writing this in a wood on a
hill, about II miles from Camp. We Harry
Pickands, Charley Hendricks, and Corpor-
al Barney MeGrathl are q squad Of four in
the advanced picket guard. Harry is writ
ing by my side, while Barney and Charley
are out over the brow Of the hill looking
out for the enemy's advanced guard.
When they come in Harry snd l will have
to 90 cut and let Barney and Charley sleep
for 3 couple Of hours. We we've on from
twelve o'clock last night, and will be re-
lieved at six o'clock tonight. The o. S.
Cavalry 1.-THE same that had the fight at
Fairfax c. Il. a few weeks ago. exchanged
shots with the enemy's picket last night.
W g QO uUk AuOM MuAA AAnE VIC my mSCAs
l like this scouting, it is exciting work.
Lieut.. Hampson was the only one Of the
Grays wounded, having his sword in his
right hand giving orders. A cannon ball
struck it, breaking itOf, at the same time
8 piece Of shell entered the calf Of his leg,
Wounding him slightly. Some Of the boys
we're wounded slightly by splinters from
the cars. Hampson lie a fine officer, as are
S~ergeants Frazee and Pickands, and Cor
porals McGrath and Rutler, and deserve
notice for their GOODNESS in encouraging
and keeping together the men, when the
South Carolfnians cheered. Harry Pick
ands said, HBoys l can't stand that let us
20 back" There are lots Of incidents
which l have not time or space to tell you
Of I shall have to wait until | get hom me,
if / ever do, TO tell. / want to have an
lick at the williams and get revenge;
then, provided we ere victorious, / Am sat
isfed to 90 home. An old man brought
in six Of our dead TO US yesterday, and
said there were $500 troops on Vienna
hill, and soon after the engagement six
more guns came. So if we had gone back
not a man would have lived to tell the tale.
When we got off the cars, the locomotive
put back to Washington, carrying the news
that We were all cut to pieces. The Cap
tain's niger Joe ran back to Camp, four
teen miles, md confirmed the news. He
says he was only one hour snd a half max
ing the fourteen miles. His description Of
his sensation when under fire is highly
amusing, and the boys are at him all the
time to get him to repeat them. But
must close this, as I expect Barnes in eve
~ moment. Love to all.
Yours truly,
a. Il. BALDWIN.