Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-10-07
Letters from the Army.

Letters from the Army.
soldier of the fifteenth regiment writes a
letter to his friend in this city from which we
are permitted to make extracts. After mem
ton of the movement from Harrison's Land
ing to Maryland, he describes his share in the
battle of Antietam. He says
''On the 10th of September, we lay all day
close to the enemy, and part of the time their
shells were flying over us too thick and fast
for comfort. However, saw but one casual
ty during the day, though of course others &C.
Cured. This one was to member of the
42d New York, whose head was entirely cut
off by she'll. He fell not three rods from
me. Towards night the firing ceased, and we
lay down, and, with the harness on, slept
away the interval before our time came to
strike for our country's honor. Morning
came, cloudy and cool, but not raining.
''Thank God, we have not got to fight beneath
blistering sum- said many.
1.-The fighting has commenced from hill
we can see the advancing and receding col
umns, until thick veil of sulphurous cloud
hides the combatants from our view, but still
the boom of cannon, aud the quick, sharp
rattle of musketry, tells us the work of death
goes on. We move forward and ford Antie-
tam Greek, the water reaching far above our
knees, and again form our line of battle.
Forward in line" is the order, and we move
on, tearing down fences and trampling down
corn as we go. Suddenly the enemy discover
our approach. and shot and shell rain upon u.s.
How strangely they whiz and burst and flut-
ter. One tears hole in our own company !;
one man killed and four more wounded. Our
captain stumbled and fell just in time to save
his lite. There is no time to stop to carry off
the wounded.
Soon we come to the field where Fighting
Joe Hooker" and his gallant men have laid
the country's foes in winrows. Onward till
we hear "column halt" commence firing"
and our rifles belch forth their leaden mes
sengers. Is it boasting to say that my hand
was as steady and my aim as sure as though
no danger was near? No; for it was not l,
but God, that did it. We had advanced
through some woods, across lane, and lay
just on the brow of hill The rebels had a
battery on our front that was showering grape
and canister upon US, while to our left, with
in easy shot, were massed their solid col
umns.
''Their sharpshooters were in barn and
round hay stack, picking off the officers. l
fred seventeen shcAs, and every time at a
man, several of whom l saw fall. All at
once, while l was expecting to hear the order
''charge bayonets on the battery" the order
was given to fall back; but even then
thought it was only to cross the narrow lane
so as to have the cover of the fence. So, as
soon as I got over, ! stopped and fired twice,
and loaded again, but looking around saw
the regiment moving to the rear and started
after them. Just then the rebels came pour
ing in on our left, andordered me to halt, butt
needed them not, and dozen bullets whizzed
past me, killing men on my right and left.
CAS- soon as the remnant of the regiment was
formed, we continued our retreat, and fell
back to the open field, where, hastily throw
ing up breastworK of rails, we awaited the
onset of the foe; but they were too severely
punished to follow us, and soon other lines
occupied their attention, and we had opportu-
nifty to rest and count our loss. OF the 600
brave hearts that went into the fight with us,
only ia could be found now; SO have come
to us since, making 2l2 active men now MEM
bers of the Massachusetts, 18TH"
THE following extract is taken from letter
dated near Hagerstown, Maryland, October
I'd. 1t from an officer on Gen. Slocum's |
staff, to friend in this city:
81 have been quite busy paroling prisoners.
Among the wounded l met with some noble |
men. They have given me tender expert
ences; l try to direct them to consolation.
Poor fellows! Said one to me, in a whisper,
as he lay agonizing with a shattered thigh, Il
was in the battle, but didn't fire shot at the
old flag. am a conscriptr All! how many
have told me that same story, disarming my
heart of its fierce bitterness against the SEEM
ing foes Of our imperilled country"