Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-07-18
Letter from the Second pelaware.
HARRIsoN's LANDiNG, !
July 9th, 1862. J

Letter from the Second Delaware.
HARRHoN's LANDlNG,
July 9th, 1862.
DEAR EcKEL;
Since | last wrote there has
been some very important movements of the
grand army You will, doubtless, remem-
her that my last letter was dated at Fair
Oaks. | now write under tree, more than
- miles from that place. The whole vast
army has wheeled from the right, the centre
moving as pivot until the right had passed
Sayuge's Station; then-the centre, with The
lett, began 10 fall back.
The ID Regiment Delaware Volunteers.
during the whole week, was one of the regi-
ments chosen To cover the retreat. and, of
course, were under fire nearly all the timr
They were in three holly contested battles,
battles several skirmishes. Yet strange 10
say, only two were killed--Fred. Spar, Go.
y. aud Jacob Bowers OF Go. n, VIM. Hip
son, of Go. g., and Cunerd, Of Co, Il. were
wounded. Several are missing but strag
glers keep coming in every day, and thus
eventually all may be accounted for just
before We left FAIR Oaks, the Chaplain snw
Brady, drummer boy of Company G. lying
helpless on the ground of ii fever, and put
him in broken ambulance. The enemy
being hard upon us, he was forced to leave
him. But when We arrived ut llill Carriers
place, ON the James River more than 10 miles
distance, | seen the Chaplain bending over
the boy Brady, giving him cup Of lemon
ade. How the boy got there, neither hc nor
the Chaplain could tell Most of our sick
have come mp. As | now write, button
Peters of Co. A., who was perfectly helpless
NJ Fair Oaks is standing beside me, he was
hrnnUbI la "a ua N d
For two weeks previous to the "strategetc
movement Col. Wharton, Major Andrews,
and Adiutant Iorbert had been quite sick,
the Col mel so weak as TO fall OIL his horse,
once or twice as lie attempted TO lead the
regiment when the movement commen-
ced The Brigade Surgeon ordered them,
together with the other sick, to the rear,
late on Saturday night The Chaplain took
charge of the party, and, after series OF
maps and mishaps rejoined the regiment at
this place, his party being increased by Cap
tain Ricketts,, Lieutenant Holt and letLer-
hey, besides many priyates.
During the march, the regiment was under
the command of Lieutenant Colonel Baily
and Captain u. l.. Strker-Colonel Baiy
being forced part of the time TO surrender
the command from exhaustion. Too much
praise cannot be awarded to these two Off
GERS for the gallant manner in which they
behaved themselves In fact all the officers
and men conducted themselves like veterans.
You must remember that the movement
commenced on saturday. and lid not end
until Thursday night. During all that time
our men had no time for sleep, except such
as they could catch, while shells and bullets
were whizang over and around them |
rode along lines of men lying asleep, while
artillery and cavalry were dashing along at
q furious rate within foot OF them. ! sat
down myself, too weary to move, regardless
OF all casualties, and as the old adage proved
true, TINT " Providence takes care Of the
lame and the lazy" for escaped unhurt
was frequently separated from the regi-
ment and ut these times being ignorant of
the movements of our armies. | was in i'm
minent danger of getting between two fires.
or Of being pounced upon by parties of the
grey backs, who were very active in picking
up straggers. A vast amount of property
was destroyed and several cannon lost but
when you consider that our baggage wagons
numbered over 1900 and that, perhaps
100000 men in the short space of four days
moved over % miles, you will confess that
the whole thing was managed with consn
mate skill
was permitted being mounted officer,
TO move freely along the lines, and in but
one or two instances did ! sec anything like
haste or precipitation. You would not have
supposed hut for the immense number of
straggcrs in the post that the army was
moving ON to Richmond.
One night, by reason OF a regiment Of cav.
airy and several batteries Of artillery dashing
through our regmental lines, got separated
from our men. Not knowing in the dark
ness which way to proceed, l followed the
baggage train and fetched up on the James
River, opposite City Point. Tying my
horse to IL tree, took Off the saddle and
spread down my gum blanket, and having
fed my horse from little bag of oats ! car
ried on his neck, took my tin cup, and
from my hayersack drew little tea, taking
water lrom my canteen, ! made a delightful
cup OF tea; with the addition ola little sugar
and some hard crackers ! made nice sup
per, and laid down to sleep as soundly as
ever l did in Wilmington. During the night
| heard the continuous rumble Of artillery,
and at grey dawn ] heard the rattle of mus
kerry, waiting few minutes, in order to de-
eide which way to sbedaddle. | saddled my
horse and wrapping up my blankets
joined the vast column 1t was absolutely
impossible for me to find the ID regiment.
1t was raining in torrents. The mud became
ntolcrable. But onward was swept aolenS
oolens. You might as well have attempted
to stem the tide of Niagara. In little
while ] again regained our regiment. Col.
Baily was on foot, knee-deep in the mud
His servant having been separated from him
at Fair Oaks In little while, however. re-
joined him, and the poor, wet and weary man
now enjoyed Il ride. Onward we splashed,
but in good order. The men were destitute
Of blankets and tents, retaining nothing but
their arms. We soon found that the rain
had rendered them temporarily inef.
liective in the muzzles and it was
impossible to fire them off. Had we
been allowed them, you would heard of Il
brilliant bayonet charge of the I'd Delaware
We camped that night in mud knee-deep
Our clothes were ringing wet but none OF
us took the least cold Now we are here
recruiting Uncle Sam is very generous to
us. We are to have tents, clothing, &c.
Our division must have rest. As / write,
the balloon lays over our heads and many
divisions are moving somewhere. | must
close this letter, already too long.
RAMBLER