The Shasta courier., 1862-07-12
NUMBER 10.
A Battle Picture.

The correspondent of the New York Times
sends from the field Of battle at Williams
burg, the following:
IL THE FIELD, May llth.
The Historic Muse will seldom have to re
cord greater heroism than that exhibited by
what is commonly known as the First. Third,
Fourth and Fifth regiments of the Excelsior
Brigade, (the I'D, I'D and 74th New York
Volunteers on the field of williamsburg
Fatigaed and worn out with picket and
trench duty. they were the first to raise the
old flag on the battlements of Yorktown, and
were thrown forward tc pursue the flying
enemy.
They mel at williamsburg. The First
and Third Brigades of Hooker's Division
had been lighting With great bravery for
several hours, but at last by superior num-
bers they were checked Then it was that
the Excelsior Brigade was ordered up.
For an hour. they had been standing
ankle deep in mud, whilst the dead and
wounded Of the other Lrigades were being
carried by them At the word q March ~
they moved off as solid and steady as if on
parade The field they were ordered into
was covered with felled timber. In front
of it was Fort Magruder-an immense earth
work on their flank was an enemy con
cealed in the woods.
Their appearance was the occasion of an
increase of the rebel fire; and as the Fifth
fled out of the woods. their red breeched
Zouaves wheeling into line excited every en-
ergy of the enemy, and while from his bat
terry he bleched forth showers of canister and
grape from the flank he poured in perfect
hail of MINES. Not a man faltered. Gen.
Heint4elm.an, in his old hat and cloak. looked
on ia admiration, and exclaimed They're
soldiersl' And soldiers they were. Gen.
Hooker also looked on in admiration. With
a wild hurrah they went at their work.
Their ranks were thinned at every fire
Dwight, Colonel of the First, was down, shot
through the groin, but his regiment proved
itself worthy of so gallant leader. Officers
were falling in every direction. The dead
and dying lay in heaps. Yet steadily the
remnant kept up the fire. The enemy check
ed and maddened to desperation, redoubled
his energies, but the men stood firm and
the day was won. Reinforcements care up,
and what was left of the brigade retired in
good order.
But was that the Excelsior Brigade that
came back-that comparatively little hand
full of men? +? Look at the depot for the wound
Lieut.. Col. Farnum, of the First. are woun-
| du combat The gallant O. Reilly fell dead as
he gave the order " Forward march ~ The
Third is thinned out. Lieut.. Col Benedict,
of the Fourth, is missing, while the heroic
Captain of the color company of the Fifth
Captain Quarterman), lies on the field with
five bullets in his body (yet alive), and tho
brave Purdy is shot through the shoulder
The fire of the enemy was terrific. The
1st regiment had 9S killed and 100 wound
ed !; the Fourth had Is killed, and proper
tionate number wounded, while the 5th had
so killed and 100 wounded. ' ~ "'
Figures don't give the reader an idea of
the number. One does not comprehend what
hundred men are until he sees them lying
on the ground before him-mutilated, shat
tered, torn, or hear their cries for water
for the love of Heaven-sees the surgeons
at their bloody work-hears the shrieks of
anguish-the deep groan of pain. Then he
realizes it; and when above the groans and
cries he hears the din of battle, and the loud
shouts of the combatants, he realizes how
feebly the picture of it can be conveyed by
pen, ink or types. 1t is scene not to be
| described by language.