Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1862-06-19
First Maryland Light Artillery.

ents 10 depreclate the Valor anu uscluI
ness of the soldiers of Maryland in th'
present contest, we print the following
from the Boston Traveller. 1t was re
produced in the Baltimore Sun withou
a word of comment, though the conduc
tors of that journal knew, or should
have known that, as far as the compost.
ton of the battalion there stated is con.
ecrncd, it was a tissue of falschoods from
beginning to end. ...... ....
"EFFEcT1vE FIRE OF THE FIRST MARY
LAND BATTERY BEFORE RIcHMoND.-The
day before the battle of Fair Oaks, it
will be remembered, Gen. Sumner threw
pontoon bridge across the Chickahom-
my, during the construction of which
the pontoniers were annoyed by fire
from couple of rebel light batteries,
which posted themselves on an eminence
beyond the river, and poured in shot
and shell at rate which promised the
speedy destruction Of both pontoons and
men.
The First Maryland Light Battery,
which we mentioned on Saturday as
being commanded by Captain j. W.
Walcott, of Roxbury, and officered by
four Massachusetts soldiers, which had
been placed by Mcclellan in the re-
serve in line with the regular army
batteries, was ordered to the spot, and
taking position on an cminence this side
the river, assaulted the rebel batteries.
"An artillery duel was the conse-
quence, which resulted in the complete
repulsc of the rebels. Capt. Walcott's
guns were eight in number, 12-pound
rifcd PARROTS. His officers were highly
complimented for the accuracy of their
aim, which, together With the rapidity
of their fire, and the range of their
rifcd missiles, would have enabled the
battery to have matched twice their
number in the open field.
at may not be amiss to state that,
out of about enc hundred and eighty
men in Capt. Walcott's Battery, some
sixty are Baltimore plug Uglies' of the
real old school, who. under Captain
VS. strict discipline, make most admi-
rablc soldiers"
The battalion alluded to is composed
almost exclusively of Baltimoreans, and
is officcred as follows Major, 4. r.
Petherbridge; First Lieutenant, James
Rigby; Second Lieutenant, Thomas
Binyon Third Lieutenant, Edw. Tay-
Tor, of Baltimore.
In conjunction with the above, we
publish the following extract from a pri-
vate letter received in this city, from a
gentleman who was a witness of the en-
gagement,
major Petherbridge, commanding
the Battalion First Maryland Light Ar
tillery, received orders from the Com
mander-in Chief on Thursday last, to
take position with his six gun battery
near New Bridge, on the Chickahominy
river, which order was responded to
Immediately, as the boys comprising the
First Maryland Artillery were anxious
to take chance Upon planting their
guns in proper position Of defence, a
number of rebels were noticed on the
opposite bank Of the river. The Major
gave the command to open on them,
which caused the rebels to unmask four
batteries, from six to twenty -four pound
ers, and for two and half hours the
engagement was terrific. Upwards of
seven hundred shots were fred by the
First Maryland boys, with telling ef-
feet, as was substantiated by deserter
who came in the next day. The de-
serter also stated that five rebel Lieu.
tenants were killed. large number Of
privates, and number of horses. Our
informant states that three of the Ma
ryland boys were wounded, but he could
not give their names. Three of our
horses were killed and several of the
wheels Of our caissons we're shattered
to pieces, but as far as he could learn
only three men we're wounded. mono
killed. He further states that had the
firing of the rebels been as accurate,
or had their shells bursted as ours did,
the loss on our side would have been
heavy. He speaks Of the behavior of
the Baltimore boys as noble in the cx-
tremc, as was acknowledged by several
regular army officers and by all the
spectators who Witnessed the engage
ment. .
The entire village Of Westport, Pa,
on the Lahivh riysr vv,s u,sboJ ,,