Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-09-12
Letter from the "a delaware Regiment
HEADQUARTERS SECOND DEL REa'r,
Frenchs Brigade, Richardson's Division,
Summers Corps,


Summers Corps,
Camp beyond Rock rilis Nd,
September 9Th, 1862
HENRY EoKEL, Esq.
Sir: Since last writing
to you from Newport News, the Regiment
has made many moves and undergone
many hardships. We embarked from
Newport News on board Transport s. r.
Spaulding, on August 23d, and on the
25th were landed at Acquia Greek. The
corps being ordered to support Gen.
Burnside at Falmouth, but we had no
sooner disembarked aud landed our stores
and baggage, when Gen. Sumner received
despatch to embark again ut once and
report at Alexandria. 1t was done on n
" double quick" Our Regiment had
the honor of being the second on board
of transports. We were put on the kaats-
kill with Pettit's celebrated battery OF ar
tilleiy, the command being under charge
Of Major Andrews, who was ordered to
report at once at Alexandria to Genaral
Mcclellan
We reached Alexandria early on the
morning of the 26th, and were assigned
to position at Camp California about
four miles from Alexandria, and there
awaited the arrival of the corps. On the
2Sth we were ordered to Georgetown on
double quick and had just pitched our
shelter tents, when an order came TO
move to Centreville to support General
Pope. We started at once without tents
or rations and marched all night through
a drenching rain, reaching Centreville
abont noon next day, when we found our
army totally disWrted and discouraged
after the the fight of Saturday near Bull
Run. Bitter and severe remarks were
heard on every side against The treachery
of Gen. Mcdowell; his own troops ac-
tnaly refusing TO fight under him again,
alleging that he purposely assigned them
to positions where he knew they could
not succeed and must be cut up. The
army seemed perfectly demoralized, and
worn out stragglers We're more numerous
than those with their Regiments
Our whole corps came up in good style
and were sent to the front. Our Brigade
being in the first line of battle, the hard
ships we had to put up with may be sum
med up as follows Nothing to eat and
exposed to the rain all the time without
any shelter. Our corps were assigned
the post of honor, to bring mp the rear in
the retreat We saw pass US, Banks
corps, Seigel's corps, Porter's, Heintze-
mans aud Franklin's, and after all these
had left, with their artillery and baggage
trains, then our corps left the field in per-
feet order We marched all night and
reached Fairfax Court House early next
morning and were put in line of battle on
the road leading to Vienna, where the
enemy were known to be in force. We
rested there to let the remaining corps
pass us, and then took up our march
toward night. The rebels threw few
shells among ms, but they did no injury
We went into bivouac after crossing the
Potomac at Tenallytown, when we ex.
pected some rest so badly needed by the
whole army of the Potomac but had
been there but day, when we were or
derel up here; learning that the enemy
had crossed the Potomac in force and
were at Pooesyille and Frederick Oul
whole corps is tired and worn out, and
since leaving lIarrison's Landing have
never seen full ration at any time, and
, for many days having nothing to eat but
what they could get by foraging the coun
try around Of corn, potatoes, and shoot
ing whatever they conld see We hay,
, had no change of clothes since leaving
Harrison's.
Our Regiment stands it as well as tn,
. best and far better than the majority of re
giments in the corps We have abou
200 men with us, who can stand anything
, and are ms tough as men can be. But tn
whole corps is worn ont and greatly dis
y pirted by the late reverses If we ha,
! good Generals at the head of the army
n then confidence would be restored, but Il
1. il is we are all discouraged General
Sumner and Richardson have the entir
. confidence of their commands, and W
= would follow them anywhere.
i. Our corps is the largest now in til
is army numbering $4,000 men, at one tim
g there were 27,000 Banks corps lies o
our left. lie only has 5000 in his Who'll
ia corps, and Siegel about the same. nh
= Third Delaware is in Banks corps an
# about II mile from us. They have see
IS many hardships, and are greatly reduce
!" by sickness. Still what is left is of til
= right smtf and will show itself right whe
,t the time comes
d wonder why it is that the First Della
e ware which has always been considere
Is the best Regiment from our State, ar
: not put in the field The officers an,
u men are anxious TO see active service
and as they are Il large Regiment am
splendidly drilled and disciplined the
;, are the kind of troops needed in the liel
is during these pressing times, and shonl
n be relieved of Home Guard or Proves
% duty.
l. All our marches have been made o
Il double quick since we left Alexandria
i and | can see no use of it as it only tire
:, a. the men, and if we should get into a fight
:" they would not be fresh enough to stant
d much work To sum mp our moves sine
leaving Harrison's Landing twenty-five
f, days ago; We have marched 1870 mile
IN and been transported on steamboats, owe
ID 200 miles So you see we have seen bu
is little rest and have some reason to b
tired have had no change of clothes du
~ ring the whole time. The officers an
y, men have all done their duty to the let
r ter and the regiment stands high in tn
A. a. Division as fine marching regiment an
. of good material Too much praise cal
not be given to our able and energeti
,e COMMUNICATIONS Andrews. He ha
% faithfully looked after the interests of til
= Regiment, attended to the commissar
le department, and in fact il it had not bee