The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1862-12-31

out tOz srsiss stheirs coforss hsns somst
through shame said they would carry them
ntil4hey 3 fell. Ir4he BATE nof4 West
ern Dginent fsatefed, Will mar of t
otheSs ru1tRnd behared shehefuI8 HI
as it void interast you N6fz kn6
what we ere doing duriq the hFe dd
fight, I p conn nsnes spnce
On Wednesday, ssenihe d Deceinbar 10th
we moved down and took a position on
the river bank opposite ths lower end of
Che; city, here We was to support the pom
tooniefs iii 8 throwing the bridge over,
fthere was one thrown across at The up.s
per end of the city and one about two
miles below u.s. there were 14S pieces OH
0rdpance planted on the eityin case they
fred upon eur ponto ooniers, Of troops while
they were. crossing
At 5 o'clock Thursday morning the
enemy fred their signals, q few fm6haentsl
afterward their sharps sheoters,fred q polly
at our workmen, and another at our bat
terry. We were not in the least injured;
but ! aumber Of the wofkmen wers killed
and wounded Our battery Was oss of
the lshfeed first to FIRE intsaths eity;sth
was before daylight, and was kept up with,
|tefrible' effect until A. o 'elockiP. M, the;
enemy never replying though spmes iufan-
TRY skirmishing Was kepts up during the,
Idsyg Insafew moments nearss150 guns
was playing ousthe city.d ~ .3ssd zaids
The position which sonr5 battery held
fwasa perilloussone,and had they opened
with artillery they might have crushed
us, or their asharpshooterss ceuld have
picked everysman from thessuns, but they
soon foundsit necessary to conceal them
selves In houses and cellars to escape athc
shot aud shell which we asent 9plunging
through the 1waAs. i Our battery alone
fred $50 Grounds and semes others more.
There were about thirty 10 ponnder guns,
and thefemainder " as from 70 to 30 ppun-
dersn Such rwass the instruments of this
obstructive work.slsoive sffoE,lw sassa
To one unused otossHeh, sounds and
tscenss, we'll may they say itsstTikes ter
Iror TO the stoutest heart 8 The reyerbera-
|tion ffonashillst to hili of the mighty thnnr
aering, the sfrightful screaming of shell
with theif explosion and crashing through
Rhe baiIdin gsy ylit up blythe flashes of one
Ehundfed and fifty gunss made itdan awful
Eday. A Aedensef fog hung oysrs the city
about 2sPs Ma II cleared away, and We be
theid the burning city, that mass Of. uins
was once the home Of many distinguishes
Fsons eff Y irginia. III so kus se,,es sIss
i Our batteries stood upon, heights one'
townedtby ilIustrions men, Battery II wa
planted near the, mansion where ono,
fdwelt the father Of his country, and elas'
tb.siee ahesa garden where the little, bo,
fwish his ihalchet, hacked The sherry tree
twhichoeeyery school sbvya has heard 1of
While the lbattlesof Saturday, was, rafg,ins
II stood upon n point near where, We hae
1.-TWO shcasys batteries. plsated, aud iron
twhiehsI had full view OF orr ,en tire lines
land wondered if she ssfather of his, un
Isrysa ever Thought when. he was yalkin
lover his farm, that the. beautiful cit,
lshould become sheass of ruin, and tn
tsnsiling fields slelnged in American cit
teens blood by an internal war;. !. aI..s.y,
= No doubt that day he WAS looking dow
iron hisssarry ihotne, beholdipg the wick
J fsdncss .ofs the nation. We rejected hi
fcounseh aand snew the. heayiest cnrse j
3dpon lus. ssAt about i. ID, of Thursday
3thei pontoons was finished, and.troops be
lgan to pour over sbya thgusapeks Frida,
110 oicluel2 "A s1Ms the rebels for the, hrs
Itime opened their battsries, but were seel
Il silsncedsss aE tsss6is us sass,k 44e Yayu
4 Our battery changed positionsfrom tn
river bank to the heights near the sheay
batteries, and that day was engaged som
in shellihg the enemys works. i Since tina
, time We have. been changing positions ,ol
= this side Of the river, until Tuesday W
ifcame back into our Old camp. aWe'wsr
not across the river aid I'VE should b
q Thankful that We were thus fortunate
= Ion our right there was ND show for artil
yl1efy. Tsiw.@ batteries move up and tax
; position when they in a uIoment WA
, crushed down, tho infantry holding th
, guna until they could be taken away b
cover Of night. But If We was not aeros
We was CONTINUALLY IN range of the che
/ my i guns, and always atnwork.si ste
) ! the, FIVE days engagement We are com
4 fortably in camp and net The sligAtes
= casualty to report Would toaGod tina
Iah regiments and batteries could sayth
! fsafiie., NeE .sfa.s9 IS sta ia sbms /
pa * word In regard to the .enemys posi-
Il tion, the disposition Of forces, and you
READERS wiif haye1a better idea with wha
I'VE have tU' contend. The number Of force
|beiDg about equal Their position j
NATURALLY strong one. In fsontsof on
qright and cestef and in rear ofs,the city i
1twos ridges which sruhs in a semiicircl
tafound 1sto the left where the first ridg
fslopes away. The second ridge epasse
II aafoutidi the entire lines, about 6tn1ile
! Hin 1ength; on each of these ridges rthe,
n have q heavy lire Of seaYtbworksp ateth
base ef the ffirst ridge is an ol1canahwhicl
lthey haye lately let waterinto. Insfron
{ Of bur lcfy is plain 3 miles inwidth. aex
tending back to the base of the lidg
which is here their first line Of works
q about 2 miles back is the MassaPone.
Il creck which IL a. difficult stream To cross