Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-08-22

Col. LEoNARD's REGIMENT IN THE FIGHT
AT CuIPEPPER.-The following extract from
the letter of an officer of the 18th Massachu-
sets, will be read with interest by many
friends of the colonel of the regiment in this
vicinity, and others who appreciate good con-
duct in Massachusetts soldiers. The writer
says that after remaining in the rear the
greater part of the day, Saturday, within
hearing of the cannonading, they were at
late hour ordered to move forward
''Col. Leonard moved us under the brow of
hill, and the rebel shells passed over, al
though some came very near us, and while
we were marching under the hill, two of the
9th New y DIRK, (both since dead,) and several
of the 18th Massachusetts and llth Pennsyl-
vania wounded were carried back past US
| We were ordered to take position on our
| right, and under cover OF darkness, and
through the foresight and good judgement of
| Col. Leonard we arrived at this point safe,
being the only regiment in the whole brigade
that did not lose man.
Upon finding that we were in the immediate
range of the fire OF the rebels, Col. Leonard
gave his commands in a low tone OF voice to
trail arms" and the order being passed from
company to company through the regiment,
| in the same tone, every man at once 'trailed
| arms SO that no mark was visible to the enc
| my. As we marched to the front and fianked,
| the rebels, who were not two hundred yards
| of, fired vOlley at U.S. their balls going over
| our heads. But we went on the double
| quick and formed in close column of divis-
| ion, right in front, behind Il knoll, where we
| remained short time, and then took u posi-
ton still further TO the right, where we could
see the rebels and watch their operations.
There we remained until $50 Sunday A..
| NJ, and while there the rebels turned their
batteries upon us at intervals but we lay
calmly on our bellies, and could see and hear
the shells pass over us into the woods,
crashing and shivcring limbs of trees, and
| finally exploding far beyond us, and of course
doing us no harm. The rebels evidently sup
posed we were in the woods in our rear, and
kept up their ''ball game" till u o'clock,
when they were shelled by our batteries.
On visiting the place occupied by the afore-
said batteries, we found two heutenants, chiefs
Of sections, several privates, and nine horses
killed. One of the lieutenants was apparent
ly struck by an uneXploded shell, which tool
Oft the top Of his head from his mouth up, anC
the other was killed by shot through thu
breast
The 18th Massachusetts marched after IL.
across the open plain referred to, and having
their bayonets fixed, with their guns a
shoulder arms" the bayonets glistened in
the moonlight and thus afforded a good marx
for the enemy. 1t was here that Capt. Shurt
left fell, mortally wounded, while rising tc
| give command to his corps.
tell you, -, there are great many in.
stances to mention about that fight, but one
thing is certain-the 18th did credit to the old
state OF Massachusetts. They stood like vet
Grams, and were under Il most perfect state OF
discipline, and so also was the entire brigade,
while such Il skedadding as there was outside
on that night attack, will never be forgotten
by those that were there, and if the boys o.
the 18th erer do get into right fair square
fight, with Sam Leonard at their head, they
will lick whole brigade Of secesh clean sure