The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1862-05-08

last Sabbath, April 9th.
Sabbath has again come. A benuti-
full day it is, and very quiet for q Sab
bath in camp. There is less loud talk.
ing and swearing than usual, but ten
thousand birds are singing as cheerfully
through this forest, as if beneath the
trees, among whose boughs they are
fitting, did not lie on the cold ground,
thousands of men slain in this frater-
nal strife! Oh, how long will the sons
Of men continue thus to slaughter one
another3 Would that I could hold up
the horrors of the battle. field before the
eyes Of the world, till all would seek to
avoid war, and try to live together in
harmony and lovei
send you my journal, containing an
account Of the part the 81st Regiment
took in the great battles of the 9th and
7th.
am 10 favor of doing with our might
what we have to do. without unnecessary
delay. That, with Gods blessing upon
our cndeavors, will soon quell this re-
bellon, and those Of us who are spared
may return to our friends, and Peace
return to our beloved land.
Yours, affectionately.
GARY L. NELSON.
April 6.--This morning between Z
and 8 o'clock, we heard the booming of
cannon on the left Of our army, some 5
or 6 miles from us-we being on the ex-
treme right. Tn about an hour came
the order for our company to "fall in. :"
We we're soon in line and marched to
guard bridge across a creek about a
mile further to the right. had been
quite unwell ever since we came here,
but was determined to be with the com.
pany if there was any fighting to be
done. After we had been at the bridge
half an hour. the rest of the S1st came
and drew up in line of battle ear the
bridge. After staying there an hour or
so, the 81st was ordered to come back
and occupy position near our camp,
where our right flank and Company I.
sharp-shooters, had a skirmish with
some rebels and drove them away.
About 3 o'clock the 81st was ordered
to the left wing, about two miles off.
There we went out as skirmishers in
front of our troops, who were drawn up
in line Of battle. We were soon greet.
ed with tremendous volley of m usket.
ry, grapeshot, and shells. The moment
that we heard the report of the guns we
dropped on our faces and the missiles
passed hnrmlessly over all of us. except
Capt. Armstrong, who was struck in the
head by a grapeshot, and instantly kill
ed. His Orderly carried him from the
field. The regiment returned the fire
and continued firing until ordered to
desist. did not fire; because I saw
some Of our sharp-shooters in front Of
US, but could not SEQ the enemy until
we we're ordered to cease firing and fall
in ranks, which was not two minutes
after we fell We formed and filed tc
the left. marching parallel with oui
lines between them and the enemy
Then boom went the rebel guns. dowu
went the 8lst, and the grape whizzed
the balls whistled, and the shells few
over our heads.
We were ordered to lie close and no
to Are. After few minutes we were
ordered to fall back to our main lines
This we did with perfect rush, as W,
had to pass up hill in clear range oi
the rebel battery. When VIC got bael
of our troops, who were drawn up ia
line Of battle, Gen. Grant said to us
"Boys, you have done a good thing,
(fnding out where the rebel batter,
was.) Our battery then opened upo'
it. The 8lst was then ordered back T.
our old position near our tents. Whel
We were crossing an open field ahou
half a mile from our tents, a rebel bat
terry sent some big shells ga howlin trc
de wilderness" on our left at us, owe
the heads Of some of our troops VIII
: we're lying down in line of battle alon
the edge Of the field. They few owe
our heads. We then marched a shor
distance toward the battery, which wa
throwing shells at us, and took ou
places, Co. B. (our Coz on the righ
), and the rest of the regiment benin
!. those who were lying in line Of battle
+ While we were doing this battery o
our left opened upon the rebel batter
> and silenced it in few minutes. Th
was, | believe, the last fighting that wa
y done on the 9th. All day from earl
N morning till it began to grow dark, ii
~ rebels had been gradually gainin
IE ground. Our men had been surprised
is and some regiments had been scattere
so in their retreat that they could nj
m be got together again during the da
and hundreds of towards from 9th
regiments "a few from the 8lst) ha
run to the river to get away from da
/, ger. Most of the regiments had fougl
>" with great determination, but we
overpowered and compelled to ia
an back. The cheers of the rebels as tn
gained point after point, sank heavi
upon our hearts. As we lay in line
battle as above mentioned, and h