Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1862-02-25
ARMY LETTERS.
The 5lst Penn'a Reg. az Roanoke.
STEAMSHIP CossACH,
Tuesday. Feb. ii. 1862

STEAMSHIP CoSsACK,
Tuesday, Feb. IL, 1862.
We lef, Ha,teras Iulot last Wednesday;
moved up the Sound until We got Oppo-
site Stumpy Point, where We anchored
for the night.
Thursday, we moved little further up,
until We could just see Roanoke Island.
Rain all day. The guuboats bOtnbarded
the batteries from noon until night. The
Cossack ran SO near as to give Us view
Of the mos, magnificent scene eve. wit
nassei-thiTteen gunboats playing eon;in-
ually, answered by a constant FIRE from
the shore. About 4 in the afternoon, the
signal was given for the soldiers to land.
Several light-drait steamers, with long
strings of boats, filed with men, were a.
ready in motion; theJ made for shore, as
our boa, pu, of, and l think nearly 5000
men Landed at once. Companies \. and
B. of our Regiment went first. About
dusk. jus, as we had gone below to eat,
the Delaware came alongside, and We bad
to star, supperless. When part Of Coll.
60, on shore. it was dark, boggy, aud un-
certain footing. David Brewer was sent
ahead as pilot; be had no. gone ten yards,
when he suddenly disaPpeared-then We
saw his head coming up-"LOok out,
Captain. here's we'll" He craw!cd out,
aud we wadad along, half the time up to
our knees in mud, until we got abrcas. the
bow of the boat, where We formed and
waited until all got up. Going on half a
mile through the mire, We found solid
ground, and stacked arms. We had a
most wre,ched tims-rain or snow all
night-po shei,er-sud wood scarce. As
| sa. on a stick, soma times forgot, and
dreamed ,ha, was in the cabin Of the
Cossack, pulling stool up to the warm
stovs-but waking With start to find my.
self shivering in the cold sless, my boots
soaking, my feet swelling until they be-
came painful. was most dreary, un-
comfortable night.
Friday, Feb. :, opened clear but cold
An alarm occurred early in the morning
In two minutes, the whole army, from
being scattered all about, were standing in
quiet, serried ranks. The First Brigade
moved off. We stayed in the storm an
bour or two. At half. pas. seven, We heard
the scattered reports of uuske;ry close BY,
aud knew ,ba, Gen. Foster was driving in
the enemy's pickets-soou arose the bang
Of cannon, aud continued yol.eys Of mus
kerry. The front of our Brigade COM
mspeed moving, aid We had got to the
edge Of the wood, bu. still in clear ground,
VIXEN our first wounded were carried back.
Tia, vas very ,ryipg-she hardest thing
we had to bear. We moved on through
. uouutaiu-like u road, thick with trees and
underbrush, the musketry becoming more
distinct, and other wounded men brought
past. DOuble-quiek, away We weat, along
the crooked road, where We could ne. see
ten fee, any way, reminding me Of point
in the road ou, f.ou ChapPell Hollow.
Passing the Field Hospital, We saw men
With skulls split, sud brains ooziug out
there lies ope with lis arm off at the
shoulder-here young, childish voice,
crying out ss We did when the doctor
pulled a tooth, ald the kindly Doctor
telling him i,wOa,d Mt hurt him-yonder,
three men pulling to Sc: man. arm
aud here fellow comes, !imPing along,
with a hole 10 each leg: "Go in, boys.
| gave 'em 35 rounds"
My Company bad just reached cross
road where the head Of the Regiment bad
turned to the left, and we had halted.
" Blu," goes a shell singing over our
heads-biss a tree behind Lieut.. Blair Of
Bellefoute-a piece Of shell strikes man
mot Of our RegineuD and he drops dead.
stood on a log, talking with Col. Hart
ranft as be came out-he said be had been
ordered into the left, but could MT sc,
any further, (ss the balance of the Regi-
m outs blocked the way,) and had sent for
orders. The balls sung fearful tune just
then. Soon he was ordered to leave the
Companies in that we're there, and With
those as far as the cross-road to turn to
the right. Two Companies under Lieut..
Col. Bell were left there. We waited for
The Rhode Island Regiment, which came
,cros. a. right angles, to pass-'hen We
,tar,ed, double-quick, down the road to
he right. Issw Gems Reno and Foster,
md John A. Morris-then our battery Of
men lying down-bul!ets
nd shells Hying-and to their music We
rossed in front of the enemy's battery.
Is our Company was in front Of the bat
cry, We had to halt, but squa..cd low:
Us, as l stepped across log, bullet took