The New York herald., 1862-10-16
The Fifty-ninth New York Volunteers
nE Autfetnra.

To THE EDtIOts OF TIE HERALD.
DAuLE iFEIp NxAR NEW cAsEYwrrn, Nj,
Sept. 10, 1862.
TIE Fifty ninth in the batto Of tho fTth. We
in the hardest Of tho nght wcoccupied csatre
OF the brigade at point where Gorman'q brigade had
boon driven back. The ground was in some respects
most unfavorabe Cor tight 1t very rough ard
rocky the rocks projecting above the ground, with the
dip 70 tho The ground IN front sccp craggy
and difficult Of passage The ground which regi.
ment drawn up gradually increased in height
towards the front Of the lue and the brow OF h
forn,ad angle 10 the edge of this elevation
(thrly forty feet above the rcbes) we were
obliged advance before they visible This point
extended beyond the front OF lines perhaps twenty
or thirty feet on the right aud left The ground was
brigade This not only rendered cons cuous mark
for the enemy but subjected us to tho Inconvenience
having t. lose sight of the rest Of the brigade when the
smoke of thor pieces rose 10 our level
Tie Firiy-ninh advancing to the brow of the hill,
ofened the fro OF our brigade upon the enemy, who
occupied strong position in our front. Tho rebels
drawn up on the lower ground in front, beyond
country cottage in 'front.' by and haystacks
60 lett. From behind those defences they poured
voley after yollcy into our ranks with deadly effect
ninth we're killed and wounded. All OF the color guard
but one ic at that Ore several Of companies and
81 at the samo rorhsD. gmo kisd aud some @ % wounas;
n.vos 1aos i ssSshsr whoever might
70 resrd.c tlg sroash ins ssdss 81 n G9eDsn' s.ls
L al u
hold their ErSsd TO tho end against terrible
fire poured into ten ron the two sides Of the obtuse
angle which the natafe Of tn round compelled them 70
..'iw The regiments on our ficn. and left either
gave away or ordered to fail back The enemy w
lowed up heir advantage anked the Fifty nh.ih on oo
sides, and pouca 70 upon them most DESTRUCTIVE cross
Meanwhile tho next ne Of battle advanced and o., ened
upon the enemy from behind brigade 1
tho exception Of the Firty nnlh had LEFT tho led sti
we fought aud maintained position, and would have
continued until the last had fallen, had not
When the clouds OF smoke Of tho other rcgi.
mcnts Of the brigade had risen from the led,
We observed that these regiments had retired. Our
Colonel would not give the command to retire, as
he hid received no orders to do SO Ho rode
deadly FIRE. aud noby did thoy obey words OF their
commanding ollcer, whom they loved.
ninth General Scdgwiok bad boen wounded in tho arm
and neck General Dana Ia tho and MAJOR Scagwick
in the spine This Is probably the reason VIC wore left in
critical and dangerous a position unsupported.
At length General Sumner brave old man, rode to the
front of Tho regiment, and command which Colonel
dtall could hoar. Ths Colonel at rode to the
Goncras side and asked him he wished him to advance
The General ansYcred "No retire at for the line in
your Ia shooting your mer" immediately the Colonel
gave the orders to fs back and rally upon our coors
In the din Of the tight 1t difficult to hear the Colones
orders and many continued to fight until they their
The best evidence of the galan,ry OF the F,y ninth
regiment is tho that thoy he their position in front
OF tho line of battle until banked both sides
BY tho enemy, and ordered from the field by
General sumner in person Tbs fict that our
troops yanccd far afterwards occupied tho
ground uIon which tho Fictyninth fought and tho fact
that the line otred DC regiment, shows
how lies cra.iy cur boys cont ended and hoy determined
ilacs we're 70 die TO man Father than fall back without
orders.
II woud re impossible to gvo you truc history Of all
tctkl bat this know, h1t went into the fight with
for .ddrc aud twenty four Officers, and sc came
out + 1t with but twelve ciccrs and ono hundred and
Icu.ciant Colonel setson was klod while .oavng the
neld-shot tnrJugh the buy Hs last words. uttered
hut a moment bci0rc, wore'R Rally your coorsn
CAPTAIN Whitney, u Company A, shot through the ab-
doncn, and died this m rnng
Captain Moody wounded in two .iaccs The fingers Of
his hand s,ot od, aad ball passed through his
knee. Wound dangerous.
Captain waGc, wounded In the hroot--possibly dan
ally affected.
Captain Jennings, wounded dangerously. possibly Ia
tally.
Captain fiorcntinc, wourdcitu the and through
the lower part of the body; tho latter dangerous.
Captain Thoman, wounded in the nsckan ugly wound,
Lieutenant purdy, badly wounded in the elbow.
ksiSsR S Sgaa s aSSnaea in IN. fore.
head; win be much disnsdred.
Lieutcnat Head, slightly wounded.
Lieutenant flertman, slightly wounded.
Lieutenant smyrs, killed.
Acting Adjutant General Tomkins had bail pass be-
twcen his and body which tho sleeve his coat
and bruised the flesh OF his arm.
The Colonel had bis hat shot OF from his head on the
field. No man ever lei bis regiment INTO battle and,
when orders came out Of with cooler bravery than did
A great many Of h,d their clothes badly torn
by tho shot and their haversacks torn OF from Them
Major Sclgwick who is dreadfuily wounded, but not
Dead says that the Fifty ninth fought noby that no fe
grncnt dill could do better Praise from such an ON
cer we value most dearly.
wo have always loved our regiment Now We have every
reason to bc proud cf H. II fought from the hstfough
until the line in front had disappeared fought tho
ground they fought fought beyond their ground and
beyond thai OF any othcr fought until after the or
Tho brisae had retired fought until tho In our
was broken fought until ordered from the ground by
superior our commanding general, in person. No