The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1862-05-01
EXTRACT FROM a LETTER FROM 4
Participant IN THE BATTLE AT
YORKTOWN.

PARrIcrPAYT IN THE BATTLE AT
YORKTOWN.
Camp Winfield Scott,
April 10, 1862. !
During the action day before
yesterday, the General and his
staff were almost constantly under
fire from I o'clock in the morning
until dark. When our artillery
opened they were standing between
The guns. Although the enemy
used but two pieces, their FIRE was
Terrible; during twenty-nine min
t,s only two of their shells burst
outside If our batteries.
Seven out of ten of our men
were killed or wounded at one
gun alone, the second from the
right and General Smith, with
three of the staff, stood not ten
feet to the left and rear of it. The
firing was 50 hot from the enemy
hat our dead and wounded laid SO
thick around the pieces as to i'm
pede the gunners in loading; and
one of the staff was sent to our
reserve to get fatigue party to
remove the bodies. -Four were
buried directly under FIRE, and of
the burial party five were wound
cd. | will not shock you with the
ghastly, sickening wounds | saw :.
| try to keep the remembrance out
of my mind.
After half an hour we silencel
their guns for q time, and then
advanced sixteen pieces 500 yards,
and cannonaded them uninterrupt-
edly until the afternoon, being
with our pieces exposed to their
rifle shots AM fire from two bas-
tions. The men all behaved splen-
didly, none of them finching as
their comrades dropped alongside
them, although many had never
been under fire before. Half an
honr before sunset we tried to-
storm their first fort, but darkness
coming on, and the support not
coming forward, the men had to-
: return after losing a great number.
One company had 2 officers and 80
5 men ont of SO killed or wounded.
. A number of our wounded are
supposed to be lying between the
= lines, where they are doubtless
dying Of hunger or their wounds.
We have thrown up earth. works,
! and Our artillery is within 500
yards Of their forts. General Nc
CleIlan and his staff, with Prince
de JoinvilIe and his nephews, were
on the field, but out of fire, except
General Mcclellan, who went to
the front with General Smith
Lieutenant Merrill, of the Topo-
graphical Engineers, was badly
hurt in the shoulder. (Since re-
ported dead.-Erp.)
Night before last we had two
alarms, and very heavy musketry
firing, with some artillery. 1t ap.
pears that the rebels tried to turn
our flank and take our batteries
Our division was under arms and
to the front in ten minutes; ard all
along the line, for two miles right
aud left, our troops were ready to
} support us, but no serious fight
came off.
Yesterday and to-day have been
quiet; shell every fifteen min
utes, and the sharp shooters on
: both sides trying to pick off every
m IN who sh)ws himself. We have
Just re, eived a new rifled cannon
!. firing 100 rounds a minute, and
with this we are going to enflade
their rifle pits and give them fits.
Our cas- ,alties are some 70 or 80
dead, and about $50 wounded
most OF them badly.
When on duty shall not shrink.
and trust to God to carry. me
through without harm. l dread
the heat coming on, and the fever
and ague iii this swampy ground.
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