Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-06-04
Letter from tho Fifth Regiment Battle Of williamsburg
The following letter is from young Of
ficer serving in the Fifth Regiment, Wis.
Val "a his friend In Tencasfer.
lend in Lancaster
CAMP NO. u, IN THE Field
Near williamsburg NAY 3. 1902.

uCSf serving III tIo 4 lltH ieeglnleHtJ W ~
VOL, to his friend in Lancaster:
CAMP NO. II, IN THE FIELD
Near Williamsburg, May 8, 1852.
FRIEND CLAY There is tide in the
affairs of armies, which taken at the flood
leads on to victory. Upon such tide
are we. Yorktown is evacuated; the bat
tic Of Williamsburg is fought and won, and
the retreating rebels are holly pursued-on
to Richmond. Now, On to Richmond is
no idle phrase, and its stern reality the Sc
cesh will soon feel.
Sunday morning, May 4th, the news
reached &ur camp, that the enemy were
leaving their stronghold. lis well for
them, for the next morning whole line Of
mortars would have opened upon them a
destructive fire, and the great battle would
have commenced. Everything was ready
and think they must have known it. In
few minutes after the news reached US,
the whole army was in motion. Half an
hours walk brought US into their deserted
Notifications. | could have but a few min
utes to inspect them, but sufficient time to
ascertain that we never helped build forti-
flcations half so strong. / wonder at their
leaving; $4,000 determined, brave men
could have resisted any force we could have
brought against them.
I will not attempt to detail ali /. saw on
that Sunday. We soon passed into fine
country of farm land, covered with large
plantations. Wheat was growing about
eight inches in height, and the soil indica-
ted richness and production. Most Of the
country was depopulated. Only q few
houses contained inmates, and these ne
groes. Two miles from their for,ilcations
we reached Gen. McGender'5 headquarters,
a fine two-story brick building. here the
skirmishers halted, and | was sent with
twenty men to extinguish the fire in the
bridge over Warrick creek, to the left ( Of
mile.
This was the main road 10 Williama
burg and the one all their forces passed
over. The bridge had been set on fire as
the head of our column came in sight
Forward double-quick was the order and
away my little squad, under the direction
of mounted Lieut., went. We found the
bridge covered with fire, and three mount
ed cavalry there to watch it. A few shots
sent them whizzing away. | crossed the
burning bridge safely and put shot
through suspicious looking house so rods
up the creek. Awhile flag was soon push
ed from the chamber window aud five ne
gro women and two negro men came out
and cried for s4ccor. Some valuable in
formation was gained from them. The
bridge was ruined, and we returned to the
army with no accident except the blister
ingof the Lieutenants hand, while attempt
ing to cross the burning timbers.
a short halt for dinner and we pushed
on. Several torpedoes were left in the
road to injure our men, but no accident to
our Brigade. At shutdown we halted two
miles from Williamsburg, close TO large
white house.
Our cav airy that went shead, engaged
the enemy and were driven back to this
position. A council of war was called, and
our Regiment soon after deployed forward
(now dark through the worst piece Of tan
gIed briers and thick brush and tall timber
[ ever Travelled asfer dark. Half mile on