The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1862-01-15
orr ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
HANCOCK. Mn Ian 7lh 1862

+ u
Curtin on the morning of the 3Ist ult and
took the cars for Hagersiown, Maryland
where we arrived in The evening, and slept
or rather staid in the cars all night Wed
nesday morning, New Years and wha;
splendid morning Soft southern breezes
famed the brows of The wearied soldier. In
tact never In all my life saw such beau
tiful New Years morning.
We ieit HageTstown abou! - O'Clock fol
this place After marching some Is miles
over splendid pike road we encamped for
the night, al a place called Clear Springs
We did not pitch our tents but slept on tht
bare ground with the canopy of heaven 70
covering. And Notwithstanding we wer,
within tour miles OF Secesh camp, we sIept
soundly until about o clock p. m, whei
there arose one OF the most violent wint
storms ever experienced. Hats, blanket
coat: knapsacks aud haversacks were strewlI
promlscuousy over the field. No NOR,
sleep that night. The morning broke clea
and cold, and al:er eating a cracker W.
took up our line of march, and after ascend
ing hill to a place called Fair View We
had sight OF no less than four rebel camps
We here struck the Potomac and followed
It's banks TO this place, l2 miles from Clear
Springs We arrived here about O'Clock
r. M, and were soon quarered in the dill
ierent churches and school houses in the
town. We found here Russel's Cavalry
numbering 100 and the 39th Illinois Volnr-
teers. The latter however were over tie
river guarding the Baltimore s. Ohio Il
Friday evening we received t1e balance tf
our arms al O'Clock and returned 10 oua.-
ters. just as we were about turning in for
the Eight our Colonel received a despatch
from the Colonel commanding the 39,h
lsllnols asking for reinforcements The
boys were marched to the Arsenal and there
received twenty rounds OF ammunition, ard
al 10 O'Clock companies A. B C.. D. E. G. j.
and X were marched 10 the Ferry, where
we crossed, one company at time. Tie
boys thinking all the while that it would
turn out false alarm but when the order
passed along the line 10 LOAD y we begin
TO smell fun ahead.
1t appeared that two companies OF tie
39th Illinois Volunteers had occupied
small town called Battle, about six miles
from this place on the afternoon OF the 3rd
inst their pickets were driven in by strong
force OF the enemy, and fearing an attack
npon the town they called for reinlorce-
ments. Alter crossing we drew up in line
OF battle, the Colonel passing along The line
and cauuonng The men To silence, gave the
order TO "marchM A cold storm of slnei
and hail was raging al the time, yet lhe
boys obeyed with elacrlty, and at 8 in be
morning We were drawn up in line upon
the heights above and overlooking the town
The troops were disposed as follows -
Capt. Russelfs Cavalry with companies d.
and j. oi the Illinois troops aud Company
g. OF the S4ih Pa Volunteers occupying he
town; Companies and f. OF The th
and Company 6. of the Illinois 39th were
posted upon the right Companies d aud
Z. oil the S4th IN the centre; Companies j.
and K OF the S4th and two pieces OF Harlp-
TONS Battery (Which now came up) weTe
posted upon the lett with companies K
and X. OF the Illinois troops as reserve;
the whole under command of Col. Murray
OF the S4.h Z. V. 1n this situation we wait
ed paliently the dawn o! day Morn ing
came, 8, 9 o'clock, and YET no sigu of the
enemy, but Jpst we began TO think al out
breaklas; bang bang bang went the guns
OF onr pickets on the right; who after ex
changing several shots with the enemy
retired TO the main body followed clio :ely
by strong force oil the re6eis Now com
menced the first battle for he S4th ano for
three hours the firing was almost Incess ant,
the right sustaining the bruni OF the battle,
but from the position oil Company ID. the
balls OF the enemy fell like hail around us.
Not man finched, but stood nobly by
their arms
Our Artillery now got the range oi the
rebels and sent shell and grape into heir
ranks, causing them 10 retreat through me
woods like sheep. The rebels los, Ia. near
as could be ascertained) lS or 20 wbila ON,
loss was not one This seems srane,, vet
iTue- messenger ucw came an Col
Murray informing nim ll.at heavy body
OF feoeS were advancing from Winchester
upon our ear. Ina Colonel ascenGe The
Hh' I'D lhe.e had iair view OF Il e ap-
Preaching foe. I hey numbered between
eight aud ten thousand with heavy train
OF Artillery. To meet this force had
bnt 1900 men, many of whom were nds-
! ciphned troops. Our Artillery sent them
their mpliments in the shape OF s,veral
shell, which emplied some ; or 20 sddles
and caused them 10 hall. Our Coone now
ordered Us to fall back, which we lid in
excellent order and we met on th way
the 18th Indiana Regiment coming oar
assistance, but too late TO do Us any guod -
| We got back 10 this place just al Ell dark
The enemy soon after sent several sh N and
shell IN the town without doing any d mage
except Tightening the women and ch ldren.
Sunday morning flag oil truce Tc m the
enemy came over, with Col Ashley of The
rebel army, demanding an immedia e sur-
render oi our forces; bot General La1Gers,
who had arrived and assumed com maud,
informed him (Ashiey) that be never urTen
dered 10 any rebel
Col Ashley then gave the womr,n and
children one hour TO leave town. AT IL
O'Clock the FIRST gun was fred by The rebels
which was answered by our Artillery.
r forgot 10 state that Lieut.. Ricketts,, with
10 lb. Parrot Gun OF Capt Matthew's atlery,
came up TO our assistance, and in one hour
had completely silenced the enemy, guns,
and drove them back over the hills.
In the morning OF the 9th inst. the, again
appeared, bui few well directed sho from
our Parrot soon caused them to re reai.-
The 110lh p ", the lsi Virginia lad two
Regiments os the Md. Home Brig tde are
now with US. We cross The river again
Tomorrow, and if the rebels show 2ht we
will have hot work, as they are no " from
10 10 10000 strong. We are now ,rdered
unser arms, so must close, but g, pect 10
write you soon again. Good bye, ye urs &c.
TooDI Es.
af@o