The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-12-19
By CAPT. J. 7. DREW.
CHAPTER /.

By GAIT. }. l.. DREW.
CHAPTER l.
From the march to the field to our imprison-
ment in Beauregards barn.
At o'clock on the morning Of the 21st Of
July, 1861, the long roll reused up the slum-
bering hosts of the Union army, and the
marcL to Manassas commenced.
Five minutes from the first sound of the
drum our regiment was in line; and filed out
into the road and marched about two miles,
then halted on the high ridge Of hills to the
left of Centeryile, there to wait until the di-
visions in advance had moved farther on.
. As the sun arose we could see long lines
of glittering bayonets-dense masses of in
fantry and swiftly ly-moving battalions of caval-
ry. heavy-rolling artillery and dust-raising
baggage trains-all moving along thu ough the
quiet plain below. 1t was grand sight and
one that gave strength and confidence to our
men.
Soon we were on the march again, and not
! long after began to feel the intoerable heat
! of the sun and the choking sensation from
dust and thirst. The men began to throw
away blankets, coats, some even shirts, SO
sufocating was the air.
There was no one cause that contributed
so much to the rebel success that day, as the
heat Of the sun Most OF our regiments
were composed of young men, who had come
/ FROM cool, bcacing and genial oiimes. Here
they found themselves under the scorchlng
heat of Nirsi:..l suu, without water, iood
or STIMULI, of any kind, with the dust from
thousands OF tramping feet making more sui
locating their tiresome march. H.ndreds
! fell out-manv never to rise again.
/ But it is not NV object to give history
Of the fight bat | have mentioned this much
TO show YOU tn kind Of men who were made
prisoners. think | may safely say that
every one who cot,id run, after the retreat
was ordered, I'D vaI, and most of them got
away. The prisoners were wounded or
exhausted men. unable to escape from the
field
Nv own capture was owing to exhaustion
by sickness and fatigue. ] had been sick
with biliouslfever for three days and went to
the field with hardly strength enough to
walk. After lrching as long as | could
alone, nv old friend, Capt Eaton, who seem
ed never to grow tired or fatigued. helped mt
on until We began to fall behind. and then
the Major of the 9TH Maine regiment gave
me his.horse. | rode this until no Longer
able TO ride. and then was carried on the
field in an ambulance. Left at Sudle!
Church to rest for while, soon made my
way on the battle ground, but only to tint
the troops all falling back. sat dcwr
again until some of the Vermont boys came
along and helped ME off short way, ant
then one of Gen Wilcox's ambulances pick
ed me up.
/, Ten minutes after, not one mile from tn
p field, | was taken by Stewart's Cavalry
, They fired into the ambulance and killed tn
o man by my side after the driver had surrer
dered. all because fired my revolver at tler
; and killed a horse. Ny sword broke in tn
o wheels and my revolver threw in the mi
as soon as had fired, and so they got n
=, arms from me. The first words said to NJ
- were these: You id Yankee, l hetpe
haaq John Brou,." | told him that he ha
w. the looks of hangman, and would, doub
y less, crown his glory by numbering unarme
, prisoners. No." said he, " I'll keep you ft
q the gallows."
:, Within half an hour from the time OIL
.. army retreated, the rebels were falling bac
l., on their old works at Manassas, and only
: few regiments were moving after our men
The Black Horse cavalry was securing Il
- fields picking up exhausted and wound'
men. saw them blow out the blains
-. several of our men after they had surrende
ed. saw a wounded officer of the NY. 19
shot by New Orleans Tiger, aud ti.en 10
:, bed. All over the field, might be seen t
ar stragslers OF the rebel army, rushing he
~, and there, Yelling like savases and plundt
ing the dead
1t wasja sickening sight,as was taken ~
nd the field, to see the dead and dying lie
he bloody heaps or scattered among the co
and grass and howing over them these re
el wolves and southern :uItutes. Ii any O
who was wounded at that battle, I'D "
left on the field by our troops, now lives,
" should ike to know it; for all Of the pri
o. ners are of the apinion that, save those W
X. were collected INTO the hospitals by our O.
nd troops, Mt one escaped the murdere
in. search. The rebel soldiers boast, to this d
that they Went over :he field % erterminati
Yankees" after 5ur army had retreated
of Il is siqnifcaat fact that rebel gene
{ was heard to say - 1t is no matter, we BIZ
90 more wounded than We can care for it p
ix- the poor fellows out Of suffering we cam
'od step to pick them up"
- On our way down We were left for vi
he in charge Of some privates, who at once r
nd bed US of watches and money. And SO v
me our money and watches stolen, our mou
age parched with thirst and gloom in our heal