Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-09-30

re- The following letter is copied from
a letter from a soldier serving in company
II. 7th regiment, to BIS wife, and shows
some of the horrors Of war which our
men have to experience, Such letters are
flying through the country by the million,
and are welding more powerful inhu-
enee than the newspapers and news CORES,
rond-nts, either for OF against the arm
Generals, and for or against the manner
Of conducting the war. Many ofthese let
tiers, though written By priyates, are from
men in every way the superiors Of taeir
officers. No military law orordeF can en-
slave mems thoughts o. prevent the free
flow thereof through letters; we agree that
in this army composed Of educated and
letter writing nea, there is no use IN any
General or other officer trti ing to rise q, owe
his best qualifications by mere gamm on.
Tie letter II a very good one; readit:
L y (
septein 5sf, ith 1862
DEAR WIRE :-Ibis i my first chance
Is write since the battle OF Cellar Noun
tain, and / viii give YOU all Of any great
Importance since iuy last. On the day /
lust wrote YOU, our army began to move
back on our Capitol; for Is days wsslept
on our thanksgiving very little. We
had skirmisnes WITH the enemy almost
daily, as we marched from post TO post,
till the 28th, when, just as the sun de-
seendel behind tbs western bills, and as
We moved along, the enemy was discover
Ell by the way. Side skifmiohers We're
thrown out Immediately and soon we were
engaged in battle our whoieBrigaie y G
had no idea ofmeeting any heavy force.
bat before we advanced 50 rods, ono Of
the biaodiest conflicts was under way ever
witnessed We were ordered into posi-
ton, bat got no orders to leave our Brig
ade, and two more regiments ofour Dvis-
ion appeared.to be moving alone on the
road, So we soon found that We had to
deal with Gen. EwePs whole Division Of
peked men. We advanced within EMling
distance Of each other, then halted and
laid down, and, my God, what slaughter.
No one appeared 10 know the object OF
tie fight, and there We stood ons hour,
tile men falling all around; we got no or
ders to fall back, and Wise nsin men would
rather Gie than fa back without orders.
Near the close of the fight rebel regi-
iment charged on our Secoad regiment,
the Latter holding the highesl ground, but
the Seventh Wisconsin beng on level
ground could see them plain, and imme-
diately tutned on them lnobsefyedly an
oblique fire, SO as not to hurt our friends
ofthe Second. Our fire perfectly annihi
lated the rebels and but few escaped.
They fad and this ended The fight. t4e
rebels ceased firing FIRST We then made
some slis lat arrangements Cor our wounded
and lheG i fet, back six miles IN the night,
leaving ali our aead In nast ct our wouua-
edits Tile mercy 81 ths rebels and but lew
sseaped, being taken Psiaoaefs. My per
s4q did not receive q scratch, though z
Dackshot passed Though my coat. ! STOOL
s,9lafe and threw cold lead without 9 shake
Iof nerve. Cur Captain and F1fst iaealsa
ant being absent, company II, weat ipte
.he battle under our Second Lieutenant
WHO did lis duty abbly. Our company
lad one killesl, possibly two; fifteen We're
woandel Benjamin PFiee was badly
wounded ia bis left shoulder, but was
/ brought of the field aud got safely to
/ the hos ital Washington. has Streesef
Al.
goa i buekshot il his thigh. but kept the
\ fed. Next day we matched ack TO bun
I Run, where Mcdowell was saffglng on Z
battle Oh tae old battlefield we slept
Al o,,r arms that night, ana next day the
battle ragged feaffully. The Second ana
Seventh Wisconsin lal been put together.
there being Int enc field officer left ~ the
two regiments. We did not have any very
har.l. tiabtinp in our Brigade. Our joint
regiment once drove CT thu rebels that