Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-08-29
Letter from the Second Delaware.
HEADQUARTERS SECOND DEL. REu'G)
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SUlnNer AFHlY NulllAj
Newport News. Va, Aug %, 1862. J
Henry EcKEI, Esq
Sir: Knowing that
any movements relating to the retreat OF
The army of the Potomac will be interest /
ing to the readers Of your valuable paper,
take advantage of a few leisure mo-
ments to give you few cursory remarks
of the "grand back track" and also some
news about the Second Delaware Regi- |
mcnt which will be interesting to many
of your readers. After the falling back
from the line Of advance before Richmond
where it was found that the rebels out
numbered our army by far superior
force, it was deemed advisable, by a
council of war, to abandon the whole Pc
ninsula, which had cost MS so many lives
hy disease and casualties and join the
different corps of General Pope's army
of Virginia and resume the original plan
of attack by way Of Manassas The
plans were accordingly made, and the re-
serve artillery and supernumerary corps
at once shipped TO the point designated,
and work was Immediately begun in
throwing pontoon bridge across the
Chickahomiuy river near its mouth, un-
der cover of the gunboats. When this
was finished and the various army corps
departments put in proper shape, the
grand movement was begun, which took
place on the 18th of August, when Por
ters army corps took up the line of march
forward the next day by Summers and
Ileintzelman's corps, all moving in per
feet order with their immense trains Of
artillery and baggage wagons. After
them, ON Saturday, followed the other
army corps The Second Delaware which
Won are aware is in Summers corps,
brought up the rear Of Richardson's Dyi-
sion for two days, when it was thought
that the enemy would follow us up and
make u dash at us The men were all as
cool as on dress parade and none Of
them seem TO have the least fear of doing
their duty and that nohly n2 they did At
F Malvern Hill battle
The Regiment il now under the com
mand of Major Andrews, who is justly rs
-, t,cmcd and honored as an able, brave, and
- efficient officer Col Wharton is dan
gcrously sick at Philadelphia, and not
Z, expected 10 live; and Lieut.. Col. Bailey
left for home quite sick with fever just a
the movement commenced. He hat
T. brought the Regiment through the va
r rious fights they were engaged in aite
: leaving Fair Oaks.
4 There has been great deal of sicknes
t in our Regiment and when you conside
rs what hardships they have had to put VI
!, with since on the Peninsula, it is no won
! der. After having comfortable barrack
m at Baltimore last May, they joined III
, army of the Potomac and We next slcp
y, ON the battlefield of Fair Oaks, wthou
ID any shelter and enduring the stcuc
arising from the trench in which the +,
!d hel dead were buried On the day pr,
T., ceding our last movement in retreat, II
=, sick enlisted men and quite a number {
rs rs sick officers were shipped from Harrso
IA Landing, who were utterly unable to kee
20. up on the long march and totally uni
n for any military duty whatever, As
NY said before Summers corps left Harrison
~ Landing OH Saturday 10th inst, an
r. marched eight miles Saturday, being d
cd tanned and delayed by the artillery train
We passed through Williamsburg al
IL over the place where the great battle Toe
he place last May thence moved to Yor
town and had sufficient time to eXamii
the vast entertainments the rebels HI
erected there also saw some of the cart
- works Lord CORVALLIS had erected belo
les the surrender of his army during the RI
be- voution. From thence the line of mar
to was taken to this place, n distance of ov
ned eighty miles, averaging about thrte
In miles per day, through the dnstiest roa
ng You could possibly imagine, and the We
'lr. hot weather made it oppressive. II
W. men stood the march well as did the who
Ton corps, We expect TO be shipped fro
as here and join the army Of General Poi
M as Porter's corps has done
for II is rumored through the camp til
de- Mcclellan will not have any command,
ely the Peninsula campaign has been su
iad an utter failure speak only the opini
Mr. of the great majority of officers in Il
re- army, when say they have lost co
ny, iidence in him as u military command,
He The able manner in which this last
no treat was made, however, reflects to
Get credit as Il General, MS il was conduct
Ihis in perfect order, aud the rebels were
ted puzzled by our preceding RECONNAISSANCE
No that they were not aware of the movemt
ken at all, and did not make any attack
TO us, not even on our pckets They ha
either reinforced Jackson or thrown
Ider greater portion of their army South
in Richmond
rect We did moi leave the Peninsula
ten soon as the sick list was daily ncreasi
On in The army the heavy dews at night n
sion hot sun through the day bringing on ch
gh- and fever and other diseases. Fl
NJ thousand casualties would not cover
=, .,.o j." loss to this army since they left Wa
''' ington--that is killed, wounded missi
+, and the very great amount prostrated
lne much by disease and trench-digging
't%. the to he unfit for any duty,
mem @ AS duty calls one away, l must cl
g S. this hasty letter. assure you the Sec,
kcr. Delaware will ever be at the post of dl
rth and wherever placed will reflect to
fifth credit of the State. ! will write ag
whatever may be interesting
g Yours Respectfully, AK