Litchfield enquirer., 1862-04-24
-a .s5. For the Enquirer.
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s.s aas=5a P. ed For the Enquirer.
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 From Rirats Letter from q Letter .fiom aa
 Officer the 5th Conn. s.
 Twill give you short account of my bsing under fire for the first time. 4as We are here at Edinburg, Va, about four miles below Woodstock. Just beyond the vii. lage, Stormy Creek crosses the turnpike and runs on toward the Shenandoah. Here burned bridge stopped our pursuit of Jackson. We stopped here over night, and the next day began rebuilding the bridge, I got permission fsOn the Colonel, and went of on my horse to see il. The burned rafters had fallen into the stream, and tangled ints a black mass. Projecting charred ends were still smoking, and on this de- bris plank raf-like bridge was being laid. As stood there looking on, Col. Knipe, 46th Pa, rode up with half dozen other officers. In few moments they proposed going over. It was rather ticklish; the enemy lay near, cons cealed in the woods, and we had few skirmish- I es just over the river, carefully poking along ] behind fences and trees, about a rod an hour: had no arms not pistol, sword, or anything. But the rest were all going over, and over went. We cooly trotted up the pike past the skirmishers, our companions one by one refining up, till finally but three of us were left, Col. Knipe, the 0. M. of the 46th, and myself.
 At last we halted. Col. Knipe got out his rife, jolly little !" Smith and Wesson," the O. M. cooked his pistol and I-got of my horse and picked up c stone. We tied our horses and walked up the hill. wanted some fun, so when they were carefully scanning the woods ahead, let drive the stone against the board fence. They were both SO scared ut the supposed shell or cannon-ball, that they jumped about six feet
 Meanwhile the skirmishers seeing us go ahead so cooy, took heart, and came up on on line with us. Col. Knipe had fired once or twice into the woods, but there had been no reply. At this moment heard Q voice in the woods talking in an under-tone, then 1 saw our skirmishers on my right rise from the ground, fire hastily, then turn and run down the hill. Instantly the woods rang with yells, and forty or fifty rifles cracked along line in the woods.s Whit whit flew the bullets about our heads, striking in the fen. ces and trees. Col. Knipe's horse, (for he was mounted, whirled and galloped almost over me. l dropped on the ground and cogitated. To get up under the circumstances was not very healthy, for the balls were constantly whistling over me. To come the alligator towards the river was not particularly digni6ed; to advance upon the ene- my and throw stones at them, would not Do Q very powerful demonstration.
 My first move as lay, was to work around 50 as to bring my head toward the enemy; for did not want the disgrace of being shot<n the feet. Here saw a chap eaaminingthis shoe when ball had grazed it. Tasked fim for'his gun, which he readily gave me, and some ear tridges and caps which l put in my pocket. Laying down on my back, took instruction | 1. L. I.Lkl.'- Il. IL lu1 ! readyrto operate. Then I got up, aimed at the puffs of smoke which constantly issued from the edge of the woods, (or naw that they had dis closed their position, they were not at all bash. full and blazed away. don't know whether I hit any or not; hope not; but tried to. Then I sat down and began to load again. saw crowd carrying wounded man down the turn pike. He died before they reached the river. The fight now grew quite lively. Then came run ming across the bridge and up the hill without any officer, all anxious to "mix in" in this "free fight" We fired rattling shots, they in volleys, and after each volley, yelled like cannibals. An it was jolly! While we were at it thick and fast, ter rible roar filled the air, instantly wild scream overhead followed; Hooked up, but the shell was rushing on to the woods, and there exploded Hurrah our artillery has opened on them.
 looked ack,-there, way behind the town on distant hill Q few little black specks were gathered about miniature cannon. As 1 look ed it puffed out smoke, another report, another yell overhead, and another thunderbolt from hea- ven fell among the rebels A shell makes glorious sound as it goes toward an enemy. But stop hbat report is in front-it is louder, and the booming sound ot the shell shows that the rebels have opened their 20 pound shell gun on us. Our shell screeched shrilly through the sky. theirs howled. And now it was exciting enough to fascinate by it's mooeAy if by nothing else.- The constant whit whit! of the balls about us, the luxury of feeling my old gun kick against my shoulder,-th royal sound of the shells over head flying both ways, all combined to keep one awake. It was like catching ""whopping" trout, or winning big boat race. Presently one of our own shells fell on the R. R. track close to our men, exploding with a crash. We had advanced to their range. An order was sent back to the artillery to cease firing and Colonel Knipe seeing there was no one in command, took it himself and ordered the men all back. We. had driven them back and would soon come ups on their artillery. There was nothing to be gained by extending the skirmish so we quietly returned to the bridge, and mounting our horses rode back to camp.
 On our return we passed men digging grave. Near it a large crowd had collected about some thing. It was for the poor fellow who an hour before was as full of life and hope as ourselves. Such is the soldiers life! We'll, that's all about the skirmish" ftr-e