Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-06-19

rive are permitted to publish the following j
In CAMP BEFORE RIcHMoND,)
Va, June G, 1865, -Berdan's

Va, June G, S62,-Berdan's
LIST U. s. s. S., Co. +.
FRIEND FREEMAN - Your letter, with |
one from c., has just been received. was
very glad to hear from you. AS We are I'M
der orders to march in the morning, | will
improve the time by answering at once. l |
have often thought of writing to you, but the
truth is, we soldiers find little time to write
letters. am as we'll as ever, not having
been sick day since leaving home.
We have had some lively times for the last
few days in front of Rchmond-a fight every
day, and skirmishing along the entire line al
most every hour, but so far as / have knowl-
edge the rebels have never failed of coming
off second best. An advance Is made every
day from some point, driving in the rebel
pickets. They retreat reluctantly, for they
understand that every foot they retreat now
endangers their capital. They say little
Mac, the greatest dirt-digger of the age,''
as they call him, is coming into Richmond
with spade if he cannot do it with the
sword they have not forgotten the lesson he
taught them at Yorktown Our army draws
closer around them every day and you may
be sure that sooner or later they will be bag
ged. We are prepared to fight at moments
notice, with two days rations always ready.
Perhaps before you receive this we shall
raise the " Stars and Stripes over Wash
ington's monument in Richmond.
You have probably read an account of the
late battle at Fair Oaks, and also one at Han
over. At the last named place | was pres
emf, and though under terrible fire of mus
kerry, grape, canister and shell for an hour,
came off without stratch. The fortunes of
war thus far have been in my favor. Our
company has lost more than any other in the
regiment, which, though, has not suffered like
some of the infantry, though we are under
fire more than any other regiment in the SER
vice.
We have had glorious news from Corintb,
and the vicinity of Gen. Banks. jackson it
seems has changed his mind, docs not con-
descend to spend the Fourth in New York.
sensible fellow!
The weather here is every day like some
Of the hottest days of summer in Vermont
The rebels fight desperately, yet they must
know that they are about played out. Now
and then we find Union man among them.
/ saw wounded rebel the other day take off
his hat and give three cheers for the old flag
as our column moved past him. At the bat
tie of Hanover great bravery has been accred-
tied to the 44th New York, and justly to-
No pen can do justice to the second fight in
which they were engaged that day. The 44th
was drawn up in line in open field. The 9TH
North Carolina came out of the woods in
front of them and moved to within forty rods
of our troops, when the rebel colonel gave
the order" halt fix bayonets." Not gun
had been fired. At the same time, Colonel
STRIKERS of the 44tb, ordered bis men to " fix
bayonets." The rebels opened the fire and
were answered by ours. Men fell from the
ranks, thinning them terribly, and severa
rounds had been fred when the rebels
charged. The Colonel Of the 44th dashed
down the line, giving the order" steady
boys" and when the rebel line came within
about five rods he gave the order" now
CHARGE" and they did charge with cheers thai
drowned the roar Of musketry. There wa:
a crash,-the rattle of bayonets,-gro and
curses, - when the rebels broke for the
, woods like frightened sheep, followed by Tn.
!, ion steel. In attempting to cross high fence
! by the road they lay two and three deep, xii.
led and wounded by the bayonets of our men
l was returning from the hospital where
had just carried wounded friend and saw
. the whole affair. Such bravery cannot fai
to win victories, and it is but an example O
the whole Army of the Potomac We are
sure of success any time Mcclellan says ''or
to Richmond
, They say good soldier never tells of hi
own deeds. well step aside from the rule
Q enough to say that have splendid swort
=, and heavy silver mounted seven shoote
, that took from live Lieutenant of a Caro-
4, lima regiment who is now prisoner in Ney
York. #.. -
. Please excuse this hasty and disconnecte,
letter. hold my paper on my knee.
=, II. J. PECK.
p ~ The recent floods have occasione,
= much suffering along the valley of tn
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