The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-03-14

companies were in the action. | am glad tC
state that though Co. E occupied very ex
posed position, We only lost killed, NOR
tally wounded, p wounded, and prisoner
One of our companies lost II killed. This
company received severe cross fire which
cut them up terribly. Not dozen of GU,
men but can show bullet holes in their cloth.
ing, or on their persons. Six have bulle,
holes through their caps. You may we'll i'm.
asine we were holly engaged. 1 have no
doubt that my having on light-blue over.
coat like the men saved my life, as several
officers who wore the dark overcoat were
wounded. Two captains were severely
wounded, and five or six lieutenants also
were clipped with bullets. One will lose an
arm; another has shot in the mouth, and
another in the head. Fortunately no COM
missioned officer was killed. Two of my
brave boys fell, and were left on the field,
where they have since been buried, in a
trench with 36 others of our gallant Ninth.
The saddest part of my duty was after the
battle when calling the roll. AS the names
were called the men would answer for the
absentees. "Shot in the leg" ''shot in the
ann" "shot in the head" were the various
answers returned by their comrades as their
namts were called. One poor fellow had an
eye shot out without producing death, and
am told he will get we'll. l tell YOU the
scenes of the battle field are terrible. But
| will tell you all about it in some future let
ter
But the next morning was the happiest of
my whole life. Yankee Doodle never sound
ed so fine as when We marched up the lines
of the motley rascals with their arms stacked,
and their heads down. Victory was ours
$4,000 rebels were there in all the glory of
5utternut jeans and c. S. a. finery. Gj pie
ces of cannon were standing in grim silence
behind their breastworks some spiked rough
ly with nails and telegraph wire. l never
shall forget that Sunday morning, when with
the stars and stripes above US we stepped
lightly to good old Yankee Doodle over their
entertainments and took possession of their
stronghold. We thought as we surveyed
their position what slaughter that day
would have seen had they not given up, and
We thought how many of our Ninth would
have been left to tell the tale, for we were
awarded the perilous advance of the storm
ing party. 1t is conceded by all that the
right wing did the hard fighting. and | think
that the official report will give us Justice,
which the newspapers have not as vet
done.
have some trophies of the battle which |
Will send to you as soon as can get an op-
portunity to send them by express.
| have been over the battle field once since
the engagement. | cannot see how it is that
orr regiment was rot annihilated \ bury
ing party inferred 60 dead rebels, right op-
poslte where We were. in one grave. You
may imagine from this that we were no, idle.
Our colonel was slightly wounded, our lieu
tenant colonel had horse shot under him.
and hardly man can be found but has some
mark Of the battle.
If have time L will write 70"
dents of the battle, which think was as
hard fought a battle as was ever seen in this
country. suppose about five hundred Of
our gallant boys have bit the dust in this
siege. and not less than 100 were wounded.
but dear as the victory has been. it is a most
signal and overW hclmins defca: to the reb-
els. We are now about to take possession
of GAINESVILLE, Tenn, ard we expect before
long to have possession Of Nashville, the
central point of the state
have but limited time, and | will close.
We have fought and won, and God be prais-
ed. Your AFT son.
ALIX G.. HAYES.