The Portland daily press., 1862-12-31
lances, coming to fetch away sickening loads
of misery and pain

lances, coming to fetch away sickening loads
of misery and pain.
No sooner does the gray dawn appear than
The vigilant enemy renew their flring il is as
spiritedly returned; an orderly soon comes in
from headquarters with directions to our COM
manding officers to permit no firing, except it
may be necessary to hold our position. Early
In the forenoon the enemy threw three shells,
two OF which struck upon our left flank
wounding man of the 44th New York: the
third fell in our rear. 1t was a matter of sur
prise to US that they did not continue, as they
had obtained such an accurate range Moth
ing but rifle shot was fired upon us for the re-
mainder of the day; one man only was killed,
and two or three wounded. At about nine
O'Clock in the evening we were relieved and
marched back into the city; our men bivou-
acked in the streets, but most of the officers
and some of the privates made themselves
comfortable in the deserted houses.
Monday was day of rest for our brigade,
and very grateful were the men for it. They
cleaned their equipments, and cooked "fap-
jacks" made of flour "drawn" from flour
store a few squares distant. At about O'Clock,
Z. NJ, just as we were felicitatiHg ourselves
with the idea that we were to remain all night
in our comfortable quarters, our regiment
marched into the outskirts of the city and
took position around Il house, in support las
we supposed) of artillery. Sentinels were
posted, and the men, wearied with their long
continued labors, soon fell asleep. AT twelve
O'Clock we were again under arms, marching
to the right with the 18th New York, and re-
lieved three regiments which were stationed
in and in rear Of rifle pits, within one hundred
and fifty yards of the rebel lines, with orders
to "hold the position at all hazards" Videt-
tes were posted, and we set to work digging
more pits. After working about an hour, an
order came for us TO withdraw into the city +;
we proceeded through the city and across the
river into Falmouth, your correspondent new
er dreaming, till we were about half way from
the outposts TO the bridge that our troops
were evacuating Fredericksburg. The third
brigade was the last to cross, occupying the
responsible position of covering the retreat
(if retreat it must be called.l We marched
about mile back from the river, nearly to the
ground we had occupied before going over to
Fredericksburg a drenching rain came in
Just before halting, which continued till morn
ing and served to Increase my gloomy feelings
as sat down to wait for daylight. While get
ting breakfast, an orderly came with ipstruc-
tions to march back to our old camp ground,
and here we are, in the very place we occupi-
ed for two weeks before the battle.
That the behaviour of the Twentieth was
creditable to itself and the State it represents,
is the testimony OF all men and officers who
saw it while under fire. The GOODNESS and
bravery with which it met the murderous fire
of the enemy is said to have been unusual
that of the staff officers could not have been
better. Col. Ames showed himself a fearless
and skillful officer, as was expected and an
anecdote Of 1t. Col. Chamberlain will show
him to be brave soldier as well as an efficient
instructor. The right wing was ordered to
remove a board fence, about which the bullets
were whistling pretty freely, but no one NOV
ed, when the colonel stepped forward and
taking hold Oft asked, "Do you want me to
do it?" Aid was Immediately forthcoming,
and the fence soon came down.
Assistant Surgeon Hersom was taken pris-
oner by the rebels on Tuesday, and paroled
on Friday. He talked with many rebels, both
officers and privates, and among them with
Gen. Curshaw, of South Carolina, who told
him that our men fought splenidly and made
some of the most gallant charges ever known
remarking further, our men are good fight
ers, but d your officers" w.