The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-10-03


to camp for the night but just as the boys
had begun to cook their suppers, we were
called into line, and in immense columns
the whole army, which now comprised
more than Summers corps, poured forward
in direct line towards where the cannon
told us the fight was raging This part of
our march (about eight miles) was nearly
all the way over succession of ridges and
ravines, which made down from the noun
tain. Part of the time we would go at
double quick time, and then again have to
wait while those in advance were passing
some almost impossible ravine or creek.
1t was after dark when we reached the
large stream which here flows s'at the base
of the mountain, the bridge across which
had been destroyed by the enemy. We
plunged in and forded the stream. BY this
time the firing had ceased the battle of
the day was over, and we began to meet
the wounded. A stretcher passed us, on
which, we were told, rested the mangled
body of Gen. Reno.
From this point our advance was silent
and cautious. Germans brigade was
marched directly to the battlefield. The
tramp of men was the only sound, save the
grOans of the wounded. The darkness
itself was horrible, because we knew not
how much horror it concealed. Silently
and cautiously we were guided to the very
front, and there, amid the awful shade of
mountain, and darkness, and death, the
weary brigade, after a march of twenty
difficult miles, lay down to rest with their
arms in their hands, and with all their
equipments on. Wet from profuse per-
spiratiOn and the fording of the river, the
air of night chilled us all, and but little
rest was obtained.
AT break of day, on the 18th, Company
l., Captain Russell's Sharpshooters) was
called to skirmish through the woods,
and over the hills in advance, where the
enemy's battery had been the evening pre-
vious. In connection with the 18th Mas
sachusetts SharpshoOters we did So and
had the satisfaction to see the last picket
guard of the rebels disappear over the
mountain. | wish here to relate an incl
den that seriously interfered with both the
temper and bodily condition of the compa-
ny. General German, who sent us on this
rather perilons adventure, went back to
General McClellans headquarters to re-
port. Meantime the morning advanced,
the sun came out burning hot, and the COL
umns OF our advancing army pushed ON up
the mountain road, beyoud the point the
line of skirmishers were told to reach. We
were all tired, and foot-sore, and hungry,
for the loss OF supper the eveningpreviOus,
and the want of breakfast that morning.
Under these circumstances it seemed per-
tectly proper that Captain Russell should
send back for orders, and to whom should
he send, in General Germans absence, but
to Colonel Sully He did so send, and in
reply received orders to take his company
back to where they could breakfast, and
thus be ready to march. While passing
down the road to where wood and water
could be procured, we met General Cor
man on his return. In passionate and
angry way, peculiarly his own, the Gener-
al accused our company of struggling, and
demanded of Captain Russell what had
become of his men. On being informed by
the Captain that all were present who
went with him in the reconnaissance, the
General declared it was not so, and order
ed us back to our former position. The
returning Massachusetts company received
the same order, and we then counter
marched and followed the General to the
top of the mountain. There, at a public
house, where we were kept waiting a full
half hour, the General may have procured
something to improve his spirits. At last
he appeared, and in the blandest manner
ordered us to return to camp and get our
breakfast as quickly as possible, so as to
be ready to march with the regiment. 1t
thus seems that jealousy, because Captain
Russell did not wait his order to return, or
the want of his morning bitters, Or some
thing unknown to the writer, caused him
to do us a great injustice by countermand-
ing Colonel Sully' IS order. The result was
that before we had time to cook and eat
our breakfast, the brigade was ordered to
march, and Company l., weary and dispir-
tied, with coffee swallowed hot and in
haste, Or not at all, took up their line of
march for Antietam Greek. 1t is unfortu-
nate, to say the least, that man who has
capacity for a General should measurably
destroy his influence with his soldiers by
such petty acts of tyranny, or freaks of
passion.
But, to proceed with our march. Sum-
ner's corps on Monday, proceeded on the
Sharpsburg road as far as Keedysville, on
Antietam Greek, passing many prisoners
on the way, and the roar of cannon, in
viting us to the front.
On Tuesday, the 10th, brisk cannon
ade was kept up most of the day, and our
camp, though out of sight of the rebel
force, received quite a number Of shells,
killing and wounding several.
On Wednesday, the 18th, the great bat
file near SharnShurr was f0urht At an