Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1862-08-23


DEAR SIN Ono oCthc boodics battles We, fought
on Saturday the OH inst, since the war commenced
Tho time was short, but the determination with
which our men fought on that memorable day will
long be remembered showing the Nalor Of the Amr-
ricun soldier The men fought with desperation.
clubbing mUskctS, and in many Instances hand 10
hand conflicts. Gen Banks corps sustained the
bruut of the battle h"ldii sthc ground until relieved
by ten. Mcdowell, corps. About eight clock in
the night, the rebels came up with artillery and
c'yalrv. opening destructive fire into ranks.
ten. Mcdowell ordered up two hattcrIcs. which
opened ON them, making the ground trciuhlc. Our
shells hai powerful effect On them causing thcm
To beat has'y retreat, leaving their dead the
field. counted twenty horses, laying where IN"
battery stationed and number of men, amongst
them two officers one proved to be the AdiLtmt
General If Jurksuu~ staff One of the officers had
his head torn from the body, showing the destructive
Of uu frc. Our loss severe, not les than
1000 Amongst these are many valuable officers
Gcu Guary was wounded in the aYm, Gen. Augur
was asscycrcly wounded, Col. Knipc of The 4dih Pa
Regiment, was dangerously wounded whilst leading
his regiment to charge on a battery.
Here is where men suffered heavy loss, turn
ing the fortunes of the day The 10th Prunsy yvania,
jth Conn. md 2Sth \. y, ordered to charge
ON the battery and take it if pos.ibc The rebel
Infantry concealed in woods, our men not seeing
them. thought the Battery could be taken with but
little los Of life the order given to fix bayoncts
and charge. on the star; ,d but thcywcre mistaken
they were almost surrounded with three times their
number, il WAS plainly 10 be seen that desperation
the rattle Of mu,kctry and the roar of artillery ut
this critical moment. was dcatcniug. The ptitul
! cries OF the wounded could plainly be heard. The
three regiments above named lost. according to what
. ! can learn one half their number. The rebel lu-s
was full n heavy ours. according tu the number
of grmc- Gen Ninlcr was killed and many more
oithcir officers We have taken a number ut lri-
? soucrs. They all agree in the statement that they
are poorly clad and fed, and feel satisfied tu ho Vri-
-,ruCrs. They lctt many of their dead the field
requesting uS 10 bury them. which Is being done
Our dead aud wounded were stripped Of their cloth.
/ ing whenever they could find them
The most powerful army we have IN the field Is
concentrating here. Not less than 100000 troops
are close here, and more coming every duy, nu
one could believe how efficient the army of Virginia
is becoming. and the strength it has accommodated
Since Gen. Pope has been i'm command only few
weeks ago il was n scattered remnant, and now one
of the strongest armies in the Union, which will bc
put in motion in Il few days TO drive old StOncwal
out of the Valley and be hurled down upon Rich
moud, cooperating with Mcclellan, putting an end
to the designs Of those who striving to destroy
liberties and insult our flag
ten. Sicgol i here, better man never lived, ht
will fight the traitors the advance and whip then
the rctrcut 1t has been rumored in camp that eE
Burnsdcs wHs marching here. lie is in the neigh
bGrhOOd of Fredericksburg. am afraid that If he
meets old Jack, he will give him such whipping
that he will never return to give rs another chance
Wcrcad In the daily papers of the rapid progrcs
in sending recruits 10 fill up the old regiments an'
companies which we so much need Mt the presen
time. But / feel sorry TO say, that few arrive
Do not put it of too long The harvest viii soon b
past, the summer ended and oar country not saved
] We had 40 men when we came 10 Washington
2 Only little more than year ago and now We hay
only 10 who report for duty, you see how
goes and the call urgent to I'LL up the old rcgi
l ments. The men in this department are healthy
considering the Inconvenience and noccssarios we ar
deprived Of We have no tents nothing but shelter
and when it rains got all wet. The soldiers oxprc.
desire to stay until the war is over, with but fey
c exceptions.
a | viii mention for the benefit Of those who hay
!, friends in nth Pennsylvania Regiment that bu
few were killed OF wounded rs they did not got o
the field until the hardest Of the battle
believe thatno wac hurt from Sunhury vicinity
] murt close, thanking you for sending me the Avn
hl.Ay " y 2