The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1862-07-31
Letter from Pittsburg.

PITTsBURG, Monday, July %, 1862
To the Editor Of The 4Neghdnidn:
Knowing the anxiety that exists among the
relations and friends of those brave men who
are mostly unaccounted for, since that day of
terrible carnage and strife, near Mechanics
Vile, on Friday, June 27th, in which the gall
liant sons of Ebensl urg participated, wish
to present to the public, in consequence OF
many conflicting rumors statement of what
| heard and saw of the Eleventh Regiment.
Being engaged on the Sanitary Commits
sion, / visited all the Pennsylvania regiments
in the field, among whom were ION the 25th
of June,) the Cambria Guards; the boys
were all well, with one two exceptions,
and enjoying excellent spirits, and were, at
that time, anxious to meet the foe and give
him battle. That evening, | bid them adieu :;
and little did | think, at that moment that
the few parting words that passed between
US: would be the last uttered on this vale of
tears, BUT such is, undoubtedly. the case with
a few Of their number!
''Dost thou weep
For the loved ones that sleeping,
Silent in the graves dark keeping,
Death cold s'eep?"
The next day, 26th of June, the right wing
of our army was attacked by the rebels, who
were greatly SUPERIOR in force, which was
continued on Friday, the 27th. During the
first days fighting, the Eleventh Regiment
were all performing picket duty above
Mechanicsville, and on the memorable 27th
they were ordered to camp. No sooner had
they reached their destination, than they got
orders to unsling knapsacks, and counter
march, at a double-quick to relieve the Third
Pennsylvania Regiment, which then en-
gagged in the fight. This they did in a short
time. They were fighting on the extreme
right of McCalrs Division, consequently, they
suffered more severely than any regiment
Tt n fra nf
the enemy, but they held their ground un-
finchiugly, and behaved bravely. Nine COM
panies of that (the tenth company, B., was at
that time on fatigue duty,) regimen. were
trely surrounded by rebel brigade, but
they, unhestatingly, refused to surrender,
and charged on the rebel lines endeavoring to
cut their way out. They were Overpowered ;
a great many fell, killed and wounded, and
all were taken prisoners.
As soon as / learned of the fate of the
Eleventh, that evening, | retraced my steps
from Savage Station towards the field of ac-
ton, with the intention of giving a helping
hand to any of my friends in the Cambria
Guards, who might, perhaps, have been woun-
ded during the day, but all in vain the
rebels occupied the battle field, consequently
| was compelled to return without seeing one
of them. On the Sunday following, saw
fourteen of the company, who were not in
the fight on account of sickness.
Felix r. Brunot, Esq, who accompanied me
from Harrison's Landing to Baltimore, i'll
formed me that Capt. Andrew Lewis was shot
in the right leg, above the knee the wound
being so serious that amputation neces-
sarv. He died in prison. at Richmond, on
Wednesday, July I'd. Capt. Lewis was a
good commander, and'a brave and tried SOL
dier. Although, not being personally ac-
quainted with him, 1, nevertheless, greatly
deplore his sudden death, knowing that the
country has lost one of its brayest defen-
ders; the community good citizen, and his
beloved wife d kind and affectionate husband
-" Who can grieve too much,
What time shall end.
Our mourning for so dear friend
Ellis r. WILLIAMS