Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-05-30
tArmy Correspondence OF Delaware GazsttO !
From tho 32th Regiment,

tArmy Correspondence Of Delaware GassttCJ
From the s2th Regiment.
lfr. Editor The following is the copy of
a letter received from my brother, Z. B.
Adams, Isl Lieut.. in Capt. Dyers Company,
and thinking it might be interesting to some Of
your readers, herewith send it to you for pub
lcation.
FRAxKLIS, Va, May IIth, 1852.
Dear Brofher:-I received your letter few
days ago and hasten to reply. The past has
been the busiest week we have yet seen. A
week ago tomorrow we got marching orders
from MeDowPh to miles beyond the Shenan-
doah mountains, got there just before dark aud
had Just pitched our tents and were eating our
suppers when a courier came with orders to
march back that night, as Johuson had been
reinforced and there was danger ahead. We
accordingly marched back two miles ard en-
canped, for the men were so foot sore and tired
that they could not go farther. The next morn
ing we started on and were just crossing the
Shenandoah mountains, when we were met by
Gen. Nilroy who ordered Us to "about face"
and march back There were three regiments
ordered there, viz the 32d and 18th Ohio, and
I'd Va, but only ours was ordered back. Now
think Of the absurdity of these orders all is
sued by the same man, and especially of the
last one, keeping one regiment way over there
in the advance. was sent on picket that night
with % men about three miles out on the roud
toward tie enemies camp at Buffalo gap, which
was only six miles of. had three cavalry men
with me for runners in case of an alarm
About 10 o'clock one Of the cavalry and my
self mounted on one Of the other horses took a
ride--it being a pretty moonlight mig ht-about
mile beyond the farlhest picket post; all
was quiet. The next morning as one of the
cavalry was going out to the same place after
his breakfast, he was startled to find the barn
yard full of secesh cavalry and infantry in an
adjoining field. He came back full speed.
called in the pickets aud started for campisend-
ing him on after firing guns to give the alarm.
had got about half mile when l met q COM
pany of cavalry, the Captain told me to turn
around and go back with Kim and we would
give them brush. l did so. l formed IN the
advance and was going to give them round
or two and then let him take them. But while
We were waiting for them, they were fankng
L
so, ard Immediately started for camp and had
got back about a mile when l saw about a
hundred of them ahead of me and only about
80 yards off. Immediately started up the side
of the modntain when they all fred at US, but
none Of us were hurt; one Of my men was either
killed or taken prisoner. tell you the bullets
whistled thick around our heads. Thinking
they would follow us up, told the boys to
give it 10 them when they started up the side
OF the mountain, bui they went 10 re-loading
for he cavalry, but had only got partly loaded
when they came along at full speed each Civ
ing them shot he passed. Our regiment
was obliged 10 retreat and the teams having
been ordered back all our camp equippage was
left behind and burned in two hours by the
secesE. l was obliged to take to the noun
| tains, was two days and a night among he
mountains during which time We had nothing
to eat but little corn bread without salt, and
sour milk, making one meal in sixty hours; we
endured everything, but in the evening of the
second day got in to Mcdowell with all my
men except one who was either killed or taken
prisoner The regiment had given up ever
seeing US again, supposing we were all killed
or taken prisoners. There was truly ''more 10Y
over few that went astray and returned lhan
ninety aud nine that went not astrav" While
we were on the mountains we heard them fight
ing at Shenandoah, then the next day at Nc
Dowell, but the battle (of which you have no
doubt heard before this) did not really com
mence until just US We got there, but we were
f! too tired AID worn out to take any part, though
the SD bore a very conspicuous part and be-
havcd with the greatest bravery. Company |
did nobiy, every man showed himself hero
and not one flinchtd from the contest. they
| fought like veterans. We had ten Of our COM
| pany wounded but none mortality and one
| killed, Selah Stark from Berkshire Jim Tyler
who was in the rear rank Just behind him drew
up and shot the man that shot Selah and then
attempted TO drag SeIah down the hill but
gave out. i'm did nobly. The fight was on the
mountain Just before and in plain sight of us
at Mcdowell. The attacking force was very
strong one, comprising the com bined forces OF
/ jackson and johnson, estimated at 900 and
/ out numbering us two to one. We were fortu-
uately re-enforced by Gen. Schenck that day.
! The fighting commenced about o'clock and
! was kept up till P. NJ. Our loss is abaut so
killed ard $50 wounded, the enemy's must have
| been at least four times greater. Our regi-
ment was the only one that made n bayonet
| charge. 1t was then that most of our men
were killed and wounded. That night the en-
emy were re-cuforced aud we fell back and
have been falling back ever since until we came
to this place, 26 miles from Mcdowell. We
have selected a good position and intend to
| fight here il they come aud attack us. They
have been following closely and occasional
| ly attacking our rear guand. We had but just
got fixed in position when the enemy made his
appearance and we commenced cannonading
them. May 18Th. We are still here and have
been skirmshing ever since We got here They
attempted to plant cannon Dear us last night
but our urtilerymen discovered them and soon
made it too hot for them. There. has been no
firing to-day, or since daylight, and it is The
first day for = week that have not heard more
or less of it. The secesh have skedaddled back
again, and it is well for them for Fremont came
in this forenoon and six of his regiments have
already got in, besides two batteries, and there
will be as many more this afternoon, one OF
them (the 39th n. Y. or Garibadi Guardsl is
/ splendid regiment; thereor among them
two brigades of Germans belonging to Gen
Blenker's division. BY night ! suppose we viii