Blue hen's chicken and commonwealth. (Wilmington, Del.) 18??-186?, 1862-10-01


LETTER FROM THE BATTLE-FIRLD.
The following letter was written by Lieu
tenant Lynch of the Seconl Delaware Regi-
meut to his parents. who have kindly per-
mitted us 10 copy 1t.
NEAR SHARPsBuRo, Nd,
SATURDAY, SEP. 20 1862
MY DEAR PARRsrs:-I take this oppo tuni-
ty 10 inform you OF my whereabouts and well
fare. am well and sound, thank God The
last four days have been eyentful ones to me.
have been into the fight and have come out
Of it. Our Division met the flower of the
Southern Army, and we whipped them badly.
The Irish Brigade and our Brigade were fight
lug against Gen. Jacksons best men. | will
give you the particulars as near as can.
On Saturday afternoon last we marched In
to Frederick Md, and on Sunday morHing
started in pursuit Of the enemy; we came up
with them on Monday afternoon. and engage
ed them with artillery. Tuesday war taken
up principally with planning and vancouver
ing troops on both sides. On Wednesday we
supported a battery OF 20 pound Parrot guns
all day, un or very heavy fire. We had on
that day two men wounded, one OF whom has
since died. On Wednesday night ous. Rngl,s
ment was thrown in front on picket do =
no ~ "a. 1ais'g y i u rSAsr1l ~
vision. which was drawn up In i,ne M eaui-
mon field. The engagement was goi1g on at
this time petty brislkly. The Irish Brigade
was drawn up in line OF battle Just in front
Of our Brigade, and as a matter OF course went
into the action first. They were not in the
fight over 20 minutes before they were bro-
ken by the concentrated fire Of the enemy,
aud their colors were left lying on the field.
Gen. Summers aid came to Gen. Richardson
with the following message. " General, the
Irish Brigade is broken and their colors are
lying on the 6sld " This was ominous i'm
telligence for our Brigade, and We were or
dered to forward. We went cut on the field
and CHARGED on II, taking some one hundred
and sixty prisoners. and driving the enemy
clear off the field. From the time our Regi-
ment fred the irst volley, they kept up and
incsssant firing, which caused us 10 march
straight through the ranks Of the fameous
e Irish Battalion" of the South which had
rot fifteen minutes before broken the Irish
Brigade. Our Regiment went in advance OF
the rest Of the Brigade, and k-pl the lead all
the time. The men fought like tigers, and
not one was shot IN the back; we had no cow
ards with us and taking everythi into com
sideration our loss was very trHing; 50 will
cover the whole lis Of killed, wounded and
missing. Is will cover the list of killed. the
principal part being wounded.
/ came through sAfe--thanks be to God
but not so with our company; we went into
the fight with % men. and came of with IL.
There was none killed, however, that know
of; being all wounded and missing; five tf
them were wounded, and one missing
have hopes that the missing one will turn up
yet; my naen fought we'll. and feel proud Of
them. l thought that l would never be abls
to stand fire, but soon found out different-
ly; for was as cool as could be through the
whole engagement, and never thought once
Of beiog shot, or backing of the field. All
the officers that were ON the field conducted
themselves most CALAMITY and the n en- think
there is nobody Ike them. Our General gave
us great praise; and altogether, we are quite
lionized by those who saw the action of the
Regiment AT one time we were so far in
advance of the regular line that we came
near being out-nanked by the enemy, ana for
short time we sustained quite severe cross
fire; fortunately for us there was another reg
, iment in the rear Of us, and they fired into
them and saved us considerably. After stay
ing on the field nearly II hours, we were
brought to right face, and marched off in
good order. we were marched to the rear and
our cartridge boxes filed with cartridges, and
, we were sent to The front again and kept
there all the rest Of the day; there was no
more musketry fighting duiing that day aud
We were put to support battery, where We
laid the balance OF the day under CALLING
! fire of artillery. On Wednesday nigkt We
were put on picket duty, and on Thursday
were sent to the front again, and kept there
till the enemy skedadilsd In great disorder.
While the battle ragged il was more terrific
the dead and wounded strewed the ground
very thiokly indeed. Our Brigadier General
has j1st been to our camp to see the colors,
He says they went crazy on the day OF thu
fight, and he does rot want them TO get so
. wild again, bnt adds, 81 know where they
were; they were in the thiokest OF the fight.
Pop they have covered themselves with
} glory" Delaware may we'll be proud Of her
Regiments. The LIST Delaware was pretty
badly cut up Three Of their Captains Wat
son, Leonard, and Ricksrds-were killed.
We only had two officers wounded and
they were slightly. All the feel officers hor-
! ses' were shot from under them at the frat
: fire. The names of the wounded of my COM
pany (k,) are as follows: corporal Lofman,
. pretty severely in the leg; corporal Hammer
in the ancle; private Kendall, iu the foot Sc
verely; private Parks, slightly in the stom-
Ach; private Russell, in the leg; First Ser
geant Fox IS the only missing man in the
company. He went on the field with the reg
inent and conducted himself nobly; but be
did not not come OF with uu; great many
( msn OF the Regiment say they have seen him
since the fight, and perhaps he may yet turn
up. we found all tue bodies OF the killed oil
I our Regiment on the field but his; and We
cannot account for his absence. he may be
prisoner at all events hope he may yet
turd up.
Our Brigade took II rebel flags. cannot
: lind words to express my gratitude for my
| deliverance, and must leave you TO imagine
my feelings. l do not wish to go into anoth-
er engagement, but II 1t should be my mis-
fortune TO meet the enemy again in pitched
!, battle, my conduct shall be as It has been
! faultiess. did my duty, and am satisfied;
| and you have the assurance that atn no
: coward. / am tried Of writing, and will
! tell you aisshs passisulAEa shsa get ,he@s.