The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-06-11


ROBERTS we publish to the exclusion of
other news, judging it to be of the most
interest to the people of the county:
From Capt. Jones' Company.
BATTLE FIELD, June 2, 1862.
3 o'clock P NJ.
Mr.. EDITOR: Knowing you would
hear of the fight of yesterday and the day
before, that you would hear of It's being
a severe engagement, and that the forces
engaged were pretty badly cut up; we
thought to spend moment In penning
you slight detail of our share in the
said performance.
On Saturday, May 81, commenced the
fight, Gen. Gorman's aud Sedgewick S
commands being engaged In the after
noon our division was ordered to their
assistance. We experienced considerable
difficulty in crossing the Chiokahominy
owing to recent heavy rains which had
swollen the river so as to impede artillery
very much, and even the Infantry had to
ford nearly waist deep. Tie meridian of
day was considerably passed before cur
movement commenced, and we did not
arrive at the scene of action until past
twilight. We were bat a few rods from
the contendiDg forces and advancing to
Gen. Sedgwicks assistance. when his
forces led by Gen. Sumner in person
drove the enemy from the field at a
Charge Bayonet." Of course this opera,
tion spoiled our expectations of fight
for the night. Passing over portion OF
the contested field, we occupied the left
of our forces. bivouacking in '4iue Of bat,
tie" behind our stocks withsa,l our equip
ments on ready to fall in on the least
alarm. When YOU take into consideration
the fact of our march being in rain, and
our fording the Chickahominy in the start
that we had neither blankets, coats, teuts
nor nothing wherewith to project our
selves from the chilly night air, you will
be enabled to form some idea of the ex,
trcme discomfort Of our position, yet not
murmur of dissatisfaction was heard
The men behaved nobly, At early light
OF Sunday morning we were got into line
aud reformed in line of battle fronting at
right angles with our position of the nj ght
previous. While in this position, the left
Of our line crossing the Railroad at an
angle, scout rode up and cautioned Col.
Brooke TO keep a sharp look out for our
rear The Rebels were in strong force
in that direction In a short time Gen.
French ordered Col Brooke to re form in
the same place we had eccupided during
the night and fronting IS then We had
not fully executed this movement when
our pickets exchanged brisk volley or
two with the Rebel scouts, putting them
in "skedaddle" 1t being then ascer-
tanned that our flank was in danger, the
% \. Y. Regt. was ordered to prolong
our line to the left, and the 8lst Pa. still
to the left of the SD This had hardly
been executed when we were ordered to
extend the line still to the left. We per.
formed this by moving at left flank, our
Regt taking the ground of the SD, the
52d that of the Slst, and the 8lst still to
the left This put US across the Railroad
lnto dense underground of woods and
en- low swampy piece of ground. 1t was
While at rest, still at left face, and
many Of the men discussing th,ir "Har-
dees" (crackers) that the enemy who had
crept up to within fifteen or twenty PAGES,
hIed their 6rst volley in upon US. Quickly
did cur "boys" come to the front, and,
sir, you should have heard the yolley
which sent death to many "Secesh. -
This was the commencement of what we
venture (though inexperienced in such
matters) tO assert as being desperately
contested engagement Before we had
delivered a third volley our Col. ordered
Us to ''eease firing" Being under toll
erable ''discipline" this order Though
much against our WILD WAS promptly
obeyed. Meantime the Rebel fire was
confounded hot, and the only alternative
was to "lie low" Hugging the ground
rather closely we presented our front tc
the foe ready for whatever might turn up
As the Rebels again came up we rose anG
nred another volley into them, taking
good care to aim low In space of time
which seemed hardly of fifteen minute:
GGaranon, we kept our line uubroken
IheH~ came the order to advance-and
advance we did, the Rebels falling back
some forty or Fifty rods out of the woods
into sort of pine opening. and clear be.
!ond the encampment occupied by them
10 the morning. Meantime the forces to
our left did not seem hardly az suoeassfnl