The Portland daily press., 1862-12-31

right, opened fire upon the rebels few min
utes before we got into line. As soon as we
were in position we gave the rebels voey
upon which they retreated within the lines,
sending an occasional bullet whizzing about our
ears. We fired eight or ten rounds, and then
no enemy being in sight, lay down. While we
were firing the men exhibited the utmost cool
ness, aiming as carefully and steadily as tho
shooting squirrels at long range, or turkies
and chickens at Thanksgiving shooting
match. Throughout the whole fight, indeed,
the greatest GOODNESS and determination was
exhibited by both officers and men. Our
Colonel, Lieut. Col. and Major were, whenever
l saw them, as cool and sef-possessed as when
on brigade drill; and part of the time, at
least remained standing when the regiment
was lying down, even under the hottest she'll
ing. All day rebel battery upon the end and
highest point of ridge opposite our left, had
kept up continual fire, but at an hour before
sunset its shots became less frequent, while the
batteries on our side were pouring upon it a
heavy storm of shot and shell.
was looking toward it, and had inst re-
marked to the Captain of my company, ave
have pretty much silenced that battery. |
think" when pnfs of white smoke burst out
from the woods at short intervals along the
whole line, and a perfect sheet of shot and
shell whirled over our heads. Hardly had the
report reached our ears, when from our own
batteries pealed an answering note. One of
our batteries was directly in rear of us, and
one Of the rebels directly in 'front.' and though
most of the shells flew harmlessly over our
heads, the horrible scrceching of the flying
missiles, with the occasional striking of shot
and pieces of shell in our ranks, made our po-
stion anything but pleasant. Within an hour
most OF the rebel guns were silenced, though
few of their guns with ours kept up the mI-
sic till dark. From some of the guns, pieces
of railroad iron about a foot in length were
thrown, and these could be distinguished by
their peculiar sound, which resembed rap
idly repeated pronunciation of the word
"whicher." saw one of them lying on the
field after the fight, an ugly looking missile,
truly.
We lay on the field all night. and expected
that the fight would open again in the morn
ing, and that we should be ordered to charge
on the rebel lines, but the quiet of the Sab
bath, balmy and beautiful as Indian summer,
was unbroken, save by occasional shots from
our cannon, and desultory fire of sharp
shooters on both sides. One or two instances
of wounds and escapes in our regiment were
peculiar. young man in Co. A. a corporal
by the name of Paine, who was left at home
sick, Joined the regiment Friday night. On
Saturday, as he was lying on his face with his
forehead resting on his clasped hands, a ball
passed through his cap vizor, taking off the
fore finger, breaking the second finger and ta-
king off the tip of the third finger on the left
hand, and cutting bit from the tip of the
right fore finger; it then passed into the
ground without doing further mischief. An
other young man, in the same position, had
his knapsack torn from his back by rebel
shell. One piece of shell about two and half
inches square slightly wounded man in the
ranks, and struck Maj. West a smart blow in
his sde just upon his sword hilt, infiicting no
injury. One of our men was struck upon the
shoulder by disk or truck of cast iron, about
two inches in diameter, and half an inch in
thickness, and having a small hole in the CEN
ter. Sergt. j. T. Libby of Co. |, reported kill
ed, is still living. but his recovery is somewhat
doubtful. He was wounded in the left thigh
by piece of shell which shattered the bone
With some slight changes of position we lay
upon the field until ten o'clock on Monday
night, but saw no fighting after Saturday
night. On Monday night at about ten, we
marched, under cover of the darkness and IA
vored by strong southery wind, across the
river, and encamped in the woods and on the
next morning came here near our old place.
Here we are trying to make ourselves COM
1ortabie, but though seiIcitvr tcats- are such
fine things, aud make such comfortable and
pleasant houses, yet when each company has
only one or two axes, and one spade, with no
other tools, there must necessarily be some
suffering before all can fit up houses. / will
send yon specimen of shelter tent cloth some
time, that you may judge how good a protec-
tion it would be against rain or cold. Now it
is cold enough to freeze water exposed in ket-
ties within ten minutes after it comes from the
spring