The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-08-01
AUGUST |, 1862.
INe 1effersoNiaN Democrat
JULIUS o. CONVERSE, Editor I.
CnARDON, OHIO, FRIDAY, AUG,l, 1859,
From the Army of the Potomac.

We are indebted to Noah Pomeroy. ESQ
Of Claridon, FOR tho following interesting
letter from his son, Lieut.. W. 3. Pomeroy
OF the 9th Mich. Infantry, Army of the Pc.
tomac
CAMP MAR HARRisoN's LANDING, Va,
July 18Th, 1862.
My DEAR FATHER Il have no doubt that you
are complaining seriously, because | don't write
My only apology is necessity, for there was an
order issued that there should be no communica
lion with our friends at home until the official
report came out, in regard TO the grand shsdfddie
which the Army OF the Potomac has just passed
through suppose you have heard VI the plrtc'
ulurs in regard 10 It therefore, will not worry
your patience in relating them to you, save OF
the part our Regiment and my Company took in
1t.
Saturday night the order came to gill our hqyer-
sacks with five days rations and be ready TO
march at a mument's notice, to-nobody Knew
where. Sunday morning the order cume TO strike
tents, which we did in short order, Tor It d0nt
take u soldier long to put his ELECTS on ms oacR
and be ready to move. We filed out OF our rifle
pits and moved in a north .eastery direction,
but had not got more than two miles when we
were halted, and brought up in line ot battle, TO
receive the Rebels, who were close on our track,
having ANTICIPATED our movement. In short
tint, we heard the booming OF cannon and the
sharp rnte Of musketry on our right but we
were not kept in suspense long, for we saw that
Thompson's battery was too much tor them. The
firing became more distant and less severe
Finally, Henlzelman and keainey came tearing
down the road, with the news that the enemy
were retreating and that our only chance as
TO 'duub quick" it across the Chickahominy
swamp, distance of about two miles, which we
did with much m ore nlncriiy than as if the enemy
had been in our front instead OF ourrear. Il forgot
10 say that each man had so rounds OF cartridges,
beside rations. clothing. canteen, blankets, &c,
&c. So you can Judge little how much the men
suffered under this load and hot Southern sun I;
but we accomplished ii in good order, the enemy
close Oh our heels. and firing every opportunity.
Finally, we were halted formed "cose column by
division" and ordered TO rest the General having
previously ordered the artillery TO come Unto
battery" on the only road leading from the swamp.
We remained here about two hours, when ii
seemed as though hell had broken loose, for, OF
all the noises ever heard, this was the worst.
Niagara Falls is nothing compared to Il. IL was
plain that there was hot work before us. l say
before usit was all around US, oil every side, or,
in other words, the GraRd drmyO Of The POtomac
Uas completely surrouRded, and, as Gen. Berry
said, the only way to get out of il was TO fight our
way out, which we did most gal antly.
The 5th were ordered down the road, to support
q battery. but did not stay long, for an orderly
came down with orders from Gen. Berry, saying
he wanted the 9Th TO lead the Brigade in battle.
We were relieved by the ~ Y. 9th, and double
quicked'' back to our former position, where wo
led the Brigade in, first the 5ih, then the 2nd, and
cannot describe 10 you my feelings on going
into battle, it being my first experience, except n
little skirmishng. ] was not frightened, but
was very much excited, and thought n great
many times of home. In fact. | believe that
everything ever did in my lie came into my
mind. But. after the bullets began 10 fly, all
thoughts of home and every thing else, Except my
duty,) left me, and became perfectly desperate.
J saw my comrade stall all around me heard the
groans of the dying, the shrieks of the wounded {;
hi olI MI hpl IN. n n
say this to praise myself, bu! merely TO show how
desperate man can become in so short q time.
We were ordered out OF the fight about 6k
O'Clock in tho evening, and marched till O'Clock
the next morning, when we came on TO Sykes
Brigade, and we're ordered to pitch tents. The
men had just unslumg their knapsacks. tired and
sleepy, when we ordered in front, tns usual J
10 do picket daty. We had no sooner arrived nt
our destin alton than | laid down on the bare
ground, Cfor | had thrown my blankets away
Deore gong into battleJ and slept. do believe
that, if the enemy had come, they would have
taken me, for should not have made any resist
ance.
The next morning we were reused out at sun.
rise, to march, as we supposed, towards the James
River but no-wo were marched back about two
miles, to support battery. We had not been
there long before we were ordered into bnttle the
second time. This battle, if anything, was more
desperate than the first still went into it with
more cooness. While We were there. one ol my
men came to me, with his sleeves rolled up, and
said he, Lieut., shall keep on firing or shall |
go TO the renr1n ] looked around and saw tie
blood running off his elbow, and asked him il he
was wounded badly No, guess not" sad he;
but, on close eXnminn ton found the ball had
passed entirely through the wrist. l. oi course
ordered him to the renr. Another one Of my
Company was wounded though the neck, bat
kept on firing until he dropped from loss OF blood
The third, Frenchmnn, was shot in the head,
arm and leg, and fell in front OF mo. | stopped
and bid him good bye, tor ] knew that the enemy
would have him before mornlng) lie said, go
in boys; wiz be with yOu.H lie died nboGt
twenty minutes after he was shot In my Com
pany there was killed 5 wounded. and miss
Ing, making, in all 9 killed, wounded and miss
ing. ] saw that day at east 1000 kilIed on the
field, and that was but very small portion oil
them.
The next day duly lsD we marched towards
Malvern Hill. There The 5th par icipated in an
other fight ; but | will not worry you with de
scrption Of IT, Suffice it to say, we were in about
one hour, and came out with 100 men short. We
muster now for duty 20j, but still they keep us
in front all the time.
In the battle OF July LIST, had n ball pass
through my blouse coat, and one went throug h
my can,een but they did no damage except TO spill
the water. That night procured another can
teen, and had 1t filled wi tn water from hole Mt
The side OF the rond but what was my surprise
and disgust in the morning, To find that had
been drinking blood and ,Ddter Just above, on
the bank, lay dead rebel and had been drink
ing his blood butt was not the only one that
was served the same way.
July end, as We were marching towards Hnr.
rison's Landing, was knocked down with piece
oi a shell which the Secesh fired from the hill we
had just left lay Tor some time. but hnally re-
GOV cred, n nd wen on with the Regiment, having
only small cut in my forehead TO show for it,,
tcaused probably from the lall)
We are encamped in a very healthy locality
now, and, with plenty OF rest, will be ready to
iry them another pull
From your Son,