The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-06-27
FROM BEFORE RICHMOND.
GORMAN,s CAMP sHELLED.
CHARGE OF GORMAN'S BRIGADE.
Correspondence New York Herald. 18th.
CAMP NEAR FAIR OAKS. VIRGINIA, !


CAMP NEAR FAIR OAKS, VIRGINIA,l
June l3, 1862.
The rebels, in immense force before US,
commenced, with the days rising sun, to
shell our camp. Until 10 O'Clock A. NJ.
their batteries played upon US with great
fury and rapidity. The only substantial
result of the presentation of about two hun. E.
dred and fifty shells, which fell all around
us without at all disconcerting our move
ments, was the instant killing of Augustus
Ellison, First Minnesota regiment.
Our force burned with desire to recipr0.
cate the compliments with the enemy and
engage them with our batteries but per-
emptory orders forbade such punishment
to them at present. The rebels must enter
tain very poor opinion of the results of
their practice this morning from the con.
temptuous silence with which it was treat.
ed. They will find out speedily however
that we ars making quite extensive prepa
rations to give them a waking up on
some Of these bright and rosy summer NOR
niDgs.
The field of Saturday, May 81, and Sum-
day, June l, is still the object of the great
est interest with those who participated in
the bloody fray, and those from distance
fortunate enough to secure passes to enable
them to inspect it. The trees in the woods
bear testimony, by their numerous scariica-
tions, to the terrible and fatal fire poured
into the rebels by our brave troops. More
particularly is this the testimony of the
woods facing the Thirty fourth and Eighty.
Second New York Volunteers, Fifteenth
Massachusetts, and three companies of the
First Minnesota, the left of that regiments
line, on that eventful, decisive, and never
to-be forgotten Saturdays struggle. Not
the smallest tree seems to have been left
unmarked by the touch of the unerriDg
bullet.
The charge of Germans brigade, men.
toned in the first letter of your correspon-
dent, describing the part our division took
in the contest, but family gives an idea Of
its magnificent effect upon the fortunes of
the day. 1t is certain that the official rec
ords of this war will not reveal any feat of
arms to compare with the bona 6de bay-
onet charge of this brigade. The brigade
upon which their terrible onslaught was
made was commanded by General Petit
grew, and was considered equal to any in
the rebel service. They stood about one
hundred feet from the edge of the wood. ap-
parently immovabie and impenetrable, al.
lowing ours to come within few yards of
them, nearly at bayOnet reach, ere they
broke before the stern and determined
line of cleaning bayonets. Our brig
ade actually pursued them in align
ed raok some distance into the
woods. 1t is too true that many of the
charges of the campaign exist only in the
newspapers. The overwhelming and deci-
sive charge of this brigade will be estab-
lished by the corps, division and brigade
commanders official reports. Goodly quan
titles of the trophies of war, taken from and
lett by the rebels, are in the possession of
our men. The enemy's sharpshooters were
armed with Colts rife. Rided muskets of
the ''Tower, London, v r. 1861" stamp
are also in our possession, having been tax.
en- from the enemy.
1t would not become me under my parole
to speak OF what I know concerning tie for.
wardness of the preparations for the speedy
reduction of Richmond. A vast deal of la
Dor is yet required to ensure complete sue,
cess. A private of the First Minnesota,
ColoDel Sully, upon entering for the first
time the massive works before Yorktown,
allowed bis spade to drop from. his shoulder,
rama-king as be surveyed the reduced
works, Well, wonder what place Nc
Celan vii! shovel US into next? The
shovel is destined to perform as important
part in the reduction of Richmond as it
did at Yorktown. Borne in the hands of
our indomitable soldiers, it becomes weap
en- of actual warfare, as terrible to, and as
much dreaded by secesh as the ponderous
artillery or tracking rifle.