Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-10-01
FROM OUR ARMY.
An Account of the late Battles.

We are permitted to give readers the following
highly interesting letter. written by wounded officer
Of the I'd N. G. Regiment 70 his wife and mother,
dated Charlestown, Va, Sept 2lst We do so to
the exclusion of much other matter which would
doubtless be far less interesting to our readers.
The statements may be relied as far as the writer
in circumstances to judge 1t is private letter,
not intended for publication but in giving it to our
readers we violate known rule of the army regu-
lations. He speaks of what has happened, not what
is in the future:-
eve left camp, Frederick City, Wednesday
morning the 10th inst, and marched through the city
the direction of Hagerstown As passed through the
city, respectable show of avOr exhibited to by the
lady secessons of the burg but it not very large
aud had the appearance of cordially mixed with lively
beautiful mountain turnpike that at times gave us beau
full of the scenery, and encamped at night at the
South Mountain Gap. of the Blue Ridge having passed
through during the day, several little villages that lay
nestled down among valleys the largest being Middle
town. village of perhaps 900 inhabitants, who showed
by their signs that they were for the greater part hostile
Little did think as stood that night, picket duty
mountain, that in few short days battle would
be fought the very spot then stood had beau
fuI view of rise from the top Of the mountain the
morning, but too sleepy to appreciate it, Soon
again in line and trudged the mountain gap
and then down into the Aegany valley the tops of whose
mountains could be away to the westward. Wepass
ed through several villages that day. also through the town
Of Boonesborough of the Oldest places Maryland
and encamped for The night in four miles of Hagerstown
in beautiful oak grove. Here rested on Friday and
Saturday. the first days rest had bad since leaving
Richmond. had good opportunity, while there, to as.
certain the sentiment of the people, thirds of whom
found hostile Indeed, but few families did find
but had brothers or sons in the Yankee army Here our
army split Longsreet with three divisions, went in the
direction of Williamsport Saturday; McLaw's and
Jones Divisions went towards Harpers Ferry, while We
d. H. Hills; remained. Saturday night called to
cfferyy had lain dOy
again through Boonesboro and by daylight were on the
Top of South Mountain Gap and were soon drawn up in
line of battle the two mountains tn the and lett OF
the road fronting the direction Of Middleton where the
day BEFORE cavalry had sharp fight with the enemy
and had reported the enemy as advancing IN full force with
side of the road and is entirely wooded North Mountain
the North side Of the road is or less open being
for the most part rmed Away in the distance we could
the long lines of the enemy approaching looking like
long crooked black shadows slowly moving towards us
As small our force was, Garands Rpleys, and Ander
sens Brigades Rhodes not there we drew up to
meet them Garland put away in the woods on
South Mountain, Ripley to the left, North Mountain
while we of Andersons Brigade held the Gap road or
centre. Artillery put in position. and by SUNRISE the
reverberaon Gifts thunder went rolling up over the cliffs
The enemy also opened and sharp artillery duel was
kept up for hour Very the rattle of muskety is
heard from the woods the right is engaged on
the right with the enemy and the left and centre
stand in eager expectation of being attacked Also although
signs of the enemy be the cleared fields
of the left In half hour cheers are heard and as we
stand awaiting attack ourselves eagerly strain our
we distinguish Wnetner the cueeIS CoHe
from friend foe. There difference between Yankee
cheers and our twn; the Yankee cheer is huzzi uzzi
Deep gru tones while characterized by one con-
tinuOus, unearthy yell, without pause or stop) Our
hearts dro0p within become convinced that the
cheers emanate from Yankee hroats The firing continues
and canopy OF smoke hangs over the woods IN the vc
ty of the place from which the sound of muskey proceeds
Still not attacked and think can perceive IN the
face of Hill CLEAN thought that the enemy have thrown
their whole force right flank. The men become
restless and uneasy and the light battle seen in every
face But here comes of Garlands aids galopng fu-
risusy-" General, send renforcemens-wea are falling
back and the enemy are pressing hard IN heavy force
"en Anderson hurry your brigade to Garands assls-
lance" and faced to the right and away we go up
the side of the mountain double quick We pass lots
every step, then again srecher containing some more
desperately wounded, and bend one, catch the
male face Of the gallant who is being carried down
desperately wounded in tn. breast. He died before he
reached surgeon. He was killed on the first charge OF
the enemy while CALAMITY raying his men before their su
soon come up with his Brigade just getting in posi-
ton behind fence til 1t surrounds small mountain farm.
We take position on theil left AID await the enemy ooen
wa see Them coming up on tur front, and our right
onens ON them. Bullets whiz hDm the front, and soon
come heavy voeys On our right flank The enemy have
attacked in front and On tne hght AZ he se ill.,
oods i, order to face the flank ire while keep up
continuous one in 'front.' aud drive he enemy back beyond
The enemy stu press auu odds
falls back slowly through the woodsand exposes our gn
An order is given for to move left as the enem!
are irving To- gain our left we'll asfur right We move
to the efs through heavy fire, men failing at every few
steps The firing ceases Our regimss are again formed
linz The and and ssss
bac hs III snrs is 30 thick and orce so small that
our commanders are afraid let etrate their lines
too far Soon we reinforced BY k'pys brigade who
line up the sides Of the mountain d the enemy step
BY step up to the top If the ridge and yell dash
to the plateau few n' Of like
thunderbolt from coudIess sky, comes booming of
earth has, a as s
in some disorder and We retreat down the untan,
pursued, to reform The sunis now but an bur high
Hills little division has kept the enemy IN cnek all day,