The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-12-31

Dec. l7th, 1861.
Ed. REPrsLIcAN DKAR SiR-As your read
ers are always anxious 10 know how the Nichi
san bows cone OUT OF battle, uill ry TO tel
lne.u something OF the dong. OF The SGD =. Sue
taxing OF Fredericksburg. We moved from ouf
camp On ,he morning OF the llth just a. tue
.snuonaiiug commenced, bur did nos cross The
river until about 10 4. NJ. the 18th, when ~e
sere marched 20 q position Ten miles oelo"
fredericksburg and 50 the front, 10 support
battery which vas about being Charged upon .,
NO Regiments OF tie enemy. The Srd and o.h
Michigan, S7th \. Y. snd l7,h Maine are sooD
IN line, and al. tut the Sid co nmeucod FIRING
xhich soon checked the enemies advance. l.
vas pretty warm work for tiulc. as tie rebel
batteries were Smelling Us froD the edge OF the
soods about 1000 yards away, bu, ire field wa>
soon clear OF the enemies lnfsntry, and com
curative quiet restored usiil to~afds dAra. Gea.
REYNOLDS with some ot h's staff rois up IL
front OF U.s. aud directed q snos to be fired OF
some OF the enemy ia the edge OF the woods.
which vas Immediately answered b. ~ east t~o
batteries, which concentrated their FIRE Oh tina
point, causing the General To make . speed,
Exit, anu every body else TO lay low. Oar Brig
ade lost during the day in oil about $50 in killed
and wounded, including Lt. Col. Giiiuly, Of Ia.
9th, ~ho was killed while leading his Regimen,
There are i've men o. the SRI wounded, but
none seriously. At dark the 3rd Vas placed on
oicAet along q ditch in the field in iron; OF The
position held during the day. II vas a co.'s
night and the ground vet aud muddy, but each
,.ian felt that he VAS doing his duty, aud il Ger
tainly vas done well and without murmuring
The Pennsy lsana reserves had fought ca this
ground jus, as our Brigade came up, and theli
Inc, and could be heard asking plteoasiy for
water, aud TO be broush t off the feli, bus it ws-
GOT 10 our power TO assist them. Our cou'
psny brought in one poor fellow during tae
ight, aud did what they could fer him, but Il.
vas mortally wounded, and died soou after. W.
sere kept on picket during the day lSuuday
aud if.quent!y exchanged shots with the Grey
Backs VINO were IN another ditch about 40 rods
from Us, bat with little damage to either side
unless We shot closer than they did. Daring
Tue day flag OF truce Vas sent out TO get per
mission To bring away the wounded aud dead,
and while the officers on each side we're consult
ing, some Uf ,hS pishsss improved the ''-~- q
-v.~ss shu nvid vavh half -.y, shake hands
Gak a few minutes, and then return. IL vas
altogether a novel proceeding, and of course
ont tr.tv In "A ha haa n.
TIE white flags we're seen separating, and esch
side took their old places and firing soon com
messed quite brisk. IL was nov dark and the
relief shortly sitter made its appearance when W.
quietly moved back TO our old place behind the
cannon and tried to sleep, which YOU will judge
sss not sound one, laying dowa As We did
without Ere and only cold supper.
Monday We had some Artillery firing, and in
the afternoon another flag OF truce sell
over and arrangements made by which We haJ
one hour to bring away our wounded and dead
n ben the time up, We had brought across
the line at this place rs wounded and about Is
OF the dead, and the latter stripped OF every
thing valuable, aid nearly ali shoeiess. Two OF
ticers had nothing lett bat their vests and under
clothes. | hope may never hear OF our soldiers
prac icing such bsrbarity.
Ia the evening i; became apparent that some
grand move WAS To be made, aud it vas geDer
ally supposed that night attack had been plan.
ued, aud 80 there had a. it turned out, but il
vas for the other side of the river, via the POI.
tooBs instead of harm to the enemy, ssd We
were soon marching in quick time Oh our back
track and when across ia the woods we're order
ed to make ourselves comfortable for the bal
ance Of the nigh; and some did, If We except
the oanpening effects OF heavy shower, but
the sun came out pleasant in toe morning, an1
after breakfast marched back AID occaped
our Ole camp where the boys bsc commenced
g pers, aud they are now completins them a.
though nothing had happened more snsn an o.
iuary dri or review. |, has been one OF III,
hardest undertakings On account Of the weather,
aud what effect il NAV have TO close the war, u
me question; but az there are plenty with noib
iug else 10 do but discuss th. poiut, I will leave
e Tor them.
Yours. II. l.. THAYER