Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1862-10-17
lCousspoueenee Of the Daily Empire
The Battles OF the south Noun
tain and Antietnm-COX's DIE
vision.

VhNhOms
CAMP BuRSnDEs, Nd, Sept 30, 1862
Friend Joe;--HAving as yet failed TO 800
any notice Of the part the llth RegimentO, D,
| v. /, took in she recent hard fought battle 'in
Maryland, will endeavor 70 give you brief
history OF the ordeal through which they pas
sed in the memorable battles Of South Noun
tain and An,ietsm. .
Gen'l Cexs Division (better known as the
Kanawha Division left Munson's Hill, Va,
on the 9Th Of Sept; and crossed the Potomac
over the Georgetowu Aqueduct, marching
through Georgetown and Washington City,
and encamped in Maryland, few miles from
the Capital On the next day we marched to
Leesborough, where we encamped for the
night On the next morning we received the
disasreeAble news that our transportation was
TO be reduced to six wagons three Of those
were to haul the ammunition and one for
Field Officers, another for the Medical De
parlment and one for the Quartermaster's s
Department Leaving us poor private "indi-
yiduals' nary Wagon with which to haul our
cooking utensils. In consequence of this
change every man had to carry bis own ra-
tons for three days in his haversack, and also
his cooking utensils; and take into considera-
ton knapsack heavy loaded haverssck, car
| fridge box with u hundred rounds, gun, &c
all making respectable load for a pack
mule you have pretty good idea OF what
soldier has TO carry on the march. IL was
| kind Of "Stunner' on the line officers, for it
compelled them for once, TO pack their own
"bed and board on their backs At night,
when we camped, we found it very inconve-
nient, os every man had to do his own cook
ing aud in order to make cup Of coffee you
had first to brown the coffee, then smash it
with stone, then cook it, which generally
took from dark until tattoo" But enough Of
this; let's nov on to Frederick city
After one DAYS march we reached Ridgville,
"a miles from Frederick, the enemies piekets
having Just left before our entrance We
stacked arms Just outside this village, and
camped for the night Ridgville is situated
in beautiful country, There are some
splendid orchards in its immediate vicinity,
and the nice peaches and apples that | saw
makes my mouth water whenever | think of
them. There we're such stringent orders
against taking any thing in the fruit line that
viz.-"Any soldier caught in the orchard, po-
tato patch, corn feld, &c. without permission,
will be arrested, Court Martialed, and if
found guilty-Shot General Order.
On our march from Ridgville to Frederick,
| saw a soldier arrested for attempting to steal
an old goose The chap was in field after q
Hock of geese and he had just succeeded in
overhauing an old goose, when Gen'l Rod
ney and Staff came riding by and discovered
the scamp, and thereby saved old Mrs.
Goose's life, by ordering the fellow arrested,
sent to the rear, and to be tied fast to the
wagon until further orders | never heard
whether the offender was shot or not but as
geese don't come under the head Of peaches,
apples or potatoes, don't think he was.
We past through New Market, six miles
from Frederick, and on passing through we
passed the Pennsylvania Reserves, who had
arrived there an hour before us by another
road. l noticed among them good many
new Regiments, some not a month yet in the
service. They were soon destined to smell
gunpowder, for some OF the new Pennsylva-
MIA Regiments suffered terribly in the battle
of Antietam, as theirlists of killed and wound.
ed show.
1t was reported along the road that the
enemy had blown up the Stone Bridge across
the Monocacy and were prepared to dispute
our passage across that river, but this was
found on approaching the bridge to he false,
as the bridge was still there, and the enemies
pekets had Just been driven across it, They
had peice of Artillery posted in ploughed
field, on hill, opposite the bridge, supported
. by a regiment of cavalry, q couple of our
guns soon shelled them ont however, and they
retired in the direction of Frederick closely
pursued by our cavalry. During this skir-
mish Gen. Burside's made his appearance for
the first time, and was vociferously cheered
by all the troops along the line. He was ac.
companied by his Staff and body guard He
proceeded Immediately to the 'front.' suppose
to see what was up The enemies pickets
; having been driven into ;own we advanced
for the purpose of driving the enemy through
Frederick which our Generals had found out
. was only held by brigade of Stewards Cav
airy and battery of four guns Gen. Cox.
! Division being in the advance was ordered Il
advance and take possession of Frederick :
The first brigade was formed in line Of battl,
f. on the right Of the road and the Both anc
\ 2Sth formed on the left The llth kept tn,
road. Two peices of artillery were in the ad
j vance of the llth, supported BY squadron o
= cavalry Thus formed the whole line ad
yaneed toward the town. The cavalry aheaS
met with some resistance at the edge of tow
= by the enemy who were concealed benin,
e houses and kept up brisk FIRE for a while
+ Col, Moore, who commands our brigade place,
s himself at the head OF Glmore's Chicag,
,f Cavalry and ordered them to charge Ava
| they went into town the artillery following
? close after. The llth was then ordered Vi
= double quick, and when we arrived at tn
y edge OF town we we're all out Of breath hayin
come double quick for two miles Gilmore
Cavalry having charged into town and not dis
covering the enemy supposed the town ceal
cd, but in this they were mistaken, for sue
& denly out of Street, leading on to Mai
n street, came large body Of the enemies ca,
p airy They Immediately came sweepng dow
h on our cavalry, 30 sudden as to throw ther
il into confusion and force them back on on
IS artillery who were in the Street, with the