The Portland daily press., 1862-10-03

himself up to his full height, and with kindng
eye, he turned TO us, and exclaimed, as he
pointed the finger Of scorn at them,-"Look at
theml look at them, boysl Oh shame! shame!
shamep The brave old chaplain. l could
have hugged him then. The effect was elec-
trio, and il placed before our men in its mean
est light, the shameful cowardice there dis
played. Major Edwards, too, at this juncture,
acted with great GOODNESS and judgment, as
with encouraging words he rode along our
ines, and ever and anon, would dash in among
a crowd of skedadders, and compel them to
either enter our ranks, or give up their mus
kets to those of our men who were without
them.
With slow and steady tread we kept on to
Centrevile, passing the 1st Maine Cavalry on
the way. This regiment stands very high in
the estimation of general and cavalry officers.
aud many of the men are detailed as body
guard to the various brigades of Banks corps.
In fact, state it with pride, all our Maine reg
iments are popular in the army.
Constituting the rear of Popes retreating ar
my, we were not in the fight at Chantilly, when
the brave and dashing Kearney, and the no less
brave, but much misunderstood Stevens, met
their death, but in death gave victory to our
arms, and saved Pope from the consequences Of
his long delay at Centreville. 1t was dear
bought victory. Next to Mcclellan no man
enjoyed the confidence of our soldiers so much
as Phillip Kearney; and Stevens, had he lived,
would have made a reputation second to no
man.
Nothing Of interest characterized our march
back to Fairfax, and from thence to Fort Ly-
on again. At Fairfax we expected battle:
but the:enciny, after the Chantilly fight, be-
came shy; and besides, he had his eye on the
rich wales of eastern Maryland, wherewith to
recruit his starving legions. From Fort Ly-
on we went to Fairfax Seminary, near old
Camp Franklin. Here we hoped to gain lit
tie rest, and recuperate our wasted energies.
But no: the enemy were in Maryland, and
Mcclellan had determined to punish his temer-
ity, now that he was in command once more.
And down over Long bridge, through the
streets of Washington, stopping just long
enough to cheer our gallant chief, up the
heights of Georgetown, and along the dusty
road to Rockville, sped our wearied troops
Day after day, over sufiocatng roads, and un-
der burning sun, our poor fellows pushed on.
Now and then poor fellow would fall ex-
hausted from the ranks, and be borne TO
shady spot to await an ambulance. If indeed,
he lived. This march was especially hard for
the new regiments. But the enemy were raw
aging Maryland, and forward was the word
Atlength the spires OF Frederick are in view,
and the booming of distant cannon tells that
Sumner is engaged. All frtiane is now forgot
ten, and every eye kindles and every check Is
aglow with excitement, as we move rapidly
forward; but instead Of going to Frederick, we
turn to the left, and learn that our destination
is Harpers Ferry which is menaced by Jack
son himself But we are not fated to get there
in time to prevent the consummation of the
foulest act of treachery the annals of warfare
present Our purpose is anticipated by the
enemy, and Cobb's Legion and McGaws Di-
vision of Arkansas aud South Carolina troops
dispute the passage of Champion Gap. Away
TO our right, at the Pass of South Mountain.
of desperate struggle, and ii is evident to
Franklin that the rebels intend to hold these
passes at all hazards. To reach Harper's Fer
ry 1t is necessary to possess this Gap, and up
on that calm Sabbath afternoon Gen. Frank
lin calls council OF his Generals to decide as
to the best means TO attain this end 1t is
finally determined, at the request of that Gen.
eral, that Major Gen. Slocum's Division shall
storm the pass at the point Of the bayonet, as
our artillery can do nothing with that of the
enemy, SO adyantageously posted on the side
of the mountain. 1t was done-gloriously
done; and when the full particulars of the
achievement are known, it will be universally
acknowledged as the most brilliant fight of the
war. Our brigade was selected to open the
ball, to be followed by the gallant Jersey brig
ade, and that in turn by Newton's brigade.
The 9th N. Y, 9TH Maine, 10th n Y. and
Doth Penn, constitute our brigade, command
ed by Col Bartlett, as brave an officer as ever
drew sword. The 9th was sent forward as
skirmishers, and the 9th Maine on the left. and
and the 14th N. Y. on the right, constituted
the first line of battle, with the Goth as a re-
serve. In this order, we commenced the fight.
advancing in the face of furious cannonade.
through corn-felds and over fences, never once
fiinching or losing our line, although many
shells burst directly over us, wounding few.
until we got up with the skirmishers now hot
ly engaged with the enemy. Immediately the
"butternuts" came in view, crouched behind
stonewall and sheltered by the thick growth of
wood on the mountain side. We gave them a
volley of musketry from right TO left For
over an hour was this fire kept up, the enemy
replying with vigor, and many of our boys
were carried to the rear. AT last our ammu-
milton gave out, but just at this critical mo-
ment the Jersey boys came on at a charge,
and such a cheer as our powder-stained boys
gave them must have struck terror to the
hearts of the rebels.
Retiring few PAGES to the brow of a slight
declivity which afforded slight protection
from the solid shot of the enemy's cannon, we
waited the arrival of ammunition; but Gen.
Newton, who was in immediate command, de-
termined to make a general advance of the
whole line, with the bayonet, and up we got,
amid the whistling shot, and at the order
'charge bayonets y we went forward with
shout over our first line of battle, and after
the Jerseys, who were already on the ground
occupied by the enemy. But before we could
| get half way across the plowed field separa-