The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-08-07
The late Colonel E. E. Cross.


The late Colonel E. F.. Cross.
The following letter, which was written af-
ter the battle at Frederick shurg, to friend,
in Cincinnati, Ohio. by the late colonel Cross,
who was killed at Gettysburg, has Just been
Published:
HEADQUARTERS FIRST BRIGADE, Hancock's
Division, June i, 1863 Fred
ercksburg came near being my last battle.
As We were advancing to those Eata!
heights in line of battle, | was near my col
ors. Atwelve- FOUNDER shell, from the Wash
ngton battery, burst right in front of me.
One fragmant struck me just below the
heart, making bad wound Another blew
off my hat !; another (small biO entered my
mouth, ard broke cut three of my best Jaw
teeth, while the gravel, bits of frozen earth,
and minute fragments of shell, covered my
face with bruises.
| fell insensible, and lay so for some time,
when another fragment of shell, striking me
on the left leg, below the knee, brought me
to my senses. My mouth was fall of blood,
fragments Of teeth and gravel, my breast
zone almost broken in, and lay in mud two
inches deep. My brave boys had gone along.
| always told them never to stop Tor me-
Dead and wounded lay thick around. One
captain of French's division was gaspng in
death within S-oot Of my head, his bowels
ali torn out Tk air was full of Of kissing
bullets and bursting shell. Getting on my
hands and knees. | looked 70, my flag. Thank
| God, there it auttered right amid the smoke
and fire OF the front line. ! could hear the
cheers of my brave men. Twice the colors
, dropped but were up in an instant. ! tried
to crawl along, but shot came and struck
the steel scabbard Of my saber, splitting il
open, and knocking NE down fiat,
Dizzy and faint, had sense enough to lay
myself out decently, " feet to the foe" Two
lines passed over me, but soon they swayed
blck, trampling on the dead and dying
Hating about thirty yards in the rear, ont
line laid down and commenced firing. I'm.
agine the situation. Right between two fire:
of bullets and she!l-for our own artiller,
fire from over the river was mostly too short
and did great damage to our own troops.
lay on the field four hours, the most awiu
moments of my life. As the balls from ou
line hissed over me within foot of my head
covered my face with both hands, ant
counted rapidly from one to one hundred, ,ex
pectng every moment my brains would $pat
ter the ground. But they didn't.
The guardian angels Gf there be such per
sonages) or my destiny saved me. Tn
end of my days was reserved for anothe
and hope more fortunate occasion. For
| am to die on the battl tle-fed, | pray that
may be with the cheers Of victory in my ears
When it became dark some of my men foun
me and | was carried to the hospital.
You remember the evening Of our littl
, festival. Out Of the gay crowd of officer
there assembled, death has made fearfl
muster. OF the nineteen of the fifth New
1 Hampshire il the battle, seven were kille
D and ten wounded. Of the five colonies
f the brigade three Were badly wounded. Or
: " one mounted officer was left in the brigad
d which left half its numbers dead and wount
|. ed on the field.
e Thank heaven that the old " fire proof
5 brigade added to its glorious name that da
If The same colors that were in front at Fa
: Oaks, Malvern Hill, and Antietam, wel
e placed nearest to those Inaccessible batterie
n Out of two hundred and forty-nine of II
J. regiment, one hundred and eighty are killt
a. and wolnded. Capt. Perry and Capt. Mu
ID ray were shot with the colors in their hand
E. Major Shubrant and Capt. Moore fell with
in thirty or forty yards of that stone wall
T. the foot Of the hill. But have no heart
, 90 over the details. The scenes of that ba
ID tie added ten years to my experience.
y suppose We are now in summer quarter
d Wien are tie c0nscrtpts comtay. the en-
ID my are very strong in front of US. wa
SIS to fight this thing out. My life-all ] ha
is at the service of the country. But,
I'd NE tell You it is hard fighting against stup
its ity, toolishness, and treason at home.
~, shall always be glad to see any OF l
ch Cincinnati friends, come when they may.
re now command the cid first brigade. | ha
he often been recommended for promotion, a
IRE by no less than twelve generals Yes, SC
a goes. Yours truly,
ew EDWARD Z. Cross,
m. Colonel Command First Brigade