Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-08-03

Letter from Buelps PierpOlnt Bate
'errt4tf -4-E a.IJ ry. yuLars
HRAD QUARTERS BUELL's PIERPoINTBAT. I
uTERY, Warrenton, Va, July 20, 1868. {
EditoTs InteEigsncer:
Notwithstanding the fact that this is not
a Wheeling Battery, yet, inasmuch as il is
in the Virginia service, presume q syuop-
sis Of its labors during the past two years
will not prove uninteresting to your multi
tude of readers. The intervening time be.
tween September Ist, 1861, aud May lst,
1872, was spent in enjoing' pleasure trips
between Wheeling, Charleston aud back to
the former place; but on the I'd day of the
latter named month we left your beautiful
Island under command of Major General
Fremont. (who.h w the way IS the best Geu-
sraf We have ever carved under n. and after
,r.aaFShiag ground between PefershuFg and
franklin for some time, we finally started
in earnest up the beautiful and fertile Shen-
andoah Valley in quest of Jackson, whom
we overlook for the irst time and skir-
mished with at Strasburg ON the Sd of
June. -''''F
From that time until the 9th of the same
month not day passed without a brisk
skirmish occurr ng, but we invariably
routed the enemy. On the last mentioned
day transpired our first actual battle
Cross Keys-and after four hours deter
mined aud persistent fighting, We finally
drove the rebels from the field. The next
morning bright and early we again gave
chase, and followed Sto1ewaII 10 Port Re-
public, but that willy General burned the
bridge at that place aud we were compelled
to relinqnish the race. Returning we spent
some time at the towns of Mt. jackson,
Strasburg and Middletown. On the 18th
of July we had brilliant little skirmish
at Luray, but being nearly equal in num-
bers to the eGemy, they run and left us in
the lurch.
From this time until the sth of August,
we whiled away our time very pleasantly
at Sperryville, but at nine O'Clock of
that day we were en- route for Culpepper,
which place we reached during the after
noon Of the following day, whence we
pushed on to Cedar Mountain to take part
in the action then progressing there
Here we remained until the afternoon of
the 18th, when We commenced the retreat
under Pope: ...-.
On the 22d, we engaged Jackson's forces
at Freeman's Ford. Here the gallant and
lamented Capt. Buell. received his fatal
wound, which he survived but few hours.
From this point, we continued to fight
every day all along the Rappahaunock,
until finally, on the 29th, commenced the
fatal second Bell Ran engagement, during
all of which we we're engaged from the
commencement up to the closing hour,
This disastrous campaign closed, we spent
some three weeks at Washington in refit-
ting onr. somewhat disabled pieces, and on
September 2lst started for CentreVille,
Lieut. Theis with one section having pre-
viously driven the enemy from Leesburg.
Here we remained the greater portion of
the time until December 18th, when our
corps (the llth) was ordered to Freder-
icksburg to reinforce Burnside, but being
compelled to retreat we fell hack to STAFF
ford @. H., which place we made head
quarters during the remainder of the win
teT!l Several times, however, we were
ordered oat to dislodge small parties Of
guerrillas which were infesting the cOun-
try and we were universally successful
April 9th, broke up camp aud pushed on
to Charlottesville, where we were engag-
ed at the time of the retreat of the End of
May From here, we marched around In
various directions over the "saered soil"
until we finally found ourselves once more
at Fairfax G. g., where we marched on the
25th nit. In two days We reached Fred
erick City, Nd, where We remained twen-
ty-four hoGrs to rest then continued on
ward by short marches to Gettysburg,
which place we reached about 8 A, H. on
the morning Of the 2nd inst. Here We lay
qhiss6ent dbtii4 pm when our brigade
(the' first one of the ARTILLERY Reserve) Was
ordered to the trout and We we're the frat
battery to take position, which We did in
The hereafter to be historical "Cemetery
Hill, and there remained unhl T, d. Of
the 9Th inst. when, weak and wearied out,
we we're permitted in conjunction with al
the artillery to retire. That night We
marched to Littlestown, ana by easy. mar
ches We reached this place on the 24th. 70
remaain I know not how long,. though j
presume our stay will be Of brief duration
as the pontoon train was to-day ordered to