Litchfield enquirer., 1863-02-26
From the 18th Regiment.

From the 18th Regiment.
 CAMP 19TH CONN. VoLs., I
 Fr. WsRrH, VA, Feb. 20. 1863. J Mn.sJAMrs HUMPHREY, JR:
 DEAL. SIR :-Feeling that you. and the people of Litchfsld County, are deeply inter ested in the engagements of the 18th z: V. beg to introduce in your columns the lo,io~ ing amusing scene which occurred on "s.ns. day, the 18th inst. About o'clock the olue' came around for the Companies = isn =, ]. without arms or aeceutrements, at tne 'aP E q. the drum. Az the weather was somewhat in- element. there was some surmising as to what was to be the order of exercises. Pressntly tha<drum corps summoned us to form line of battle in fine field of suntredden snow, 2 few redsfrom Camp. Bysorder, ,ws broke by wing, right and left to the rear, and formed two lines of hsttis, the right vs the left wing. All Be- ing ready, our fighting Col. Kellogg, in thun- deripg tones. giving the order .Load at wilr- load"-every man moulded as many balls as conFsaient,, and at the second order, ''coni- ,nsnce firing" the air was filled with shells buratipg thick and fast against the noses, eyes or broadside ef some unlucky individuals. l cas esrtify # from esperienc. that my head sung very much like tea-kettle. The battle grew aerser, and hotter, the balts thicker and harder. About this time our Colonel joined the. fight. wing. and sailed in. The bloody noses and beautiful black eyes told the inten- ;sity of the hour. It was common scsnete see some enc, with both hands patching his face, going to the rear. The battle ragged with terrific onslaught, until the bngls sounded the disperse think it hard to draw any dis tinctione between the pluck of either wing. All being over, . regular jollifsation snsued, showing wounds and bruises. Among the seriously wounded were Col. Kellogg and eap- aims Rice and Peck, (several ightly,) but by the aid of Patent Medicines they will eoonre- eoYer.A.c E. M. BsRRY, It.
 FgIEND HUMPHREY :-I have sometimes thought, while reading the familiar pages of the ENQUIRER, which reflect so largely the sentiments of the people of Litchfeld County, that occasional voices from the absent ones might pot be uninteresting ts thsse at home, and ipAsagch as it has been thought unwise to allow the soldier an expression of opinion atthe ballot-box, think you will give him one in your columns
 Ipresume everybody knows that your Litch- feld County Regiment is near Fort Worth, Va, and as every soldier writes more or less COR cerniDg our daily life and experience to his friends at home, will net repeat the story.
 Of enc thing, however, wish to speak. and I would that could do so, in tones that should reyerberats among the hills and echo along the valleys of the ''Mountain County,' telling visitors 10 the army, and all who return there from, reporting us as universally sick of the war and signing for home, that there is one soldier (yss. tent full of them, at least) whose ..ssntence is for open war" We hear much, quite too much, of rspning and cur sing of men and measures but it proceeds from those whose opinions and influence were worth nothing with you, and which are worth cen+sA srably less with us. The views of sen sible aud patriotic men everywhere must GO incide in this that however we reached ths present condition of things and whoever is yesponsibie, our only egress is "Forward" '" sye hars ne,h;ngto compromise but national cxisttnoo, and Ws must fight it out! Now if this ia the feeling of men in the army, wlo have in perilled their all, what must be lhsir ehagrin aHd disgust-to learn that the lidesus doctrines of that great sympathizsr with re- bellion, who is at once the pride and leader of the secession elemsptin Connecticut are gain ing ground among you. Is itso Does tho. Hartford spescn of Ex Gov. Seymour repre- sent the views of the people of our hitherto glorious lia.e Commonwealth.
 If such is the case, and we are to be cutCof fromiihs moral and material support hitherto furnished us, if Connecticut is about to ceun- tsrmarch in. sentiment and action, belle her previous history, and abandon her sons whom she encouraged to ,forsake home and the inter ests of life. to risk all in defense of institu- tions which she had taught us to love, then Jet us know it, that we may understand that WAen WS H1Ve uHisaeu rsDelllon apredu, We are to turn our victorious arms against it at home, But why, lot me ask, do opinions chadge?' Is it because of an oyerweening regard for the absent ones, or are your dollars tee prscioussto bs used in repurchasing the liberties yet more dearly purchased by the fathers @sA
 have written more than intended, but by the interest ws feel in your political affairs, as we'll as by the demands of the hour, VI VI, hopeJou will bs inspired to efort-put down rebellion in ,conneetieu,, and encourage ps .q do the same in Dixie,
 Wehays been more than once indignant at .shs vordy lstters published in the Northern papers by visitors who dash down here, catch . glimpse of eur condition as regards health in body. morals and opinions, and then return and rspor. with no greater approximation to the facts than one might ebtain by staying at home, drinking boiled cider and dreaming about us. .-As no tive persons look at things tbrangh tba aama corrlea ii mnst of conr,.