The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-07-31
For tho Union and Journal
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
CAxp lsr Me-. CAvALRr, I
HARPyRs FERRY, July lS, 1863. {

CAxr lsr Me-. CAvALRr,
HARpERs FERRY, July Is, 1863.
Mn. Butler, SlR:-With your permission.
and ut tho earnest request Of many friends. |
will giyo through tho Union, q short sketch
of our doings since last wrote you. for 10
is impossible to answer separately oil the
enquiries made to mo from the friends OF my
company. On tho 18th Of June, while tho
regiment was ut Warrenton Junction, my
company was detailed to Headquarters Cavalry
Corps, for escort duty, and remained there
just four weeks-consequcntly, we wero not
engaged in the bloody battles OF Aldie and
Gettysburg; but VIC were often exposed to
as much danger MS though wo had actually
been engaged, for Gen. Plcasenton used both
officers and men in carrying orders and dis.
patches to Gcn. Hooker and tho different
cavalry commanders. After Cen. Meade took
command of tho army. he and Plcascnton
were over together, and our labors wero much
less, and right glad We wcrc. T..
Hero lot me speak word OF our noble
cavalry commander Gen. Ple.senton, for
having been with him and at his Headquar.
ters for four weeks, through such fighting ns
tho battles of Aldie and Gettysburg, think
know him pretty we'll, and hesitate not
to say that no is tho man for tho place
brave, and yet gentlemanly. Ono other
quality which ho possesses and which cndcars
him to mo is-ho is strictly temperate,
and am satisfied that II wo had moro officers
like him, in this respect, we should havo
moro victories; and may tho time soon come.
when tho President or the bullet shall rid
our noble army of these stumbling blocks,
yes. worse than that, murdercrs.
But l SEQ am DEPRESSING somewhat and
30 will return to the regiment and company.
At Aldie, tho regiment again by Its bold and
desperate dash. saved brigade from an In.
glorious rout, and won tho day; but hero
fell our noble Colonel, rs brave man rs ever
led q charge, also Capt. Summit of Co. II.
and several non.commissioned officers and
priyates of much promise. At Uppervillo
the regiment again demonstrated its superior
fighting qualities, though II suffered much
in its loss Of officers, as has been already re-
ported by tho press and public journals.
At this time my men were compelled to
rido very hard. for everything Of Importance
had to be carried 10 Gen. Hooker by couricrs,
no telegraph connecting Aldie with Fairfax
whero Hooker was, q distance Of 20 miles.
II was on this road met the noted guerril-
Ia Moscby. As soon as the battle Of Aldie
was over and the enemy driven beyond the
the Gen. sent mo with the report
to Gen. Hooker. took !. r, Allen, j. +.
Hill and j. p. Abbott, of my company and
started with the glad tidings; when about
half way thero wo passed squad OF cavalry
resting In tho woods, and soon alter passed
q whole brigade supply train going TO Aldio.
Just MS VIC passed tho train wc saw small
force of cavalry coming after tho train, bot
1t to be the guard to the train,
keeping on until within short pistol range We
discovered il was tho enemy after the train
and knowing we could do nothing to check
b, large Iorcc. and not liking to be taken
prisoner Just then with 80 important dis
patch, gave the order to fall back. When
wo turned they gave us volley and charged
after us and before Abbott could turn and
get away thcy wero upon him and took him
prisoner. They continued to charge after US
firing and calling for us to surrender, but
wo couldn't SEQ it In that light, and knowing
tho nectness of our horses we venturcd race.
and won; wo fell back to the cavalry in the
woods wo had passed going down, where we
halted and took two rebels that were too
close to us for their safety, and then rallied
this force rs quick rs possible, which was
some of tho 18th ILL.,, Maj. Bronson: but
before they could rally, tho enemy made the
teamsters unhitch every horses and mules and
they were taking them of in hurry-but
rs soon rs 1t was possible we charged them
and rcca aptured all tho horses and mules but
four taking six Of the enemy prisoners with
their horses and equipments. Alter We got
through. and tho whole was done in les time
than Il takes mo to writc this, learned 1t
was tho guerrilla Moseby.
After We left Aldie and won't to Fred.
prick Md, all communication was cut of
from Baltimore and Washington by the enemy.
Gen. Meade wished to send very impor.
tant message to Gen. Hallcck, at Washing
ton and 90 sent to PleasentOn to send 1t
through by four or five cavalry men, If It
was possible TO do 30. He called mo and
asked if had five men that could trust to
take it through. thought had. IL any
body had-so.I selected Scrgt. l. IL: Allen
and lot him pick his men. and with tho mes
sago and orders to 90 as quick ns their horses
could 20, they started. After running
into the enemy's pickots on two roads they
to get in between them and 30 to
Baltimore whero they took the cars for
aud back again to tho great
satisfaction of both Generals, and much TO
their own credit for daring courage.
At the battle Of Gettysburg wo oil had
many narrow escapes. The piece Of shell
which struck Gen. ButtcrGcld passed between
the legs Of Lieut.. Andrews.
July 18th. Headquarters were ut Antie-
tam Greek where tho company was relievcl
by what remained Of the 9th regulars, thoy
having been badly cut up IN an engagement
It or near Fairfield. We Joined the regi.
ncnt same day at Boonsboro'.
On tho llth Vico President Hamlin spent
Tho day with US and the Maine troops thero.
md was gladly received by all, especially by
.llose of Maine. When he left Con. Plsisen.
.on directed me to take my "Niaino boys and
.scort the President to Boonsboro," I" which
NO did with pleasure I can assure you. i
After stopping two days ut Boonsboro'
.wo brigades OF Greggis Division wsrc order,
ID TO cross tho sivsr at Harpers Ferry and
ind out where the enemy were. Wecrossed
hat night on pontoon bridge. just laid, and
,yer which some infantry first went and
lroye the piokets out Of town. We encampcd
INT night on Bollivcr Hights. Next morn
mo- wo started out on tho Charlcstown road,
Ist Maine having the advance; wo soon found
Inc enemy and drove them back to Charles.
own were we found they had but q small
orcc, but we were ordered 10 bring on no
general engagement. and soon to fall back
rc did 90, having but one man wounded,
french Bulser, Co. e. We then took tho |