Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1863-08-21
I'll a. AUGUST g
miscellaneous Reaoius
The late Colonel &. +. Cross,


! The late, Colonel e. Il. Cross,
The following letter, which was written
after the battle Of Fredericksburg, to al
friend in Cincinnati, Ohio, by the late Col
lonel Cross, whowas killed at Gettysburg,
has just been published 80
HEADoUARrERs FIRST BRiGApE,l
Hancock Division, June A, 1868. {
- - Fredericksburg came near be-
ing my last battle. AS weswere advancing
othose fatal heights in line of battle, was
near my colors. a twelve-pounder shell,
from the Washington battery, burst right
in front of me. One fragment struck me
just below the heart, making bad wound.
Another blew off my hat; another (small
biD entered my mouth, ana broke out three
of my best jaw teeth, while the gravel, bits
of frozen earth, and minute fragments of
she'll covered my face with bruises.
/ fell insensibe, 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 full of blood,
fragments of teeth and gravel, my breast
bone almost broken in, and / lay in mud two
inches deep. My brave boys had gone along.
l always told them never to stop for me.
Dead and wounded lay thick around. One
captain of French's division was gasping in
death within foot Of my head, his bowels
all torn out. The air was full of kissing
bullets and bursting shell. Getting on my
hands and knees, looked for my flag.
Thank God, there it futtered 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 in
slant. tried to crawl along, but shot
came and struck the steel scabbard of my
sabre, splitting it open, and knocking me
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 back, trampling on the dead and
dying. Halting about thirty yards in the
rear, one line laid down and commenced fir
ing. Imagine the situation. Right between
two fires of bullets and shell-tor our own
artillery fire from over the river was mostly
too short, and did great damage to our own
troops. | lay on the field four hours, the
ulOst awful u1oLiCiito vi iilC. <Ao tuC
balls from our line Kissed over me within a
foot Of my head, covered my face with
Goth hands, and counted rapidly from one
to one hundred, expecting every moment
my brains would spatter the ground. But
they didn't.
| The guardian angels (if there be such
personages) or my destiny saved me. The
end of my days was reserved for another
and hope more fortunate occasion. For
if am to die on the battlefield, pray that
! it may be with the cheers of victory in my
! ears. When it became dark some of my
men found me and l was carried to the
hospital.
You remember the evening of our little
festival. Out of the gay crowd of officers
there assembled, death has made fearful
muster. OF the nineteen of the fifth New
| Hampshire in the battle, seven were killed
and ten wounded OF the five colonies of
! The brigade three were badly wounded.
i Only one mounted officer was left in the
/ brigade, which left half of its numbers dead
and wounded on the field.
| Thank heaven that the old ssfire-proof"
brigade added to its glorious name that day.
The same colors that were in front at Fair
] Oaks, Malvern Hill, and Antietam, were
placed nearest to those inaccessible batteries.
Out of two hundred and torty-nine OF my
regiment, one hundred and eighty are killed
and wounded. Capt. Perry and Capt. Muir
ray were shot with the colors in their hands.
Major Shubrant and Capt. Moore fell within
thirty or forty yards of that stone wall at
the foot OF the hill. But have no heart TO
4 go over the details. The scenes of that bat
tie added ten years to my experience.
suppose we are now in summer quarters.
When are the conscripts oming? The ene-
my are very strong in front of us. L wait
to fight this thing out. My life-ail | have
lis at the service of the couutry. But, let
me tell you, it is hard fighting against stu
pidity, foolIshness, and treason at home
l shall always be glad to see any of my
Cincinnati friends, come when they may.
now command the old first brigade. have
often been recommended for promotion, and
by no less than twelve generals. es, so II
goes. Yours truly,
EDWARD +. CRoss,
Colonel Commanding First Brigade.
And the prayer Of the brave New Hamp-
shire Colonel was answered, for he did ''die