The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-07-31

morning, but thoy camo not, thcro wo were,
no rations, no forage for hor,es, and the
enemy had cncircled US completely, and
many citizens said NO would oil have TO sur
render. but not 90. At noon our regiment
was ordered to 20 out and find some forage.
but before we reached the pickets we were
met BY one Of them, atfull speed, saying the
enemy were advancing In great force. We
were hurried to tho front to find our pickets
being driven In In much confusion. Col.
Smith ordered two companies to dismount
and dcploy rs skirmisher. Cos. q and u.
advanced as skirmishcv on foot on the lcft
of the road. Cos. A, b and + deployed to
tho right, disnounted. Co. II was sent to
tho left to remain mounted, and Co. F to tho
right. Cos. I and NJ wero held In the road
to charge II necessary, but II was soon found
out that their skirinishers greatly outnum-
bered our own, and Co. was ordered to tho
left rs skirmishers. and Co. NJ to tho right.
We soon had every carbino at work, and hot
work il was ", and thus We fought for three
quarters of an hour. when they advanced
with two lines Of skirmisher with moro than
five to one. Here Maj. Boothby and Lieut..
Huntoon, Co. g, were wounded and went to
tho rear. We wrro In the woods, but their
superior numbers compelled rs to fall back
about 800 yards this side Of the woods. but
In doing 90 We had many mon and horses
wounded-but hero wo held them till our
ammunition gavo out, then wo fell back
again to very strong position, and getting
moro ammunition wo held them till dark.
ness put stop to tho work; and glad werc
wo for We had been fighting about sevcn
hours, and were opposed by four regiments
OF cavalry and one Of iniantry-but % well
did Col. Smith handle US, and 80 determined
ly did the men fight that to rout us thoy
could not. Thrce times thoy tried to rout
us by their old and Oft repeated gnmo OF
concentrating their forco and 6re. At ono
time thoy opened oil Of sudden, eight pieces
Of artillery, and such o shower of shot and
shell tho lst Maine never met with before;
but not man left his post-and strange TO
say, not man was hurt by shell, though
several horses wcro killed and wounded. Ono
shell fell within three feet Of my horse, but
fortunately did not burst. Again just before
sunset they made another effort, rushing out
Of tho woods in great numbers and with
hideous yels they thought TO break our lines,
but were firmly met by our l,oys with most
deadly FIRE, and back they went. Onco
more after dark they tried 10, but our orders
were to hold the place and 30 We did. Wo
were kept thcrc till o'clock that night with
but nm occasional shot aftor o'clock. Atl
O'Clock wo had built wall across tho road.
and obstructing their passage at other points,
wo retired. IN the morning II was discovered
that the enemy had dono the same thing
~ kat ~ nol Iod Ia xvh hafS
we left, and who remained in possession Of
tho field, In tho morning said not an enemy
could be seen.
= Our loss was two commissioned officers.
Mai. Boothby shot through the shoulders,
and Lieut.. Hunton, through tho arm, 40
enlisted men, killed wounded and missing
thrcc only were left killed on the field. or
my company, four men were wounded, Jacob
q. MerriGeid, WATERFORD, slightly In LEFT
eide, and horse shot; Daniel Perkins, Biddo-
lord, shot through the leg below tho kncc:
George w. Mason, New Sharon, shot thro'
the thigh; Moses NJ. Hodsdon, Hollis shot
through tho body, supposed mortally and
left at Shcperdstown. Sergt. John q. Rob.
erts, New6old, John Doxey, North Berwick.
and A. o. Stoddard, Appleton, arc among
the missing; IL is feared the two former wore
wounded.
Walter Allen, Wells, had his horse shot
through the body. and my brother. Sergt.
Chadbourno had his horse shot In tho head
and ono shot In his pack, on the saddle
Scarcely man camo out oil the fight but
brought bullet hole with him, either about
his person or his horse. Lieut.. Col. Smith
is entitled to great credit ind praise for tho
cool and skilllul manner In which ho con-
Quoted the fight, for ho had the entire charge.
Much praise Is also due tho 10th Penn, who
came TO our assistance. Capt. Fisher Of this
regiment was killed, and Capt. Swan had q
bullet strike Ills field glass at his side and
Just saved his life; another bullet, while he,
Lieut.. Andrews anil wero talking, struck
and killed his horso; 80 you can judge It
was contested fight.
We are now on the ground wherc wo en-.
campcd tho first night after crossing, and are
receiving plentyfull supply Of rations,
clothing, &c. We, like everybody clsc that
don't know why Gen. Mead did not aftack
the enemy before no crossed the river, are
greatly surprised at It, and feel little down
IN the mouth but no doubt ho knows best
what to do, 80 we remain silent.
I hope you and the readers OF this, if IL
finds its way to tho readers OF the Union, will
make duo allowance for its imperfections
for havo written II on q hard bread box,
with Interruptions as often as every five min
utcs. receive your paper quito regular.
and II Is read with much cagcrncss by alf the
boys OF tho company. II. by q nice calcu.
lation, our loss shall be In tho sumo ratio II
has been during our engagements, and we
get no recruits, and mono Of tho sick or
wounded return. ivur moro battles and the
gallant lst Maine will live only in memory
and on men, tongues. But still our watch.
word is "victory or death"
PAUL CHADBoURNE,
Capt. Go. !, lst Maino Cavalry.
ENLISTMENT or BLACK SOLDIERS. Tho fol-