The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-12-12


conflict of the war. Bayonets slid into strong
mems bosoms, until the point dripping blood.
emerged from the back. Gun stocks went
crashing through qniyering brains. smashing
skulls to the chin, and some not content with
their murderous weapons threw them down,
and drawing their knives, slashed into each
other, bowling all the while like maddened
wolves.
lhis is no imaginary sketch. l saw all this
win my own eyes, and am ready to assert il
at all times. The enemy, dismayed aud fright
ened by this display of fighting quality, broke
and fled, many OF them towards the river but
lar the greater part TO their left, which as yet,
was unassaled, our line not extending Far
enough in that direction, leaving in our hands
35O prisoners, guns and one stand of colors.
But the battle was not over for the ehemy
strong still in their rifle pits on their LETT,
opened raking fire down the length of our
line which proved very destructive, and perceiy-
Ing the smaness Of our force, only 800 men, ,ad
yanced heavily upon our right. MyCompany
being the extreme right company, my officers
had both fallen and took command sBoys,
do not yield foot; we will soon have rein
forccment," and the noble fellows fought like
wounded tigers at bay, but the enemy was too
strong and they pushed us back, foot by foot,
the resistance being so stubborn, that our
guns actually hit those of the rebels, as we
thrust them forward to fire. Good God Had
we got to give up the Notifications after once
winning them at so heavy a cost? Where
was the 9TH Wisconsin? We did not serve
them SO at st. Mary's Heights. We followed
them SO closely that part of our boys were
ahead OF them. Oh, it is dreadful! When
will they be here? Such thoughts as these
swept through our minds, as we fought on, on.
on. Would they ever come? NV bows ac-
tually cried with anger at being obliged to
give way, for since we had been soldiers, it
had never happened before. Hurrah A cheer
went up from the glorious old 5th, as bursting
like living torrent over the entrenchments,
they came to our aid, and throwing ourselves
upon the ground exhausted, while tears of
JOY flowed from every eye, we let the boys of
the 9th leap over us to take our places. Sim
ultaneously with the jth Wisconsin came the
gallant 9TH Maine and 12lst New York, who
rushed upon the enemy's left and carried those
works with rush; and the victory was won
the enemy either being captured, or driven
into the river and then shot in the rushing
waters. The result of this victory was 4
guns and stand of colors, 1900 prisoners, 2OOO
stand of small arms, and one bridge train.
And now came the heart-rending scene of
hunting up the killed and wounded. Torches
were hastily made, and the dull glare OF the
flames sireamed over the bloody field and en-
trenchments, now falling broadly upon the
upturned face of the dead, now showing the
forms OF the badly wounded writhing in ST.
lent agony for 1t is very seldom one hears
Maine man or New England man making
much noise over his woundsI, as borne by
anxious friends they passed over the battle
ground. Our loss in the regiment, killed and
wounded, was 16 officers and 123 enlisted
men, over half the whole loss on our side.
My company lost %. Maine has been called
upon once more TO mourn the loss OF her no
bic youth Forty little humble graves, ranged
side by side, now tell what the Pine Tree
State has offered to the great cause in this
battle. And the swift waters of the Kappa
hammock sweep by the spot, murmuring soft
requiem over their departed lives, and hasten
ing on past twenty-five other graves at Fred
ericksburg, all from the 9Th Maine, while soon
along the highways of their native State Grip
pies will be seen toiling-victims OF this ter
ribe engagement. Alas, that our oe..ssy
bitter cup may soon be taken from our lips,
and law. reason, and purc-minded liberty hold
their sway over all this land. Happy, blessed
will be the day thereof.
Numerous instances of remarkable yalor
among our boys have come to my knowledge,
but will not stop to mention them now.
When get home and meet you again, as
hope soon shall, shall have huge fund of
them to tell you, every one Of which will be
tst6 tty hcW. DJ luC way, u scI2cdIL Ill lllN
company captured the colors from the enemy,
the stand that our regiment took. hardly
know what did personally.
And now what about the friends of g.? !
often think Of the happy hours passed there:
when around the camp bivouac, thoughts of
the past come trooping to the heart, bright
spots in soldiers life. How little did we
think in those days that three years hencewould
see Americas youth marching proudly under
tl,a fol - 81.
as they foated over hundreds Of battle-nelds,
through deep Southern forests, over the sun
ny fields of the far South, waving in halos of
unexampled valor and god-like patriotism.
But old Father Time brings unexpected chang
es, and this, the most remarkable of them all:
and yet,as we carefully look backward through
all the political changes Of our country. 1t is
not so strange. The Idea of secession was not
new one In 1861, but extended back TO the
days OF Calhoun and his gttering sophistry.
1t was this that brought us into the field OF
battle for the Union, and at its very iounda-
tion lies the bleeding form of the slave, the
Alpha of 1t ALL The "Irrepressible conflict"
is waging hot and fierce, and liberty or slavery
must win the day and sit triumphant in the
capital OF the strongest government. Can
we do otherwise than make liberty trium-
phant? No! our lives must weigh as naught
In this struggle, and our best energies must
be worked TO their utmost.
l am indignant to see the result of the late
draft, but am hoping the next Que will be
more successful and our regiment repeted
We did not get man. l see they are offering
great inducements in Maine, as far as money
is concerned to volunteers. How proud /
should be If the old Pine Tree state could
raise the quota by volunteering, but am
afraid she will lack many on the 5th of JAM,
1854. How l long to be in the civilized world
again; to once more don a citizens suit aud
walk the streets my own boss. | do not like
military life nor did ever like it,but then you
know, circumstances will cause one to endure
what at other times would be perfectly un-
bearable. | know that we must fight and |
never would be behind in such hours of duty.
When the golden smiles of Peace dwell softly
III our land, then | can look back upon this
probation as perhaps the brightest part of my
youth life and thank God that was permitted
to lend my humble aid in the great cause of
liberty. would not exchange those reminis-
cences for all the gold Of the world. How it
will be for the Copperheads / cannot say.
hax .s.xxs s1xas~ G.4.. -