Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-10-30
0ournal aitu 4tatrsmtan
wILMINGTON, DEL,
Friday Morning, October 80, 1853
INTERESTING LETTER
From the Army of the Pntnman.

S"NAetN o 9Adtlouf uurluE WHICH tue auu OlNltlOu
passed US and took the lead. The engagement
with The enemy at Auburn was just over, and
tue animated voices OF the men were yet discus
sing the incidents of the conflict.
We by this time, fairly realized the magnitude
of the interests confded to the 2nd Corps for
preservation The trains of the whole army
were moving ahead of us parallel with their re-
spectve corps. desperate and formidable
enemy was moving about mile on our left with
heavy forces hanging on our rear with the in
tentlon Of capturing our traius, aud if possible,
ouiiankng our whole army by routing its rear
guard. This rear guard was our Corps; and
every veteran in the command, who had the hard
won reputation Of the q" gallant Second " at
heart, openly testified his appreciation of the
great compliment thus paid to itby the command
lug General in selecting it for this arduous and
hazardous service.
" Clubs are trumps!" shouts the hungry,
muddy foot.sore hero, with look Of conscious
invincibility that would cause an advancing
butternut 10 cast "maDy longing, lnger
ing look behind where he had lett the shelter
Of thatfreudly tree.
These men, be it remembered, were destitute
of ralions the last gill OF coffee had been cooked
aud swallowed. They had been aroused at mid
night on the 18th had marched until 10 A. NJ,
aud had then thrown themselves upon thc wet
ground to snatch few hours brief repose re-
sumed the march and bivouaoked at dark in a
dense wood Took up the march again at day
break on the l4th were attacked and repulsed
the enemy at Auburn, and were still dragging
their weary limbs through the Virginia mud
Yet no word of complo'-t yeo ti' '.t 9 r' 'fe-.,
men Of nerve; but ..
by the taukers, they speedily H. aug ,heir mus
kets and examined the caps in ~ Ter to be sure
that the etlcency of one rebel should depend on
the charge each one contained.
The 2nd Division commanded by Brig. Gen.
Webb, led the column. The 3l Division COM
manded by Brig. Gen. Hays, followed. His
Brigades moved in the following order Sd Brig
ade commanded by Brig Gen. Owens in advance,
followed by the 2nd Brigade, commanded by Col.
Smyth, lst Del The lst Brigade commanded
by Col. Carroll, Sth Ohio, was detailed as rear
guard to the Corps. The Sd Division was fol-
lowed by the lst Division commanded by Brig.
Gen. Caldwell
The End Division was marching across an open
space east of the Orange and Alexandria Rail
Road and the I'D Brigade of our Division was
filing across the plain, while the head of our
Brigade was just emerging from the wood, and
crossing run, when suddenly, bang bang
bang! thundered the rebel artillery, from
hill about five hundred yards on our left. In
stantly the quiet and orderly march was turned
into apparent confusion. Headquarters flags
moved rapidly alone the line aids galoped flu
riuusly in every direction batteries dashed iuto
position General Warren, with his squadron OF
aids aud otderlies rushed past and the ringing
tones OF military commands all contributed to
intensity the excitement of the moment.
All this time, which was, however, not many
minutes, the screaming shot and bowling shell
were tearing through our ranks Three long
lines Of russet brown now appeared on the hill,
the bood-red banner of slavery and treason
floating above them While we looked, the white
curling smoke sprung from right to left, partial.
ly obseuriug them. Along with the spiteful
crash came the rush Of the leaden storm; but
the End Corps moved steadily sulleuly up 10 tue
bank Of the Rail Road lie wing the ground over
which they crossed checkerd with many dark
blue spots, showing that a few more heroes were
arrested in their career Of glory.
Then Arnold's Battery took up the dreadful
tale. Perrin's and FrCnch's soon followed, and
little else could be heard but the scream of solid
shot, the terrific hum of bursting shell, the in
cessant boom OF artillery and the rolling crash of
musketry.
The enemy supposing our confusion so great
that our men could not be rallied, advanced with
confident yells; hut the 2nd Corps had heard
those demoniacal yeils before, aud knew tbut al
though they might excel IN yelling, the 2nd
Corps could i1atch them at fighting
Our Brigade was ordered by Geu Hays to adj
vance through wood in our front and charge
that rebel column on their right flank "Fix bay
onets shouted Col. Smyth. '' Forward,
AA"AIh AAuh NJ uuNtu III Nut through u utuse
wood. While we were advancing the 3l Brigade
engaged the approaching rebel column aud halt
ed it. Very soOn our Brigade APPEARED at the
edge Of the wood and opened On the enemy's
rght. 10 be cut0nked is something particu-
larry replgnnn TO o soldier md especially 20 to
a rebel This occasion was no exception to the
general rule. They no soencr found themselves
assailed ON the right than they made IA scrub race
CT it to reach the shetering wood. Our Brigade
was then formed in The wood in the following or
der from right TO left lst Delaware commanded
by Lieut. Col, T. p. Harris l4th Connecticut
commanded by Col. T. G Ellis 9th New Jer-
sey commanded by Lieut.. Col. Davis. and the
lOoth New ufk command ty Col. c. j. Powers
Col. Powers reported thht a heavy iorce Of the
enemy was moving towards his left The lst
Division was so disposed as to be ready TO meet
this sIiategical move of the enemy, and the l0Sh
/ N. y, and two companies of the 18th N. j,
were filed to the LETT thus changing their front to
meet the attack.
While forming this line of battle, the skrmish-
eTs Of the 2nd Division, and our Sd Brigade
consisting of the 39tb, 1llth, 125ih aud 10th
N. Y. regiments were advancing to capture one OF
the rebel batteries. Slowly I. ey moved over the
intervening ground-gradualy they approached
the grim, but now silent guns for Capt Arnold
had forced them to hold their peace and they
held it, although the rebels didn't. They reach
ed the edge Of the hill and rushed up with a
hnOul. n tremendous Cheer breaks from our
whole line as they seize the guns and caissoDs
and start with them down the hill. But hold !
See that hurryiug mass of dingy brown moving
to the rescue of their pet battery. They must
not reach that HILL nor will they for our Bri
gade dashes out of the wood with deafening
cheers. he rebel column halts and opens fire
on us. Now VT get orders to halt also, and hold
our position. The lurd stream Of fire and
surging clouds Of smoke roll along our line the
men load and fire as coolly as though they we're
hired to fire away as many pounds of lead as
: possible in n given time.
When our firing ceased NO rebels were in sight,
except ihose Who had no power TO leave the field,
/ and our own men roamed leisurely over the
ground. While waiting here for ORDERS many
singular incidents came to my notice, which,
Notwithstanding the gravity of the occasion,
made me smile.
The odd manner in which our boys captured
their prisoners wns somewhat amusing. One OF
ours beckons to Iebel and calls out: Halle
Johnny uot up here, you're my goose As
{ soon as they meet johnny is hailed with the fol-
lowing original introduction to M acquaintance
say, what regiment do YOU belong to, Give
J., us all you got IN your pockets. Cut of some oi
your buttons"
i When the battery that was captured came iu
what do you think l saw Why, several Of tn,
limbers aud caiss0us used as ambulances TO carr,
in wounded rebels. All credit to the hardl
warriors; they haul in wounded prisoners Of
: their own captured guns.
! One drOll fellow, who is the merry Andrew o
his regiment, came into our mes a.er the fieh.
: and tine ridiculous figure he cut. SET the who'll
Hua III 4 lunarf n.,H.u ua