Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1863-01-03

HELD, II was most palnlni 10 listen TO the pitt
! ful cries of the wounded for help, and for wa
ter, and no person able to go to their assiS-
tance. Thus it is that many of our poor, brave
soldiers die-die from want and exposure. 1t
| is one of the many barbarities of war-a cursed
war that is desolating one of the mightiest and
| happiest nations the sun ever shone on.
| 1t is we'll for you at home, as You sit around
your happy freSides, tc speculate On the suffer
ing and the bravery Of our soldiers TO criti-
else the conduct of men and officers /; to pass
an opinion upon the bravery of this man, on
the capacity of that, for the position he holds
in fact to hold yourselves as censors of the
men who are devoting their lives to the inter
ests of their country but if you wOnld come
upon the field with US for q while, and share
with rs our couch in the mud, or on the hard
ruts of the frozen ground and share with US
our meals of sour coffee and hard crackers,
and march from 10 to Is miles in the mud to
your shoe-tops each day for few days, think
you all would be less Jealous in your criticisms
in regard to the conduct of this war, and es-
pecialy as to the tardiness with which it is
conducted.
The officers of my Regiment behaved we'll ;
indeed, they behaved splendidlv. 1t is one
thing to rush into battle under the excitement
of the moment, and become engaged with the
enemy in hand to hand fight, and be march
ed off again before the excitement has time to
subside. and to be compelled to stand under o
heavy fire of grape, she'll and musketry for 3
or hours and not be permitted to fire shot
1t is what you seldom find old regiments viii
ling to endure. But the Regiment bore it
braVely, demonstrating beyond question that
they possess courage that will take them any
where in the face of the enemy.
l can scarcely particuIarize in regard to the
conduct of my officers. Capt. Park and Capt
Swartz were particularly cool aud efficient
On the field they were what | expected they
woud be, brave and efficient officers
| am also highly pleased with the conduct
of the younger officers, Captain Spaldi0g,
Lieut.. Mercur, Lieuts. Peck aid Clark. In
fact, all of them done we'll
Capt. Spalding eVinced peculiar courage
and efficiency in the field OF Lieut. Mercur
l cannot speak too highly. l that morning
placed him in command of Company X, a try,
ing position for a young officer to be placed
III for the first time. He acquitted himself
as believed he wonld, with great credit
Leuts Peck and Clark also dule themselves
great credit Lieut. Clark had sole command
OF his company, the other officers being absent
sick. The officers OF the three companies from
the other connties behaved we'll Captains
Bcardsley and Tyler acted with great cooIness
and discretion They were equal to the emer
gency of their position Lieu, Atkinson, who
commanded Company G., behaved finely, and
so did all the officers oi the companies. | AN
proud Of their conduct as officers and men,
and also am Of the Regiment.
We crossed the river Oh Saturday with two
days rations. We We're promptly supplied on
Monday night by our Qnaftermaster Lieut..
ToTrey) with the needed supply for the next
three days. We were under great obligations
to him for bis energy and thoughtlaness in
getting our ratOns to us-a task not easy to
be accomplished under the circumstances.
To Major Spalding and the Adjutant is due
a great deal OF credit. They remained at their
posts, on their horses, during most Of the af
ternoon, ready for any emergency that might
arise. They eyinced great GOODNESS in assist
ing in forming the Regiment On the field, ard
in encouraging the men in their extremely
hard march from the river. The Major mar
rowy escaped being hit with shell, it g}auc-
ing by his strrup. 70 the Major and Ada
tant | an under great obligations for their as
Sistance during the day.
Lieut. Col Watkins, | regret to say, was
unable to be with US, and no person could
have regretted it more than he did He was
in the hospital with typhoid fever at the time,
and taken by bis father, Col. Mason, to Wash
iogton on the afternoon Of the day we left
camp. l very much missed his service on the
march and in the field. | hope he may no.
be kept from US long. He is g good and eff
cicnt officer, and miss him much
The people Of Bradford may be proud of
their friends who were in the fight in this Reg
iment, on Saturday. They done themselves
and their friends great credit. Would could
say they done their country as much service.
II. J. MADILL.
Penns7IVaniaus in Gen, Biruey's Division.