Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-12-30
A CONSCRIPT'S LETTERING. IL.
WARD 2 PATTERSON PARK HOSPITAL \

a CONSChlPI' y LElIEh.-No. IL.
WARD2 PATTERSON PARK HOSPITAL
Baltimore, Md, Dec. Gath, 1864.
Mn. EDITOR The 10th Of Oct now Of
historic note, wa an episode in my life end
ing my career as a soldier, and nocessitating
me to act for the remainder of my days in =
sphere entirely different from what | should
have chosen. II was a chilly, foggy morn
ing, and the men turned out reluctantly to
fall in under arms at reveille. As usual we
we're only detained long enough to stack
arms In the company street, and then per-
mitted to prepare for breakfast. A scattering
FIRE of musketry could be heard on our right
which we supposed to be picket firing which
we heard every morning, but it soon extended
along the lines to the left, growing sharper
and shorter, and before we had fairly %indled
our fires we received orders to pack up and
fall In. Our biyade was marched to the ex-
IRENE left, formed in line OF battle, and ev-
cry odd numbefed man ordered to bring rails
and throw up slight breastwork. This
work was ust finished when we were ordered
TO advance, we moved few rods, then halted,
and went back ufer our rails to throw up a
breastwork in otr new position. We had
only time to commence the work before we
were ordered to advance again and crossing
small creek we took up our position on the
opposite side. A few moments rest and then
came the order "sbout face" and we recrossed
the creek--some Of us, including myself,
wetting our feet thoroughly-moved back,
and took our new position behind the crest
of a low hill or ground swell. Here we first
saw the reCels eio followed us closely, corr
ing within a few rods Of the hill behind
{ m,
make charge every moment, but they drew
back to a hill some five or six hundred yards
distant, and commenced Smelling us from
their batteries. We replied with our rifles,
and free away the greater part of our car
ir'dges when the order "about face" was Civ
en- again, and we fell back to take new po-
stion. Moving across an open field we en-
tered wood where was struck by mus
ket ball in the left leg few inches above the
ankle. at once Invested myself of my
knapsacks and accouterments, and endeavored
to use my gun as crutch, but failing to make
progress in this way, | accepted the prof
| fered aid of two soldiers who helped me
along about three miles before we found an
ambulance AT length we found one belong
! ing TO the 18th corps in which was conveyed
I to the l9Sh corps hospital at Newtown.
/ Here my wound received partial examine
! ton, was bandsged, and | was then taken to
2nd division hospital Of the 9Th corps, where
I ! was left on the ground with no blanket OF
/ covering Of any kind to protect myself from
the severity of the weather. During the
night an acquaintance shared his blanket
with me, but neither this nor the fires which
we're kindled the latter part OF the night
we're sufficient to overcome the chill had
received. A short time before sundo~n on
the following day my case was attended to
1t was thought necessary to administer chic
reform in examining the wound, and wher
consciousness returned | was lying on some
straw inside Of tent with no covering Al
all, shivering like leaf, and minus my
wounded limb. was unable to procure 4
wooden blanket, but wounded man gave me
his rubber, and piece of tent, under which
lay until morning suffering from the Sc
verest cramp lin both legs, and doing my bes
to keep as quiet as possible. Early the mex
morning, the 2lst, was deposited in an am
bulance with two others and conveyed &c
Winchester. Owing to long halts, we die
not reach that place until dark, and Their
were supplied with bread and coffee and or
dered on to Martinsburg. Through the en-
| tire night we were tossed about over one o
the toughest Of roads, arriving at Martins
oure az dayoresk whete we were iet AZ
hosPi'ai uh'ii the Z4.n wuen we We'e 0on
veyed IN the cars 70 naIunoIe, wneie Ior w
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