Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1864-06-03

intended to have written you so soon rs
| witnessed Il battle, but being slightly
wounded have been unable to write until
this momcnt-and even now am obliged to
use gentleman of the Christian Commits
sion as my amanucnsis. Here | will re-
mark that the Christian Commission, how
ever much | have neglected to appreciate
it hitherto, is in this work carrying out the
teachings of Jesus.
l will not attempt to give you consecu-
tive account of our march and encamp-
mcnts from Fort Sumner to the front-but
will say that We learned, officers and all,
what it is to carry soldiers baggage and
accoutrements. All of our boys carried too
much unnecessary clothing, blankets, etc.
On the march to the front, our regiment,
consisting of 1900 men, threw away ten
thousand dollars worth of their eguipagc.
We arrived at the front Wednesday morn
ing, the l9th,at , o'clock, and bivouaced in
a grass field. At carly dawn we were flied
up. and took up our march for about two
miles where there was cannonadlng, and
were stationed in long rifle pit. Very
few shells passed over us however. so that
we felt no uneasiness whilst making our
breakfast. At noon we took up our march
for the lcft-abuut three miles-bivouaced
in beautiful cedar grove and remained
there until Thursday noon when We
were all marched out in solid mass into an
open field-staeked our arms, and deflcd
in companies across the road into ar oak
grove, there to await orders. The soldiers
had an ntimaton that all was not satisfac-
tory at the right,though no firing was heard
At about s o'cloel. in the afternoon we were
hurried into line and double qstcktd two or
three miles where firing WAS heard. We
arrived all anxious to meet the-rebcls, and
formed regimental front. Then commence
ed the howl, and the scramble for the rcbs.
Passing through "A piece of woods judge
a half mile-losiug but one man TO my
knowledge. the rebs skedading before us
like frightened sheep. We then crossed
the road. through the baggage train which,
the rebels were after, and took ono prison.
er, and one of our men was killed. Pass
ing on through another piece of wocsis-all
this time OH a double quick-and firing at
every enemy we saw for q mile. Coming
to an open field, the rebels having taken
up position on the opposite side behind en-
hankmcnts and breaStworks, we made
stand. We were marched into the open
field, and sen. ont ski-mi+hrrs the whcle
length al o5r regiment. the line forming in
their rear. Here the battle commenced in
GOOD earnest. could sec the whole length.
Of oEr company. bov> aud men Who might
be s,,ppasod to .,iu-h. striving to get into
the front rank. Nl..lc orr excellent Captain
vas in II place Il, dc r.1't cheering his
men t. deeds Of talof We lad net fred
many r5t,,,l- in His place befare the fatal
ba.le; passed through hi body and he was
dead, I had iast -gckea Ia him aud re-
marked, " if sc can have orders to charge
~. A, n IRE tit. ,,.ls 10 hyN." His reply
49,. " w. ra J,,,, ,o,a and fire.
- =,
4s i'~' - !'' can u" 80 t'' ""e"
attempted to rise to TIRE my piece. my eye
f4Yobt orr lrayc CAPTAIN cr,su hEs to the
r.:I.#... .1.,....,,,., .;,,,,, I,tI.., b;tu,
49,
'ranS'eFseil across my fho''i'ets'
Of Capt. Parker lad formed an Opinion
Elarc ca8pllf e4tArv ~ his ceutlemanly