The weekly union record., 1864-07-09
A California Civilian Visit. the Armv.

Frank Pixley, one Of the delegates to he
Baltimore Convention, obtained q pass TO the
'front.' and, under the conduct of some officers,
witnessed two or three days of the great con.
aict between the Army of the Potomac snd
Lees forces He was st Grants headquarters.
and also saw Generals Meade, Hancock snd
Wright, with whose soldierly qualities be seems
highly impressed. The following extract from
bis correspondeuce to the Bulletin gives
graphic account of visit TO Gen. Gibbons
brigade headquarters in the fed:
When within forty yards of our destination
the rebels opened opon rs battery of six gus
there seemed to me TO be six hundred One
she'll struck between me aud the gentleman
ahead, Skinner, just passing his legs, and burst
few yards from US Ny horse. 8 6ery fellow.
turned like lightning, and started for the rear
Ihe rest OF The party sprang forward. and
hinging themselves upon the ground behind The
breasiworks, were covered With dus, from the
bursting shell. Gel Owens horse was killed
instantly. One officer was wounded in the
hand, and soldier in the leg by piece Of
shell. had turned. and with me il wss
dead race against cannon balls. Ignorant Of
all military matters, fed 10 the very line of
the discharge, instead OF DETECTING to the right
or left. All around me and overhead came Ibe
bombs Some, bursting in the air. flung their
broken iron on every side some, ricochetinr
plowed up the ground beside me, throwing the
dirt over me. One Orderly followed 8, Gilnin
pace, and thus fed. now know the meaninp
OF the word ''skedaddle," and feel the fuIl
force OF The term decentralization. Faint
With excitement pale with fear, flung myself
from my horse behind huge sycamore tree
and there stood till the iron hail storm nassed
all the time thinking what al Internal fool
bad been thus to be tempted into danger from
mere cowardice to confess that was not afraid
10 meet it. My companions with General
Gibbon all lay fiat within the trenches, hugeing
the earth. with six guns playing directly upon
them TIL the batteries ceased, when they ska.
dadded also. We met at General Haucock's
tent, where Dursed my courage back, and all
OF Us steadled our nerves with copious drinks
OF commissary whisky. 1t appears that in nv
ignorance | had taken the most dangerous
course in returning, and all agreed that the
escape was miracle of good luck to ALL Both
General Gibbou ard Colonel Rowlev said they
had never been under so severe a FIRE, General
Globon making The exception OF brief interval
at the battle OF Gettysburg. This canuopadinr
continued for about forty FIVE minutes. and i
was estimated that we had received three hnn.
dred balls as compliment to our visit to Han.
cocks trout. 1t appears that the enemy must
have supposed our party was General and
s'at riding TO the trenches, and had Tins
opened upon US. Our adventure was the Incl
dent of the day. and has been the standing Joke
at headquarters. II was very funny-opIy
couldn't see ii. Dana, Assistant Secretary of
War, Is here and threatens Us with a granbic
description for the Herald, which be promises
TO so represent as 10 lessen the demand upop
the War Office for passes to the front. On the
return, Colonel Rowley, finding me among the
missing, inquired of soldier 10 rife Dit if he
had seen me, and he replied that he saw a
black hat going TO the rear like h-l, with a
man under it." | acknowledged the identity.
have seen enough of war. Give me Napoleon
and bis Marshals, Kinglake's Crlmea and Ten.
nyson's Charge Of the Six Hundred, aud will
be content with descriptions of battles and the
poetry of war all The rest Of my peaceful hfe
VI one thing | am convinced: Grant will
take Richmond. am impressed with the fact
that our army and lis officers are doing every
thing that human valor and mortal exertop
can do 10 crush this rebellion. Let nobody
criiicise the Army of the Potomac till they
have seen what | have witnessed-tbe calm
Eeroism of all its parts. This has indeed been
month Of terrible battles. Daring tbirty-one
days, there has been twenty-eight days OF con.
hict, aud still our army thunders on 1t is
giant struggle, and its conduct is in the hands
of giants. | have not heard the breath Of
deSpondency have not seen doubling face;
Richmond Is surely doomed.