The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-05-25
The Virginia Battle Field.


bis parents. has been put into our hands and
will be read with much interest, as conveying
distinct impression Of Wha: battle field actually
is to the individual soldier.
Ii vIRGISIA, ABOUT 10 Mills FRox
FREDERIcKsBUEe, May 10, 1864.
DEAR PARENTS II expect you are getting
more than anxious to hear from me, and although
have commenced letter TO you, l cannot
send it for some time, even If / am spared
through the terrible and trying scenes We are
now passing. am lying in rife pit, behind
breast works which we built yesterday evening
Writing on nv knee, with my equipments CD
and gun in hand, ready az any moment TO help
resist charge from the rebels So | cannot
write very well We have been lying here on
our arms ever since yesterday morning, with the
shells from the batteries Of both our Own and
the rebels, passing over our heads all the
time. We have had a very severe and trying
time for a week past. No one Dut those Who
actually experience the perks AID suferings Of
The battle field can imagine the reality OF Il.
have been in one very fierce battle, and came
out without a scratch. Yet 10 seems Ike nothing
else than Gods lerciiui Providence that have
been preser ed. The old soldiers say it vas the
worst battle they were ever in feel lonesome
enough here now OF all the boys that came
with me | am the only one left Henry North
was lief. in the hospital al Annapolis Lyman
vas left back sOlne~ here iu Virginia SICK, and
the saddest news OF all j., Nathan Everett was
kali, in ,sst Friday battle. But viii commence
and give you al account OF our Goiugs since
last srote: We letl Warrvnton Junction on
"Wednesday the Alb OF May, aud n.AI ched a. far
a. the Rappahanock. crossed on ponioOu bridges,
aud ay 10 fort our arms all night. Started
again the next day aud crossed Toe Rapidan lear
hight Heard heavy Grug, aud ay on our arms
again that night Was around again the next
morning al three O'Clock started tor the fight
We ma ched iulO the woods, snd lay still until
about II O'Clock, wien a. moved closer to the
'front.' lay OF our bacas wai'iug ior a Maine regi-
meDt TO make charge and we suppoit them
But they no sooner went iato tue hgat and got
one shO%er Oi bullets, when they broke aud
uu. Without orders We arose up with a yell
aud drove the fleeing regiment back again, and
made charge on the Rebels, rushing clear TO
their rife pits We took large number OF
prisoners. We supposed that tn,y Lad retreat
ID, when suddenly force i've 10 our one, rose
up aud charged on US. We had to ran then or
every man be killed on the spot Our KNAPP
sacks he~ IN every direction, and We run about
eighty rods, and they also tell back The 10Th
Michigan and ooh Penusy wanna then advanced
On the rebels and drove them. We then aivanc-
Fl again, aud they rallied again, aud from then
until sun down il seemed a. a. me bullets came III
perfect shoWers increasingly, but drove them
finally. 1t could have been nothing but the tx
element that kept me up through il all. The
retreat wore on NE pretty hard, aud in the sec
ond tight We held out So ong, 10 seemed as if |
could scarcely keep up. had hardly strength to
load. The sweat rolled off OF NE, and the smoke !
and powder blinded NE, AID when one OF the !
best men 10 our company, Davenport fell dead by !
my side, another one severely wounded behind
ne, and others falling around, | felt sick But |
must stop writing the details, for you will only |
Ny trust is in God through all these fearful
scenes. We lost our Colonel together with two
captains and about fifty prvates killed and miss |
Jug, and 100 wounded. Matthe~ Fitzpatrick and /
Nathan Eyertt we're the killed from Lansing /
They both fought well aud were shot az the fret
charge we made We lost all our knapsacks, but 1
could have picked up plenty more after the bat
tie. picked up a blanket which IS all | shall
carry this not weather. l shall pick up a clean 1
shirt as soon as get time to change. We have 4
been lying in line of battle now for three days /
Nd have neither been attacked nor made an ad-
tance, though we know not at what moment
sc ball have to. The fighting has been going
kept here as a reserve. | had slept none for two
nights until last night, when I slept soundly. l
have been greatly iatigued, and AN so how, ~
ING SO long in this manner, with my things on all
tbe time Bu. it seems it cannot last much
longer. cannot tell exactly from our present
position how the battle is turning, but think
bat from the sound Of the firing ard the say il
changes. that We are driving them. During the
several days fighting We have taken large num-
oer- OF prisoners saw Charley Holmes aud VIII
am Waite last Sunday night They had been
sighting all day. They look we'll and tough, es-
p-cislly Charley. Well our cooks are coming
With coffee, 50 l will stop writing uutil another
time.
WEDNESDAY, Nay II.
The 18th New York are gong home to-mor-
Ow so Sill -r'd this by some Of them. We
had another fierce battle last hight and drove the
ebes Ike dust ana safe and we'll We are
t u drawn in line of batllc. But DO not Houy
bout me Pray daily for me, that ~hatever be-
ais me. may be ready for the issue This is
al Can write nov. Ny love to all at home.
You NAV not hear from NE again FOR some tine,
Iuless another chance turns ~ 10 send OF We vii
more victory. Your aff-cJiouat- son,
EDWARD FLOWER
Eighth Michigan Infantry.