Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-06-03

some cooking their breakfast. 1t is re-
: ported we took two lines of breastworks
AZ pieces of cannon, 5000 prisoners, q
stand colors, 8 brigadier generals, 2 maj
or generals, and quantity of beet al
dressed and laid on the ground. / should
think they had enough to feed their whole
army and it all fell into our hands, bu
we could not get the third line of breast
works for the grape and canister come
too hot. We did not lose many men ii
this charge, my company lost A wounded
and one killed, that makes twenty ,foul
killed and wounded in my company since
we left camp, and two missing; it is re
ported the rebels fell back during the
night.
But oh, this has been a terrible battle
many of our brave boys have faller
within the last ten days. ! was on duty
all day yesterday and until one O'Clock
last night, and have got to go on again al
twelve this noon; the first lot of our
wounded were sent to Fredericksburg
and were not treated very well by some
of the citizens; one of them we have al
army headquarters. If we are success
full we think this is the last battle of the
war, for it is reported that Lee says if be
is defeated he shall surrender. Oh, /
hope he may be and peace declared, and
we be permitted to 60 to our loved ones
at home, and know that our work was
not in vain that in all our suferings and
trials we have but done our duty, for we
have restored peace to our nation, our
homes and fresides are safe. Oh,
would it might all end soon.
MAY 13th,-Evening.
have just been relieved from duty
the wounded are to go away to night and
I have a chance to send this by one of the
nurses. Another of my company died
in the tent to-day by the name of Henry
Mattocks, held his head until he died
then
"Slowly and sadly we laid him down,
From the field Of his fame fresh and CORY,
/ We carved not a line we raised not a stone,
But left him alone in his glory
Few and short were the prayers we said,
As on with our duty we hurried,
Not soldier discharged farewell shot
Ger the grave where our eomrade was buried"
Oh, when think of the many brave
boys we have lost | almost despise the
whole rebel race. There has not been
much fighting to-day; the rebels fell
back in the night and this morning we
captured some more cannon and few
stand Of colors.
MAY 18th, in the field.
l did not send this as / expected and
will write letter more. Last night we
broke hospital and moved on the left flank
about two miles and stopped all night /;
this morning We got up early and broke
camp again and moved five miles further
round on the left flank, the enemy fell
back five miles in the night and we now
hold the plank road running from Fred
ericksburg to Richmond we are ten
miles in the rear of Frederick burg.-
The late rains have made the roads al
most impossible, but our horses and
mules are in very good condition and
we got along very well.
MONDAY, MAY 10th.
1t is very warm to-day, the fog was
very thick this morning; we were up
early to march but did not move until
seven and half o'clock, then we moved
a half mile and piched our tents in a
pine bush put up the hospital tents and
got ready for battle, but there has not
been any fighting as yet, only few can
mons fired.
We hear a hundred rumors to-day
about the war; we hear Gen. Banks has
been defeated and surrendered with 25,>
600 men, and that Gen. Butler has met
with a defeat but we do not credit any of
them.
MAY 18th.
To-day is warm and pleasant. l think
there will be forward movment to-dny,
for we have been gathering boughs to-.
day in the tents for the wounded to Law
on. hear the 11th regiment are here.
WEDNESDAY, MAY Is.
Yesterday at four o'clock we were or
dered to strike tents and move, we got
packed up and then laid until twelve
o'clock; then moved about a hundred
rods and stopped until day light. The
battle opened at four this morning, we
we're too near and were ordered back to
he same place we were before, so / am
sitting on the same place was yester-
lay.
The wounded are coming in very fast
low | saw Generals Grant, Mead and .
Burnside pass this morning, going to the
light of our line. We are receiving re-
nforcemenis all the time. The eirhthI