The Portland daily press., 1864-11-05
COMMUNICATIONS.
A Letter from the Army.


To the Editor Of the Press Leg bS s..-
The following are extracts from letter
written home by G. Smith, LIST Sergeant Co. B,
18th Me. Reg, and thinking they might be in
teresting to those having friends there, l send
them for you to do with as you think BEST
CAMP NEAR SrRAsBURG, Oct. 22, 1854.
Again through the Providence of our AL
mighty Ruler have we escaped from another
battle unframed We had been here several
days encamped previous to the 10th, had erect
ed breast works, and made ourselves quite
comfortable, when orders came to make ready
to march the next morn at O'Clock to recon-
hotter the enemy's position, accordingly we
turned out, ate our breakfast, and filed in to
wait the 'forward march" e lA
While thus situated, a sharp firing CON-
m enced in front and on the right by the pick
ct s. I'm the midst of this, q sudden volley sa-
lu ted our ears ia the eneampment on our left
where the 9th corps lay.h We knew now that
force had already fanked us, and were fast
gaining on our rear, we now faced about, but
Johnny was too close upon US TO admit OF our
fighting him in that position, so we retreated
about an eighth of a mile towards the right and
made a stand for a few minutes In another rifle
pit,bnt they pressed SO hard that we again re 4
treated to the brow of another hill and formed
our uue, nOluluS LlllS pOsltlOu huOut udll al
hour While here expended the last OF my
forty rounds and picked up the cartridge box,
OF dead man which was nearly full and COM
menced firing again; but johnny kept work.
ing on our flank, SO that we had to retreat a.
gain to prevent being surrounded. Our force
now became Somewhat scattered, and we kept
retreating from hill to hill making o short
stand on the brow of every eninence for two
or three miles when we reached piece of
woods. Here we collected our scattered forces
as well as'possible and formed our line again.
Johnny did not know our force, so he did not
follow, but kept his artillery playing upon us.
We built barrie sde of fence rails, and stop
ped an hour or two to rest. Here we heard
that Gen. Sheridan had arrived and ordered us
to advance. We had not gone far when the
air. was again filed with "leaden hail and iron
rain" but just then the Gen. rode along the
lines cheering and encouraging his men on
ward. His presence was like magic. Had those
tired men received shock of electric fire all
at once, the change could not have been great
er. ,.arsa.,-- $500. s4-,
We saw in Sheridan one in whom we had
implicit confidence. We knew that his plans
were well formed, and that he was there in
person to see his every order executed. AS he
rode along the lines the air resoune ed with
cheer after cheer for our commander, and with
yell after yell, advanced to double quick, each
seeming to strive to get ahead of his comrade.
Soon the cry run along the lines, We're driv-
ing theml We're driving them = Then our men
acted like demons in rushing and cheering,
while the enemy were fleeing. Some of the
cooler would stop and load their pieces, while
others would run with empty guns and horrid
yells. Thus we drove them until we triumph
antly occupied our former position. Here we
rested while our Cavalry still pursued the fly
ing foe. t,rt.,ssa * l..,s,3
As the bullets salute the ear with their PEI
culiar rip, rip, rip, and the shells scream
through the air scattering their death strokes,
fear takes its flight and all finer sensibilities
seem obliterated. A reckless indifference as to
scenes takes possession of the mind, and the ru
ling Thought is of driving the enemy, or check
ing his advance, The bloody scenes of that
day will never be eifaced from our minds.
Suffice it to say the ground was well strewn ,
with mangled bodieso Of menand horses. Ino-
ticed that the rebels stripped the shoes from
both their killed and ours. infer from this
that they are much in want of that article.
We have taken every thing in the valley on
loheeLs, and an immense number OF prisoners.
Sheridan has planned, we have fought, but
give a Higher Power thanks for our victories.
Our regiment had not suffered much loss, and
our company had but one (Harris1 slightly
wounded. Thomas Libby Co. G.. taken pris-
oner Our color bearer G. 81. Blake has elicit
ed high encomiums from our officers, for his
GOODNESS and bravery, while his guard was shot
down about him. War is truly horrid in the
extreme, but the loss of our country with
the existence Of human slavery is far worse,
and If this war can destroy this cursed institu-
ton, we will consider our time well spent and
our lives not too great a sacrifice. / would
call upon those In my own favored city to rem
der us all the help needful, so that peace may
ensue, and we be permitted to return 70 our
desired homes. y q GUsTAVUs SmTrH.