The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1864-06-02
BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS.
Interesting Scenes and Incidents.


the conflict after the performance of pro-
digies of valor, while others, more fortu-
nate but none the less deserving, live to
re-enact deeds so noble, SO unselfish and
so God-like, as to challenge the admira-
tion of an astonishcd world. Amid all
the sickening horrors of war, scenes a
musing, and sometimes even ludicrous,
will occasionally occur, robbing the bat
tle-feld of 1.-THE of its ghastliness and
making the soldier forget for a moment
the terrible reality of his vocation. Where
so many thousands of all ranks distin-
guish themselves By valiant deeds, it is
impossible to notice prominent few to
illustrate the conduct of others equally as
meritorious. But not one is forgotten by
the people, whose hearts are written all
over in indelible characters with the
names of the heroic quick and the i'm
mortal dead.
The Battles of the Wilderness" were
fought with spirit of determination and
invincibility never before excelled in the
history of the war. Under the indirect
supervision of new and successful cap
tain. the oft baffled and oft disheartened
Army Of the Potomac thanked God and
took courage. Meeting the rebellious
foe on field of his own selection, and
unhesitatingly attacking him, fighting by
night as well as by day for over week,
shattered and torn by the shock of battle,
it continually reorganized its legions, and
with a persistent determination drove the
enemy from covert to covert in his for
est lair, and to-day thunders upon him at
a point league nearer TO his quaking
capital.
WE IL RALLY ROUND THE FLAG BOYS.
During one Of these evcntful nights,
when the troops lay in line of battle be-
hind their temporary Notifications Of dirt.
logs and rails, and the continuous crack
Of the sharpshooterS rife rolled along our
front, solitary voice struck up the pat
riotic song, Rally round the flag,
boys and almost instantly thousands Of
the men, who seemed to have been wait
ing for something to dissipate the gloom
which thoughts of the days carnage had
engendered, were shouting in chorous
which 'shook the depth of the forests
gloom:'
"The Union forever, hurrah, boys, hurrah!
Down with the traitors and up with the
stars" &c.
AS down the line it went, the refrain
swelled into one vast roar, exultant, tri-
umphant, and breathing defiance to the
wary enemy, whose only reply was the
spiteful whiz of extra bullets from their
skirmish line, whistling harmlessly by -
This little episode tended greatly to in
spire our troops, and could not but have
equeally irritated "Johny Reb."
INSTANCES OF GALLANTRY.
Colonel Jno. Coons, of the 14th Indi-
ana, who was killed in the memorable
charge by Hancocks corps on Thursday
last, was on horseback at the head of his
regiment, and was the first of his CON-
mand to mount the rebel works and dis
charge his revolver into the enemy S
ranks. He was almost instantly shot
dead, his body falling on one side of the
works, and his horse, which was also
killed, on the other Colonel Charles w
Powers, of the 10Sth New York, Colone
Smyth, commanding the Irish brigade
Lieutenant Colonel Davies, of the 18th
New jersey, Lieutenant Colonel Pierce
of the l03th New York Colonel Egan,
commanding Hayess brigade of Birney
division, and Major Charles c. Baker
then temporarily in command of the
Third Brigade Of General Barlow's divi
sion, arc few only who were conspicu
Gus for noble daring. Brigadier Genera
Barlow, to whose division more especially
belongs the honor of the great and sue
cessful charge of Thursday, led in person
at the head of his troops an assault. ant
has won enviable laurels by the skill ant
gallantry which he exhibited.
And Gen. Hancock, the master-speri
of the affair, he who two years ago wa
unknow to fame, is now known to ever
hearthstone in the land Always at tn
front when danger most threateded, ubi
quitous, at one time leaning on the breec
of some blackened and hell-vomiting CUR
instructing the gunners where to direc
their fire, at another along the infantr
lines encouraging the men, now orderin
up reinforcements or making changes
the lines, and always exposed to the mu
derous fire of sharpshooters and th
sweeping storm of shot and shell. "a
one time, when he was directing the fir
of battery in the captured works, an
. when cannoneers and gunners were fal
t ing torn and mangled around him." sal
, an officer to the writer yesterday, 81 fe
an almost irresistible impulse to approac
him and say, General, for Gods sake r.
tire to less dangerous POSITION" Ia
and portly, he must have made an exec
lent target for the enemy, but, fortunate
E ly for the country, to which his scrvic'
are so invaluable, he escaped unschathe
REcAPTURE OF A GUN.
Captain L. W Butterfeld, A. !. G.,
Carroll's brigade, deserves special me
ton for the recapture of a gun taken |