Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1864-09-02
ARMY coRREsPoNpMNcE.


1t is now dark. after series OF marches and coun-
termarehes we are stationed in the woods thrae miles
north of Reams Station, on the Weldon r. Road,
between the enemy and that famous thoroughfare-
The men are working by reiefs throwing up ad-
vance lines Of breastworks. And now as have
little rest Will devote few moments in informing
the many readers of your excellent paper, how we
came here and what we have accomplished. The I
Rebel papers have been beasting Of the failure of
Gen Grants Campaign, and of his purpose to with
draw his army, stating that he had already shortel
ed his lines at the commencement of the strograde
movement. Acting upon these notions, ne enemy
charged most fnriousy upon the lines Of the Ninth
Corps. about 1 clock on the morning of the 18th
inst, but were repulssd with great sleughter
Our Corps, lthe 5thl had been re eyed from those
works the 10th inst, placei in reserve with
orders TO be ready to move at moments notice
The heavy capnanading the morning of the 18th
reused us from sur slumbe.r, we stood in groups
viewing the shells as they sped through the air some
dropping around and in our camp; this ended our
repose for the remainder of the night, and as we.
had orders to move at A clock A. NJ, the boys.
prepared their coffee end were waiting for the COM
mand march Soon the red cross of the FIRST D. i
vision made its appearance followed by the con /
mander and staff The column quietly advanced as
we belong to that Division, we fell in our prop er
place.
The column soon formed to the left and struck he
Jerusalem plank road (5u minus pldnks.) We
marched along this road for several miles, then lied
right and turned our anxious faces toward the rail
road. We soon passed the advance cavalry pic ket,
then under cover of friendly ridge, and forme in
three lines of battIs. Ne deployed skirmishers and
advanced in the above order Our skirmishers d owe
in the enenly's piekets and we advancing thro ugh
swamps of mud and water knee deep, soon reae he'd
the railroad after capturing some twenty Rebels.
The 2lst Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, as the
first to commence destroying the road; and the Com
pany TO which your correspondent has no aor to
be connected with, the first to destroy the wes
This regiment pitched into the destructol of the
road with great agidy, excaimng as they cal osized
the track Remember Chambersburgl" A fer de-
stroying several miles of this road, means ere used
| to hold the same; temporary breastworA- 5 were
speedily thrown up skirmishers advanced ard pick
cts thrown out protect the left flank. Abo ut
a. heavy shower OF rain came up, and as IS east oma
ry with the rebels they took advantage of til torn
/ to charge upon our lines. They accordingly harg-
ed, bat after our men poured several yoli,s into
them, we IN return charged on them driving them
and keeping the advanced position until the Iilled
and wounded we're disposed Of, when our men would
return their former position; thus the con hict
continued back and forward until after dark. 1t is
said that the loss IS considerable on both sides the
enemy, however, suffered more severely than We,
leaving their dead and wounded in our possession
The enemy is in earnest trying to regain this road
and from their furious and numerous charges we are
. Ilsdt tf balin fba4t ha5r
the possession of this road.
Friday the 18th, passed without much fghtin.y.-|
Toward evening under the cover of another cain
storm, they again assaiIed our lines but We so
accustomed 10 this mode of attack that we are new
nies nthe rain storm remembering CromweFs battle
cry-"Trusti in God and keep the powder dry.''-Ac
c, ,rdingly they were rePulsed =
Again, and again, they rush our lines, are in
retn driven back, finally they mass their forces
again st right, with determination to flank u.s.
They were met at the onset with usual bravery, but
the v 1g hurled against our right causing it to
waver al d fall back The successful and exulting
enemy su. rounded some of our men and took about
800 prisoners. Their successful rejoicing was how
ever of sho1t endurance as our men were soon raj
/ lied and charged on them with renewed vgor de-
termined to recover their loss Gen. Griffin brought
his batteries to bear them, and moved down
heir lines, great ny wisely fell as dead upon
he field, brave soldiers charging upon them re-
capturing many Of those taken from us, and many
more Of the enemy taking with them on their re-
turn those who escaped destruction by falling to the
earth. This last charge of the enemy the most
desperate indeed the fort appeared to be the very
extremity of their power as they fought men who
refused TO charge. But they suffered severely in Kill
| led wounded and prisoners, and have made no ef
fort since to drive us from olIr position. We have
thus heightened our lines, instead of contracting.
We have an unbroken front from the Appomatox,
across the Welden R. r., have taken many prison
ers nine hundred and thirty eight of which passed
BY in one squad to-day
The prisoners say they have been two days in the
swamp before us without food, that it was by this
road all their provisions brought, and they can
not surmount its loss Our boys exhibited great
feelings of pity for them, givi ng them both food and
clothes, We do not hate but pity those poor deu-
ded men, one man said that two of his brothers were
shot on refusing to charge on us.
Sunday, clock, p NJ. ] cannot close without
noticing another fearful effort put forth by the enc
my this morning 10 recover the r. r., they charged
/ in ferce in what they considered the weakest part
Of our lines, the center Of this Corps SimREtane-
Gus With this attack they also advanced on the ex-
treme left with determination TO flank US. In the
center We took Eve battle flags and all that remained
alive of brigades among the prisoners, were OBJ
served wearing stars their shoulders, On the
! left our cavalry dismounted, advanced, and drove
back the Ranking foe, we then advanced, our left
| built new breastworks to protect the flank. After
/ this disaster to the enemy aud the advance of our
lines quiet has been established and further prepara
ons are in progress for the overthrow of the ene-
N.Y. j. Speer. Isl Lieut.. of Co. '.F'' Of this Regi-
nent, was MORALLY wounded, he sa native Of Johns.
town. and was a brave officer, have as yet not as.
cer4ained the casualties of tAe Regiment
M, P. D.