Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1871-07-13

uiae. Scs 90 hare teea alraost constantly
On the march Sncs Ne crossed che poso-
NAG. ~ yoa knox. We hare insadsi
tho enemy's country and fought . desper-
ale battle ON bis soil. When va entered
Pennsylvania Va found every one IN the
grsasost state Of excitement. The firss
day in Yankeedom. VIC passed through the
towa Of Wasaesboeo, and ID vas right
touching 10 see bow frightened the wasnes
were-sosae could be seea crying and
wringing their hands. while others could
be seea at = distance. standing in crowls
looking At Us with every appearance Of
fear. yery much in the same manner a the
Wild beaves Of Louisiana gather round =
person creeping through the grass in hunt
ing DUCKS.
| We camped near the town and some Of
the boys we're soon in the country in search
Of something to eat. in which they were
very successful. for the people we're SO
frightened they told the boys they might
have everything they bad if they would
o.ls not destroy their property. Ttseems
they were told b. the authorities Of the
State that il erer xe came over there We
would burn everything We coald lay our
hands on.
| l cannot tell yoa the exact route that
We took through Pennsylvania, but We
passed through number of little towns.
among them Gettysbarg (where We cap
tured some two hundred miliiial, Berlin
and York. At the last mentioned place
We remained for day. and one brigade
Of our division went to the Susqashanaa
/ river and forced the Yankees 10 burn a
bridge a mile and quarter long. After
having destroyed all the public property
We could We started back for Gettysburg.
{ where We found ourselves face 10 face
with Gen. Meade's army.
In the first days tight (lst july the
Yankee lines were north of Gettysburg,
but from this position they we're driven
back with great slaughter. Our brigade
and Hoke's brigade (N. Caro!ina) were
ordered to advance together upon the bat
terry, which was supported BY very strong
force. The 9th Louisiana ran up and
took two pieces Of cannon while We Gu
gagged the infantry, and they certainly
made better stand than ever saw them
make before. The Yankees stood until
we were within thirty yards of them.-
Hoke's brigade, which was little ahead.
of US. ran up to fence. about forty yards
from fence behind which the Yankees
were, and opened FIRE upon them which
was returned with spirit as though they
intended to dispute the ground. just
then our brigade came up, and, without
hating, leapcd the fence and pushed after
ths Yankees. They raised up like aock
| Of black birds When We wcEe not over thir-
! ~ yards from then. We poured . ter
riblc fire into their ranks. and. you may
be sure. not few of them fell. We
chased them through the town and then
halted and reformed our lines.
On the south side of the town. the en-
envy took a position, which, | suppose,
| was one of the strongest natural positions
in the State. All day of the 2d Of July
our different corps pressed the enemy Oh
all sides. About dusk of the same day
our brigade, with one regiment Vi Hoke's
brigade. was ordered to charge position,
which, [ have no doubt. vas as strong as
any around Vicksburg, and was defend.d
| by eighteen pieces Of cannon. Gen.
| HAYES gave the order to forward" and
the bows started forward with yell.
| We had five or six fences to cross and
when We got to the bottom of the bill
from where We started We could look up
aud see the Yankees far above US, pour
ing down a FIRE from both artillery and
, musketry. We pressed ON until We came
10 stone vail. behind which the Yankees
we're, and here we bad a hand to band
| Gght, the Yankees Oh one side and wo on
the other side Of the wall-knocAed each
down With dubbed gus and bayoness.
This is the tirst fight in which felt GER
tain Of killing a Yankee. Some ten or
fifteen Yankees were behind the stone
wall. shooting at our boys as they came
up on the opposite side of the road. l
succeeded in getting across the road with
out being seen by the Yankees aud level-
hing MY gun ON the wall, within two feet
Of Yankees head. fred and the Yankee
fell, and some ten or fifteen more sprang
up aud Immediately surrendered.
| will make this as short Is possible. =
We took the bill and the artillery. but,
having no support, we're obliged " fall
back. Our regiment lost its Gag, but
brought out Yankee Gag in return, a
piece of which enclose IN this letter.
Please send il and also the letter TO moth
CT when YOU have read il.
In the two days fighting our company
lost twelve in wounded. one killed and
one missing Col Lewis was killed -
Lieut.. Col. Dcblanc shot through the left
wrist.
! remain your aifeesionase sou,
| j. AKsRVR TAYLoR. Sd.
NorE.-Ceioaels Lewis aud Deblanc
were the Colonel aud Lieutenant Colonel
Of the Ssh Regiment of Louisiana Volun-
teers, the regiment Of the writer.
The private killed was young French
Creole named Prudhcuame, . Roman
Catholic and remarkable for bis strict aud
singular piety aud Gdelity in all the da-
ties Of brave and gallant soldier, as he
vas. The Chaplain Of The regiment vas
Father NJ, Roman Catholic Priest.
The aaissiag man was he standard hear
er Of the regiment. who leapcd from the
top of stone wall, into the very midsl OF
the enemy, With the Gag ia bis hands,
aud was either killed or captured, aad tie
dag never afterwards heard Of.