Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-08-04

minute, l could distinctly see the
men of both armies firing upon each
other. Three companies were packed
together. waiting till we could make
our way over fence. The balls
whistled over our head, down by our
feet, on every side. The color bearer
suddenly fell, but few feet ahead .:
me. and was borne from the field, re.
ceiving shot below the knee of his
left leg. 1t was, indeed, time to try
the men. The DULLES were whizzing
around us, $50 near that many OF the
men were stunned by the wind caused
by them,) and the dust was flying over
our clothing thrown up in front. But ev
cry man stood bravely and when the
command was given Forward, De
ploy as skirmishers! every man al.
most instantly leaped over the fence,
and started on a run toward the en-
envy. Stopping for minute to fire
and load, they would again proceed
over fences, through grain fields,
across swamps. up hills, through
woods. and over ravines. stopping not
for minute, as the balls struck near
us. For two hours and twenty min
utes we followed them, most of the
time on a run. At IL o'clck the men
gathered in order ON the road, four
miles from the place we had started.
Here we had time to think over the
whole affair.
This engasement is called the bat
tie of Failing Waters, and took
place III miles from Milliamsport and
s from Martinsburg, near mill with
a dozen houses surrounding, called
Failing Waters. At twenty minutes
past o'clock the firing commenced,
and for two hours and twenty min
utes continued quite sharply 1t was
impossible to overtake them. as we
were somewhat retarded by streams
and fences. Our lines extended on
both sides about one mile, and the
line Of the rebels about tn same dis
lance The position of the country
was well known to the enemy, and they
beat a good retreat ! caught sight
of about 200 of them, with a number
of pieces of artillery, not more than
three hundred rods in advance of us,
on a hill overlooking us. They soon
started, however. on run, and were
out Of sight in a short time We
threw our canteens and KnapsSekS
away, and found many coats, cooking
utensils, etc, on the re ad, left behind
by the rebels.
The number of dead and wounded
is light in our regiment, and one man
taken prisoner. Private Drake of
Company A was shot dead, and Ser
geant Graham of Company B was sup
posed to be mortally wounded, having
been wounded in three places. There
is hope of his recovery now, however.
Twenty or thirty were more or less
stunned by bullets rushing past their
bodies and heads. 1t is a wonder, Ger
tainly, tina. so few were injured
Alter We had been in the engage
ment something over an hour, the 18th
Pennsylvania regiment was ordered
on. but did not arrive in time to see
much of the fight Two of their men
were injured, and number wounded.
Forty members of the 18th regi-
ment. through great carelessness,
were taken prisoners by the rebels
They were not in the engagement
with us.
At ~ O'Clock m. we formed in order.
and at pitched our tents. Walking
through the neighborhood could see
that the houses were deserted, some
Of the families going with the rebels,
and others hiding in the woods. One
building was burned to the ground,
and many riddled with bullets.
The wounded are to be sent home.
Private Drake was buried today.
wrapped up in the stars and stripes,
beneath which he so bravely fought
and honorably fell.
AS nearly as l can learn, about two
hundred of the rebels were wounded
and killed. We saw numbers of them
lying on the ground as we were
marching.
Their force numbered over S,uov
about 500 of which were cavalry
seven companies of our regiment ala
most of the firing, aided little by
the remaining three companies and
the nth Pennsylvania regiment
Captain Turner's company Of artillery
was present, and sent fifteen sho 8
among the rebels, and undouoted y
both killed and scattered number
Having ai-cned our tents and rested
over night. We started early the next
morning for. Martinsburg, proceeding
slowly and cautiously A. II o'clock
a. m. We entered the city. and pitched
our .Sats.
Martlnsburg is situated between ne |
Blue Ridee end the Nor.h Range /
mountains. about 10 miles from VIII
directly on the reae TO
richmond. The city is strongly Sc
cesslor. and one hundred and twenty
union men have been confined in jan
here II is on the line OF the Bait
more & Ohio r. r, IL miles from
Hsrper's Ferry. BY order OF Jef
r.,yis. between fifty and sixty OF the
best engines on the roaG we're brough
here and hurnt together with the en-
gire house and bridge The fetal
loss was sl.000.000. At the sight Of