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

SEPTEMBER s, 1863. He left his work
as editor of the Beloit Journal and
Courier to enter the service. He wrote
many interesting letters from the
front to his paper This one gives .
good account of the battle of FallinA
Waters, July 2, 81, in which George
C. Drake was killed. 1t was the first
battle in which Wisconsin troops
We're engaged, and George Drake was
the first Wisconsin boy killed. His
picture is in Memorial hall at the CAPT.
tol.
Battle Il Falling Waters.
Martinsburg, Virginia, July Sd, 1861.
| wrote you last from Hagerstown,
Nj, where we remained till Saturday
the 2Sth inst. nothing of Importance
occurring to disturb the quiet of our
life while encamped there The great
est good feeling exists between the sol
diers and the people of the city and
vicinity, and it was with many ex-
pressions of regret they heard that we
were to depart. Friday evening, at
dress parade, we received orders to
be in readiness to march on the fol-
lowing day. At twelve o'clock Satur-
day the tents were struck, and two
hours later we started southwark.
The sun poured down fiereeIy. and by
the time we had walked a mile. many
OF us were saturated with sweat from
head to foot At six o'clock, having
marched nine miles, we reached
Downeysville, village OF hut little
consequence. We stopped in this
place over Sunday, partly TO rest and
partly on account of the heavy rain
during the forenoon. Sunday evening
the colonel called the officers together,
and told them that the general had de
tcrmined to move his division over
the Potomac river into Virginia.
The division now embraces six bril-
gades, and numbers about 81 900 men.
The 9th brigade, he said. would be the
advance of the division, and the Wis
consin regiment the advance of the
brigade, acting most of the time as
skirmishers. We were ordered to
lifhiki tll lWO " GhOth INC nGAb
ing, but owing to the fact that the Sc
cessionists had burned e bridge and
broken up dam over the Potomac,
we did not start till three hours later.
We proceeded to Williamsport in
quick time, he weather being cool and
the roads good.
Wilfiamsport is situated on the Pc
tomac river, rs miles above Washing
ton. and il is at the present place of
considerable note, owing to the inn
mense number of troops that have
been gathered there and in the vicin-
ity. and its close proximity to the
enemys territory. Here many of us
had the first good sight of 'fOld Vir-
ginia." I confess that it was with no
common emotions that | looked upon
the shore of that state,-the mother of
our presidents, and soon to be the seat
of many hard-fought battles. Capt. Dou-
bleday had here erected batteries, and
planted two nine Founders and Co
lumbiad on the banks, overlooking and
having good fgnge of the opposite
side. CAPTAIN Doubleday is a fine
looking, dignifiAd man, and under
stands his business thoroughly. He
has with him number of Fort Sum
ter men as gunlers. one Of whom was
he first man that fred the cannon
from Sumter.
We remained n Williamsport during
the day, completing arrangements, and
at o'clock the following morning
struck tents and formed in line. AT
three O'Clock as we were getting ready
to leave the camp ground. we were
startled by a sharp volley from the
Virginia shore. which we afterwards
learned proceeded from the seou.s of
our men, and number of cavalry
FRY the secessionists This report
sent a thrill through the boys, and
they waited with the greatest impa-
thence to proceed. At day break we
s.arted. and in few minutes we were
fording the river, under cover of The
battery. The river is about twice as
wide as At Beloit. and two feet and a
halls deep. AT 4 o'clock we stepped on
the sacred sol" of Virginia, and after
a brief halt. waiting for the regiments
in the rear TO cross. we started on our
way oward this place. Two or three
az the companies Of our regiment had
been employed as skirmishers, anc
proceeded in front on each side. The
day was cool, and marching very slow,
re travelled along comfortable, hut eau
t.ously. At the distance Of six miles
FROM W.lliamsrort, about n!ne o'clock. /
the, runror spread through the regi-
men. that the enemy were advancing
toward Us, end the sharp firing that
occurred soon after. starting US from |
cur half lazy walk, told us the rumog 1
was true. Suaining our eyes. l saw |
the 9ickets or advance guards, OF bo-h /
sides. had come toge her, and were I
sending the bullets like hailssones 4
for few minutes The order was
given for us 10 proceed in double /
quick tine. and almost before the
words were out of TIE mouth Of +
colonel, evesy usu wss huzvyug