Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-06
A MESSAGE from the Dead.


A remarkable feature of the occa-
sion was a veritable message from the
dead, letter from Col. Henry G..
Staples, written to his father, the late
Al Staples, four days after the battle
of Bull Run. The letter which was
found in the effects of his sister, the
late Georgiana Staples Davis by his
brother, Fred Staples of this city, is
as follows:
"Claremont. Va, July %. 1861.
MY Dear Father:
Il have lived through one of the
most bloody battles the world has ever
witnessed. Oh. heavens. If you could
have seen the suffering. The cries of
agony were heartrending and the dead
and dying lay in heaps on the battle
field. Such CHASTITY sights never before
met my eyes. Our men were marched
in line of battle by the thousands to
meet the deadly fire of the enemy.
When we arrived not one of the rebels
could be seen and our men amid the
cross fire of heavy guns fired blank
into the dense woods. We left Cen
terVille a 2.30 A. NJ. Sunday after the
column was formed we, bringing up in
the rear, were started. marched five
miles and halted. the first division to
the left of the battery at Bull Run. the
second nearer the right and our own
remained on the Warrenton turnpike
an hour. Word came that the enemy
were routed and we were ordered to
march on to their left to cut off their
retreat. We started and marched
doublequick some 10 or II miles Dur
ing all this time brisk cannonading
was kept up. our men dropped one by
one on the road from exhaustion and
during the engagement l had but about
two thirds of the regiment.
LAS we We're forming at the foot of
the hill the balls and shell flew like
rain. AS the shells came we dropped
upon our faces TO save our lives. While
forming in line of battle the Zouaves
and United States Cavalry were re-
treating through to our ranks. This
struck terror to our men and many
left the ranks. Gen. Howard. Col.
Banks and myself soon rallied them
and we started to ascend the hill to
meet the enemy, after firing some 80
rounds. They planted a battery at our
right, which would most certainly
have destroyed us all, but the order
was given to retreat and the troops
scattered like sheep, followed by shot
and SHE'LL which had deadly effect.
AS We were ascending the hill the
United States regulars and cavalry
We're formed for d charge. Our rifle
| cannon ball struck in their ranks and
they left like lightning, passed us
| all md took the head. At this time the
enemy were Smelling our hospital and
| their infantry and Black Horn caval-
ry were at our heels. They soon halt
| ed and turned back. We kept on for
miles until we reached Bull Run
bridge where we found our baggage
train had been Intercepted on the re-
treat and everything was destroyed
| have lost everything save what
have on, a cheap flannel United States
uniform and the gold watch you gave
me.
Ne continued on until we arrived
at Centerville. then We slept an houi
and during this time all the other
| Federal forces We're on The way Il
Washington. We soon received or.
ders to follow and we retreated our
selves-all we had left-and follow &c
up The roads are piled with wagons
camp utensils. provisions, beef. pork
blankets. knapsachs. haversacks. can
teens. guns and every conceivabl,
thing connected with an army.
We arrived at Fairfax courthous,
Continued on Page Seven)