Year: 1862

Army Corresponds, ce.


The following letter Was received bv Rev.
y. N, Williams of Lake City from his son


FAIR OAKS, June 7.


I have been through another battle, and
have escaped unhurt. Saturday about noon
we heard heavy and ra pd firing across the
Chickahominy, and about three O'Clock We
were ordered to get ready to fall in and we
had haadly time TO roll our rubber blankets
and throw few hard biscuits into our hav
ersacks, when we had orders to fall in and
were mar ched toward the Chickahominy
and crossed log bridge which had Just bec,
finished, and had 70 do considerable wad .
ing on this side Of the bridge. We were
then hurried towards where We could hea,
occasional firing Of cannon. Sedgwicks di
vision was ahead, and Germans brigade was
the first in the division, and Minnesota was
ahead Of the rest Of the brigade so you see
Minnesota lad the van. Soon we began to
meet stragglers who had left the field from
cowardce, and were making their way to
the rear, and rs we got still further along
we began TO see the wounded, who were
leaving the. field as best they could and
from them we learned that the ,ht thus far
had been disastrous to our forces. Well we
hurried on and as we arrived on the field
the firing had ceased, and our Colonel was
met BY Gen. Abercrombie and he told him
that the rebels were taying to gain his right
flank, and fer Sulley to take his regiment
to the right flank and prevent the rebels
from gaining position that would enable
them to turn our right flank, so Sulley
marched us double quick, to house in O.
wheat field, and just as we arrived at the
house, the enemy were filing out Of the
woods, and advancing toward the house; Sui
ley Immediately threw his men into line Of
battle, and the enemy seeing that VIC had
gained the position first, hastily Withdrew
back into the woods. We waited in line of
battle for about twenty minutes. when the
rest OF our brigade came up and formed on
our left. Thew had just come into line when
there was most terrific fire opened on
them from the enemy in the woods, ,(our
line were in the edge of the woods.) Our
men replied with spirit, and for nearly an
hour the fire was incessant, then it ceased
and about fifteen minutes elapsed when it
again commenced, and was continued till s
o'clock (abont an ,hour) and never heard
such musketry before. During this fire the
LETT OF our regiment was engaged. but the
right were in line Of battle and lying down
in the wheat, and although the enemy were
in sight, yet we werc not allowed to sre, for
it was not thought best to draw too much
attention to our flank, which was then rather
weak, and having no artillery. As it be-
came dark it was beautiful sight to see the
steady continuous line Of FIRE that blazed
from our men. The enemy seemed deter
mined 10 break through cur lines, but as
nothing could stand the deadly fire of our
men they were forced back with fearful loss.
The fire on the left and centre was almost
as severe as on the right Ricketts, batter-
was on the centre and the rebels seemed de.
termined to capture this. for several times
they pressed down upon it, butthc grade
and canister from the guns. and the mur.
derous fire from tho support Of infantry
drove them back in confusion at every point
and night :ound us master Of the field
The next morning the rebsls made another
attempt to retrieve their fortunes by sudden
" attacking our men but, we were prepared
for them and they were again driven back
and routed at the point Of the bayonet.-
The dead lay in piles in the woods, where
they fell and never saw the dead Law so
thick before. The rebel loss in killed is enor-
nous. Our lines are new strengthened by
artillery and earthworks, so we have no fear
Of an attack, or the results Of an attack =
For the past week it has rained nearly every
lay. One man in our company was killed
although 'hsre were no volleys fired at us,
yet quite number OF bullets came over our
way. Affsc,iona,ely yours.


E. .. WILLIAMS.