Year: 1861




speaks volumes for the mGteriale of which that
regiment was composed, as also the manner in
which true bravery is received and applauded,
by those in arms against US


You will doubtless think by this time
that it is all up with me but such, l am hap
Ply to inform you, is not the case-although
between the bullets of General Beauregard
and the rotten pork of General Contractor
had several narrow escapes. The latter is by
far the worst enemy against which the soldier
has to contend, and why the government don't
shoot or hang all the dishonest knaves has long
been mystery to me.


We'll, that ever men,
orable Sunday, the 2lst of July, was terrible
day. We had it rather rough, and l some
times think we had even more than our share
But if there was one thing more than another
which reconciled me to the dangers and expo
sures of that eventful day, it was the handsome
manner in which our " boys" behaved them
selves Individual acts Of bravery were that
day enacted for which | venture to say the
history of the worlds battles furnishes no
parallel. One in particular | will relate to
you, to which l was an eyewitness. A young
comrade of mine, named Patrick Cramsie, was
in the front rank when we were ordered to
storm masked battery. 1t was certainly the
toughest job we had that day, and one which
cost US very dear. When we were within four
or five yards of the battery, Cramsie, seeing
gunner running forward with heated iron to
fire the gun, exclaimed look there, boys
and almost simultaneously ball from his
trusty rifle pierced the gunners heart. Had
that gun been fired, just then, loaded as she
was with grape shot, your humble servant
with, perhaps, sixty or seventy Of his comrades,
would have brought to uery sudden termina-
tion their first and last campaign in Virginia)
One of the assistant gunners snatched the
match from the dead mans hand, and was
about to apply it, but before he could properly
turn himself he was trans6xed with Cramsies
bayonet. A third artilleryman rushed for the
fatal match, but before he could reach it,
terrible blow from Cramsie's dubbed rifle laid
him beside his companions. The officer of the
gun then ran up and made lounge at Cramsie
with his sword, but he saved himself by
throwing his rifle at him. (He had no time or
chance to do anything else with it, and, while
the officer was still staggering under the effects
of the blow, Cramsie derw little fancy pistol
which he carried in his belt, and shot him,
dead. Although this was only the work of
few seconds, the cross fire of another battery
obliged US to fall back, and the gallant young
hero, either not hearing or needing the re-
treating order, was separated from his compan-
ions and left, with about thirty of his dead
comrades in undisputed possession of the gun.
In the confusion of the retreat | lost sight of
him for short time and when l next saw him
he was standing on the gun, waving the sword
of the vanquished officer, and making desparate
signs for his regiment to come on again while
the grape and Mimic bullets whisted around
him like hail From the gun he leaped on
riderless horse which came galloping past and
turning his head towards US was evidently
making an effort to reach his friends, but the
horse was shot under him, and fell, throwing
the gallant fellow heavily, and before he could
extricate himself be was made prisoner by a
band of Virginia troopers.


You know I have been through the Cr-
mean war, and during that terrible campaign
l have seen many noble deeds of daring, but l
must confess that l have never seen anything
to equal that of Cramsie's. | shall never for
get the appearance of that noble fellow as he
stood upon the gun. His hat had fallen off
his hair was streaming in the wind and strip
ped to the shirt and pants, as he stood there,
about midway between the contendng hosts;
waving aloft in triumphant defiance, the sword
he had so nobly won, and seeming to court the
death that would not come be seemed the very
personifcation of the god of battle. How be
escaped death is one of the mysteries, and you
could not convince some Of our men but that
his life was charmed


1t would seem that we were not the only
ones who saw and admired the gallant Cram
sie's exploits. One Of fellows who was made
prisoner in the earlier part of the day and
who afterwards escaped from Manassas, says
that he heard his noble conduct spoken of by
the Mississppians in terms of the highest
praise. 1t was even said that when Missis-
sppi riheman had aimed at him as he stood
on the gun, his officer ran forward and, striking
up the rife with his sword, exclaimed, f" What,
shoot that brave fellow why, sir, that would
be murder in the first degree :" He says he
saw Cramse on the following day, and he was
still suffering from the stunning effects of the
fall, but was otherwise uninjured. One of the
Generals-whom be believes was Beauregard,
hinsef-came around to examine the prisoners,
and on coming opposite the rank in which
Cramsie stood, he asked an aide Which is
him p Cramsie being pointed out he rode up
and asked him for his name and rank The
reply was, Patrick Cramsie, private =
Privatel' repeated Beauregard, why, sir,
you fought like lion, am only sorry that