Year: 1864



 

 Frem tho Second c. v. H. A.

 The following letter from soldier of the Second Conn. Artillery to his friends at home, gives SO clear and vivid an account of the re- cent marches and battles in which our county regiment has been engaged. that we willingly publish it for the benefit of those of our readers who may not have heard so fully from the regiment. A list of casualties, attesting to the bravery and determination with which the regiment fought in the brilliant and victorious campaign of tho gallant SHERIDAN, will be found upon the first page of this paper.

 ... NEAR CEDAR RUN, Sept. 20, 1884.

 Dear Mother When wrote my last letter Sunday, did not expect to go through such scenes as have before sent it away, or had time to write again !; but thank God, ]. am still spared, while all my tent squad have been wounded. We left our camp at Berryville at 4l,2P. M. Monday, and after marching 31s hours, we came to tho place where we halted the first night after returning from Cedar Run, the last time we were out. It is near Opequan Creek. At this place we could hear firing, which showed us we were not far from the enemy, and after resting ten minutes we moved forward across the creek, and soon came to place where they were preparing a hospi- tai, and had got tent up, and the table ready for surgical operations, and round the tent stood a number of ambulances with the wounded, who had just been brought off the field. .a -,.-....

 After going little further, we filed off the roadsinto the fields, and turned up little hol- low which protected us from the shell that be. gan to come quite freely. Just as we left the road shell took off Co, man leg below the knee- We staid here some hours, without as far as 1 know any more'being hit from the hill in front of us, as we could See the fight ', At l2 M. we were ordered to "fall in," anC started for the scene of action, and in a few minutes we were on the field, and occasionally man would get hit, but we had not yet got to the extreme front. We finally drew up in liDeof battle, about half a mile. from piece of woods filled with rebels. Before we could get the line dressed, two of our Co. (D) were hit one in the arm and one in the hand. We now lay down as close as we could, the bullets flying thick over our heads. In a short time we were ordered forward with fixed bayonets the Colonel riding ahead Between us and the woods were two or three little bollows: After a short time we again moved forward and halted in little hollow which sheltered us some here four or.fve of our co mpany W ere ordered up to the top of the rise of ground in our front. to fl re. on the rebels, who were still near the edge of the woods, but further back than at fast. Morse Bates aud l went up and fired of all my ammunition, about forty rounds, and then went and filled .my box with dead rebs cartridges anI opened on them again. was there about an hour and half and fired eighty rounds. None of our com .pany were hit here, but Company r Ser geant was hit on the head and instantly killed, We were then ordered to charge or the eHemy, as this friug did not amount te much so we started on the double quick and won't about half way and halted again in hollow for few inmates, and then on again but before We got near the woods tho rsb scattered like flock of sheep with vol after them-we firing into them as long as w could see them, and then started on again. No long after we came to a low hill, and just il front of us there was a large force of rebels and on their left they had gun battery on . hill in short range of us, and they kept tn hot and shell flying thick around us. Just a hey fired from the battery. we were ordered lie down, that the shell might go over us, bu 6ne burst in front of the right of the company and killed Beebo and Cooley, woundihs Joh Castle, besides doing other mischief. It cs' cred me with dirt, but1 was uninjurei. Gas tie was shot through the arm and breast, was thought fatally He said" Tell m mother died on the battle field" This ws the hottest place We got into, as their artillel did fearful execution.

 We soon moved forward, the rebs meal while retreatng. but the battery still playin on us. we filed around so as to bring us facin the battery, where We were Q little sheltered and fired on them a spell. Bates was badl bruised oa the back by she'll Seely Mors was wounded in the thigh by ball 1: Ira WI struck on the hip. by think the fragment shell. Major Rice was killed at this plac by . shell, We soon left this place and move towards the battery. The rcbs went in hul g, leaving a. l2.pound howtzer and two ca;s sons, without even spiking the gun. Furthe Back than this they had long line of work and two redoubts on a hill, about three-fourtl of mile back. which must have been ve, strong. but they were so thoroughly whippe hey never stopped there at all, but starte