Year: 1862

We are permitted to give our readers the following
highly interesting letter, written by wounded officer
of the ID n. G. Regiment 20 his wife and mother
dated Charlestown, Va, Sept. 2lst. We do so to
the exclusion of much other matter, which would
doubtless be far less interesting to our readers
The statements may be relied on as far as the writer
was in circumstances to judge. It's private letter.
not intended for publication but in giving it to our
readers we violate no known rule of the army regu-
lations. He speaks of what has happened, not what
is in the future:-


"We left camp, Frederick City, Wednesday
mhrning the 10th nS and marched through the city in
the direction Of Hagers;own As we passed through the
city, respectable show of favor exhibited by the
lady secessouiss of the burg. but 1t not very large
and it had the appearance of cOrdaty mixed with lively
fear oc the consequences. We marched all day
beautiful mountain turnpike that times gave beauti
full of the scenery, and encamped night at the
South Mountain Gap Of the Blue Ridge having passed
through during the day, several little villages that lay
nestled down among the valleys the largest being Middle
town. village OF perhaps 1000 inhabitants, who showed
by their signs that they for the greater part hostile
d cause.


Little did think rs stood that night on picket duty
the mountain, that in few short days battle would
be fought ON the very spot then stood had beau
tful Of rise from the top Of the mountain the
morning, but sleepy to appreciate it, Soon
again in line and trudged over the mountain gap
and then down into the AeSany valley the tops of whose
mountains could be the westward We pass
ed through several villages that day. also through the town
of BoOnesborOugh of the Oldest places in Maryland
and encamPed for the night in four miles OF Hagersown.
in beautiful oak grove. Here rested on Friday and
Saturday the first days rest had had since leaving
Richmond had good opportunity, while there, to as
certain the sentiment of the people, two thirds of whom
found hostile Indeed but few families did find
but had brothers in the Yankee army. Here
army split L0ngstreet with three divisions went IN the
direction of Wiamsport saturday; Mclaws and
Jones Divisions went towards Harpers Ferry while
D. h. Hills remained. Saturday night called to
arms soon after we had lain down. and away we put back
again through BOOneSboro and by daylight were on the
top Of South Mountain Gap and were drawn up in
line of battle the mountains the right aud left of
the road fronting the direction Of Middleton where ths
day benre cavalry had sharp fight with the enemy
and had reported the enemy advancing in full force with
a column of2O,OOJ South Mountain is on the South
side of the road and entirely wooded North Mountain,
the North side of the road less Open being
for the most part farmed Away nthe distance could
the long lines of The enemy approaching looking like
long crooked black shadows slowly moving towards
As small our force was, Garands. Ripeys aud Ander
sons Brigades, (RhOdes not there) drew up to
meet them Garland was put away in the woods
South Mountain Ripley to the left on North Mountain,
while We of Anderson's Brigade held the Gap road
centre Artillery put in position and, by sunrise, the
reverberaton OF its thunder went rolling up the cliffs
The enemy also opened and sharp artillery duel vas
kept up for hour Very the rattle of musketry is
heard from the woods the right Garland engaged
the right with the enemy and we on the left and centre
stand in eager expectation of being attacked aso although
signs of the enemy be the cleared fields
of the left In half hour cheers heard, and
stand awaiting attack ourselves eagerly strain
ears if distinguish whether the cheers
from friend foe There is difference between Yankee
cheers and the Gankee cheer HuZZa! HuZZa!
in deep gru tones while characterized by
tinuous unearthly yell, without pause stop Our
hearts droop within become convinced that the
cheers from Yankee throaS The firing continues
and canopy of smoke hangs the woods in the ycin
of the place from which the sound of muskery proceeds
Still we are not attacked aud think can perceive in the
of Hill CLEAN of thought that the enemy have thrown
their whole force our right flank. The men become
restless aud uneasy and the light of battle is seen in every
face But here of Garauds aids galloping u-
risus y" General send rslnfOrcemens-wea are falling
back and the enemy pressing US hard in heavy force


Gen. Anderson hurry your brigade TO darands assis-
tauce" and faced to the right and away go up
the side of the mountain at double quick We pass lots
of wounded lmpng down the mountain, rckng blond at
every STEP then again strecher containing some more
desperately wounded, and bend catch the
pale face Of the gallant Garland who is being carried down
desperately wounded in The breast He died before he
reached surgeon He was killed on the first charge of
the enemy, while galanty rayng his men before their
perior force.


ton behind fence tn surrounds small mountain farm.
We take position theI left and await the Soon
them coming up on our front, and our right
opens on them Bullets whiz from the 'front.' and
come heavy voeys right flank The enemy have
attacked in front and the right at the time
Garands brigade swings around tn the through the
woods order TO face the flank hre while we keep up
in 'front.' aud drive the enemy back beyond
range. The enemy still press our right Hank, and Gar
lands brigade after desperate lighting against heavy odds,
falls back slowly through the woods aud our right
An order is given for us to the left the enemy
are trying gain left we'll right We move
to the left through heavy lire, men falling a every lew
steps The firing Our regiments are again formed
into line OF facing
enemy are prepared for US we attack him. and drive him
back but the laurel is thick and force small that
our commanders afraid let penetrate their lines
too far Som we are reinforced by Ripeys brigade who
are put on the left and making left wheel of the whole


line up the sides of the mountain drive the enemy step
BY step up the top of the ridge and with yell we dash
to the opsn plateau that there cultivated
but as we emerge from the of the woods, like
thunderbot from coudess sky, comes the booming oil
cannon and the whole earth in front of seems torn up
BY grape aqd canister Our exhausted column falls back
in some disorder aud retreat down the mountain un
s,,.l q, aCun q M
Hills little division has kept the enemy in check all day