The Union News, Broome County, NY, August 8, 1861
Washington, July 23d 1861
Friend Benedict: I am writing to you today from the District Committee's Room in the Senate wing of the Capitol, after one of the fiercest battles and most disastrous defeats ever known to the armies of the General Government. Although our Regiment has not even an honorable mention in the papers this morning, yet 'twas the first in the field, holding it for an hour and a half without any support, and was utterly cut to pieces before the remnant retreated, which we did when our Col. fell. But I will give you the things as they occurred, and you many judge for yourself whether we deserve any praise or not for our conduct.
Well, to commence where I left off when last I wrote, the 20th. that night our company (Capt. Rodgers) was drafted for picket guard. When about midnight we were called in, the Colonel having received orders to march on Manassas Junction. In about an hour we were on the road. Two and one half miles brought us to a town called Centerville, which was already in the hands of our troops. After passing Centerville one and one-half miles perhaps, we took a road leading to the right, and passed through one of the Southern oak forests, about eight miles in width, when we came to an opening, where, on the distant hillside, we saw a line of secession troops, upon which our Cavalry gave chase, but did not go far, for the enemy's batteries of rifled cannon opened upon them, when they retired to a cover of woods on the left. The main body of the enemy were stationed on a ridge of land about two miles from where the advance met, separated by a small stream known as Run. Our Regiment (the 27th) was then ordered to advance, which did so on a double quick for two miles; we were all out of breath, and the cannon shots were tearing away at a great rate; my hat was shot off the first thing. Then the Captain ordered us to throw off our haversacks and blankets and many of them did their coats, when we charged on them down the hillside, and drove them to the other side of the stream. Our lines were broken in climbing a fence, and it took the officers some minutes to rally and get them into order amid such an incessant firing from the hill opposite. Numbers of the boys were shot down here. Our ranks were soon formed and our noble Colonel shouted "Come on boys, let us silence that battery, come strike for your country and your God." We hastened to obey, when about 3,000 rebels issued from the woods from the left, and we had to turn our attention to them. We did not know at first whether they were enemies or not as they had a small Union flag with which to decoy us, and they succeeded pretty well, as their uniforms are nearly the same as the Washington Greys of New York. One of their men came over to us and proposed to surrender, as they had concealed their guns. Our Col. ordered the Adjutant to ride over with a white signal. He waved his handkerchief and rode within five rods of them, when half a dozen fired upon him, but he, by a dexterous move to one side of his horse, avoided the shots, which went over him. At that, one of our men ran his bayonet through the rebel who came with proposals of surrender; they then fired a volley without much effect, which we returned and run up the hill, although they were two to one of us. While this was going on, a strong detachment of rebels, 1,500 strong, commenced firing upon us from a ravine to the right, and they were so effectually covered by the trees and bank, that we could not return it with much effect. they thinned out our ranks terribly, and after we had lost nearly one-half of our men, the Colonel, for the safety of the rest, ordered a retreat back to the top of the hill. I was the last but one to leave the ground, and the rebels advancing shot and run their bayonets through our wounded. 'Twas more than I could bear; there were two muskets loaded (with their owners dead beside them) which I seized, and at a distance of six rods, coolly shot two of the foremost as they proceed in their damnable work. Can God grant success to such diabolical acts against his attributes of mercy?
One instance in particular came under my observation, which shows their hearts; Two men of the 69th Reg. took a prisoner. One of the boys were wounded as well as the prisoner severely. The rebel asked for some water and the sound man of the 69th gave him the last drink of water in his canteen; he happened to turn around when the rebel drew a knife and stabbed the wounded soldier in the back, which killed him on the spot. when the other saw what had been done, he ran him through with his bayonet.
As we reached the top of the hill, our Colonel was shot; two men and myself carried him into the woods and called medical aid; then we immediately formed with our fearless major to lead us, but just at this time two more Regiments came to our relief. We were ready to sink with fatigue (what there was left of us), but the boys (many of them who could hardly crawl) were calling on their officers to lead them on. But our wounded Colonel gave orders for us to retire immediately, saying we had done our part for the present and we should not go and be cut to ribbons without he was with us. We accordingly retired [and continued] fighting for two hours before any more force was brought to relieve us. In the course of the afternoon, fifteen Regiments took part in the engagement. The enemy were three times driven from their batteries and as often retaken. Our troops fought like tigers, but who could hope for success? I could not when I saw that they not only understood their business, but had at least three to one in the engagement, together with a larger reserve than our whole force. By some mistake, McDowell, the Gen. of our Division, commenced one day too soon, and the Divisions of Patterson and McLeland did not arrive in time to engage in the fray. Beauregard commanded the right of the rebel force; Pres't. Jeff Davis arrived at noon and took command of the center in person. The name of the commander on the left of their line, I could not learn. Their whole force could not vary much from 90,000 men after Johnson arrived with his reinforcements. What could our little Division do, only between 14,000 and 16,000 with such an army and strongly entrenched at that? At about seven o'clock, nearly every man's ammunition was spent, and also, all the shot and shell were disposed of, and 'twere worse than suicide to think of staying on the ground. Major Bartlett drew the remnant of our regiment up into line on the top of the rise of ground opposite the enemy's works, twice (to make a show of fight to scare the advance of the enemy back) after we had not one load to put in our guns, that we might cover our retreat. We all left the ground in middling order considering the magnitude of the movement. After Marching about eight miles on our retreat, the rebel cavalry fell upon our rear, and a bridge broke through and stopped their passage. They captured six of the guns of the Rhode Island Artillery and lost a few men. At Centerville, the troops stationed there formed into line and protected our retreat. After leaving Centerville we were not attacked, although we expected it every moment. We reached Washington at 8 o'clock yesterday morning, more dead than alive, having marched from our camp at Fairfax to the battle field, 14 miles, fought half a day like tigers, and made a forced retreat to Washington just 40 miles from the field of strife and going forty hours with nothing to eat--you can imagine what sort to men we are today. Howard of Maine, Whittlesey and VanDuse of Union came out of the field uninjured. They are lucky men. The sun is setting and I can write no longer now; but more anon.
Yours respectfully, Blockhead.
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