Oxford Times, August 5, 1863
Near Hagerstown, Md, July 13th, 1863
Mr. Editor, Two weeks ago we halted just outside of Frederick City on our way to Gettysburg. The fight, at that place commenced the first of July and lasted three days. Our regiment was in it each day, but we were were fortunate, and only lost two men wounded in the whole regiment. We supported the brass battery which was out of range of the rebel shells, and this is the reason we lost so few. Perhaps you would like a little description of the fight.
The whole line of battle lay in the shape of a drag. Our regiment lay just at the right of center. The front point of the line lay just outside of the town of Gettysburg. We took our position in the morning, which was in the woods, and commenced building breastworks. These were built along the whole line, and just at the top of a ridge, it was a nice position and a strong one, everything was quiet until twenty minutes past four P.M., when a cannon was fired. Hardly had the sound died away when an answer was received, and in less than ten minutes it was a perfect roar. The musketry soon commenced wiht terrible volleys which proved that the expected battle had begun. The fighting commenced about the center of the left wing and was rapidly rolling towards the extreme left. The rebel General followed his favorite tactics of throwing his whole force on one point, and seemed determined to break through, but luckily for us he found something besides the 11th corps to break. But his attack was so fierce that our Generals feared that he would succeed in driving our boys and break the line as he did at Chancellorsville, and by that means flank us. So just about sundown we were ordered up to support the left. We went up under a perfect storm of shot and shell, but the ground being a little higher than we were, the shot went over, many of the shells burst near us, but none of us were hit. We arrived at the place just at dark but just as our corps got there the firing grew less furious, and within half an hour had ceased entirely. The rebels found it impossible to break our lines and gave it up for the night.
We were ordered back to our places on the right, and what do you suppose we found. Nothing more nor less than the rebels had taken possession of our breastworks in our absence and we found ourselves fairly out-witted this time. We felt very much worked up when we found the dirty rascals in our breastworks and no doubt they were chuckling over it. But all that we could do was to draw back in the field and lie down until morning.
At daylight we were aroused and drawn back into the road. Our brass battery was just back of us on a knoll and but a short distance from the breastworks. The other battery which is the rifled cannon were on our right. it was not long before both batteries opened on the breastworks, and every shell seemed to say come out of those breastworks you rebels. The infantry were now being sent in, and the musketry commenced and the fight now raged on the right wing as terrible that day as it did on the left the day before, and it took us until half-past eleven to drive the rebels out. During this time our regiment was lying back near the batteries and escaped the fire which the others received. the 27th Indiana and 2d Mass. lost over half of their men. In the afternoon we went down into the breastworks and played with the rebel sharpshooters awhile and at night our corps was relieved.
We have been on the tramp now for four weeks, and expect another battle any hour. We are near Hagerstown, and the rebels in plain sight. Our company went out skirmishing Saturday night about 2 o'clock and skulked around and fired at the rebels until 10 Sunday morning, and was then relieved. None of us were hit, although the rebels shot close. I think that Geo. Watson hit a rebel, for one was taken prisoner wounded in the morning, and George says he saw him fall.
We have been building breastworks all day and the rebels are doing the same on the next hill beyond, and within easy shelling range. We have got very strong breastworks and cannon planted all along the line. We think we have got the rebels in a tight place, but they may escape for all that. It is reported that the Eleventh corps and Fifth corps have crossed the river, and will drive them close if they try to cross, and if that is the case they are hard up. If we can whip them nicely here, now that we have Vicksburg, it is my opinion that rebeldom must dry up this summer, which I hope will be the case. Gen. Meade now commands the army, and gained a great victory at Gettysburg, and I should think understands his business. This is the kind of a man we want. J.D.H.
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