PARTICULARS OF THE WILLIAMSBURG BATTLE.
Bravery of our Boys.
Williamsburg, May 7, 1862.
Dear Father :—As we have again been in one of these bloody encounters with the rebels, you are of course in the midst of excitement at home, each one anxiously waiting to hear from their own friends and relations in the army. It has been a terrible fight, and many of our friends lay dead on the battle field.— The 2nd N. H. regiment took a prominent part in the fight making the attack, and company B. was the first to drive them from their right position, and kept them at bay fer two and a half long hours, waiting for reinforcements — all our ammunition gone excepting two or three cartridges, which we kept for any emergency, not wishing to fire unless we were sure of our man.
The Mass. 1st came nobly up to our aid, and stood their ground manfully, meeting with a good deal of loss in both killed and wounded. In fact, all of our boys fought well, and bravely, but in the afternoon, we were whipped twice and driven back to the ground where we first attacked them.
Capt. Drown of Fisherville, whose company was with us in the attack, was killed, and his company has suffered badly. We do not know what our loss is at this time, but it is heavy, for the rebels had a large force and fought desperately. In driving them back several times, our company and regiment went on to the field three times without any ammunition, just for to cheer our folks on. We commenced cheering, and the Band behind played Yankee Doodle, and then made a grand rush. The rebels, thinking we were fresh troops, gave way.
In one of these sorties, our much-loved Fred Emerson, who was taken prisoner at Bull Run, was shot through the heart. John T. T. Brown of Concord was shot in the arm. Danna Wallace was badly wounded, and some ten or dozen others more less wounded.
The rebel loss is great. Large numbers were left on the field dead and wounded, besides carrying off all that they could during the night.
Concord boys are all well as you could expect after the fight and long marches. The rebels are in full flight, Our cavalry and artillery are in hot pursuit. Our flag or colors are torn and riddled badly, but are safe in our hands. Capt. Colby was sick and left at Yorktown, and we fought under the charge of John D. Cooper of Concord, who was right up to time.
The Daily Manchester American, Manchester, NH