Thoughtfully curated historical journalism
We are permitted to make the following extracts from a letter written by a private in the 5th Maine Battery. The letter is dated, Fort Ellsworth, Alexandria, Va., Sept. 2.
“After fighting daily and nightly, changing our position, followed up by Jackson’s immense force—our Division always bringing up the rear, under Gen. Ricktt of McDowell’s corps, we arrived near Manassas, where, last Saturday, a terrible battle took place, mostly fought upon the left where our Division was placed, and where the enemy had concentrated his strongest force. The battle raged furiously. Our Battery was ordered into a very dangerous position by McDowell in person, and the boys fought like tigers. We got between two fires, and our horses were all shot at the guns, and our men fell fast, Lieut. W. F. Twitchell was killed, also two sergeants and from 16 to 20 privates. The infantry fell back and did not sustain us. Gen. Towers was wounded severely while trying to rally them to assist us. Lieut Twitchell behaved nobly during the engagement, and A. B. Twitchell fought like a hero, cool and self possessed all the time.—Our Captain (Leppien) was sick and not in action, but he has proved himself “true blue” during the last fortnight and full of courage.
The details of these fever-infected localities, instead of affording hope that the plague has nearly expended its power, acquaints us of increased distress and mortality, arousing the feeling, already excited, to a more expanded sympathy In view of these awful, appalling statements, it becomes the duty of our citizens to arouse themselves to further effort for the relief of their truly afflicted neighbors.
Among those killed. Col. Jas. Cantwell, of the 82nd. This will be a heavy stroke upon his devoted family, and will be much lamented by his many warm friends in this county and other portions of the State. No braver man lived; fear was no part of his composition, his heart always in the right place, and if he had a fault it was in being too self-sacrificing to his friends.
From the Cincinnati Gazette.
CINCINNATI, September 1.
Editors Gazette: I read this morning, with much astonishment, your account of the disaster at Richmond, Kentucky, and your comments thereon. It Is to be presumed that you desire to furnish your readers with the truth. it is as follows:
First. The action was brought on by General Manson, who was in command at Richmond, against my instructions, and against the instructions of General Wright, the Commander of the department, which were that the troops being new, were not to be risked in action until some time had been spent in drill and discipline.
EDITORIAL
The greatest tragedy in the world occurred in the lives of five Seattle boys Friday.
The dog-catcher got their dogs!
More than 1,000 boys trooped merrily to Volunteer park to take part in The Star’s annual coaster race. Naturally their dogs went along., There must have been more than 100, barking at the heels of their small owners, chasing the flying coasters and having the time of their lives.
Maybe every man has a heart. We don’t know. Perhaps they have ’em and, on some days, they’re not in working order. But we can’t see how any man with a heart could have interfered with that juvenile celebration by calling the dog-catcher.
The sentence of the Court Martial on Corporal Geo. H. Burger, Company E. First Regiment S. C. Artillery, who was found guilty of an intention to desert and attempting to persuade others to desert with him, was carried into effect on Sullivan’s Island Thursday, precisely at 12 M. He was shot at that hour on the open space, about two hundred yards to the East of the Moultrie House, just beyond the Beauregard battery, in full view of the blockading fleet.
The execution took place in presence of the unfortunate man’s own Regiment, also Col. Keitt’s Regiment a portion of Col. Dunovant’s Regiment and the Provost Marshall’s Guard, composed of a detachment from the Forty sixth Georgia and the Charleston Batalion.
Giant Dirigible, Fighting Hurricane, Crashes to Earth, Breaking Into Four Pieces, on Trip That Would Have Brought It Here Today
BODIES OF CRAFT’S VICTIMS STREWN OVER 10-MILE COURSE
Commander Zachary Lansdowne Goes Down With His Ship and Is Found Dead—Several Are Missing and Two Are Injured.
By United Press
CAMBRIDGE, Ohio, Sept. 3.—Whirled through space, twisted and tossed by the winds until she broke into pieces, the giant naval dirigible Shenandoah hurled fourteen of her crew to their deaths early today near Ava., Ohio, and then fell, a total wreck.
Commander Zachary Lansdowne perished with his ship. In addition to the fourteen dead, two are injured and three of the crew are unaccounted for. The remainder of the crew of forty-two is safe.