Posted inUS Civil War

November 5, 1862 – Second N. C. Cavalry

Having been put in possession of the following official report of Maj. Andrews, giving an interesting account of a recent scout of a portion of this regiment, we publish it, as well for the gratification of the friends of the regiment, as to place the gallantry of its men in a proper light, which has been at times unjustifiably assailed

Headquarters 19th Regiment N. C. T.,
Warrenton, Va., Oct 20th, 1862.

To His Excellency Gov. Vance :

Sir—I have the honor to report to you the success of the 2d N. C. Cavalry in a recent scout through the enemy’s lines about Centreville, Va.

With six companies of the regiment, I was ordered to make the scout Soon after sun up on Saturday morning, (having ridden for 18 hours without rest,) I advanced to the Centreville pike, and there saw evident signs of a force having passed. I learned from citizens that a force of cavalry and artillery had passed early in the night, and that it was followed by a guarded train of Yankee wagons. I got the forces all right and commenced the chase.

Posted inRailroads US Civil War

November 4, 1862 – Attack upon Trains at Manassas

Alexandria, November 3.—Most of the accounts relative to the attack upon the train at Manassas have been exaggerated. The following is the true version:—

It was about three o’clock on Friday afternoon when the train passed over Bull Run bridge. It proceeded about a mile beyond, when it was thrown from the track. No obstruction was apparent, and the manner in which the Confederates accomplished the fiendish trick was by cutting off the heads of the spikes which confined the rails in position, and undermining the track.

Posted inUS Civil War

November 2, 1862 – Movements of the Troops

New York. Nov. 1—A special to the Times from Harper’s Ferry 30th, says: Yesterday Richardson’s division passed Snicker’a Gap to Paris, a small town on the road leading from Leesburg and running through Ashby’s Gap. The forces under Gens. French and Sedgewick left here this morning, crossing the Shenandoah bridges. Sumner’s corps also moved into Virginia yesterday, through the Blue mountain and Short hills, where he will form a junction with Burnside, who ia now at Purcelsville.—nearly all the troops have moved off from London and Maryland Heights. For the present Gen. Geary’s command is to remain on Bolivar Heights. Maryland Heights are also well protected. Gen. Slocum’s command to garrison the Ferry.

Posted inPublic Health & Medicine US Civil War

October 28, 1862 – The Sanitary Condition of the Army

We have a letter before us from an Intelligent, educated citizen of this State, a non-commissioned officer in one of our late Maine Regiments, from which we make the following extracts:

“We have been put through a pretty hard breaking-in process. Our march through Maryland was a fatiguing one, and the exposure (sleeping in the open air) was a rough ordeal to those of hitherto sedentary life especially. I stood it better than I expected, carrying my musket every day that the regiment moved, though many stout men gave out, who, I thought, could stand much more than I.”

The writer was afflicted with the prevailing army diseases,—diarrhoea, dysentery, and bloody flux,—and was obliged to report him self on the sick list. He was on the doctor’s hands about a week, and says of his treatment—

Posted inUS Civil War

October 21, 1862 – The Battle of Perryville

REBELS BADLY WHIPPED.
THE FORTY-SECOND INDIANA REG’T.

Battle-field, near Perryville,
Forty-second Reg’t I. V.
October 10th, 1862.

Messrs Editors: I embrace the earliest opportunity of giving you a sketch of the battle near Perrysville, Ky., which commenced on the evening of the 8th inst, near one o’clock P. M. Of what occurred outside of the 17th brigade, I am not able to inform you, nor can I particularize about any regiment but the 42d. However, this I do know from personal observation that never can troops fight more bravely than did the 10th Ohio, led by the gallant Lieut. Colonel Burke, on whom too much honor and praise cannot be bestowed. Of the 15th Kentucky, led by Col. Pope, who received a wound in the shoulder, the same may be said, and of the 3d Ohio, led by Col. Beatty, and the 88th Indiana, led by Col. Humphreys, the same may be said: for all did honor to the cause of the Union and liberty. But as I can only speak in general terms of those noble regiment and their brave officers, I will hasten to speak in particular of the part played in the fearful drama by the 42d, in which your readers are more particularly interested.

About 10 o’clock the 42d was ordered to take position in a dry creek, at the foot of a rugged hill, about three hundred yards in advance, and one hundred to the right of Loomis’ battery. There we remained till the fight began, which was commenced by the rebels with artillery upon Loomis’.