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.
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.
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.
At all times since the traitors commenced their war upon the Government, they have misrepresented to foreign nations their true purpose, knowing full well that if they boldly announced that they were fighting in behalf of the vilest system of oppression and slavery, instead of receiving aid and sympathy they would excite the universal scorn and horror of mankind. So the Yanceys and the Rosts and other advocates of the Southern cause in Europe, ashamed to admit the truth, have labored to deceive the people there, by attempting to show that they rebelled in consequence of high tarifs imposed by the North. That meanest of all traitors, Lieut. Maury, has lately been trying his hand at falsehood by writting a letter addressed to the Admiral in the French Navy, which is reprinted in the London Herald. Here is what he says about the cause of the rebellion :
Greenville, Mo., August 25. —Major Lippert of the 1st battalion of the 13th Illinois cavalry, with 130 men, attacked a body of guerillas 350 strong, under Hicks, miles beyond Bloomfield. The guerillas were totally routed, twenty of them killed, three times as many wounded, and a number taken prisoners. Sixty horses, seventy stand of arms, and all their camp equipage were captured. The survivors scattered in all directions, and will not probably again reorganize. The affair was a complete success for Major Lippert, and little more trouble need be apprehended from Hicks’ band.