Letters From A Surgeon of the Civil War by Martha Derby Perry

Author:Martha Derby Perry
Language: eng
Format: epub

I dragged him to a little muddy stream, — the only place of safety, — where the poor fellow lay with the water almost running down his throat. He lived until the fight was almost over, and finally expired in my arms. He was just married.

The fight continued until dark, the enemy throwing out line after line up to that time. I was busy enough after the battle was over, and came within an ace of being taken prisoner, but Johnny Reb did not catch me that time.

The prisoners told us that, notwithstanding this success of ours, we could not escape, as General Ewell had passed up on our left and was surrounding us; but in spite of this on we marched, all through that night, without a halt, worn out as we were. I cannot express the torture I endured in trying to keep my eyes open. I believe I rode for miles in a sound sleep.

At dawn we joined the main army in the fortifications here at Auburn, bordering the Bull Run River. The day's work had been a most signal victory, and our brigade had captured five guns and two colors. A company of sharpshooters attached to the regiment did splendid work. They killed the enemy's gunners and then bodily mounted the guns, from which points of vantage they picked off any one who approached them. A corporal commanding them reported to General Warren the capture of the guns, and asked assistance in taking them off. The general detailed a certain number of men from each regiment for that duty, and thereby claimed that the corps took the guns instead of giving credit where it was due, — to the sharpshooters. General Webb, however, who commanded our division, and who, by the way, behaved most gallantly, issued a special order complimenting the sharpshooters for their services.

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