Ellsworth
Was Shot By A Public-House Keeper, Whose Secession Flag He Hauled Down
- And The Regiment Was Much Cut Up At Bull's Run.
It has been very
uproarious, and some of its men 'retreated' on the way from Bull's Run
to New
York, on the principle that, once ordered to retreat, they had
better 'retreat right away home.' There can be no doubt, however, that
the bulk of these men fought well - but were, like most of the
regiments, badly officered - zealous men, but lawyers, store-keepers,
and political partisans, who could do nothing in handling bodies
of men.
"But to go back: about 60 miles from Boston, and just as I got into the
bed-berth in the car, several companies of one of the Vermont regiments
joined the train, having been discharged, on the expiration of their
three months' term, the day before. These men had to be dropped in
companies at various stations all along the road; and every hour or so
I was wakened up by bell ringing, gun firing, and cheering, as each
section got back home to their friends. In the morning I got amongst
those who were left, and heard their adventures. They had been in
nothing but skirmishing, however, and only had had three men wounded.
They seemed a nice body of young fellows, many very young. All were
voluble and in high spirits (coming home), and were very large
about the hard biscuits they had eaten - some, as one 'boy' said - for
they are all 'boys,' not 'men,' as with us - with the stamp of 1810 upon
them, - of camping out - keeping sentry at night, &c., &c., &c. They had
three young fellows, girlish-looking lads, with them, 'sick;'
two - one certainly - sick under death; just get home to die!
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