Ransom W. Towle to [Family and Friends]
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Half past six PM
Last night about seven the Mass. 16th Reg on our left advanced beyond the Picquet
line to reconoiter for masked Batteries. They came suddenly and unexpectedly
upon Rebel Rifle Pits one behind the other and glistening with six rows of
bayonets. The first intimation our men had of the existence of Rifle Pits was a
volley of bullets at four rods distance. Though taken completely by surprise
they pounced upon the Enemy jumping right into the Pits in the face of ball and
bayonet driving the Enemy back with heavy loss only a few rods further on
they came upon another. Again they literally shoved the Enemy back
with cold steel but went on only to find themselves confronted by a third. Here
they being on strange ground and ground difficult to march over being miry and
covered with underbrush and losing heavily they fell back at their leisure.
Their loss - killed wounded and missing was seventy four. They took sixteen
prisoners and killed many one man was seen to shoot one Reb then jump into the
pit among the Enemy pin another to the bank with his bayonet then pouncing upon
a third got his arm round his neck and dragged him in this position back to Camp
without once losing his hold. One Captain also sprang over the bank into the Pit
and with his Revolver shot three of the Enemy in their track when he was riddled
by a Doz. balls. And thus is poured out the best blood of New England for the
honor of the Stars & Stripes and may History render a just tribute to these
Patriot Martyrs Our Picquets did not advance but a short distance yesterday
before they were checked by the Enemy in force. Today has been a day of
preparation with us. Rations cooked up Guns inspected Ammunition examined, the
Sick sent back to the rear twenty rounds of extra Cartridge ordered for every
man, and orders to be in readiness to move early in the morning
Everybody guesses that we shall go out and fight tomorrow
yet nobody knows Orders are often countermanded but there is a prospect for
exciting times ahead But it is so dark now I cannot see.
Good Night Ransom