Extract from a private letter from Frederick City, Maryland.
Having driven the enemy from
Virginia, we are now at the old capital of
Maryland.
Our corps has thus far continued in advance.
We crossed the
Potomac day before yesterday and continued the march until 10 o'clock at night, when we turned in a field for the night.
General Jackson sent me an order to have two days provisions cooked immediately.
I sent him word we had nothing to cook, and would be glad to know where I could get something for my men. He sent word back that I should send the men into a cornfield near by to fill their haversacks with roasting ears.
I did so, and told him we would be ready to march in two hours. Before daylight we were off, and reached here by the middle of the day.
Such is the character of the service this corps has been rendering — marching, fighting and starving — almost incessantly, night and day. I would not have believed, without actual experience, that flesh, blood and muscle could stand what we have stood.
I have been for several days in command of the division.
I crossed the
Potomac at the head of six brigades, composing about half of
General Jackson's corps.
Extract from a private letter written at Frederick, Maryland, September 8th, 1862.
We have done so much hard fighting since crossing the
Rappahannock that I cannot undertake to give particulars.
In the fight of Friday, near
Manassas,
General Gregg's brigade was on my right.
He had repulsed an attack on his line, and was again furiously assailed by a fresh column.
Seeing the enemy were concentrating their efforts at that point I extended my line so as to place one of my regiments (the Thirty-seventh) behind him, and informed him I would support him if he should need it. In a few minutes
General Gregg's brigade came back retreating and the enemy in close pursuit.
General Gregg then asked me for support.
I ordered
Colonel Barbour to advance with the Thirty-seventh and to assail the enemy on meeting them.
Without halting I ran across the road, under a hail-storm of shot, for another regiment.
The Seventh was nearest.
Calling for
Colonel Haywood I learned that he was already wounded, and calling on the Seventh to follow me I led it to the support of the Thirty-seventh.
These regiments swept the enemy back in almost the twinkling of an
