From a “Broth of a Boy” in the 13th.
We have been shown a letter from private Anson Hobart, to his mother, in which he describes the events of Sunday, and the share which his own company took in the engagement. We copy a single paragraph verbatim:
“In the first place we stopped on a hill where we did not have a fair fight with the rebels. We thought to take them, when they run, but we got sucked in, for we could not see them nowhere. Well, then, we run four miles further, when we got a fair swing at them – then we gave them h—l on all sides, until balls flew about our heads like hailstones. Then our Captain gave the order to retreat, which made all of us as mad as so many crazy devils, but we had to do it. We are going to try them again in a few days, and I hope the Lord will spare my life till I see the Stars and Stipes flying all over the whole world. If He does, I shall feel happy when I die.”
Rochester (NY) Evening Express, 7/29/1861
Contributed by John Hennessy
* While no Hobart is listed in the roster source below, records for Anson Hobart were found in the 3rd New York Cavalry, to which Co. G (1st) of the 13th New York Infantry transferred on 9/1/1861.
Harry Smeltzer
Bull Runnings 
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