Nelson Family Juvenilia
Box 1 Folder 6
Battle of Poplington - n.d.

[2d?] BATTLE OF POPLINGTON
CHAP 1

On the 21 day of May 1868 we see two long trains the first one consisting of 30 large passenger cars drawn by 4 engines and the second one consisting of 10 large freight cars & 10 covered flat cars drawn by 3 engines the first train is carrying 10,000 B.C soldiers and the second is transporting their equipments and cannon to the battle field. It is on the eve of a great battle but the soldiers are making merry for all they know that on the morrow some will lie beneath the sod but soon there is an escape of steam and the train comes to a gradual standstill [illustration captioned "At the last station on the line"] [page break] and soon the gaily dressed soldiers are on the march.

About night fall they reach the scene of action. The soldiers wait about two miles from the enemys intrenchments untill night has shut out surrounding objects when without making any more noise than possible Ethan Allen with four thousand infantry moved directly in front of William G. Littles fortifications within 300 yards of them. Gen Mayor also was moving with the same noiseless march along an old cart road towards a small woods to the left of Ethan Allen. Gen Poroncho with 500 sharp shooters and Gen Newbern with 1000 [rouaves?] marched along this same road Gen Poroncho keeping along down to the sea shore. While Gen Newbern stationed himself a little below Gen Mayor in the edge of the woods.

Gen Donelson with 2,000 cavalry is on Ethan Allens right flank so as to give battle to Burt Greens forces and Gen Lawson with 500 artilleryman a 160 cannon of Allens heavy artillery consisting of field pieces Howitzers machine guns and [page break] [full page illustration captioned "The plan of batle"] bombh[a]rding cannon were placed on a slight eminence over looking the battle and on the right flank of the cavaliers so as to rain [grape?] and [canister?] into the enemys ranks and to harass and annoy the white army after the plan of battle had been laid and carried out the soldiers began to make breastworks and big trenches also to give out ammunition and to place the ambulances within easy reach of drivers and attendants and after sending out spys and setting sentries and outposts the weary soldiers fell asleep to awake on some guns from Allens heavy artillery the morrow to partake in the great strike that was goi[n]g to decide the fate of Big Continent.