The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-10-02
NUMBER "A.

ardstown. All our forces were now
, concentrated at the ferry. Gen. White,
who, by rank decame commander of the
forces. waived his right, and rendered
his services and those Of his troops, to
Col Miles. As complaints have since
been made that no order was issued
stating who was to be commandant, it
is proper TO state that an order was
prepared by Col. Miles, and copy
sent to Gen. White, at whose request it
was withheld from PRONUNCIATION to
brigade commanders.
On Saturday, Col. Downey' with
the Sd Me. regiment, was ordered to
Maryland Hights, and subsequently
the l15th n. Y. was sent over. There
was some brisk fighting during the
morning, the rebels slowly working
their way over the crest of the hill, and
our boys disputing their way courage.
ously. Here the l26th behaved badly.
and the fault lies with some of the off
GERS as well as the men. They broke
ranks and ran, some even throwing
their guns away, and two companies
never stopped till they reached the
pontoon bridge. There, Lieut.. Binney,
aldo decamp to Col. Miles, succeeded in
stopping the rOut with drawn saber,
and sent the fellows back to the hill.
As the fight progressed, our troops
concentrated near the battery, when
Capt. McGrath and Capt. Graham both
opened upon the woods with shell, and
succeeded in effectually shelIing the
rebels back again. The position of
Capt McGrath and Capt Graham's bat.
teries were such that they could pre-
vent any large force from advancing in
body upon the guns. The fire Of
musketry had now ceased but the bat.
teries continued to shell the woods,
making them very uncomfortable for
any human being. Judge with what
surprise, tho occupants of Bolivar
Hights saw long column of infantry
marching from Maryland Hights to the
Ferry. Can it be that they are evacu-
ating? was the query Oh every ones
lips.
Looking over to the camps the artil-
lerists were observed at their posts, and
each tried to persuade the other that it
was only some r,tse. But, alas, it was
too true. Col. Ford had ordered the
evacuation, for what reason the men
could not learn. Capt. McGrath, as
true and brave soldier as ever walked,
upon receiving the order to spike his
guns, was so astounded that he refused
to obey it, and not until he saw infan.
try deserving him could he be induced
to perform the disgraceful task. He
sat upon his guns-his baby-wakers,
as he called the Dahlgrens- and wept
like child, telling Col. Ford that ssno
matter dy whose order it was done, it
was piece of treachery."
This abandonment of the key to the
whole position certainly requires the
most careful investigation at the hands
of the proper authorities. Col. Ford
had positive and written orders to
hold the place to the last extremity.
Five thousand troops and all our bat
teries were to aid him. Col f. had
remarked that che had looked the hill
all over, and made up his mind to stay
there" that "not man should come
down until they had been whipped
from it." Subsequent action certainly
gave the lie to his words. Col Miles,
who was to the extreme left, upon
learning that the troops were leaving,
rode hastily toward the spot, but met
the men on their way up the hill, and
learning that the guns were spiked, did
not order him back as he intended do
ing. As there was much talk as to
whom belonged the responsibility of
the evacuation of this battery and posi-
ton, your correspondent asked Col.
Miles if it was done by his order.
mo, sir, but in direct opposition to
them," was the unequivocal reply.
The Dahlgren guns were thorougIy
spiked, and tipped off the platform into
the dirt. The rifle gun and the Napo-
leon howitzers were also rendered USE
less. Officers and men were thunder
struck at the performance. and Colonel
d'Tlassy, commanding the first brigade
offered to retake and hold the position
but Col. Miles refused.
The evacuation received the merited
of officers and men.
Every one saw that the way for the
rebels was now open, the door locked,
it is true, but the key hung outside.
Hardly had the hill been deserted
ere the rebels appeared on London