Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-10-02

them had never before seen a cartridge. Soon
after the order was issued, it was learned at
headquarters that the demonstrations made
at Williamsport, were only a feint to cover
the retreat of the rebels across the Potomac,
and that their army had succeeded in crossing
The orders to the regiments We're countermand-
ed, and they were ordered to remain in their
camps. Before the regiment was under arms
came the second order, and the men again
turned in for the night, many of them grie-
vously disappointed that they were not allow
ed, at least, to form in line of battle.
BY Saturday morning it was definitely known
at headquarters that the purpose for which
the militia had been called out was succes sful,
ly accomplished. That the presence of so large
force gathered to protect the State had pre-
vented lnvasion-that the enemy had fallen
back across the Potomac, and that al danger
to Pennsylvania had been averted for the
present, at least The emergency having pass
ed, the militia were to return to their homes
as speedily as transportation could be found
Orders were at once issued for the militia to
march to Greehcastle, y miles distant from
Hagerstown in Pennsylvania and await trans
portaton. The 18th struck tents Saturday
afternoon and marched back to the old camp
ing ground at Hagerstown, where they sta id
all night. Sunday morning at O'Clock, the
regiment was again in motion, on the Green
castle turnpike Each man carried his mus
ket, knapsack, haversack and canteen, making
heavy load, to those unaccustomed to bear
ing such burdens. Five miles of the road was
on the macadamzed turnpike which ends in
little village called Mddlebury, at the State
line. The line was known by the termination
Of ha 10 I'D h.,
into Pennsylvania, each company testified their
qualification and their love of our noble old
Commonwealth by hearty cheers. The re-
naming distance was over an ordinary road,
upon which the dust lay for inches deep, not
withstandng the clouds raised by regiments
| ahead US. The sun poured down its hottest
rays upon the long line-but Notwithstanding
the heavy load, and dust and heat, but few in
the regiment fell behind. 1t was 3, D. m,
when we filed rom the road iato grove one
mile from Newcastle where tents were pitched
aad some of the " free soil got rid of in an
adjoining riyuIet.
Here we remained until Tuesday night.
awaiting transportation The discipline Of the
camp was somewhat relaxed, in view of the
termination OF the campaign, and of our i'm
mediate return home. The regiment turned
out at 4, p. N. GU Monday and Tuesday for
dress parade, and received universal commen-
dation for presenting the best appearance of
any regiment which attempted dress parade
The boys killed time with eating drinking and
foragng expeditions, from which they return
ed with Sundry fowls, loaves of bread, pies,
canteens of milk, etc, etc, all paid for, of
course.
Tuesday evening at o'clock the train ar
rived, and the regiment embarked A slow
and tedious ride all night, brought us to Har-
risburg about daylight Marched to the Capi
tol grounds, stacked arms, and dismissed until
8 o'clock, at which time the regiment was
formed in SClid square, aud addressed briefly
by the Colonel and by Professor Mccoy, in d
stirring and eloquent address. Cheers were
given with will for the field officers, for the
Governor, and almost everybody else, until
The thrOatS OF the men were hOarSe with their
efforts. Our arms and equipments were then
returned to the arsenal, rifles retaken, the
regiment marched to the depot and at ii l-2
o'clock, we were on our way to our homes
At Northumberland we gave a parting cheer
to our companions in arms from the North
Branch-at Canton we parted with Captain
WHCoxs company, at midnight found ourselves
at Troy, from which place in the morning we
separated for home. Such is a necessarily
brief narrative of a weeks campaign in Mary
land, which if embellished, contained romance
aud adventure enough for a volume.
The commanding officer of Co F takes this
occasion to return his sincere acknowledge,
ments to the members of his Company for the
readiness manifested by all to obey orders,
and their willingness to share the dangers aud
bu "
called upon to face the enemy, he entertains
no doubt, from the disposition manifested that
they would have proved themselves equal to
any emergency, and returned home with IN
stained reputation.
The Company is also under obligations to
Mr. c. l.. WARD, for his generosity displayed
in various ways, and his zeal in looking after
the interests not only of the Company, but of
the Regiment. He was interchangeable in his
efforts to promote the comfort of the men, his
eXertions and liberaty enabling them speedi-
ly and comfortably to reach their homes
On Saturday, Goth ult., 10 company with
Mr. WARD, Lieut., Col MEANS and TWO PhIa
delphians, we visited the battle field, passing
over the turnpike from Hagerstown to Sharps-
burg, and consequently through the scene of
the fercest of the conflict. We will not at
tempt to give any account of the battle, nor
describe the ground, as that has been done
very minutely and accurately by the newspa-
per correspondents About 9 miles out we
came upon the evidences of the fight The
first notification was an ntclerable stencil
Then came to view the unburied rebels lying
dead beside the road and in the cornfelds and
woods. The spectacle was revolving and hor
rible in the extreme. In corn-feld to the
left, the dead rebels were lying almost man
to bill of corn. AS we drove along, in the
turnpike lay their bodies, as they had fallen
in battle. In one group we counted twenty
seven dead rebels, some lying across the bodies
of others. The turnpike was strewn at every
step with evidences of the fight. Muskets,
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