The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-06-07

040ue
WnLIAxsroRr, Nd, Nay 26, 1869.
DEAR FAfssR AND Ho1HER-You have proba.
bly, heard BY this time Of the three days fighting
Our company and company we're ordered 10
Front Royal, in the mountains. twelve miles from
Strasburg, last Friday, and when we got within
two miles of our destination We heard cannona-
ding The Major ordered the baggage to stop,
and our two companies dashed on and found
seven companies of our infantry and two pieces
Of artillery engaged with several thousand of
the enemy just - We arrived on the field Col.
Parem, who had command Of our forces, rode up
to me and ordered me to take one man and the
two fastest horses in our company and ride for
dear life to Gen. Banks headquarters in Stras-
burg for reinforcements. The direct road to
Strssburg Was occupied BY the enemy. 90 was
obliged 70 ride round BY another road seventeen
miles. rode the seventeen miles in 6fty-fve
minutes Gen. Banks didn't seem to think il
very serious, but ordered one regiment of in
fantry snd two pieces Of artillery off. I asked
Gen. Banks for q fresh horse to rejoin my com.
pany, and he gave me the best horse that
ever rode, and started back. came out on
the Front Royal turnpike, about two miles this
side Of where left our men. Saw two men
stapding 10 the road, and their horses standing
BY the fence. supposed they we're our pickets
They didn't halt me, 90 / asked them If they were
picketsi. They said no. Says l, "Who are your"
1--WE are part of General Jackson's STAFF" I
supposed that they we're only joking. laughed
and asked them where Jackson vas They said
be was in the advance. I left them and rode
towards Front Royal, till overlook soldier,
and asked him what regiment be belonged To-
He said be belonged to the Eighth Louisiana. Il
asked how large force they had. and the reply
+ mad hsOL md
drew my revolver, expecting either desperate
fight or q southern jail but the officers in the
road didn't stop me, and was lucky enough not
to meet any of their pickets. But il it vas not
. narrow escape, then don't know what ia
When got out of the enemys lines rode %
fast 10 the horse could carry me TO Genesal
Banks, and reported what had seen and heard.
He said had saved the army. In LEES than an
hour the whole army Was in motion towards
Winchester. After left Front Royal to take
the 6rss dispatch to Strasburg, our two comps.
MES Of cavalry, who were covering the retreat
OF the infantry and baggage, vere attacked on
three sides by about three thousand Of the enc.
my's cavalry. Our boys fought like devils, till
nearly half Of them were killed or wounded, and
then retrsAted to Winchester. Captain White
William Watson, Henry Appleby, aud nine OF
ten men Of our company are killed or taken.-
Wuham 0eIsoeu - IA Iikuts except Nl&uS
sabre wound In the shoulder. We had battle
at Winchester, got licked, and retrcated. On,
company and company z were ordered to cover
Parrott gun battery and bring up the rear
We rode oil the way from Winchester to Mar
tinsburg With cannon shot and shell flying around
us faster than it did At Bull Run. We crossed
the Potomac last night. Il was 90 dark that u
couldn't 6nd the ford and had to swim oul
horses across. We have got our batteries il
position on this side. and the rear Of the arm,
10 ciossing
From your con,
CRARLEY b. GnSEMLIAr,
Company D, Fifth New York Cavalry.