Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1862-05-28
THE FIGHT AT FRONT ROYAL.
Statement of Capt. Smith.
BALTIMoRE, May 70.


The following is the statement of the fight
at Front Royal, by Captain George Smith, OF
the lst Maryland regiment, who succeeded In
effecting his escape:
About one O'Clock on Saturday afternoon
a negro mounted on horseback came dashing
into camp, crying out that the rebels were
coming in great numbers. and they will sur
round you and cut you off.
At first the men laughed at him, stating
thew had waited too long for theu,, and they
did not believe a word of it. As soon as Col.
Kenley, however, saw the man, he became sat
is6ed of the rebels approach. The long roll
was beaten. The men responded, springing
heartily to their arms and forming in line by
company, and very soou the rebels made their
appearance. Strange to say not single gun
was fred by the pickets of the regiment. 1t
nav have been that, in consequence OF a sud-
den turn in the road they were surprised and
captured Company was ordered to deploy
as skirmishersand support section of hnapp's
PENNSYLVANIA Battery, which mustered about
40 men.
In the meantime the Lieut. Colonel of the
29th infantry, with a small detachment of his
men, who had been acting rs pioneer corps,
also formed and prepared to receive the enc
nv. Our battery was soon engaged, and dis
charged shot and shell for nearly two hours
and until all their ammunition had almost
been expended The firing was spirited, and
there is no doubt of its efficacy. Unable,
however, TO withstand such an overwhelming
force, the order was given to retire, which
was done, and the entire column moved over
the Shenandoah river, the retreat being GOV
cred by q company of the 5th New York cav
airy. abt Ut, eighty strong.
Whilst passing over the bridge, the Capt.
distinctly saw the rebel forces. There was
very strong column of cavalry, say four squad
rons of eight companies, and five regiments
of infantry Of this force, two regiments Of
infantry and two Of cavalry were fording
the stream, the water being very low. The
order double quick was given. and the Union
troops took to the pike, where another stand
WIS made, Col Henley addressing the men,
and telling them that their only chance was
to stand and fight to the last, especially as the
rebel cavalry were fast pushing on, and dis
playing black flag.
Can't Smith states that he did not see them
display the white flag as was represented in
a previous account
A second stand was made and many shots
exchanged. when the New York cavalry who
we're still III the rear Of the column, broke
and retreated, riding pell neil through the
ranks of infantry. A party Of the Maryland
command retreated some distance to a wheat
field and there made still another stand firing
rapidly and with deliberate precision. Pres
emily on came the rebel cavalry, cutting
right and LETT, terribly yelling like Indians.
In some instances neither the dying or woun
ded were spared, and in two instances the
captain saw the rebels draw their pistols and
shoot them in the head whilst lying on the
road side.
The captain told the men they had better
return to the pike and escape as they best
could. He had not proceeded far when
cavalry officer rode up to him and demanded
his sword and pistol, which he threw upon
the ground, the rebel at the same time draw
ing a pistol upon him. In the confusion,
however, he succeeded in regaining his pis
tel, and observing the rebel shoot one of the
lst Maryland Regiment, he drew it and shot
him, and, with the assistance of Lieut.. Cam |
phor, he succeeded in securing the rebel /!
horse and riding of. After proceeding about /
two miles they came across the ambulance in |
which Col. Henley lay, attended by Surgeon
Mitchell The vehicle was passing along the /
pike and had been repeatedly fired into by |
the rebel cavalry. Finding themselves close /
ly pursued, they abandoned the horse, and |
leaping several fences took the woods, where I.
they managed to conceal themselves and the |
enemy gave up the search.
There were but six companies of the lst |
Maryland regiment engaged in the fight, the |
remaining four being on picket duty and act.
ing as provost guard at Front Royal.
The Iron Gunboats.
UNITED STATES STEAMER GALESA, !