The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-11-06
CORRESPONDENCE.
HEADQUARTERS lsr MAINE CAVALRY, }
I'm the saddle, near Fayetteville,


statement that understand is going the rounds
in Maine. that the LIST Me. Cavalry was all soo-
bled. This is not quite so, though II was
about as narrow an escape rs We IKE 10 nave.
For the benefit OF our many friends will brief
ly narrate our adventure and escape, and show
your readers what part this regiment has taken
in the late movement of this army.
On Friday, Oct. 9th. while We lay ut Bcalton
Station. we received orders to be ready to march
next morning at daylight, so that night was
mostly spent in getting ready--Next morning
at 4 O'Clock we were all brddlcd and saddled,
and ready for fight At sunrise we started f,
marched through Culpepper and about six
miles beyond on the James City road, where
we found Gen. Fitzpatrick, and learned he had
been having very brisk fight with the enemy,
who met him with cavalry, infanty and artil-
lery-and IL was thought the enemy was on the
march again for the valley, and perhaps Mary
land aud Pennsylvania. We went into camp
for the night. to be ready to take up the march
again Mt daylight. Next morning We marched to
Sulphur Springs aud cnmpcd for the night, with
the same orders as before. Next morning VIC
were ordered To 20 To Gaines Cross Roads, anu
IL we found nothing to prevent us, to 60 TO
Little Washington and IL possible push our re-.
noissancc tn Spcriville, which is about twenty
four miles from Sulphur Springs and Mt the en-
trance of Thornton's Gap, which is the first
gap leading TO the valley. One battalion OF
the LIST Md. went with us 10 Little Washington
and finding no enemy of any note, Lieut.. Col.
Boothby with ono hundred and forty men OF
our regiment was sent to Spcrriyille, five miles
beyond where we thought we should find the
enemy, from what citizens had told US, and so
we advanced very cautiously with an advance
guard well out, and flankcd, on either side, and
when near the place Maj. Brown charged into
II with Co. II, but to his great establishment no
enemy was there-thcn the great query was:
where tras the enemy, especially his caval-
ry-for il was thought impossible to 60 that
far and not find them. But We were not long
in finding out, for after returning to Little
Washington and resting one hour VIC started to
return to Sulphur Springs. l should have
stated that when We first arrived ut Little
Washington. Lieut.. Harris Of Co. F, with
twelve men from Co. L, were sent back to re-
port our success thus tar, and hearing nothing
from him il was supposed he went through all
right, and so We all started thinking VIC had
made one of the most important reconnoissan-
ccs that could be. The LIST Md. not having any
tents or rations, was going back to the springs;
but Col. Smith was going to cncamp Mt or near
Annsyile as the horses were very tired. was
requested to go in with Maj. Russell's Battal-
ion and report what was found beyond Little
Washington. AS we approached Annisyille
about S O'Clock in the evening, we discovered
that large force had moved in there since we
went up, but whether they were friends or foes
we knew not. and rs we neared them our ad-
vance was halted and one made to dismount,
advance and give the countersign. As the
sergeant did so he was asked what uniform he
wore lie replied, blue-.when we heard the
picket in the regular Johnny style: Surrender
YOU ID yankee son of b---h !" and in
stantly the whole line of pickets gave US VOL
ley, which killed one man and wounded two
others, and sent the rest Of US back little way
in n hurry. Then we found where the enemy
was, and began to think that they knew where
we were, and that they had us pretty well cut
of, for of course their line extended to the
river and We were in tight place, and our
horses were in poor condition to help us out,
having marched already about forty miles, and
had no grain since carly in the morning. To
charge through was impossible, for there must
have been Mt least corps of infantry in front
of us; SO after consultation it was agreed to
turn about and try to cross the river higher up
aud pass around them. Accordingly VIC re-
turned quickly to Gaines Cross Roads. The
rear stopped to tear up n small bridge, when
suddenly a regiment of Infantry came charging
after us, hut VIC succeeded in capturing two OF
them and kept them along for several miles.
After finding out by them that they belonged
To A. L. Hills corps and that it was all there,
We let them 90.
At the cross roads We got some guides who
knew where there was a ford at which we could
cross and compelling them to go with us; ON
we went expecting to meet the enemy at every
turn. Once in passing through the woods there
we're two accidental shots in the column which
caused some closing up in the rear. We cross
cd the river ut Rock ford and pushed on to Or
leans, when there We knew well the locality,
but did not know how far on this side the cne-
my was; so We advanced very cautiously keep
ing to the left Of Waterloo, and crossing n
high aud very rough hill we struck the pike
about half way between Waterloo and Warren
ton. aud pushing on till in sight of Warrenton,
VIC saw by the numerous camp fires that quite u
force were there; and Oh, IL 1t was only ours !!
We halted and Maj. Thaxtcr being very posi-
tive that il was our own troops started of
to rceonnOitrc; he rode into their camp, went
to tent and shook the sleepers, and asked what
regiment; after repeating the question he got
the rough Johnny answer -"Twefth Va. you
id fool" "All right" says the Major,
and started to leave when guard halted him,
but he didn't care to have farther conversation,
and so kept on, which caused little stir among
the sleepcrs; the fires were extinguishcd quick
~ and we knew they would soon BIO down to
see what was up and no time was to be lost
The column was quickly put IN motion and
turned TO the left, and we got of the pike MS
soon as possible, and none too soon; for just
charge, but il being very dark they didn't dis
cover where we lett the highway and so went
on past us.
Now was our last chance. The morning gray
was just appearing and VIC must pass Warren
ton before light, or VIC should be discovered
and again cut OIL We had now left the road
and had to pick our way through fields, pas.
lures woods and over brooks as best we could.
Our horses were fast giving out, several had
already been abandoned and the men were left
behind; but Libby prison with its cold hard
door and its hungry lice, stared us In the face
and we would close up again. Thus we marched
for four or five miles, part OF the way so
thick were the woods and so dark was II that
we marched by file. Just rs the sun rose We
assembled hill where we could look down on
New Baltimore. AS no enemy could be seen,
all ielt like giving three hearty cheers, but il
wouldn't do AS we were not yet safe, and So we
passed through very quietly, and after passing
the road leading to Warrenton We began to
sing poans of praise.
About two miles this side Of New Baltimore
we halted and fed the horses with some corn
fodder and rested little; then continued the
march 10 GAINESVILLE. Here we met the and Pa.
out on reconnaissance, and right glad were we
10 see them. can assure you. Here we learned
something of the position of our forces, and
taking To the road VIC came out To Bristow
Station, Tuesday afternoon, having marched
about 40 miles in thirty. six hours. Mai.
Brown was now sent to corps headquarters to
find where our division and brigade was located.
Gen. Pleasanton, and also Gen. Meade, ex-
pressed great pleasure on learning that we had
made our escape, for they were compelled to
leave us TO our fate, and supposed We were all
captured. Gen. Meade remarked that the in
formation we gave was more than he had OBJ
tanned from all other sources. We were in
formed that the whole army was falling back,