The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-11-06

iment; but /, rs one of the line officers. dcsil'
to give the praise where 1t more particularly
belongs, 10 those who arc justly entitled TO it
Col. Smith with all the field and staff-for GER
tainly they displayed that courage and energ!
that few could possess under the circumstances
and every man of this regiment will feel proud
Of these officers whenever he thinks of tina
eyentful night. ~
On joining our brigade we learned to oul
sorrow that Lieut.. Harris, whom l mentioned
as having been sent back from Little Washing.
ton with twelve men, had not been heard from
and We knew he had been captured. To los,
him was great loss, for moro noble and gen.
tlemanly officer we have not in our regiment
but we could now do nothing for him. We nj
30 learned that our noble brigade fought mos,
desperately TO hold the enemy in check till We
came in, losing some 300 men in the fight, and
having several officers wounded, among whom
was Lieut. Cutler. of our regiment and A. ID. c,
to Col Gregg, and Lieut.. Martin Uf the 10th
Pa, also A. ID. G..
We now remained with the brigade near u
Mon Mills two days and two nights, when we
moved back to Fairfax Station and encamped.
Next day marched to Centrevillc, next day to
Bull Run, next day to GAINESVILLE, and thence
TO Warrenton, arriving ut midnight; next day
marched to Fayetteville, and made recon.
noisance towards the Rappahannock Station,
where we came up with the enemy. but II being
most night we returned to Fayetteville and
encampcd; next morning We pushed out to try
the enemy little, and see what force he had
with the I'd Pa. We advanced with the I'd Pa;
till in sight of their pickets, when VIC deployed
to the river and Station, when they sent out a
strong infantry force, with which we skirmlsh-
cd till, ascertaining that their whole army was
there, We began to retire. Up to this time no
casualty had taken place on our side, and be.
gan to think we were going to make very
pretty little affair OF it for the amount of intor-
nation we were obtaining. I held the right
with my company, with Lieut.. Smith in charge
of the first platoon, and Sergt. Chadbourne the
second, while directed from the centre. We
had just received the order from Maj Thaxter
to retreat firing, when ball struck Lieut..
Smiths horse in the forehead, killing him in
stantly, and passing through wounded the
Lieut.. through the arm above the elbow, but
did not break the bone. He soon mounted
another horse and went to the rear. The boys
were now somewhat angry. and every ono
wanted to hit n rob, and some of them had that
pleasure, for one was seen 10 turn back wound
ed, and another was seen to fall out OF the sad
die, and the horse went prancing over the field.
1t was with difficulty could get them to fall
back as fast as the other company. The enemy
followed but short distance. and We retired
beyond Fayetteville and encamped for the
night. 1t now began to rain, and by morning
we had mud ankle deep, and still 1t rancd. Of
course every ono was very uncomfortable,
when, to add to our dscomtorturc, news came
that the enemy was advancing on us with in
fantry and cavalry. "Then there was hurry
ing to and fro, and mounting in hot haste.
Here We sat ON our horses for an hour or 50,
when the pckcts sent in word that the enemy
was retiring. They came Us far as Fayettes.
Vile, and then went back, not finding US in
any force there Right in the midst Of this
hurly-burly, and seemingly as IL to take oil a
little Of the wiry edge, in rode Lieut.. Harris,
whom have before mentioned. A shout OF
joy went up through the regiment, especially
from Co. "F." Allwcrc anxious to hear his
story, and moro romantic one will not be
heard in this war. After leaving MS ut Little
Washington, he proceeded back on the road at
n quick pace, and when in sight of Annissyillc
saw six or eight rebel cayalrymen in the road
and charging them with his men, they quickly
fled. lie passed on to Jefferson, and here, in-
stead of finding our pickets MS he expected, Inc
found large force of rebel cavalry. They
Immediately charged after him with two COM
panics, but he succeeded in getting into q
piece Of thick woods, and so cvadcd them; but
soon the army made its appearance aud began
TO cncainp all around him, and ono soldier
coming into the thickct where the Lieut.. and
his men were. they took him prisoner. Here
they remained till night spread her protecting
cloak around them. They then broke up all
their saddles, brides and sabres, and leaving
their horses, took only their carbincs and pis-
tolls, and started They had to pass through
the rebel wagon train, and the prisoner was
charged IL he made the slightest attempt to be-
tray them they would shoot him; and thus
they passed unnoticed right through the train
and then to the river. They got n boy to show
them an unfrcquented ford at which they eros
sed. and finding the rebel cavalry on this side
of the river, they kept well up towards the
mountains.
AS they neared Thoroughfarc Gap next day
Mosby's men got on track Of them and chnrg-
cd after them; but like the true Yankee soldier
he ordered his men to get over the wall and
make fight. They did so, all but two and
their prisoner, who were captured; but the
Lieut.. kept up such fire that they were oblig-
ell to leave him, not, however, until they
threatened that If he wouldn't surrender, they
would shoot the two men they had just captur-
cd; but he couldn't see that, and they finally
lett him, when he passed on; but just before
entering the Gap down Numbered whole bat
talion of Whites men, yelling like so many
human wolves. He now took to the woods,
but they were not extensive or thick, and he
was soon surrounded. Seeing no possible
chance of escape he surrendered with his men,.
But II was only temporarily, he says, for he
determined never to 60 to Richmond. They
kent him FIVE days and then sent HIM and his
men under guard to Warrenton.
BY this time their army was falling back and
there not being any force stationed there, they
took him across the river at Sulphur Springs.
II being late at night, they were to stop at the
large house just on the other side which we
have always used as hospital, and which the
Lieut. knew we'll. Here they entered the house
by file. or somewhat mixed up with the guard,
with no light. Instead of turning with the rest
into n room on the left of the long hall he went
straight on and lcaped out Of tho back door
Knowing as soon as q light was obtained he
would bo missed and search made for him, he
hid in little rayine in some tall weeds. Soon
he heard them hunting for him, but keeping
quiet, when he could hear nothing moro OF
them. he proceeded cautiously to the river ana
took a bee line for Warrcnton Junction, strik-
inc our pickets mile OF two above, but not
darinr 10 show himself for fear II was the enc
my. he kent in the woods till night, and then
went 10 house close to the lines and found il
was the yankee pickets. He remained there
and in the morning came into our lines near
Auburn, and Saturday joined the regiment,
having accomplished one of the smoothcst
yankee tricks Of the war.
On this raid VIC lost twenty three men aud
about thirty horses. Our number is now quite
small, rs the horses arc failing very fast with
disease in the hoof which will break out in
day, or n night, and the horse he unable to 20
mt all, and the men have to be sent To the dis
mounted camp at Alexandria The health of
the men is most excellent and VIC are waiting
somewhat impaticntly for those brave boys VIC
hear Lieut. Pray is cnlisting to fill up our ranks
to full regiment, aud for that other 2nd Me.
Cavalry. Ihope you will lend helping hand
10 forward the good work, for VIC arc anxious