Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-07-03
GENERAL JENKINS BRIGADE.

ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE ENQUIRER J
UAGERsTowH, MD, june ~, 1875.
! Mcssrs Editors We commence with this
series Of articles, skctching the march Of
General jenkins brigade in the present cxpe-
| dition.
On the morning Of the 18th instant we
countermarched from Middlctown to StraS-
burg thence crossed the mountain and passed
over to Front ROYAL. In nearing that place
we came in full view Of General Ewe!ls tram.
| which caused tho hearts % our men ITO leap
for iov :" the idc;. of delivcrance from FEEDER
al tyranny seemed TO strike the mind with
unusual force.
The brigade cncamped that night i'll the
| ncirhborh0od Of White Post, in which COM
munity orr advance guard, the l4th reg lment,
met the cncmvs scouts; light skrmshlng
then. and subsequently that evening took
place, in which Il few Of the enemy were Killed
and others captured.
Next morning, the 18th, the command add
vancel upon Berryyillc. The scouts flew be-
fore the advancing column. Near tire place
lively skirmishing was kept up short time
until they opened their artillery upon us.
Then tie column was halted ny General Jcn-
kins. and the advance ordered to fail back Il
short distance, where the command awaited
tic advance Of General Rhodes, division.
Gen. jenkins then marched ms long, wln!-
ing column through cr"sS and by-wayS, lcaH-
Ing in the direction OF Bunkers llIli: anu:
on reaching the main road 1t was ascertalhed
that Il large transport tram was III advance
of us, which had left Berryvillc the previous
evening. under the conduct OF heavy guard.
Tlcn the lively ,jorrant was the order. oh
coming within three or four miles oil Bun
Eer's Hill. their rear guard was overtaKeh !;
then Il running fight commenced. and onward
until they were charged upon and driven INTO
their barracks---brick and stone buildings
usod for the purpoSe-un Bunkcrs Hill. Tho
enemy had great advantage in their position.
Yet it is very remarkable that our men SUI
fered so littlo under the disadvantages IN
which they faced the enemy under thelr. cover.
4 few companies, led by Gen. jenkins,
charged upon them and captured large squads
ut the doors of their barracks. Yet our loss
was only two killed and four wounded. Some
four or five of our horses were killed and
wounded The cncmy's loss in killed and
wounded and captured, was about enc hum
drcd
The heavy rain and darkness of the night
made Unnecessary to suspend the action. Next
morning they were Sone-leaving all their
commissary stores. small arms and rations
which had evidently been prepared to serve
them in their retreat. The marks of perfect
panic werc.lcft all along the way from that
place to Chambcrsburg. Pa, in the shape of
burned and broken wagons. dead horses, and
the strewn articles, Of every variety of an army
outfit.
On the morning Of the 14th. after making
i
stores captured mt Bunkcr's Hill. the command
resumed the march onward towards Martins.
burg. About - o'clock. ~. the advance
guard met the pickcts some four miles ont
from town-rickct skirmi>hing was kept up
for two hours. in which time they were driven
back some two miles. when they opened their
artillery upon our columns which caused us
to fall back out of range and await further
preparations. In Il short time Gen. Rhodes
column IF infantry came up with lis artillery,
which was Immediately placed in POSITION
4 large number of General Jenkins bri-
gadc were dismounted and formed in the
advance line of bate. rs infantry. reScrv-
ing some companies mounted for rapid pur-
suit. In the meantime the enemy, surprising
we had no artillery, formed their lines on our
left wing, under cover. so as to command a
cross fire Of muskctrv and front our men with
their shell, which placed our column in most
pcrilous position. In this order the ball was
opened The mu,kctrv fire WAS fierce for
about five minutes. Then rose high in the
air the signal yell of Ecn. jenkins Bri .adc
for u charge-thc muskctry was hushcd into
silence, and the race was frantic: our artillery,
in the meantime entertaining that Of the en-
envy. Very soon all was silent, save the
e Il.
shouts of thoscin pursuit.
Two miles to town. through, and three miles
beyond town, when the darkness closed in and
stopped the chase. They captured six pieces
of artillery (all the enemy had, four artillery
horses, many cavalry horses and small arms,
and heavy commissary stores. Gen. Rhodes
infantry were drawn up into line of battle,
but not brought into action.
The killed and wounded was slight on both
sides. Our loss, according to the best infpr-
nation, is less than ten, in killed, wounded
and captured, embracing the afternoon Skir-
mishing. Our men captured about two mum
dred prisoners.
At dawn of dayncst morning. the 18th, Gen.
Jenkins brigade, resumed the march: cross
ell the Potomac ut WilliuInstown. and found Il
smothcrcd expression OF sympathy in that
place; Dut III 1laScrstDWn the CITIZENS we're
outspoken and eyultant. On reaching Green
vile, Pa, we found the citizens terror-strick-
en-, and along the way beyond many had fed
for refuge. The command occupied Cham
bcrsburg, one of the most beautiful points in
the Keystone State, near midnight. much to
the terror of some. and probably to the dis
comfort of most of the inhabitants. But, on
being assured by Gen. jenkins that no vio-
lencc was contemplated upon their persons,
and that private property. except horses,
would he respected, their terror seemed to give
place to Il more easy and graceful bearing.
The brigade returned from that place on the
evening Of the 18th, bringing of many coli
trabands" and fine horses. ". X.
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