Maryland free press. [volume] (Hagerstown [Md.]) 1862-18??, 1863-03-06
For the "Freo Press"
ga TIGHT PLACE.
an Incident of the Battle Of AnHetaIn.

an Incident of the Battle Of AntietaIn.
A few weeks before the Battle Of Antctam
Mas fought; /: along with company OF Npi-
| t,ntccrs, recruited in this place, (Haserstown:
took ny departure for Baltimore, tho head
quarters OF. the Maryland Volunteers. When
l left here, my intention VAS to join the army
! of Uncle Abraham, but after l arrived there,
seeing that the q, ires' didt|f work altoSeth-
cr favorably for me, withdrew.
! remained in the city until Gen. Mcclellan
marched up to the South Mountain, and at
tackled the Rebel Army under Gen. Lee, CON-
polling them to fall back to the Antietam.--
Then in the general rush to visit. the Baltic
! field, left Baltimore in the morning train for
Frederick, arriving in the latter city about
! noon After exerting myself to The utmost, to
get something "whcrewith might satiate my
Hunger" managed to obtain fef, hard bis
cults, hard enough for grapc-shct, but after
consi, lerable gnawing and grinding finally
mastio ated two CT three Of them.
thc,, resumed my Journey for the Battle
field.
Some how or other, happened to fall in
with regiment Of troops, part Of them q. s.
regulars, who had just been ordered to the
scene Of cation. ! not being aware Of their
immediate destination, marched along az jovi-
ally as any OF them little thinking of the diff
ficulty, was walking right into. But ere
long my stuatia9 was made known to me, by
tho command OF the Colonel to "Deploy Skin
mishers." There was in the advance Of the
left wing Of the Amy; not face could see
that appeared familiar to me: what could I
do? there was no wy of getting out back and
it was as equally dangerous in front, so ! con-
cluded to keep on win the advance and await
better opportunity. Just as our skirmish-
ers reached the brow d hill, about a hundred
yards ahead, they weaa fired upon by the ad
vance Of the enemy, and Immediately our
whole limo formed itsel'in the shape ola cres-
cont, rs thought, for eidn't have much time
for observation Never before did the glitter
ing bayonets have such on effect upon my
! eyes; my whole body qtakcd with fear, and
my legs shuck as though tlcy were seized with
an attack Of the aguc.
was about turning around to get Wow
of some open place if possible, when long,
gaunt, rcdheaded officer, (blast his fiery locks,
I'll remember him for ever,p addressed mo, or
rather halloocd at me, in thu following words
"IIey there! where's your apr." aim citi-
izen--I don't carry any gun y"
"Dort make any difIereEto! Go an get
F.. that gun lay in over yonder' (pointing at the
| equipments of a soldier near BY went very
reluctantly, and picked up Che gun, at the
same time the nearest soldier to mo, jor.cd off
the cartridgc-box from tho shoulders Of the
ghasty corpse aud throw it over my neck
Now was certainly in a "Iiglla place" here
I was with all tho equipments, gan and oar
! tridgcs, so, of course they expected me to do
something. But on account OF Ay ignorance
of military tactacs, didn't get any further
than The biting of a couple eartria, saa and Gil
ing my mouth with powder.
Just at this point of my adventure. the
hoped-for opportunity presented itaelf. 1t
seems that tie left Of our line was pressed
very hard by the enemy. and my frionh ofthc
rcd-hair, on that account, being busy giving
the orders Of bis commander, took advan-
tage Of it and slipped through the liues. New
CT did man or beast bring his pcdcsirious pow
| ers more fully into play, than did in gain
ing the sylvan shalcs Of Inc nearest woods.
After emerged upon the other side Of the
Il, 4
clothes, but without any arms, They asked
me where was from and l stated my case to
| them, and they informed me Of the way 10
Boonsboro, at the same tmo advising mo to
| throw away my acco",trements, which I Gid
with the exception of the gun.
So went on my way not rejoicing, assure
you, but sick and tired out, thinking of moth
ing but "uome, sweet home"
SrAREY