Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-08-06

On our arrival at Washington from
the sunny South, no rest was allowed us,
but we were Immediately ordered in pursuit
of the rebels who were daring enough to
make raid into Maryland and menace the
capitol. The second days march brought
us to the Potomac at Kelly's Ford, which
we crossed by wading, proceeded on our
way to Leesburg, making Smokers Gap,
where we joined the 9th army corps and the
balance of our Division of the 10Th. The
9th boys are some on march, but weie com.
petely taken by surprise when they learned
we had crossed the Potomac that morning
after sunrise, thinking it was impossible for
troops to make what they did not-thirty
miles on q hard pike.
The 9th corps crossed the Potomac on
Saturday, previous to which they overlook
the rearguard of the enemy at Poolesville, u
section of artillery with cavalry pressed for
ward and vigorously shelIed the enemy from
several positions. The corps overlook them
at Smokers Gap. Though the gap might
have been successfully held it was evacua-
ted without much delay, and our infantry
took possession. The enemy held posses
sion of the other bank of the Shenandoah
river, one mile distant.
A part of Hunters command, to the num-
Der of five thousand, were ordered to the
river, which they crossed in face of the enc
my's fire. After the force had crossed, the
enemy attempted flank movement on their
right and left, but Adams Rhode Island
battery came into position on an eminence
overlooking the valley below. They imme-
diately opened upon the enemy with shot
and shell from three inch rifled guns, crea-
ting great havoc among them. The range
was accurate and each shell burst in their
midst The enemy finding the damage to
their infantry so great, attempted to silence
the battery by firing upon them with TWEEN
ty pound parrots, which, however, lasted
but moment, as they in turn were fired
upon and forced to silence. Night coming
on our infantry re-crossed the river to come
under the batteries. At this point we lost
a number in killed and woundcd-a few
were drowned in getting off the proper ford.
Among the wounded noticed Ed NJ. Shin
del, son of Rev. jeremiah Shindel, and ne
phew of II. B. Masser, Esq. am happy to
state that his wound is so slight that it will
scarcely keep him from duty.
On Wednesday, July Goth, after shelling
the enemy severely and forcing him to fall
back our whole force crossed the river and
followed in pursuit of the rebels, who were
now in retreat, but so far i'll advance that
we were unable to see them. Advancing a
mile we formed several lines of battle in n
woods overlooking some open fields. Hear
ing heavy firing IA division of infantry was
send ahead to rcconoitre. In the meantime
our forces were lying 10y their arms ready
for an advance An hour or two elapsed
when news came back that Hunters main
force had had severe fight in front with
/, l,ao =
direction and forced him to retreat in con-
trary direction from his origina! intention,
capturing most of his ill-gotten plunder and
gobbllng up a Quartermaster who had in
possession the two hundred thousand dol
lars contributed 0orcibly) by the citizens
of llagcrstown and Frederick city. TlIis
being the case, further march in thas direc-
tion would be of no use, so our whole force
retraced their steps, making for Washington,
to be ready in case Breckenridge should
think it desirable to pay Uncle Abraham or
My Maryland" another visit on his retreat
to Richmond.
This march after the raiders was the
hardest | ever experienced. 1t was dry and
hot and the dust was abominable. In cross.
ing rivers and creeks the mems shoes got
wet and consequently scalded and blistered
Z
up with the column and at the time blood
was oozing from his sole and swollen feet
A soldiers cot at best is hard, and even il
he never engages in battle the privations and
tolls he endures through the three years he
is Il soldier, is sufficient for him to have the
thanks OF his countrymen, and not to be
treated as though he were machine, to do
and act at others bidding, and again, too,
when the right of suffrage is brought in
question, he is to be deprived of that privi-
ege, simply for the reason he is suffering
| and lighting for his country's honor, and
| and that his vote may help to keep traitors
| and sympathizers from getting into power
On our route To the Chain Bridge We
passed through Drainesville, the place OF
battle nOtoriety and rendezvous of guerrillas
preparatory to firing on our pickets. We
also passed our old camp of 1861, Griffin
now called Camp Distribution, garrisoned
by invahds, or as the boys call them "con'
| demned Yankees" The grounds of this
camp make five plantations, and are worked
by government, using the labor of the freed
men. Three years ago these farms were
! oyerrun hy troops. Large fields were pack
ed hard 10y the tramp OF the soldier US he
| passed in review, or ON regimental drill, and
made still more solid 0y the running over
them by artillery and forage wagons, they
seemed as though they would never be fi
| for use and that farmer would have but
little chance 10 reap u harvest but things
have changed, for in several places one
could see the fruits OF labor in larg,
stacks Of wheat, rye and hay, while larg,
fields Of growing corn greeted the eye, oats
potatoes aud turnips were In abundance, and
il il had not been for the small garrison ol
"inyalids" enc might have supposed thos'
acres were the property OF several "well q
do" farmers OF Pennsylvania. Along th,
! route through Virginia saw but little thai
looked like crop. In fact most OF th'
fields were vacant and seemed a baHeI
waste, showing the vast difference in pro
duclions that would have been had they no
nibbled at the Confederate bait, aud remain
ed under the protection OF the gloTloul
"siars and slTipes."
Al LeesbuTg sAw but very few 0i th'
mails elass, nor indeed did along lhs wholl
llns. The ladies In this tosn are ysry spunk!
and are esEtAin OF success of their esaas, :
They say thslF men are sell equipped ans
clothed, the army 10 larger nos than ~ a..
time slnea the waT bsgun, ahd keep ny th'
Old sloTy OF "dyiag IN ths lasi ditch lathe
than lave uaAsF federal RUE With saadals sn'
Yankes msdslis Ihls msy bs OIL llus ~
| thslf mart hat IL f0f one, caAt sfe u, ~