The New York herald., 1864-07-25
THE MARYLAND RAID.
Details Of the Pursuit Of tho Raiders to The
Shenandoah Valley,
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Early (Ewcs corps) and Breckinridge the ske
dadde from Washington tho 18th OF july orders were
given TO Major General H. G. Wright to pursue them with
caution but rapidly possible He accordingly took
up his line OF march at towards Poolesvile, with
such troops he could gather and sent orders for the
remainder OF his column to join him with all despatch In
the vicinity Of Leesourg.
His advance composed or dlslntcgrated cavalry
from the dismounted camp, under Colonel Lowell of the
Second Massachusetts, This upon the rebel rear
guard in the vicinity of Poolesvle and skirmshed with
1t successfully, driving down TO and the Potomac
In great haste.
POTOMAC.
General Wright arrived at Poolesvle the same
ing, after rapid aud iatgung march of twenty
miles. Tho Sixth corps General wrlghts) left the Army
Of tho Potomac without its transportation, and couse
quenty had TO obtain It's wagons and supplies for land
march in Washington. II was hastily supplied with
green mules and badly equipped wagons and nexpe
rienoed drivers the whole outfit being miseraby
adapted TO rapid march In pursuit Of nying enemy,
over the toughest Of all roads.
General Wright detained time at the river for
his transportation to up Ho had already learned
that the ma body Of the rebels had
three different tords the day before he arrived leaving
rear guard for tho purpose Of hurryng up sragses
protecting such foragng or marauding parties had
yet come in from their dcpredations.
General Rickets' command bad not yet arrived from
Baltimore and General Emory was also behnd with his
division OF the Nineteenth corps.
In the meanwhile, General Wright being in command
OF the expedition General Getty was in command OF that
portion OF the Sixth corps he First and divsious
which present.
On the morning OF the 18th General Wright crossed tho
Potomac at Whites ford short distance below Edwards
Ferry and marched to the vicinity Leesbnrg where be
halted for General Ricketts,, and threw
parties to ascertain the whereabouts of the enemy He
also expected to make connection somewhere in that
vicinity with that portion Of General Hunter
which was ordered to report to him Harpers Ferry
and cooperate with him in his movement.
General Ricketts, left Baltimore bis division and
brigade under General Keny the night Of tho l4th
aud on the 18th marched through Georgetown and
Tenalytown, and thence up the river road to Youngs
Island ford. He made fourteen miles that night aud
the 10th crossed the river with his artillery AID trains
This ''crossng the river' sounds all very NICE and
looks quite easy on paper; but practically Is different
affair TO give the reader idea OF what really is
will attempt description OF the crossing of Ricketts,
division, as happened to accompany that portion
command and witnessed the passage. It will ncces-
to premise that Capt W. E. Morord, Chief Quarter
master, had been obliged TO impress his teamsters In
Washington, SO that, in addition to having green.
broken mules, and wagons without extra poles had
drivers who had never seen mule TO handle them. Be-
sdes the weather most insuferaby hot the roads
rough hilly and ndescribably dusty. Without exps.
person have conception OF the duet which
q long column Of troops and trains .kicks up, in a
march, and the almost suocat,ng effect has on both
men and animals.
Captain Morford and Captains Goodrich ard uazleton
and their ASSISTANTS obliged TO be constantly upon
the alert giving instructions repairing bridges and
driving teams personally. to get their trains along all
When we finally came - Youngs Island. bridge had 20
be constructed over the canal and approaches formed
and from the river The pioneers set to work at
this, under the eyes or General Ricketts, and his stan
The troops then ordered to take or pants
secure their rasions and ammunition getting wet.
Their shoes they 10 keep 10 protect their
from tho stones which paved the river bottom. This
done, they were marched through the water, which
averaged about three feet In depth FOR ba mile, to
the island We then marched nearly mile and crossed
over TO the mainland.
The sixth corps grumbes and rarely tires This
crossing scene was highly ludcrous, and enjoyed
10 so much the men. There end to their WITH
cisms and jokes upon each others personal Appearance
0ur special artist of the pictorias there but
he certainly should have been for a fruitful
ec for the exercise Of his artistic talents present
cd ITSELF The bottom OF tho river is fairly paved with
great boulders which, rather loosely placed
When The green niue leans came down thero sharp
work. Wagon masters were Obliged TO follow them
horseback all the way, and half mile Is long distance
under water The artillery proceeded with little dim
Guilty, and crossed without wetting tho ammunition.
UNION TIE roRcEs
General Rickets' command encamped that night near
Goose creek, whence could see camp fires. which
supposed to be General wrieht's; but could
be certain that they not Earys We therefore
camped two lines of battle the Leesburg
pike. The next morning forded Goose creek-a
row but turbulent stream about two miles from Lees
burg Of sreater depth than the Potomac was where
crossed IL. Our march then lay directly through
Ieesburg. which we found patroled by troops OF the
OF the hotels a, afty cents per head: but rebel
money was not current in payment. The citizens did
treated US very civ and dispensed with ,ne sour looks
which they formerly when tho hated Yankees made
Their N town Two or three mes north OF th,
"
assumed command OF the Sixth corps BY virtue OF his
ae o Hs s
been ordered by General Hunter TO relieve General su
cooperative force 10 pursuit. OF tho raiders.
cAr1uRr of EIGHTY TWO WAGONS
General Crook assumed command at Hlllsboro, and |
Immediately ordered General Dufc TO rcconnoitre the
enemy position with his cavalry. Genernl Sullivan as-
sured him tina, they were N force 81 Leesburg DUNE
Lecsburg pike He soon came upon their trains at Pur
ceisve, whore he captured eishsytwo wagons, among
thcy had captured at Frederick lie then pursued them
TO the cntrance TO Suckers Gap, whyre he bad |
sharp fight with the guard and met with consider
able loss, but finally them through the gap with
the assistance Of the infantry which General Crook had
ferry however they found the defended by
guns, which threw caustor inconveneny close to our
ing. General Crook Withdrew to the foot OF the
mountain and awaited the arrival OF General Wright who
position OF affairs, deter mined tho strength
OF the enemy General Dune was sent with bis cavalry
to Ashhys Cap further up the Shenandoah to guard That
passage ana prevent dauk movement.
RsCoSsolSsAscE ACROSS Tis SHENANDOAH
Generals Wright ard Crook, accompanied by Weir's |
battery ascendcd an emmepce nearly two hundred
feet above tho river, from which splendid view of the
valley could be obtained for mics IN either direction.
From this point we could . few wagons al several
different piaces indicating the locality OF some general
headquarters. Our presence the mountain soon
discovered We could SEQ the teams hichIng up, and
they were soon upon the road towards some woods
Mean bile euera had ordered his infantry pro-
ceed 10 Island ford, some two and half miles boiow
snickers Jerry, and attempt crossing there. Lieut.
Weir thought he could land a few shes among she |
wagons that moving OF, aud General Wright told
him try 10 He did aad ,nrue endid Shots
greatly Fastening the speed cf the wagons. Skirmisbng
heard Island ford and Weir kept his guns 10
play to assist Ia the crossing
colonel q u wells, of the Tbirsy.four MAssachu-
sstts commanding the first ergaie d Crooks sion,