Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-02-18
Military Operations In this Quar-.
ter.


have some idea Of military operations in
this quarter, we deem it Of consequence
to give brief statement of some Of the
facts as they occurred, and we will say,
in all instances, as far as it could be OBJ
tanned, our information is derived from
sources undoubtedly reliable, and from
gentlemen who would in no instance will
fully dctract from the reputation of those
in commaal. Th,1 Outrageous 1nisrerre
scntrtions 50 pcrsistan,ly sent over the
wires by those hading control over them
lake it necessary that the truth though
glow should find its way after them. We
have always been q strong believer in the
old couplet:
"Therc is name need fear the truth,
But those whomc the truth would indite."
Col. James o. Mulligai assumed COM
mand of the md Division, Department of
West Virginia, on July 9th 1868 the
Division consisting Of two Brigades, cem-
mandcd respectively by Col. j. Thoburn
and Col j. NJ. Campbell, and on the
same day, the Division was ordered 10
move to Hancock, Md, as was understood
to watch the retreat of the Rebel forces
under Gen. Lee, after their defeat at Get
tysburg. Upon arriving at Hancock
after Il forced march the Division was il
no condition for active service, the mel
having marched 10 miles by turnpike, i,
about 50 hours, without proper supplies
by whose neglect, we of course are left t,
conjecture. There, the Division wa
oycrtaken by Gen b. +. Kelley and staff
After resting three days, the whole fore,
was marched about IL miles over Norti
Mountain, near to Clcarspving, where
they remained, i'll full view Of the Rebc
foraging parties, until the entire force %
Gen. Ice had crossed the Potomac rive,
into Virginia, when Col: Muligans Divis
ion moved to Williamsport Remaining
here over night, the force then fell bach
to Cherry Run ford, where, with a few
miserable scows. it was crossed into Nir
GINA and took up "A position near He'd
ges vile.
On 18th of July the command was or
dered to fall back 10 Cherry Ran ford, a
the Rebel Gen. Earley's Division wa
coming down the North Mountain road t.
cut of the retreat of the Federal forces
Col. Thoburn's Brigade was there crossed
Al t.,f.
Col. Campbell's Brigade received order
to cross, and they made narrow escape
from capture by this neglect. The las
mentioned Brigade, however, succeeded
in getting over the river except a regimen
of iufantry.l54th Pa. Eol) and Moore
Battery Of Artillery. This Battery wa
placed in position where it had no rang,
and would have been cut off with scarccl,
an effort or the part of the enemy. Sc
perilous was it that an,aid Of Gen, Aver.
il. seeing the situation of one section o
the Battery, took the responsibility. and
ordered it to cross the river into Maryland
The Rebels fred three shells into th'
| alth Pa Vol, and then retired. ltat
they attacked this regiment in its isclaset
position, without any support. and thu
swollen river in its rear, it could not have
escaped Providence, and not the tactic.
of the commanding officer of the Division
saved the Regiment os well as the Bat
terry.
1t may not be amiss to state here, tha
the wife of an officer accompanied him OF
this expedition. and that during the swift
retreat from Hedgesville, that officer sen
one of his staff to get an ambulance from
one of the Infantry regiments for her t.
travel in, leaving the sick soldiers to &c
along the best way they could.
In a few days the command again eros
sed the Potomac river into Virginia, ant
after some manoevering marched viz
Romney to Petersburg Va, leaving Col
Campbell's Brigade at Romney. Shortly
afterwards small Infantry force (of Is
Va. Vols.) was sent to Moorefeld, bu
were soon compelled to retreat before :
superior force of the rebels. They were
however, soon sent back again to Moore
field though that place was known to bt
indefensible by a small force, and on the
I 18th of September, Maj. Stephens of Isl
Va, who commanded at that post, wa:
SURPRISED and the most Of bis force, con.
sistins OF FIVE companies Of the veteran;
of his regiment were taken prisoners
But feeble and fruitless effort was made
to rccapture them.
On the 10th of November, large train
of wagons was captured BY the rebels
while on the road between New Greer
and Petersburg. After the rebels hae
moved off with their booty. some cavalr.
and infantry were sent ia pursuN, .Du. .