The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1864-07-28
LOCAL CORRESPONDENTS

0OCdL COhAEtSk>ONOENCE CE.
ANFLYING TRIP TO FREDERICK, MARYLANp-
JoTTINGs BY THE wAY-cAPT. M'DoNALD.
JoHNsTowN, July "a, 1864.
Correspondence of The Alleghanian.
In lieu of my regular correspondence,
allow me this week to give your readers
few brief "notes of travep through the
country lately visited by the rebel raid
ers. On Sunday evening last, I took
passage with a friend for Hagerstown,
arriving there at noon the following day.
We passed through the fertile Cumber-
land Valley, where, on every side, and as
far as the eye could reach, the most luxu-
RANT fields of waving grain met the gaze
In many places, the farmers had just re-
turned, after their "seare," and were
earnering the harvest. I understand the
yield throughout the Valley this year will
be fully up to the average. AT Hagers-
town great many of the inhabitants were.
still absent, and the town presented most
forlorn and deserted aspect A number
of stores were despoiled of their contents
by the rebels; but beyond this, and the
levying Of $4,000 as a ransom for the
town, no particular damage to private
property resulted from The raid. The
farmers in the vicinity, however, >lost
heavily in horses, cattle, and other stock
On Tuesday morning we took the stage
for Frederick, twenty-six miles distant.
Passing over South Mountain, through
Boonesboro and Middletown-spots men,
orable through the achievements Of '62-
we arrived at our destination about noon
Here the immediate effects of the raid
were more plainly visible: The hospitals
were filled with 800 Union and 400 rebel
wounded, and just beyond the city was
the battlefield which proved SO utterly
disastrous to the rebels. In one of
these hospitals [ found my gallant young
friend, Capt. M'Donald, of Co. NJ, 18th
Pa. Cavalry. He was badly wounded in
a charge through the city, and although
at first pronounced mortally hurt, I am
happy to eaB there are strong hopes now
entertained of his ultimate recovery.
I learned the following particulars in
regard TO the charge in which the Capt.
was wounded: Being sent as advance to
our infantry column with 70 men, he
moved down the old Hagerstown road,
and discovered when near the city that
rebel force of 800 cavalry were drawn up
on Market street to receive him. De-
taching 81 of his men as reserve, he
advanced with bu. l6, conjecturing that
the narrowness of the street would pre-
clude charge with a greater number,
and wheeled into Market street and or
dered charge. The rebels met him with |
q tull volley, but nothing daunted, the
Captain pushed on and drove the rebels |
fully half mile~down the street In |
this charge, Capt. MD. was wounded in
the thigh. The rebels now made deter |
mined stand, and ordering up his reserve,
the Capt again charged them-himself |
far in advance of his men. He was again |
in pushing back the foe, but |
not until after he had received second |
wound, over the heart. His command |
followed the retreating rebels far beyond |
The town, into their infantry supports,
when they We're compelled to desist. In
the meantime, the Capt. was lifted from
his horse and laid on the sidewalk, (the |
horse Immediately falling dead from the |
effects of eight balls received, and Sur
geon sent for. His wounds were pro-
nounced mortal, and when the citizens |
attempted to carry him into house, he |
Dade them desist, telling them that ''if his |
time had come, he would die on the field"
A lady from Martinsburg, named Mrs. !
Rivers, who had become acquainted with |
.he Capt. at that place, had him conveyed !
to house, and for five days and nights |
devoted herself unremittingly to his care.
She at length had the satisfaction of see
ing him greatly improve, when he was
removed to the hospital, and every atten-
ion paid Kim.
The citizens who witnessed the charge |
speak of the bravery of the Capt. and his
command III the highest terms. The 18th |
IS again at Harper's Ferry.
n, Tb,rcJo, 1oFs