The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1864-07-27


gives a clear aud reliable statement Of what Co. y.
has been about during the great raid H. s. O.
ASSAroLts JuNcrtoN MIDI
July 10th A. ID. 1864.
Cor. L. X, MILLER.
Dear Sir;-lt may not be un
Interesting to you to know what part Co. y. has
played during The Rebel invasion Of this State,
They have not been idle spectators Of the scenes
which have transpired in this eventrnl period.
After the defeat Of our arms at Monacacy, the
enemy advanced in force TO Bllcots Mills which Is
within ten miles Of this place, but by means Of
our scouts we kept open communication with Che
main body or our army until IL retrcatcd 10 Balti-
more This left us entirely alonc almost surround
cd by Rebels. without any roinforcemcnis OF
mcsua If defense, except in our right arms
There were ouly seventy ofus here, bit wo re-
solved to make a stand against tho entire Rebel
army, which was reported advancing on this
place. Wo knew by our scouts that they were
advancing on Eiicotls Mills, and when Gen. Wal
lace tetrcdted from there il left not man between
The enemy and us. We Immediately commenced
preparations for the defense of the place, aud for
this purpose built brcastworks on the bank of the
Railroad, where tits cut at right angles by the
in their approach to tho Junction. We also bar
rieaded the County road, and obtained from the
Surgeon IN charge Of the Hospitals, six pound
brass Heid piece, and sent for ammunition for it,
but was unable to obtain any This rendered the
piece Of no avail and sent il 30 Col. Root at An
napolis, for the defense Of that city, which was
also threatened, Che having ammunition for it. y
During the day we patrollcd the roadS and sent
scouts through the surrounding country, while at
camp and the Junction, we kept up constant
guard. Al night the entire Company laid on their
arms behind our breastworks, which we named
"Fort Good Hope"
Thus affairs continued until about noon Of the
9th Of July, when the telegraph operator sent me
word that the Railroad track had been torn up by
Rebels between us and Washington, at BeltsyIlle,
about eight miles from the junction. We knew
from tho report of our scouts that tho Rebels
were in strong force at Elcotts Mills, distance
of ten miles right; this brought them within
eight miles of us on the left, aud il was at the
same time reported that strong cavalry force
was passing to tho rear of us to attack Annapolis.
Uuwillingto rely on mere report however prob
able il might appear, at once dcs patched loco
motive under guard Of five men down the road to
see where audby whom il had been cut Can't Briggs
who was lying on a train Of cars at tho Junction
with about -four hundred Veterans, bound from
Annapolis to Washington, volunteered to go with
tho locomotive and make the reconnaissance; at
the same time sent II party of three on horseback
by circuitous route for the same purpose. On
the return of the locomotive Capt Briggs reported
that the Road had been torn up by large party of
| wi Iv 1
destroying the Road as they came; this was con-
frmed by the men whom | had sent out on horse
back, The forces which werc guarding the Road
at Belsville had retired and reported the Robels
to consist of Infantry and Cavalry, supported by
Artillery.
immediately telegrophed to Gen. Ord, then in
command Of the sth Army Corps-that the tclc-
graph lines had been cut, and the Railroad tract,
torn mp between the Junction and Washington, al
Beltsville, by largo force of Rebels. also tel.
egraphed the same TO Col Root, in command nt
Annapolis. From Gen. Ord received tho fol.
lowing despatch;
"BALTIMoRE, July 10Th 1864.
CAPT. A. CooK:-Take TO the woods and CONS
into the Relay House, and report to commanding
officer. Bring all you can with you.
E.O. ORD"
Col. Root ordered the train of soldiers whicl
was waiting here for transportation to Washing
ton, to return at once to Annapolis, and sent M
the following despatch:--
"ANNAroLIs, July 18th 1864.
Capt. Cook,
Comd'g Post. "A train will leave hero
once to bring your command and the public prop
orty hero. BE ready
A. r. RooT,
% Col. Comdg."
Notwithstanding we had made every prepart
ton to defend the place, and the boys, anxious
exchange shots with the Rebels, this order had /
DO obeyed. Il was imperative and allowed of n
evasion. II had come TO us unsought aud undc
sired. Gen. Ord, acting from his knowledge {
the situation, deemed il for our own, as well q
for the public interest to retire from place wher
5 We had an army Of over twenty thousand in fron
with It's wings resting on the Railroad on oaoh sid
I Of us, whilcwe were absolutely at their Mercy
We therefore made preparation to obey this ord,
and retire. BY these orders Il will be seen thu
- there were two ways of retreat offered us-one
foot through tho woods to the Relay House, whic
would have involved a loss of all the Compau
property, and abandonment of the publ
s. storos-the other by Railroad to Annapolis, /
II which all could be saved. chose the latter. b
heving It to bo for the public interest for in gor
j, to Relay House we could have been of no scrvi,
tothe country, as that place was in no danger, Il
p" enemy having passed there and gone to the Nortl
>, East of Baltimore. While by going to Annapoli
hoped to bo Of service, as il was reported the On
6. Hy was advancing on that place, and Col. Ro
bad verbally requested me to come to his aid ir
z was hard pressed and compelled to fall back
Indeed, at Annapolis, at this iunoture Of affairs
B. danger was so imminent that Col. Root had d
clared the place under martial law, and order
u every able bodied citizen into the trenches.
y our arrival there we were assigned to duty, whc
~ we remained until the morning Of the 10th, VIII
We were honorably relieved by the following col
., plimentary order;
n. Especial Orierl
nf M l57 HRApo'Rs, ClMr PARoLRl
NEAR ANNAPOLIS, Md. July 18th 1894 I
m Capt. ASHER Cook, Co. y, lil,h Rogt. Ohio \
q tioaal Guard, will at once proceed with his Co,
e. pany to Annapolis Junction. Nd, and report
i'll telegraph to Gen. Ord for duty.
rs Tho Col. commanding desires to express
earnest thanks for the Reaous and efficient ma
& DER iu which Capt Cook and the men belonging
10 his company have discharged the arduous dut
40 assigned them while in this command.
w. BY order of Col. A. R, Roor.
Il, 9lh n. Y. Vols, Comd'g POST
~ The Col, was SO well pleased with the conduct