Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-03-24

III u0 ItdCu6u IHS ldSt .DIVlsIOu VI Gu6
line, Getty's, which Sheridan truly says
was the only Division of the Infantry
which confronted the enemy from the
first attack in the morning until the
battle was decided"
Every circumstance, save the difficult
ty of the ground, favored Early's pro-
ject The night was utterly dark; the
morning chilly and raw, owing to a
dense fog which did not lift until nine
o'clock and which completely yelled all
the movements of the enemy, whereas
the position of our camps had been pre-
viously carefully studied and mapped
by his officers from the summit of Three
top mountain. Between the base of the
mountain and the Shenandoah river
there was space amid the debris for a
wagon road and then dismantled rail-
road leading from Strasburg to Front
Royal. The river was crossed near that
village at dark on the 18th by the Di-
visions of Gordon, Pegram and Ramseur,
which at once commenced cautiously
picking their way down the rugged road
and the railroad, no officer mounted, in
the darkness and forest and fog, until
they reached what is known as Bow
mans Ford, outside of Crooks furthest
picquets. PoweIl's Cavalry Division
was still further down the river opposite
Front Royal, and out of reach. Had
the fords between Crook and Powell
been carefully protected it is probable
that the surprise could not have taken
place. 1t had been supposed, and with
great reason, that our right was the en-
enemy's only feasible point of approach.
AS the column reached Bowman's
Ford, it again crossed the breast-high
Shenandoah and stole in single file close
up to the fires of our confident ut-posts,
until at four a. M, the grey battalions
had deployed, with Gordon on the right
completely overlapping Crooks encamp-
ment.
That they were thus permitted delib-
erately to make ready for the charge
seems almost incomprehensible. The
videttes who should have given the
alarm afterwards related that they heard
a sound as of a going. amid the rustling
leaves through the night hours, but they
were unable to comprehend its purport
it was even reported among the other
portions of the army that Gen. Gordon
actually relieved part of Crooks picquet
line and then sent the men as prisoners
to their rear. The direction of attack
was west; the enemy's right was drawn
up facing the turnpike, reaching far to-
wards Middletown, while his left follow
ed the course of Crooks line, getting
between his works and the Greek, and
connecting with Wharton's Division
which had meanwhile crossed the creek
little below the turnpike bridge. Ear
ly himself with Kershaw's large Divi-
sion was near the bridge with artillery
planted on the hills, ready to cross as
soon as Crook should be swept aside,
while his cavalry were on the back road
far away to the west near the Little
North Mountains.
1t was at this latter point that the
battle commenced; very early probably
before four o'clock, we were aroused by
dropping fire of musketry in that di.
rection, at one time quite considerable
in amount, but as it diminished soon we
wrapped ourselves again in our blankets
and resumed our sleep, fully confident
that our picquets could take of the re-
connoisance or whatever it might be-.
The few prisoners reported lost from the
Brigade in the days battle. were taken
at that time. Capt. G. J. Lewis of the
Eleventh Vermont, an exceedingly care
full officer, was IN charge of our extreme
right reserve post, and Col. Foster of the
Fourth Vermont was field officer of the
day. The cavalry on his right were
deceived by the stale trick of an attack
and feigned retreat, leaving their posts
to follow. A larger force instantly
passed through the gap and fell with a
yell upon the rear of the infantry re-
serves; the greater part of them escaped
and after rapid detour towards our
camp, deployed into rude skirmish
line and still covered the Corps, keeping
up free fight on their own account uu.
til they knew from the sound of the bat
tie behind them that our army had left
its ground, when they came in and par
ticipated in the final charge of the day.
The alarm created by this little af.
fair had almost subsided, when sullen
roar of musketry, dull at first but only
too easily interpreted, arose from the
distant left. 1t was the charge of the
enemy in solid lines, without skirmish.
ers, upon the works of General Crook
When the firing began, Early at once
opened with his artillery from across the
creek, thus raising a doubt as to the
real point of attack. Crooks brigades
could not even attempt to maintain theil
position or their integrity; the enemy
captured the picquets who did not fire g
shot, rushed upon the main line. which