The National tribune., 1884-08-21
SAVING olWASHINGTON.
{ Continued from 1st page.l

and army. Several attempts were made to
send to them, but of nDavail.
The 10th VT with part of the 106th N. Y.
therefore remained fighting, checking the ad-
vance of the enemy and
Furnishing THEM SEVERELY.
They (the enemy were at the fence near
the corner of Mr.. Thoinas's house. The troops
at our right having retired, the advance of the
enemy upon both Hanks of our regiment indi-
Gated mischief.
About this time q mounted orderly "a rare
sight in this battle) appeared to Col. Henry,
galloping across the field in the rear, and said
For Gods sake, Colonel get your regiment
out of here as soon as possible to the Baltimore
pike" Easier said than done. To go up or
down the road was impossible. The enemy
occupied it. Behind the 10th VT was high
board fence surrounding a cornfeld, with ris-
ing ground that would expose them to constant
danger; but this was the only way of escape.
(Since the war there has been erected upon this
eornfeld large o-story house, from which
a fine view of the battlefield may be had) A
portion of the 106th N. Y. were with our regi-
ment throughout this last action. They lost
no time in scaling that fence and ascending
the cornteld, their progress being hastened by
the enfading fire of rebel infantry and artil-
lery; by the peculiar "whiz, zip" of the bull
lets among the corn, and the yells of the enemy
to stop and surrender. The balance of our
division had taken back road in northeast
erly direction, crossing the railroad, towards
the Baltimore pike but our regiment and part
of the 106th N. Y after ascending the corn
field, took a circuit around the hill and fol-
lowed the railroad, as by this time the enemy
had possession of the wagon road. This col
umn was increased by stragglers from other
regiments, all fastening along the railroad in
very unsoldierly manner, preferring to reach
Baltimore safely rather than to go to Rich
mond
IN AN ORDERLY MANNER AS PRISONERS.
Soon this column was halted and formed into
line by Col. Henry, so as to be ready for attack
or defense.
Coming to another country road that seemed
to lead towards the Baltimore pike Col. Henry
went TO the top of hill to view the surround
ing country, and saw the enemy pursuing our
retreating army, aud was surprised to see
shell from rebel battery explode in advance
of the point of intersection of the pike with
the road the 10th Vt. were then on, so they
turned back to the railroad, guided by Ser
geant in the 14th N. j., who was familiar with
the ground
They soon reached Monrovia Station on the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, eight miles east of
| Monocacy Junction, where were three empty
trains of cars that had brought thus far the two
and one-half regiments missing from our Second
| Brigade, and these troops were now out upon
| the pike covering the retreat of our army
! There is TO good reason known why these
fresh troops did not reach the battlefield either
by rail or By forced march, in either case
| proving valuable help to our weary men,
| Col. Henry took possession of one of the empty
trains and ordered the engineer to proceed
toward Baltimore, which the latter was quite
willing to do. as unarned railroad men
/ DO NOT ENJOY BEING TOO NEAR A BATTLE.
| Arriving near New Market where the pike
crosses the railroad, Cod. Henry placed COM
panies upon three cross roads to prevent sur
1 rriEa ffa5f fha ixralo of VOL
and his troops
Gen. Wallace was grateful for this move
ment, and surprised too, supposing that the
| 10th Vt. had been captured. Permit Us to re-
| fer at this point to our Colonel, Wm. ". Henry.
| lie was less exacting in the details of camp
| life than some commanders. His bravery in
1 battle, coolness, quick and clear perception of
| the situation, with independence to cut any
knot of red-tape rather than to sacrifice men,
and his generous nature made him a favorite
with his regiment. He deserved brigade
command from the battle of Monocacy. All
! that has been said of Col Henry afterwards
| breveted Brigadier-General) can be truthfulIy
said of Gen. Ricketts,, and more, as he was an
officer by education, with many years expert
/ ence. Having seen so many politician Gen.
| erals who were prq k,ted to high commands
| solely upon political afuence it is refreshing
| to know personally u General as true, modest,
| aud capable as James * Ricketts,, q. S. A. Let
/
TO THE BATTLEFIELD,
/ to the bridge that the skirmish line was to
| hold at all hazards. No orders were received
| from any source since the first charge in the
morning. We knew not the plan or situation,
! only as apparent to the eye. Not many of the
| 100-day men were injured unless by the weight
| of their heavy knapsacks, for most of them left
| US in season to have reached place of safety
| When the last attack was made by the enemy
lot %l,o,- IL
| III the hour or more that followed, our skir-
mish line was actively engaged.
a sharp watch of the enemy before us: of our
| division at the left of us, and of our two ex-
posed fianks,- posts vacated by the withdrawal
| of the picket at our left when the bridge was
burned, and by the retreat of the recruits at
/ our right
RENDERED OUR SITUATION VERY EXCITING.
Apprehending an advance of the enemy at
my left, | sent man TO examine and report
He was shot at once. Immediately the enemy
were seen passing around our left TO cut US off
from retreat by the iron bridge. While this
was going on we saw our division falling back.
| and the division headquarters flag was crossing
| the railroad In our rear 1t was now time for
| US to leave or be taken prisoners. We crossed
| tho iron bridge, stepping upon ties, there being
no floor. The enemy came in upon us upon
both Hanks firing at our backs at a range of 10
TO ~ rods and calling upon us to surrender
Some of our men killed; others wounded,
and fell through the bridge to the Monocaey
| River, 40 feet below. Five of my own company
marching near me were taken prisoners upon
or near the bridge, one Of whom died in Ander-
sonyille Prison. One-third of my picket detail
were killed, wounded or captured. 1t has
always been mystery how any of us escaped
the bullet or capture.
We soon came up with our division, and in
due time turned from the cross-road into the
pike, pursued by the Confederate cavalry, who
i harrassed our rear. Night came on. The ex-
citement of battle was followed by WEAKNESS
and desire for sleep. / could not keep awake
To stop was to be q prisoner. Placing myself
between two strong trnsty soldiers, l marched
along, nearly, if not quite asleep. Towards
morning we rested upon the ground four hours :;
but little sleep only seemed an aggrration
The sun rose Sabbath morning too soon for us
All day we journeyed, so tired that our legs
almost refused to move: yet rest meant prison,
and so we moved on. At o'clock Sunday
afternoon we reached Ellicotts Mills, 43 miles
from the battlefield tby railroad, and more as
We traveled) and 15 miles from Baltimore.
REST AND FOOD.
This was an enterprishg village, loyal to our
flag. AS it was the Sabbath, the people were
clothed in their best, and sang to us the Bat
tie Cry of Freedom" Tables loaded with
excellent food were prepared for US aud every
thing was gratutons. We ate breakfast Satur-
day morning and nothing more till Sunday
forenoon unless shita fa1r bott1o ~