South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1884-02-15

supplies were in Virginia. bat h had
but a small force ia Maryland, - the
greater portion OF his army had boon
killed, wounded or struggled before
crossing into Maryland. tho country
was covered with etragglors from
Richmond to the Potomac on account
Of hard marching and hard fighting.
and . few days after the battles ia
Maryland his army was larger than il
was du, ing the tight, and ii the ene-
my had followed him into Virginia
they would have been rcpulsed.
We remained in the liver valley
OF Virginia for some time recruiting
tho army and making raids on the
Baltimore & Ohio railroad from o.
bove Martinsburg down to Harpcrs
Ferry, destroying the road, burning
the ties and bridges. and NIL tho COM
pany's works at Martinsburg. We
would then fall back to Bunker Hill,
the enemy would rebuild the road
and get the cars to running, when we
would make another raid ard destroy
it again; but no general engagement
followed. One time our brigade went
down TO tho railroad ut Kearneysville,
few miles south OF Shcpherdstown,
and while we were destroying the
track, division of tho enemy came
out from Shephcrds.oNn and attacked
us; we had to give up tho job and
fall back, but before we fell back we
were formed in limo Of battle and my
company and Company + were put
in Il small .edoubt near the station, in
advance of the line, aud when the line
fell back we ha d no orders to leave
and remained there until the enemy
had crossed the railroad above and
below us and were closing in on us in
front when we left without orders and
joined the brigade at doublequick ii
We had stayed few moments longer
we would have been captured. We
then fell back about one mile in n
piece of woods and took n stand and
remained until dark, but the enemy
did MT attack us. We had several
killed and wounded. Col. Reynolds,
commanding the brigade, was woun.
ded, when Col. Grigsly, of the 9th
Virginia, took command. We start
cd back to camp at dark and went
several miles; it rained in torrents
and was 80 dark that we could hardly
get along. We finally campcd in an
old mill which accommodated the
whole brigade, and the next morning
we went to our old camp at Bunker
Hill. We remained in tho lower
valley for some timo, moving abont
from place TO place, nothing Of inter.
est transporting.
Col. Paxton, Of the 4th regiment,
was promoted to Brigadier- General of
the brigade; Lieut. Colonel Lee was
promoted Colonel of my regiment;
Major. +. w. M. Holiday (now gov-
crnor OF Virginia) was promoted
Lieut. Colonel, and Capt. Grace (my
captaip) was promoted to Major;
therefore we had anew captain which
was 1st Lieutenant VIM. Powell.
About the first Of December the
whole army started on the march to
Fredericksburg, as the enemy were
moving in that direction from Wash,
irgton, under command of General
burnside, with another 'On to Rich
mond.' The first day the army pass
cd through Winchester, and camped
near Newtown, and, as usual, stops
ped in Winchester and remained for
the night. The next morning as l
was on my way to join the command,
| met Sergeant NJ. Miller and Private
William A. Daley OF my company,
who informed me that eight men Of
our company had deserted that night
ond gone home to Hampshire with
the Intention of mounting themselves
and joining the cavalry, as they were
determined not to go east of the Blue
Ridge again as they were tired of the
foot cavalry. Consequently they mil
Ter and Daley were detailed and
supplied with written instructions to
go to Hampshire County anil try and
persuade them, and other aIsentees to
return to their company, aud il they
would do so they should not be pun
isbed, but if they refused to come,
and there ever was chance, they
would be punished to arrest to the full!
extent Of martial law.
CONTINUED.