The National tribune., 1884-02-21
%. Us OVH 1NOH TUX 1ICetFJ III O'
LANSING, MICH.
An Indiana Soldier at the Battle of Monocacy.

An Indiana Soldier at the Battle of M0nocacy.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
Permit me to add few lines to what Com
rade Robertson, of the 106th New York voiun-
teer infantry, has already said in your issue of
January "a of the battle of Monocacy. shall
not enter into the details of the engagement,
but simply speak Of a few of the incidents that
occurred under my observation.
On the evening before the battle of Monoc-
acy we landed at the junction and camped
near by. / was on the detail for picket, and
was placed in charge of the post on the FRED
erick City and Georgetown turnpike. During
the night nothing occurred TO disturb our
peace The morning dawned with halo OF
sunshine aud beauty. The birds (which we
had been so unaccustomed to hear during our
late journey from the Rapidan to Petersburg
never appeared TO be so joyful. The large
farm house on the hill TO our left seemed almost
a paradise with its surroundings of horses,
hogs, cattle, fowls, etc. / remember the gath
ering of the wheat from the field of which
Comrade Robertson speaks These things. in
the absence Of our accustomed routine for the
past two months, were to me most impressive.
We could scarcely believe it possible that
before the setting of the sun this beautiful place
would be the scene of such deadly strife. AT
length the clouds began to gather. The refu-
gees were coming in in great numbers-men,
women and children, old and young, black
all their household effects. Firing was heard
in the direction of Harper's Ferry and, we were
told by the refugees that the rebs were coming
in great numbers. Nearer and nearer came
the sound of the distant guns, till, at length, we
heard the shrieks of the shells as they pierced
the air. The enemy had now massed in our
front, and were preparing for a charge. Their
batteries having opened, we were greeted with
a volley. cannon ball struck the tree by
xvhs nh tad. n fquy
feet to our rear and went bounding across the
valley like a schooiboy's rubber ball; another
struck and buried itself in the earth a few feet
to our front. All was now commotion. The
orderlies were gailoping from place to place,
the officers hurrying hither and thither with
their commands. The piekets were ordered in.
/ found my regiment down on the right, near
the river bridge. The regiment was imne-
diately ordered to the left Of the LIST brigade,
and near the picket post we had just vacated.
An incident occurred on our way which
think win bear passing notice. The enemy,
pereeiving our move, brought their batteries to
bear upon US. A high board fence was TO be
crossed. As took hold of the top board l was
crowded back by more anxious comrade. AS
| he swung himself over the fence his knapsack
was riddled with grapeshot. Again l made
| the attempt, with the same success. But this
/ time my predecessor, as he swung himself over
the fence, was struck in the left arm above the
elbow by grapeshot, his arm falling by his
| side ] again made the attempt and cleared
the fence. barely escaping a large cannon ball
that struck the board from which ] had just
| alighted.
We found the enemy bearing down hard on
| the left of the LIST brigade. They halted on
| hill in our front. A large wash-out, with
| a stiff growth of weeds on its banks ex-
tended up the hill. was among the nine who
crawled up in this to surprise the rebs, two of
our number receiving severe wounds. Judge
| of our surprise when, in a short. time, it was
discovered that the rebs had flanked us on the
right and gobbled up the most of our regiment
and held undisputed control of the field. ]
crawled on the bank, but could see no chance
! of escape. had my gun loaded, but in the
excitement it occurred TO me that i could not
| surrender with loaded gun. A rebel flag,
1 surrounded by fifteen or twenty of its followers
was on a knoll near by. The Confederates did
not appear to notice me as / raised my gun
and sent my best wishes into their midst.
then threw down my gun and sat down. A
prisonerl 1t was the most horrid thought tina;
had ever entered my mind. Never before had
/ fully realized the blessings of liberty, and now
l had a fair prospect Of being sent to Anderson-
vile, Libby, or some other prison. could moi
stand it, and springing to my feet and Selling
my gun, started for the North. They ordered
me TO halt, but without effect and then sent
shot after shot after me, till the air appeared
alive with their gentle missiles, bat still with
out effect. One of them then undertook Il
run me down; but, after throwing away my
knapsack, in which were two keepsakes, viz.
my diary and the picture of "the girl / lef
behind me-" l managed to make good IN,
escape. w. I. McDoUGLE
ROCHESTER, IND. Co. K, 10th O. v