The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-06-19
GEN. 0. 0. HOWERD'S "REMINISCENCES.
IContinued from LIST page


Flint Hill AS soon as Elliot felt the shots
coming from his right and rear, he promptly,
and without confusion, withdrew across the
Abraham's Creek and posted everything nearer
town and strongly on Bowers Hill, and made
ready for desperate resistance.
Edward johnson had encountered Colonel
Fly's brigade in a similar way. Ely contented
himself with what his skirmishers could do,
and retired slowly in that way. disputing the
ground and gaining time. At last he and
Elliot were reunited at Bowers Hill. Mercy
nolds had done a good thing to delay Rodes.
lie took an indirect and unfrequented road,
swinging off toward the north. Rodes prob
ably after dark lost him, and Jenkins be-
licvcd they had gone toward Martinsburg, and
SO pushed his division in that direction. Rodes,
losing his way, did not join his corps that
night nor the next morning, but encamped
several miles out on the CiiarlestOwn road.
McReynOlds succeeded in getting to Winchester
aud Joining his comrades there about 10 o'clock
i'm the evening. Milroys men were bold and
ready TO fight Ewell's troops had marched
some seventy-ive miles in three days They
were tired. Early was not in position. and
ROaes had not been heard from, so that Ewell
was glad Of the approaching night to enable
him 10 rest and make ready 10 secure COM
piete victory.
MILR0E RESOLVES TO FIGHT.
Now, everybody says, was the time for the
brave MilrOv TO drown his powder spike his
guns and make off i'm the Highest marching
order He shook his head. The Army of the
Potomac cannot be far of. Sehenck had said,
stay and fight. There must be some great
object In leaving them out there. They would
delay the invasion Of Maryland. if that be con-
templated: perhaps give time to the garrison
at Harpers Ferry TO be re enforced. He could
not think Of running Off before McReynolds
had time TO come in; and, further, had not
1000 armed men. with ammunition and stores
unexbansted, held even a larger force in check,
and behind Notifications stood siege? Think
how Aaaruder with twelve or thirteen thou
sand, more or less had at Yorktown delayed
over hundred thousand under Mcclellan for a
month Think how Anderson at Sumter, with
o handful Of troops had deled Tor days the
rampant army Of the fiery Beauregard. Oh,
no; he must do the best he could
MilToy during the night very properly with
drew Elliot and Ely from their advanced
positions and brought McReynolds within the
prepared lines, and arranged to defend himself
as well rs il could be done. As soon as the
dawn appeared Ewell and Early stood on
Bowers Hill. They could plainly see the new
works on the middle ridge or Fiints Hill.
Ewell still adhered,to his original plan of at
tack. Early, with twenty pieces OF his artil-
lery and his infantry, must get away around
there, 80 as to assail them from the northern
most flank. EHel with Johnson would do
as i so often was obliged to do with other foes
during our war-hammer away in front of Mil
roy's old works and keep his attention till
Early should get into position and get ready,
as that division had often done before, for a
rcsistiess charge.
Milroy had feared that Ewell would do some
thing OF the sort; be had therefore. early in the
morning sent reconnaissance to the north and
west roads. The reconnaissance reported that
the ROmDeT aud PEgtOwn routes were clear
lit would have made a different report had it
remained out couple of hours longer. For
Early had retired few miles as a blind, and
then made a wide det0ur to the west. 1t
took him nearly the whole day till after p
I'd. to seize upon the fartherest ridge and it was
fully when Milr0y from his fort and Ewell
from Bowers Hill heard the opening shots of
EarlE's twenty cannon directed along the
Flint Hill against the new intrenchments.
EARLT's SUDDEN APPEARANCE.
There had been hard fighting ali day be-
tween Confederate johnson and Milroy. john
son had obtained inconsiderable advantage.
Aiilroy WIS rejoicing at his fair success though
his poor men were dreadfuliy uneasy. some
killed aud many wounded, and his ammuni-
tion was running low. When he saw this sud
den appaFitiOn TO the northwest, he was star
tied; lie ordered an offensive movement to stop
the advancing enemy OF, if il became necessary,
10 retake the ground. Milroy was toe late.
work; they could not be stopped or taken
without larger force than Miiroy could now
send. Soon the artillery held up their fire,
and an infantry brigade sprang from cover
and rushed upon the new works. Milroy's
guns were then quickly silenced. and his men
fell back upon the ridge which he occupied.
Almost quicker than it can be told Confederate
HAYS who commanded this successful assault,
had turned the guns which he had found and
captured upon the last ridge which our men
were holding.
The game was really lost to us. True. cur
nen held cut. The darkness soon came to
cover their hard fought field, and EEell thought
he could Low wait till the morning Of the 10Th
aud have an easy prey. He, therefore, simply
ordered johnson to put his division upon the
lines Of retreat.
TIE COUNCIL OF WAR.
Milroy then stated his purpose to council of
war. They agreed to his brave proposal: LIST
u now escape; We can do no more good here. =
Quietly every preparation was made: the dead
were 20 be left Unmarried the wounded and
sick, with surgeons, must be left ia hospital
tie cannon were spiked the powder. what lit
Tie there was left Of il, was pat into the water
the wagons and harnesses were abandoned; the
column was formed without hustle. Elliot took
the icac, Lily followed, and McheynDlds covered
the rear Of The column
This force withdrew in the deep darkness
from EaTlF, and was doing nobiv, when al
about in the morning Of the 18th two Of
JOhns0nis divisions were approaching the rail
WY station al RocktoWn They heard tho
sounds " marching men from the direction Of
Tie AartinsDurg wagon read. johnson promptly
attacked the moving figures dimly discerned
tut Tor time our men held him back Then
Eiroy in his turn, grown desperate attacked
the two Confederate brIgades farionslv, and
succeeded I'D driving them back By this time
Early had Weakened and put G0rdon's brigade
upon McReynuld's, and was lighting him il
Tie rear. Again the gallant Mir0y had
q fair chance for the escape Of two Of Iii
briganeg; but no; be would not 70 without III.
al-guard. 50 they waited till johnson
brought OF To the fight his last brigade Mil
l0ys column Was soon broken in pieces and
scattered A part with himself reached Har
pcrs Ferry, whsle other fragments crossed th,
Potomac az sharpsblrg and Hancock. and
added Immensely 10 the alarm Of Pennsylvani.
aad the North by the reports which the-
spread.
kodes had gone upon his false scent quite (,
Aartinsbnrg. lie might have made matter
worse for AilrOy had he received the message
which Eweli lad sent him, but he did moi
However. be caught half dozen guns at hi
village and some 200 prisoners, whom he SUI
psised.
Lee, for this operation, reported altogeshe
z.05s prisoners. 700 Of whom were wounded an
sick - guns, 2I1 wagons aud 900 horses.
Fortunately for Us Tyler had not RENAME
IA Ing old trap Il Harper's Ferry, but prompt
Withdrawn 10 MARYLAND lIeiuitte