Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-01-30

Monocacy near Frederick City, Mary
land, and then march across South
Mountain to HagerstOwn. You are
at HagerstOwn on the lith, when
YOU receive orders to retrace your
steps. When you again reach the
ton of the mountain at BOOnsbOro
Gap, down below you on the cas-
tern slopes, you witness a battle
raging between the rear of the
Army of Northern Virginia and the
Federal forces under Mcclellan.
1t is almost tho hour of sunset, and
the shades of evening have settled
over the cOntending hosts. The
flashing of the guns alone reveals
their position. You are moving
through a corn-feld on the back
bone Of the Mountain, when you
are surprised by murderous fire
in your flank. You are forced back
in confusion, and don't rally until
after dark. The next morning the
Army of Northern Virginia
marches to Sharpsburg, where it
takes position to await McClellan's
approach. You occupy a high pos
ition on the right of the Confed-
crate lines at the eastern edge OF
the town. At sunrise on tho 18th,
the battle Of Sharpsburg opens
with a determined ATTACK on Lees
left, and RACES all day.
About four o'clock in theevening
heavy columns Of the enemy are
massed in front of your position,
and move forward to the attack.
You are driven back through the
streets OF Sharpsburg, but you re-
form your lines as you emerge
from the town, and stand ready to
renew the fight. ReinfOrcements
arrive aud in turn the Federal lines
are routed. About nightfall YOU
resume your position OF the morn
ing where you remain all next day
The Army of Northern Virginia
falls back across the Potomac into
Virginia, at Sheperdstown, on the
morning of the l9th-You belong
now to Garnett's brigade, Of Pick
etts Division, and Longstreets
corps-A few weeks Of rest in the
Valley, and you are on the march
again. You cross the Blue Ridge
at Front Royal; and after several
halts of few days each in Cul-
peper and Orange, the 18th of
December finds you on the lines at
Fredericksburg. Your position is
in the centre and is not attacked,
but you witness the bloody repulse
of Burnside on the l3th-The oam-
paign of 1862 now ends, and Pick
ett's Division goes into winter
quarters at Massaponax Church -
Your stay at Massaponax is ofshort
duration. Pickett's Division breaks
up winter quarters in February,
1868, and marches through Rich
mond to the South side of the
James. Garnett's Brigade is
transported by rail from Petersburg
to TarborO North Carolina. From
TarbOrO you march down the
peninsula between the Tar and
Roanoke Rivers to Plymouth, and
returning you become a part OF the
force investing Little Washington,
where you remain for few weeks,
and then return to TarbOro. From
TarborO you are transported by
rail back to Virginia, and in April
Garnett's brigade rejoins the Di-
vision near Suffolk-Tidings of the
battle OF Charlottesville now reach
you, aud you are ordered to reioin
the main body of the Army OF
Northern Virginia-YOu march
through Petersburg and Richmond,
and on to Culpeper county, where
Lee is concentrating his forces, s,pre.
paratory to the invasion of Pennsyl-
vania. From thence you march to
Smokers Gap in Loudon county.
You cross the Blue Ridge into the
Valley and marching to the POto-
mac, you cross the river at vii.
Transport. Passing through Ha.
gerstown, Maryland, you reach
Chambersburg the latter part OF
June. On the 2nd of July you
march from Chambersburg,to to with
in four miles of Gettysburg, and
halt for the night. At four o clock
in the morning Of the 3rd, Picketts s
Division of three Virginia brigades,
con mandcd by Armistead Garnett
and Komper, is under arms moving
to the front. You hear intimatiOns
as you march along of what is be-
fore you. You reach a skirt of
woods along the banks of brook,
purling at the base of Cemetery
hill. The men rest in the shade of
the trees. Not a breath of air
stirs the foliage above them. n
solemn calm pervades everything.
The fervent rays of July sun beat
down from a cloudless sky. All
nature seems to be holding its
breath as if in watchful anticipa.
ton of an impending catastrophe
The morning wears away. The
Chaplain of the 2Sth, standing
among the men, lifts his hands
for prayer. All kneel, and the
earnest prayer ascends to the
God of battles. Lee and Long
street are close by on foot
standing with uncovered heads
L. Il. nom ,,uor ".