The National tribune., 1885-12-03

Summers batteries and witnessed the artillery
| duel then going on. One of the pieces suddenly
changed its position, aiming apparently at a
| newly plowed hillside half mile in the rear
of the Confederate right. ! asked one of the
old vets why they intended to shoot into that
| hill. He simply said, Wait and see." At the
first discharge shell was landed in the center
of the supposed plowed ground, which immedi-
| ately
| TOOK UNTO ITSELF LEGS AND RAN AWAY.
1t was simply a regiment supporting the
Confederate right. History has informed you
how Lee made good his retreat the next day,
and how grand opportunity was lost.
On the morning of the Goth we took posi-
| ton on the banks of the Potomac near the
vicinity of the ford over which Lee crossed.
| During the previous night and the morning
of the 10Th, our batteries had been industriously
shelling the woods on the Virginia side, elicit
ing no response. Towards noon the order
came to fall in, and we were told to ford the
river. Our regiment was on the left OF a
accommodating force, composed of between two
and three Thousand men, and crossed
| just below the old wheat mill, located
within half a mile of Sheperdstown. On
our right was the Hath Pa, known as the
Corn Exchange Regiment, for the reason
that it had been fitted out and equipped at the
expense of the Corn Exchange of Philadelphia.
fully 1000 strong, and as far as can learn had
| been in action. We forded the river, which
was of depth of three feet; soon reached the
Virginia side, deployed and sent out our skir-
mishers. The Hath, following the road taken
| by Lee upon his retreat, on reaching the crown
of the bluffs turned to the right, deployed and
| sent out its skirmishers. The skirmshers from
the 9Th and Hath had not been out more than
five minutes when they were driven in, and
Immediately We were pounced upon by A. z.
Hills Division. With the enemy in front and
the river in our rear, it is needless to say we
were in a hot place. After slight resistance
we were ordered to retreat. Had it not been
for the protection afforded by our batteries fir
ing over our heads into the ranks OF the Con-
federates we would have been either killed or
captured to q man. Our line of retreat lay
down the river bank, which was at an angle of
Do degrees, across the river and into the canal
whose sheltering banks we longed to reach; ;
and, preferring wet skin to a broken one, we
started at once in as good order as was possible
under the circumstances We reached the
canal without any material loss, though under
q heavy fire, and was safely ensconced behind
its banks, which run parallel with the river,
and soon drove the Johnnies back into the
woods. The Hath Pa. did not fare as we'll.
When attacked they apparently lost their heads,
and instead of filing to the left, thereby taking
the road upon which they came, they faced
duout anu ilcu loI tHc IlNSE TOI tuc pul-
pose of manufacturing cement the bluffs along
the river had been cut away, SO that for dis
tance of nearly half mile there was perpen-
dicular descent of from 40 to 60 feet. Many of
the 114th rather than be captured, jumped
over the bluffs, and were either killed or
wounded; others, in attempting to cross the
river, were shot, and their bodies foated down
the river and rested against the DAM Thirty
took refuge in the powder magazine connected
with the mill, and shell from one of our bat
teries entered its opening and every man was
killed by its explosion. A large number were
made prisoners, leaving buta remnant to escape.
Thus ended an engagement which does not
figure extensively in the history of the late
war, but which for the time it lasted and con-
sidering the numbers engaged was an exceed
ingly hot one, especially for the Union side.
For myself, must say that during my subse-
quent service / was never in place where /
saw so small a chance for either victory or
escape.
OF this fight Gen. Mcclellan, in bis report,
states as follows: "On the Goth reconnaissance
was made by small detachment of Porter's
Corps, resulting in observing ~ heavy force
of the enemy. The detachment withdrew with
slight loss"
Stonewall Jackson, in his report Of the same
engagement, states that Gen. Hills Division
advanced with great gallantry against the Fed
eral infantry in the face of a continuous dis
charge of shot and shell from their batteries.
The Federals, massing in front of Prender,
poured heavy fire into his ranks and then
extended with a view to turn his left, when
simultaneous charge was made which drove the
enemy into the river, followed by an appalling
scene of the destruction of human life. Two
hundred prisoners were taken"
In closing l wish to relate an incident which
illustrated the kindness of heart of the late
Gen. g. K. Warren, who afterwards commanded
the Fifth Corps. The next day ithe 2lstl we
withdrew to the land side of the canal and as
things had settled down again an attempt was
made to observe some sort Of discipline. To
that end camp guard was established, and /
was detailed with others to perform that duty.
In some way it befeil my lot to be assigned to
the post of color guard distinction which ap-
pealed to my pride, especially as l was told by
one of the wags on guard with me that / had
been specially designated for that post. was
directed by the officer of the guard, whom it is
charitable to suppose did not know that was
very green, to walk my post and to salute Off
GERS as they passed. Near my post was stationed
a group of officers, and / noticed that some of
their number after passing my post would be
seized with great hilarity. After industri-
ously walking my post for more than an hour,
Gen. Warren came near my post, and l at once
prepared to salute him. AS he approached near
me l brought my gun to present arms" but
continued to walk my post with the gun in
that posltlon had gone some distance when
l heard the command Haiti" given by Gen.
Warren. l halted, turned about, and at the
command of the General to approach him 1
started towards him, still holding my gun at
present" In the meantime the attention of
a large number of the regiment had been drawn
towards the scene and those that saw it en-
joyed it hugely. The General took my gun,
instructed me how to present arms in saluting
officers, and it is perhaps needless to say l
never forget the instruction. His manner in
giving this instruction was kind even to gen.
tleness, and that one act on his part won my
love and admiration, which followed him
through his brilliant military career and now
comes to me as one of the most pleasant remem-
brances of my humble service as a soldier.
The Charge at Jackson, Miss.
To TEE EDITOR: ] notice communication
In he lac ct nf n