The National tribune., 1886-10-14

the discipline was perfect and cruel towards the
private soldier. / saw the seyerest punishment
administered
FoR THE MOST THRILLING oFFENsEs.
The incident for Whittier's poem, Barbara
Freitchie," had no foundation in fact unless III
be the antics OF Maryland General in the rebel
army, who, overcome with JOY at meeting has
old acQuaintances who staid at home, went
frisking around the streets with United States
flag tied 10 his horses tail aud too much Wash
ingt0n County applejack under his jacket.
We had been told by the Confederate Surgeons
that Gen. Lee did not intend TO remain in Fred
erick, and all day Thursday aud Friday saw in
dcatiOns Of preparing 10 eyacuate the city. We
had heard nothing from our forces since our
capture, aud were profoundly ignorant OF what
was going on outside of the city, and nearly so
as 20 what went ON in it.
Exactly one week from the hour that we
were captured the same group Of medical officers
were sitting ON the same balcony, facing east, ia
company with about an equal number OF Con-
fcdeTate Surgedess when puff OF smoke was
seen 10 rise from the Monocacy hills, about three
miles from the city, on the turnpike leading to
Baltimore, followed moment later by the boom
of cannon. Another aud another followed IN
quick succession. The puiis Of smoke farthest
away appeared larger than those nearer and
/ the reports were louder, and we surmlsod they
were our guns
The Confederate Surgeons now arose, and,
| telling us that our army was approaching and
/ they would soon leave the city, took long, last
pull at our supply Of Piritus Jramcnti, shook
hands, bade us good by, and mounting their
horses rode away. We watched the puils Of
smoke come nearer and nearer after each short
interval Of silence, and soon saw lines OF skir-
mishers in
DARK BLUE COMING TOWARD Us,
/ stretching long distance on each side of the
turnpike, while body Of Confederate cavalry
slowly retired toward the city, stopping every
now and then TO fire a shot or two from their
! light field pieces.
When our forces had come so close that j
thought the enemy must have left the city, i
ran down Market street 10 the corner OF Pat
] rick expecting 10 meet some of our advance
guard, but judge of my surprise at seeing Con-
federate officer with large, sandy whiskers
calmly sitting on his horse, apparently waiting
for somebody. As 1 approached lac beekoned
10 me and said:
"You are Federal Surgeon, are you not?"
answered afirmatively, and he continued:
! "Tell your commanding officer that We have
treated your friends kindly while in possession
of The city, and we will expect your army TO do
the same toward those who sympathize with
our cause"
replied that could deliver no verbal mes
sage, but If he would put his request Oh paper
| j would deliver il.
He replied that he had no time for that, but
! If he heard of any ill-treatment toward them
he wonld be in position TO retaliate, and then
he informed me that he was Gen. Stuart.
left him, and, walking down East Patrick
street had approached the edge of the city,
when met a body Of Union cavalry galloping
past, led by a gray-headed Colonel Almost
| Immediately section Of artillery unlimbered
a short distance down the street from where
| j was, and j saw the gunners standing by their
guns with lanyards in their hands, apparently
waiting for an enemy from up the street where
| our cavalry had gone. Hesitating for moment
which way TO 90, after failing 10 enter a door
that had tried, heard dreadful clatter Of
| hoois up the street,
MINGLED WITH PISTOL SHOTS
and shouting. and moment later a surgng
mass Of cavalry came dashing down the street
toward where i stood in the front door OF a
dwelling.
The Union cavalry were being driven by the
rebels, who were close up against their rear,
firing and slashing at them with their sabers.
IL was every man for himself. and some whose
horses had fallen sealed garden fences, while
others darted up side alleys, but the body came
rushing along like a cyclone. One Sergeant
caue dashing past at full speed, standing in his
stirrups with rebel close after, thrusting at
him with his saber at every jump of his horse,
but unable 10 reach him. As they neared where
| ] stood the rebel dropped his saber and, draw
Il
not 10 feet from the back of the Sergeant, who
fell dead from his horse within a few yards OF
where i stood He was fne-looking man,
and examined his revolver afterwards and
found every chamber loaded, aud why he did
not use il / never could understand. j had
him buried with Others and sent his watch,
revolver and effects TO his widow in Michigan.
On went the conglomerate mass of blue aud
butternut, followed a second later by terrific
roar, and men and horses were hurled back,
torn and scattered like chat in a hurricane
They had rushed pell-Inell upon and overturned
the cannon, discharging them at the moment
the mass was densest. The rebels who were
unhurt hastily retreated, but a sickening mass
Of dead and wounded friend and foe, lay side
by side, with their horses, torn limb from limb
Our cavalry, Michigan regiment had been
2 ambushed at the bend of West Patrick street.
A moment later and Burnside's infantry
swamed through the city, driving everything
e before them toward South Mountain. And nov
! commenced the series of terrible battles Of thi
e campaign at Burkettsylle South Mountain
and Antictam.-C. L. GOLDsBoRoUGH, Hun
terstOwn, Pa.
=