Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-05-20

So away We went, "tohng" our provisions
with us, across the railroad and the river
(Morocacy), which at the point where we
crossed was quite shallow, up the steep
bluff on the southern shore, and into a
large rolling field, from which the last
shock of wheat had been removed by its
owner scarcely an hour before.
Line of battle was speedily formed along
the northern slope of this field, the line
facing to the south. Our right rested on
the river, and the line, extending eastward
round the crest of the ridge, was joined on
the left by the Ninth New York Heavy Ar
tillery.
The company 10 which the writer be-
longed formed the extreme left of the line.
This arrangement completed, the men were
allowed to stack arms, and the distribution
of rations began. AS yet not a shot had
been fred, and, in fact, no signs of an
enemy were visible in our immediate front.
Soon all this was changed, however. 1t
was now ten o'clock and the heat was be-
cominA oppressive. Our commissary called
out, Third round of sugnr for Company
X" when suddenly the loud roar of artiI-
lery off to the left announced the opening
of the fray. Almost at the same moment
the rebel skirmish line appeared, at the
distance of perhaps a couple of miles. 1t
is needless to remark that all further thought
or care with regard to issuing rations was at
once laid aside. Each man grasped his
weapons and sprang to his place in the
line. The writer stood in the front rank,
near the center of his company, with many
gallant comrades round him, whose
names were never again heard at
roll-call. The Union skirmishers prompt
ly advanced, and soon the rattle
of musketry and the wild cheers of the COM
batants blended with the heavy boom of
cannon. The noise and fury Of the conflict
on our left increased with every passing
moment, but the scene was hidden from
our yiewby intervening hills. In our front
and to our right the prospect was quite ex-
tended. Indeed, have always felt that 1
had cause to congratulate myself upon the
favorable position / occupied during the
battle; that is, so far as a chance for obser-
vation was concerned. Not that the posi-
ton was mt all sare Vnv, rvr sa1ety was
nowhere. After standing in line of battle
for some time, we fell back Just little
from the crest of the ridge, and were or
dered to "lie down." Full well we knew
what this portended, and obeyed the COM
mand with alacrity. Very soon our antici-
pations were realized, for the enemy had
brought up battery to the line OF their
skirmishers, and suddenly opened a rapid
fire of shot and shell upon our position. 1t
was now eleven o'clock, and the uproar on
all sides had become terrific. Every avail
able piece of artillery on the Union side
was brought into play, and the fire of the
skirmish lines, REINFORCED by both sides,
continued with er-increasing fury. The
air seemed filled with the fragments of
bursting shells, and the "wheep" and "ping"
of musket balls was almost continuous.
Dense clouds of dust and smoke were soon
rising in all directions, at some points en-
tirely shutting out the view. The writer,
raj ing himself upon his elbow, watched
the scene with that intensity of interest
which only those can realize who have un-
delgone like experience. i was particu-
larly interested in the splendid action
of couple of small field pieces, posted
nc Tire summit of tIiHf oirUIt ufotuuUO
north of the railroad and to our right. The
fire from these guns was rapid and accurate
during the whole period of the battle.
Among the many excellent shots made on
that day by those pieces l have space to
note but one, the effect of which was greeted
with hearty cheer by the hundreds of
Union soldiers who witnessed it. A group
of rebel officers, riding briskly up from the
direction of Frederick City, came to halt,
we presume not unwillingly. within the well
come shadow cast by the leafy branches of
q small spreading tree in an open field, and,
as it happened, within point-blank range;
| and the hope was at once expressed by
many that those gunners had noticed their
approach, and would speedily extend to
| them the compliments of the season. Nor
were we doomed to disappointment. The
very thing wished for, and doubtless ex-
pected by some, quickly came to pass. The
group of officers in "faded gray" had little
more than time sufficient to clear the dust
and moisture from their eyelids, prepara-
| tory to taking look to their front, when a
shell from one of those guns on the hillside
hurtled through the air, and descending,
exploded, as nearly as / could judge, di-
rectly in the midst of the tree-top above
them. Leaves and branches flew into the
air. while more than one saddle was emp
tied, and the survivors of the party lost no
time in getting away from locality SO un-
healthy.
All this while our part of the line was
lying exposed to the fire of full battery in
front, while the roar of battle on our left
gradually drew nearer, until it became evil
dent that our flank was completely turned
and that retreat would be unavoidable.
A few minutes after two o'clock p. m. the
welcome call of Attention" was heard, and
the line was up and ready in an in
slant. No situation is more trying
| to a soldiers mettle than to be forced to lie
| inactive for hours under the enemy g fire, with
no chance to return it, will not attempt a
description of the charge which followed.
Enough to say that it served its purpose, in
that it gave O temporary check to the on
ward rush of overwhelming numbers, and
afforded our broken left wing a chance To
save themselves from utter rout and cap
/ ture.
| While advancing in this charge 1 was
struck on the head, just over my left ear, by
a spent ball, with immediate result of see-
| ing such a galaxy of stars as never beheld
| in the sky, succeeded by most distressing
headache. Compelled, however, TO yield
| to the pressure Of three times our number
we fell back and formed in line once more
not far in the rear of our first position. From
this point had good view to the right
left, and rear, and it seemed to me as II
the whole army, with the exception of oul
one small regiment, was in full retreat, and
that we must inevitably be captured en-
mdsse, and felt sense Of great relief
when presently we were ordered to fall
back beyond the river. The retreat now be-
came general. The enemy threw numerous
shells after us 10 accelerate our movements
and one of these bursting some distance
to our right and rear, small frag.
ment thereof inflicted upon me a second
and more serious wound, from the effect ol
which 1 have never recovered. 1 was
helped off the field by comrade, and man
aged in the course Of the evening to reacf
Ellicotts Mills, six miles from the battle
field, where, "weak and wounded, sick and
sore" crawled aboard q car filed with 9TH
ers of our wounded and was carried TO Wes
Buildings Hospital, Baltimore. Here, b.