The National tribune., 1886-02-25
THE LYNCHBtRG RAID.
Sufferings Of the Army on that Disastrous Retrea


To THE EDITOR Gen. Hunter began to with
draw his army from its position in front of
Lynchburg at o'clock p IN. on Monday, June
49, 1864, and about O'Clock p. m. of that day
the rear guard of his force, composed of the
91st Ohio and Capt. Blazers mounted scouts
were falling back in line of battle. 1t is a night
long to be remembered by those who were the
last to withdraw from the enemy's front The
night was quite dark, and the clump of timber
held by the scouts was ablaze with musketry
as they were pressed in front and flankcd by
the advancing foe. The missiles of death hissed
and sang above the heads of the battalion
within supporting distance of the scouts. Oc-
casionaliy the bullets would strike in such un-
comfortable proximity to the heads of the men
who were lying fiat on the ground that they
instinctively ducked their heads until at
length the order came to retire, which was
obeyed quietly and in perfect order. Like the
Arab, "who quietly folded his tent and stole
away" this battalion and company of mounted
scouts slipped away into the gloom of the
deep, dark night. Before the army was bar
rem, mountainous country of more than 200
were issued to the men before starting with
the information that it must last them until
they reached Camp Piatt, on Kanawha River,
as base of supplies.
The suffering of this command on its long
march may be imagined, but cannot be de-
scribed-marching all night, taking positions
here and there during the day to keep its as
sailants in check, until II days elapsed before
it received ratOns from Government Commits
sary So closely and hotly was the ground con-
tested that at one point in the mountains log
house which crowned commanding eminence
was occupied at least six times within the short
space of 80 minutes by the contending parties
AS night came on the Union forces withdrew,
leaving a regiment concealed within very close
range of the road upon which the Confederates
pursued. One of their squadrons of cavalry
passed right under the guns of this Union regi-
ment, when at the proper moment the COM
mander shouted "Fire!" which was instantly
followed by roll of musketry, and such
screams, groans and oaths as greeted that vol
ley we have never heard before nor since.
Within two or three days after this singular
event the army, soon after passing Salem, Va,
marched through a narrow defile in the noun
tains The order of march at this time differed
somewhat from the usual routine. The First
Division led the advance; the artillery as is the
custom, did not follow the respective brigade
to which it belonged, (that is, in batteries but
was massed in the center with the wagon train
having no support but train guards. The Second
Division, commanded by Gen. Crook, brought
up the rear. Our lynx-eyed adversaries having
discovered the unprotected condition of our
artillery, adopted the Union tactics of few
nights preceding. They secreted a regiment in
q thick underground of brushwood and suffered
the entire advance division to pass within point
blank range without firing shot, and when
the wagon trains and artillery came up they
pounced down upon it, and before a brigade
could be brought up for its relief the enemy
had succeeded in killing and capturing great
many of the artillerymen and train guards, as
we'll as spiking and cutting the spokes out of the
wheels Of an eghtgu battery, setting fire to
some of the wagons, and running off number
of horses and mules. A simultaneous attack
was made on the advance and rear guard, and
there was the boom of; cannon in the rear and
the roar Of artillery in front, and for time it
looked like Andersonville would be the base of
supplies for Hunters army rather than Camp
Piatt. A few days after 81 of our poor boys
perished from hunger and hardship while cross
ing Big Sewall Mountain. 4 wagon train had in
the meantime been sent out from Camp Piatt
under guard of an Ohio 10D-day regiment for
Hunters relief. At Meadow Bluff. when it
parked for the night, I6& of Capt. Thoroman's
guerrillas, armed with revolvers, charged them
in open skirmish order and put the entire regi-
ment and wagon train to light. All hope of
relief being cut off from this direction, another
train was sent out, which met the head of Hun
ter's column at Dogwpod Gap Is miles south
of Gauley Bridge; and never did furnished
army enjoy richer repast of sowbelly and
hardtack.
Two or tHree Gays jaIer tne army arrived AT
Camp Piatt, the head of navigation on the
kanawha, and but a skeleton of its former self
Here it was allowed but nine days for rest, and
then was forwarded by rail and steamer to Har-
pers Ferry. that it might plant itself in the rear
of Gen. Early 'sarmy, which was retreating from
the invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania
and had also seriously threatened the National
Capital.-JOHN II. PRATHER, Co. L, 91st Ohio,
Manchester, o.
*Rev. Fitzwater, of Olive Hill, East Kentucky,
who belonged to Capt. Thoroman's guerrilla band
and who was present on that occasion, is my
authority for the above statement.