The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-01-07

line had been forced back The retreat was
being made leisurely and in good order.
When at the stone bridge my impression was
that
SECOND BULL RUN DEFEAT
had occurred-a complete rout of our army. 1t
was my first experience in the rear of battle,
and | was misled by the sight of so many fall
ing back, by twOs, by threes, and in larger
groups, and others singly, all asserting that
"our army was all cut to pieces!" l learned
afterward that this was nearly always part of
a battle-the part mostly seen by the non-conI-
batants. The firm and leisureIy manner of the
beaten but not dismayed soldiers | met in re-
treat reassured me, and fulfilled the saying
that appearances are often deceptive. | was
informed by soldiers engaged in this battle that
they did not know why they were retreating,
as they did not consider themselves whipped
that when the order came to fall back they
were holding the line firmly. The order to
retreat did not reach the Second Brigade of
our division until after most of the balance of
the division had retired, and as the brigade
was falling back they were fired on by their
comrades who mistook them for the enemy.
But little damage resulted, however, and they
were soon undeceived. This battle | believe
was lost by the enemy turning our left wing.
How they were able to do So and why their
right was not turned on the 29th, has been the
reason of much controversy and caused the dis
missal from the service of prominent officer,
Gen. Fitz-John Porter.
We fell back on Fairfax Courthouse, which
point we occupied during the battle of Chantilly,
Aug 81, the 95th supporting masked battery
on the edge of wood. We were on the left
of the line, to which point the battle did not
extend except in the exchange of a few desultOry
shots. This was owing, perhaps, in a great
measure, to the extraordinarily heavy showers
which literally poured down during the be-
ginning and continuance of the battle. 1t was
the heaviest and wettest rain, believe, that
occurred during my experience in the army.
Other rains compared with it were mere
sprinkles. 1t seriously interfered with the
handling of ammunition, and probably for the
time being was the means of saving the lives
and limbs of a large number of men. 1t caused
cessation of hostilities.
Some of the Southern writer's in commenting
on this campaign, take considerable consolation,
and, perhaps, some pleasure, in describing and
lingering on the encouragement and demOrali-
zatiOn said to exist in the Union army which
had taken so active part and fought so
bravely therein. Upon what information such
were formed, or from what tsources received, l
am not aware. | have no doubt that among
officers holding high commands in our army at
that time some there were who were willing
that such a report should find credence, and
that such condition should exist, and who may
have aided in giving the report wings. Amb
tion among such was
SUPERIOR TO THEIR PATRIOTISM,
which in the late war burned but dimly. The
sacrifice of the lives and limbs,Of number,
more or less, of the rank and file, was of but
little moment to them, so that their ambitious
ends, or those of a friend, were advanced.
Had there been as much unity of feeling and
action and as ready obedience rendered among
the higher officers as were given and existed i'll
the ranks; had the governors of the army all
been as patriotic and earnest as the governed,
far different result would have been reached
in this campaign. This the soldiers understood,
and, although disposed to grumble and COM
plain, were neither discouraged nor demoral-
lied but We're as willing to fight and continue
fighting until the rebellion was subdued. The
armies of the West are deserving of great credit
for their many successes, albeit they had great
encouragement in the lasting results of their
victories, most of which were of such nature as
to bring the war nearer the end. Not one jot or
little of credit would / abate them for their
glorious work. The Army of the Potomac,
however, is deserving of greater credit. 1t suf-
fered defeats and achieved barren victories for
several years, and through all remained hope
ful and saIguine, never losing heart or faith in
the cause it had patriOtically espoused, but will
ing again and again to be led and hurled
against its brave and active opponent-Lee's
Army of Northern Virginia At last leader
came under whom the ambition for leadership
among the general officers was subordinated.
Unity of action was required and prevailed,
and the grand old Army of the Potomac ad-
vanced in successful battle after battle, and to
some purpose until the end was attained for
which so many had given life and limb
From Fairfax Courthouse we moved TO Up
toms Hill, where we lay when Gen. Pope was
relieved from command and succeeded by Gen.
Mcclellan. AS once before during the earlier
days of the war; so now again the Army of the
Potomac was reorganiZed ; not that we had be-
come disOrganiZed or required to be re0rgan-
iZed so far as the rank and file were concerned
but this department of military science was a
speciality of its commander faculty to or
ganize soldiers into an army ready to meet the
enemy.
While encamped in this vicinity we were
viewed and reviewed. Arms, equipments, and
clothing were issued to those needing them.
Had Gen. Lee remained as inoffensive our
army would have been fully clothed and
equipped for a new campaign later during that
Fall or in the following Spring. Gen. Lee,
however, had conceived the plan of taking or
continuing the offensive, by
CARRYING THE WAR TO NORTHERN SOIL,
and in the execution of this design was moving
toward Pennsylvania through Maryland. No
time was consumed by the enemy in reOrgan-
izing and re-equipping, although probably in
greater need of supplies, equipments and am
muniton than we were, being so far from their
base of supplies. They were, however, in con-
dition for a forward movement.
Probably unaware of the intent of Gen. Lees
movements, our army was put in motion about
Sept. 6, to act as an army of observation or TO
do battle when a favorable occasion should oc-
cur Our division, as d part of this army,
crossed the Potomac and moved via Mechan-
icsville, Md, to Frederick City where we ar
rived on the 18th, going into camp on the banks
of the Monocacy River north of that city and
east of the turnpike road leading to Baltimore.
Early on the morning of the nth we fell into
line. and at about 10 o'clock moved on and
through Frederick City until We reached South
Mountain. Some miles back we had heard the
booming of artillery our right. toward
CramptOn's Gap, and later, as we pushed up
the side of the mountain, we heard the sharper
sound of musketry. In places the side of the
mountain was steep and very difficult of ascent.
Particularly did we find it so after having left
the wagon road and filed to the right through
the timber and openings Our brigade halted
for a short time near the summit, where, in an
opening, field of turnips had been planted.
While regaling ourselves on this unusual lux
ury, we were hurredly ordered to fall in"
and were quickly marched forward in line.
Before us the mountain rose somewhat alb
ruptly, so much so as to render the ascent on
horseback very difficult and to require the aid
of shrubs, saplings, and stumps to assist in
climbing.
AS we neared the summit we were suddenly
IL