The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-05-20

as approaching In force, anc " became
necessary to act with promptness and
CELEBRITY, In order to meet the coming storm.
So away we went, "toting" our provisions
with us, across the railroad and the river
(Monocacy), 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 It's
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 We're
allowed to stack arms, and the distribution
of rations began. As yet not n shot had
been fired, and, in fact, no signs of an
enemy were visible in our immediate front.
Soon all this was changed, however. II
was now ten o'clock and the heat was be-
comina oppressive. Our commissary called
out. Third round of sugar for Company
| X, when suddenly the loud roar of artil-
| lery off to the left announced the opening
! of the fray. Almost at the same moment
the rebel skirmish line appeared, mt the
distance Of perhaps n couple of miles. 1t
| is needless to remark that all further thought
or care with regard to issuing rations was mt
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 Che wild cheers of the com
batauts 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 view by intervening hills. In our front
and to our right the prospect was quite ex-
tended. Indeed, have always felt that l
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 at all safe one, for safety 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. re-enforced by both sides,
| continued with ever 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 I'M
| delgone like experience. was particu-
| larry interested in the splendid action
of couple of small field pieces, posted
near the summit of hill, short distance
north of the railroad and to our right. The
| fire from these guns was rapid and accurate
during the whole period of the BATH.
Among the many excellent shots made on
that day by those pieces / 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
a 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 gunneTs 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. prepare
tory to taking a look to their front, when n
shell from one of those guns on the hillside
hurtled through the air, and descending,
exploded, as nearly as l 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 I'M
healthy.
All this while our part of the line was
lying exposed to the fire of n 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 TUNED
and that IA retreat would be unavoidable.
A few minutes after two o'clock p. IN. the
the line was up and ready in an in
slant No situation is more trying
to soldiers mettle than to be forced to lie
inactive for hours undert the enemy S fire. with
no chance to return it, l will not attempt
description of The charge which followed.
Enough to say that it served It's purpose, in
that it gave a temporary check to the on
ward rush of overwhelming numbers, and
afforded our broken left wing chance to
save themselves from utter rout and cap
ture.
While advancing in this charge / was
struck on the head, just over my left ear, by
a spent ball, with immediate result of seq
ing such 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 l had good view TO the right,
left, and rear, and it seemed TO me as if
the whole army, with the exception of our
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
10 ofi 40, 10