Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-05-20
The BATTLE OF MONOCACY.
BY W. L. GARDNER.

The morning of July 9, A. d. 1864, broke
clear, bright, and sultry over the hills and
valleys of maryland, NY Maryland" A
slight shower had fallen during the night,
only sufficient, however, to "lay" the dust,
which at this time seemed to be plentiful
everywhere, and freshen the heated summer
air for few hours, as by ten o'clock a. m.
the heat was as intense and the dust as easily
disturbed as it had been on the preceding
day.
A somber quiet brooded over the tranquil
scene, soon to be broken by the roar of ar
tillery, the crash of small arms, and all the
"harsh clamors of war;"
1t is not my purpose to give a detailed
account of this memorable engagement. Its
details are familiar, even TO the most casual
student of our country's history. Sufficient
to say here that on this occasion the Federal
forces, comprising about 5000 men of all
arms, withstood for five mortal hours the
steady advance and determined onset of
more than three times their number, con-
sisting for the most part of the veterans of
"Stonewall" Jackson's old corps, now under
command of Jubal A. Early. They were
provided with numerous and well-served
park of artillery, while the Federals had but
two batteries of light feld-pieces. These
were handled, however, with great rapidity
and effect during the action, and were taken
off the field in safety when the retreat was
ordered. The Union forces were COM
manded by Major General Lew Wallace.
With these facts, and other prominent
features of the affair, my sketch may very
properly be said to have nothing to do. 1t
is only those incidents of the battle that
came under my own observation that l wish
to relate.
The brigade of which my regiment Zone
Hundred and Tenth Ohio) formed q part
had arrived at Monocacy Junction, by rail,
little after nightfall on the evening of the
eighth, disembarked at once. and went into
bivouac, in full expectation Of the battle
which was destined TO take place on the
morrow. The writer was suffering from an
attack of chronic diarrhea at the time, and,
as q consequence, gained but very indif-
ferent nights rest. The night passed in
quiet, and at daybreak the camp was astir,
breakfast prepared and eaten, after which
preparations were made for issuing rations,
of which we we're sorely in need. It was
now about eight o'clock in the forenoon. A
train of freight cars, loaded with provis-
ions, stood upon side track, at a little dis
tance, and thither /, with others of my
company, repaired, along with our COM
missary sergeant, and were soon returning
| laden with hard-tack, coffee, sugar, soup
beans and "sow-belly," in quantities suffi-
cient, according to army regulations, for
five days rations to each man. Scarcely
had we reached camp, however, when
orders came to "fall in" But what, was
the query, are we to do about our rations?
Must we go into battle hungry, with plenty
all around us? There was only few mo-
ments' suspense in regard TO the matter,
when we were ordered TO carry our provis-
ions with MS, for distribution at the first
opportunity. From this we understood
that we were not to move to any great dis
tance. Indeed, our destination became
known to almost everyone in q few
minutes. The cause of this sudden re-
moval, was also at once appar-
ent The enemy, who, it seems, had
moved out very early, had been reported