The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1888-01-12

some prayed in an agonizing voice
for stop that I could never order
$50 narrow was the road that in
places the legs Of our horses we're
bruised by the wagon wheels. On
either side, ss we'll as I could Judge,
were dense woods. The darkness
was so intense that mainly the in
stinct Of the horses enabled MS to
keep the road. Now the storm
would increase 10 violence so that
we could not hear each otbor's voices;
again tho cries Of the wounded would
drown them. But advance we must,
and I ordered the men as they pass
ed along TO throw aside any wagons
that became disabled, 80 as not 10
delay the others. My brother in
the van had instructions 10 charge
and drive forward at all cost any
force encountered.
THE road led up the East face OF
South mountain and over the brow.
The descent OH the other side was ex-
tremely rugged. The rain continued
to descend until day-break. The
mountain streams were rivers which
had to be forded. In other places the
mud was knee deep. The horses
struggled through it almost to their
bellies and several times the escort
had to help in extracting cannon mir
ed nearly to the hub. Among the
wounded | had two generals, Scales
and Pendar. The former is now Gov.
ernor of North Carolina. Pender was
killed a little later at Winchester.
These two were near the head of the
train. Except them | had 40 officers
higher than colonel. Starting 10y
the Chambersburg road we presently
fanked it and led of to the left along
a country by-road. About midnight
while riding with my staff, was taxi
en- with a congestive chill, brought OF
l think, as much by the horrors rha6
undergone as by the exposure. M,
staff shouted for u doctor and on'
soon came up. Fortunately one o
the men stumbled upon farm hous'
about that time. l could not keel
my saddle. They took me into th'
house and the doctor injected morph
ia into my arm. Then / was put OF
horseback again and hurried forwart
through the darkness and rain TO al
ambulacs near the trout OF the line
/ SsS,s..acs ;sy .r!es WafsS %"e 80 h
kept watcn besfoo me- lawoke earl
In the morning from q kind OF stupo
to hear firing. jumped to my fee
and looked out. A body Of Norther
cavalry were attacking tho train nc
a stones throw of. Some of theI
had stampeded, but my black servau
steady as rock, stood waitin
with my horse by the side {
the wagon, bride In hand. A how
itzer company passed at n run, wit
their gun. yelled to them to sto
and made them load with cannistel
Looking up the road, | saw my broth
er coming on the gallop mt the hea
of his 18th Virginia Regiment. W
bagged the whole attacking part,
A few were killed, none escaped.
Through the morning Of the 81
we met several such attacks as thu
from the side. My van met no resis
auce. When at last we reached vii
transport 1 took possession OF IL
town and turned it into Il hospita
The members of my command wei
thoroughly exhausted. The plight I
the wounded was horrible when v
came to lift them from the wagon
Without the strength to help then
selves aud with no one else no loo
out for them, the shaking OF the rio
had thrown them into cramped att
tudes, so that they lay doubled u
A number had died and stiffened |
those attitudes. All were drench,
to the skin. Here and there boue
dislocoted during the night, protrut
ed from the skin Of the thigh or til
skull. Those who lived had not bee
fed for many hours. All the doctor
| mil nf ~
and did what they could for theI
Before left Gettysburg General l.,
gave me a packet, which he instruc
ed me to send forward to Mr.. Dav
with all possible despatch. This no
/ had born through all the horrors
the night sown inside the left brea
Of my coat. now detailed an Office
to carry 1t to It's destination, giviu
him all necessary authority to impre
horses when his own gave out.
have since learned that 1t was a pr
, vate preliminary report on the Ge
tysburg conflict, expressing Lee
opinion that it was drawn battl
and announcing the intention OF viii
drawing his army again to Virginia.
General Lee afterwards show,
his appreciation Of my conduct OF Il
3 train by putting me in charge OF II
East Valley District, a position tn,
was assigned but once or twice du
ing the war"
= General Imboden said that he W
0 still living In the Virginia mountain