The National tribune., 1888-04-26
sTUARTs wAGoN-TRA1N.
Gen. Ayers Night Attack at Monterey the Even
ing After Gettysburg.
From ddudnce sheets Of Col Frank A. B,rr's book
The Rough Riders Of The Rebellion"

ING AFTER 0ettyS0urgs
From Advance sheets Of Col Frank B,ur's book on
- The Rough Riders Of he Rebellion"
It was on the night of the 4th of July, 1863.
The battle of Gettysburg had been fought,
Vicksburg had fallen, the backbone of the re-
bellion was broken, and the end Of the war was
in sight, however long it was yet to be delayed.
There had been a great celebration of the Ma
tional holiday over these mighty results The
day and the events were in happy harmony.
Lee was now pushing his broken army by the
mountain roads toward the Potomac River.
His wagon trains, with supplies for his defeated
and dispirted troops were in front of him,
Stuart's Cavalry was spread out the left
flank of the retreating army and moving to-
ward Cashtown. The Federal troopers were
in hot pursuit.
On the afternoon of the 4th Kilpatricks Di-
vision was at Emmittsburg, standing To
horse" in a drcnching rain. All of the sur
roundings were gloomy and foTbidding. As the
falling shadows OF the night settled into the
darkness, Clusters Michigan Brigade was de-
fected toward Monterey to cover the passes in
the bold mountain which was outlined against
the dark sky.
The 1st Mich led the advance st the start,
but just as tue head of the column reached the
fo0t-hil the leading regiment was ordered to
the left to attack point where the enemy in
force was holding an important road. This
left the 9TH Mich. in the advance. The road
which it was following led toward Monterey, q
quiet little spot along the mountain roadside
whore only u country hotel, kept for Summer
boardcrs, attracted attention and furnished the
place name.
The command CROPPED its way slowly along
in the darkness, hardly knowing where it was
going. just before reaching the summit Of the
noun tain the flash of hOwitleT in the dark
| ness announced the presence of the enemy. All
at once the drenched and sleepy command was
on the alert and Col. Alger, OF the 9Th Mich,
gave the command:
Charge"
The men rushed forward after their leader,
and the two guns which shot their flame and
| iron into the darkness were captured.
| The command came to halt. Fitzpatrick
| rode forward for consultation. To the right
| cleaned the sickly light through the window
| of the country tavern, while a group of cavalry
! officers sat upon their horses discussing the
needs of the hour.
| 1t did not take Fitzpatrick long to decide.
! He ordered the 18th and 9th Mich, Col. Gray,
| to dism0unt, leaving their horses behind. This
| was but the work of a moment, and these two
| splendid regiments moved down the slopes on
! foot. One of those drilling, dreary, skim
searching rains so common after a battle added
/ to the gloom and uncertainty OF the advance.
| The command had not proceeded far when the
| sound of rushing, tnmbling waters announced
a creek near at hand. 1t was swollen far be-
| yond its average size by the heavy rains of the
past few hours. 1t was easy to assume that a
| bridge spanned the stream across the road the
| calvary was following and the Confederate
! wagon trains were pushing. The dismOunted
! Union troops drew to the bridge as pos
sible, and then deployed on either side of the
| bridge. Ager with the 9TH, and Gray with the
| 9th, being respectively on the right and left
1t was intensely dark and the men lay down
| and at once began hot fire with their Spen-
GERS upon the considerable force of the enemy
that was guarding the bridge.
| The CLEAN Of the death dealing guns was the
only light for aim or movement Yet the fight
went on with great energy on both sides. Fire
| on the Confederate side began TO slacken, and
| at this moment the dull thud OF bullet an
nounced the death Of a soldier lying next tC
Alger.
1t was now the moment for quick action
Selling the gan of the man shot in the head
Alger jumped to his feet, gave the order to bis
men to follow and rushed toward the bridge
The command responded with will, and the
9Th and 9th rushed across the causeway in the
| wake of their daring leader. They could hear
| the rumble of the wagon-train just ahead, aud
all were intent upon its capture. Once across
the swollen stream, Alger formed his men il
line, and at once directed an enfiading fire
upon the retreating wagon train and its guard
At this moment he sent word back to Kilpat
rick, asked for mounted force, but before il
arrived the moment came for a charge, ant
Alger ordered it. The dismountcd cavalrymer
rushed forward upon the demoralized Confed
crate force. It struck it at the opportune mo
ment, and just as the mounted force rode W
the first wagon had been fred, and 800 pris.
oners had been surrendered as the materia
trophies of this gallant night attack. Fol
hours the flames from burning wagons drove
aside the darkness, lighting up the surrounding
country for a considerable distance in all direc
tons How many were destroyed will prob
ably never be accurately stated. Stuart in hi
report ACKNOWLEDGES the loss of a large number
Considering the surroundings this grappe by
the roadside below Monterey was remarka
bic achievement, and the story of its many
phases is still wildly recalled by the veterans
of the 5th and those who were in it with them
1t was one Of those striking bits of warfare o
which the great books on the conflict tell u
| little or nothing.