The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-08-16

EDLLDh AAIAGHhL AiBCAEs 10 al aEtlciS
published II TIE NATIONAL TRIBUNE Of March
s, 1885, z. L. Negus, Co. E, 1st Mich. Cav,
says:
IL is now 8 quarter Of a century since the
night Of the memorable charge at Monterey,
and our friends of the 5th Mich, Ist Ohio, and
Ist Va. Cav. may have come TO the conclusion,
By telling their story so many times, that they
are the only men left who took part in that
memorable charge. | do not wish TO rob any
regiment Of their lsurels, or claim any honor
justly duo them, but would like to give the
honor 70 the regiment which made the charge,
end that regiment was the 1st Mich. Cav"
Now, Dir. 1st Mich. Cav, we don't wish 10
steal your thunder, but we (1st Ya.) and two
companies Of 1st Ohio did give the Johnnies
thunder and blixeB from the point where
you were repulaed near the Monterey House
for about eight miles
On the morning Of the 9Th Of July, 1863, it
was ascertsined that the enemy was in full re-
treat, aud Fitzpatrick Immediately started IN
pursuit 70 harass his rear and capture his
trains. Amid pelting rainstorm his column
! pushed on al dag, and at noon reached EN-
mitt5buFg drenched and weary. 1t halted here
( for only short time and hurried forward to-
ward the mountain, the base Of which was
reached Just al dark.
/ The road up il was dry along tho steep sides,
and only wide enough for four horses to move
abreast while from its lower edge was q deep
abyss Up this narrow, unknown way, in q
! drilling rain, and enVelOped in darkness so
/ deep that the RIDERS though jostling together,
1 could not see each other, the exhausted. sleepy
/ soldiers on their weary animals slowly toiled,
tie heavy tread Of the horses and the jingling
( o. steel ecabbards, the only sound that broke
! the deep silence until near the top, when sud-
( deulya mouth Of FIRE opened in the gloom, and
/ the thunder Of cannon shook the nights, while
down the narrow road came the fiery hail
storm. Though On the lookout for danger the
column was startled at the audiences Of the
discharge, and before it had time to recover
from either side came a rafting fire of musketry
Lighting up with a strange glow that rocky
/ mountain summit The leading squadron Isl
/ Mich broke and fell back on the second
which also broke, and fora moment the narrow
road was iammed with men and horses strug
Cling 10 the darkness. But that lone column
winding fog miles away down the mountain
side, could not wheel about, and so the broken
squadrons we're rallied, skirmishers dismonnt
ed and thrown out, and the lst w. Va Cav
tNeau's) ordered 10 the front Forming al
best they could IN the gloom, the bugle sound
ed the charge IS squadron Of Ohio cavalry form
ed with u.s. aud across the summit and down
the farther side into the iuky darkness thu
fearless riders plunged clearing the way be
fore them, they kept on until they came npoI
Ewells long train guarded by four regiments
Firing a yoiiey, they cried: - DO you sur
render?" Yes" was the reply, and for eigh
miles the cavalry swept along the train tina
had come 10 a halt. A heavy thunderstorm
now broke along the mountain, which, com
biBed with the roar Of torrents down its sid
and the bowling Of the wind, joined TO Tia
shouts oaths and curses of men, added incon
eeivable terror TO the scene
At length the welcome morning came, whei
Fitzpatrick disposed Of his prisoners tsom
) ]. 500 as he best could, and burned such wagon
tle.0l which he could not get of.-H. p. Boon
Captain Co. 3, 1st w. Cav