The National tribune., 1888-09-20

livery one IN Inc Army OF the G0boUlaC
knows what crossing the North Anna River is,
with its high, steep banks, and deep, treacher-
Gus water. As we of the rear-guard came
near this stream the Johnnies came at US in
full force as if they meant mischief We
quickly surmsed that there was something
wrong in our rear. A man was sent on the
galOp to find out and report. He very soon
returned and reported the crossing was a small
bridge, and shaky. The bulk of my men /
quickly ordered across the bridge to dismount
and cover our crossing. We then halted until
the Johnnies were near us,
WHEN WE GAVE THEM A voLLEY,
fell back, and took up another position and
again greeted them, and then turned and made
for the bridge, trusting to the dismounted men
TO give them a yolley. They were in position
and ready for work, but Gen. Fitzpatrick had
his battery III position, and as soon as the enc
my showed up he gave them some shells over
cur heads, which broke up their campaign for
that time at least. We saw no more OF them for
that day. From this point few miles, march
brought the head of the column IN sight OF
Richmond.
Gen. Fitzpatrick formed his command in line
of battle, and placing his battery in position
on the nights and near Richmond, he opened
FIRE. This we understood to be the signal for
Col. Dahlgren and Gen. Butler.
There were no sleepy men in our command
now. Every nerve was strained to full
play, and Richmond but a few miles away.
1t was for this we had marched and suffered aud
now our reward was near at hand. Surely the
plans of Gen. Fitzpatrick had worked well. A
few shells were fired, and as we saw them strike
inside the city limits cheer after cheer rent the
air as each successive shell sped ON it way.
A short pause, and no signal came from the
lamented Dahlgren. Then Gen. Fitzpatrick
gave orders for the command TO fall back and
go into camp. This movement was q damper
upon the men, as they ali seemed to think
the time had come, and were anxious to be led
in a charge on Richmond
The men Of the command, like true Amcri-
can soldiers, were well aware that no impor
tant event in war was ever gained without
some effort, some loss and sacrifice but, IN view
OF the results to be obtained, were anxious to
make the venture. Gen. Fitzpatrick thought
otherwise and from that moment good fortune
left US.
THE RETREAT BEGINS.
Going into camp few miles back from Rich
m0nd, / was again detailed for picket with my
rear-g guard. After placing my videts and ar
ranging for their relief during the night, my
pack-mule came to camp and we slipped the
saddle from off nay horse and the mule, while
my boy prepared supper. After supper / laid
q blanket down on the ground aud arranged
for sleep 1t seemed to me that the entire
command dropped down to sleep supperless. l
had been asleep perhaps an hour, when whiz
came shell just over my camp fire. To say L
was surprised as ] raised up aud caught the
position of the gun, as the flash of the next
shell came, was no name for it. Indignation,
revenge and everything else flashed through
my mind in a moment. The reason they were
Smelling my fire was because, / think, it was
the only fire there was in the whole command
Within few rods Of that gun were thousand
OF our men sound asleep. We were not very
long in putting out that fire and getting into
line As ! remarked while ago a surprise at
that time would be disastrous, so if proved, for
it was a surprise. The night was very dark
and the surprise was complete, and everything
was confusion IN short order. Men half-asleep
plunging around in inky-darkness, with an
unknown enemy right In camp, is anything but
assuring. Soon the road and fields were filled
with crowding, cursiug men, each one trying
10 protect himself ! recognized the voice of
Maj. Wells of the Ist Vt. Cav, aud / asked him
what were his orders. lie replied, The order
is to report at Kilpatricks headquarters"
But where was Fitzpatrick? Starting in the
direction where headquarters were we found
them vacated. Some one said Fitzpatrick had
gone mp the road. This at once showed a SIAM
pede aud retreat
A PANIC-sTRIcKEN MOB.
Everyone was now making an effort to es-
cape. Away we 20 on the trot, now gaIlop,
now on the dead run, and then come up with
a sudden stop against the men ahead. More
cursing and crowding, and then plunge ahead
again and SO on during the night Nothing
was said by the men during this jam. What a
change from few short hours before when we
stood on the threshold of Richmond Now a
disguised mob Of men, without formation Of any
kind-UniOn and Confederate soldiers all in
the same column. As soon as it became light
enough to distinguish forms and faces quick
change passed over the column. Men quickly
sought their companies and regiments, and
placed themselves in readiness for action.
We gathered up some Of the Johnnies that
were mixed up IN our column, and some of
them slipped out into the woods and gath
cred up our scattered men as they came up.
Shortly after daylight we found ourselves near
! Mechanicsville, where we went into camp, and
for the first time during the raid unsaddled
4 our horses.
A grand skirmish was here made for some
Z thing upon which TO feed our faded horses
/ the men taking no thought of themselves until
4 their faithful animals were provided for. Some
| where near this point tue few scattering men
| from Col. Dahlgren's command joined US and
reported the death Of that gallant officer aud the
/ capture Of most of his men. A party were sent
/ out from our command tOtry and find the body
I Of Col. Dahlgren, but they returned unsuccess-
ful. Our raid, which up TO this time had been 50
/ Instead Of releasing Union prisoners in Rich
mond, we added many hundreds to their num-
/ Der.
GETTING OUT OF THE WILDERNESS.
/ The next thing after our short rest was ia
reach the Union lines. We now took up our
! line Of march in the direction Of Yorktown
1 which place we reached without further moleg.
/ tatiOn. As we marched into Yorktown we
/ were greeted by coored band playing as we
+ passed, Amt you mighty glad to get out
/ Of the Wilderness"
/ After a few days rest at Yorktown we were
/ placed on transports and sailed 10 Portsmouth
I and thence to Gloucester Point, where we
/ landed. From this point we marched few
/ miles inland and camped a few days, when
/ we again sailed 10 Alexandria, Va Landing al
/ this place we were given the freedom of the
! city, and you can just rest assured we painted
! the town red, white and blue" A short rest
4 here. and we were marched to our old camp at
/ -Stcyensburg. There were various comments
/ on our raid by oficersand men, and theuniver-
/ sal opinion was we lost a grand opportunity
! when Gen. Fitzpatrick failed 10 charge Rich.
/ mond at the time we were on the hill and our
batteries playing on the town. Shortly after
/ this Gen. Fitzpatrick was sent TO command
/ the cavalry under Sherman.
1t Is not my purpose at this time 10 criticize
the movements Of Gen. Fitzpatrick, but ! am
free now 10 say what ! said at the time, that
we ought to have made an attempt to enter
! Richmond, after our long aud weary march. II
had then failed choDfd al 100