Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-08-04
LOCAL HAPPENINGS

in March, 1862. Gen. j. E. Johnston
evacuated Manassas and retired to
Richmond. To the brigade of Gen.
Arnold Elzey was assigned the some
what laborious and unpleasant task OF
covering the retreat-laboriouS be-
cause the task involved the destruction
of the Orange and Alexandria railway,
and unpleasant because strong ad
verse force was close upon the Con
federates to prevent destruction.
Finally the bridge across the Rappa-
hammock river was reached. Then
Gen. Blenker's division came up, de
termined to save the bridge from
Blenker at once crossed swords, and II
fierce fight ensued. The first Mary
land regiment, commanded by Col.
George II. Stuart, was there with its
drum corps, an organization that had
more than once made the brigade
''tired" of martial music. During the
action this (Maryland) regiment was
required to change position, which it
did, the drums aud flies making II
Fearful rattle, to take place near the
Tenth Virginia. The chaplain Of the
latter regiment, observing that the
sound was attracting the encmy'S at
tention, galloped to the drum corps
with the information. The drums
al gunners had 'located' the two regi-
ments. chaplain included, and the
storm fell where, from their stand
point, ''it would do the most good y
Among the missiles was Il huge shell
which exploded with terrific force
within IL few feet of the chaplain
The reverend gentleman was knocked
off his horse, and, at distance of sew
eral hundred yards in tie rear of the
regiment, appeared to be dead. Col.
S. B. Gibbons, commander of the
Tenth, rode up to company b, and
designating private, ordered him tu
attend the chaplain at once. The pri-
vate expected to find IL bleeding corpse,
but, happily, no blood was to be seen
only speechless, almost breathless
human form lying in the withered
grass. 1t was manifestly impossible
for one man to move him beyond the
danger-line of the field. SO while the
iron hail still fell and the ground was
still torn with shot and shell, the de-
mand for additional help was signaled
to the regiment, and private Calvin NJ M.
Borum, of company c, came. The two
carried the chaplain to a safe place.
The surgeon, already employed with
other unfortunateS, came up and
speedily pronounced it ii case of death
from concuSslon.'
but he is not dead said Borum.
"Ah, but he will die :" replied the
surgeon, who, after administering Il
restorative. answered loud demands
lain unexpectedly revived and spoke,
but his language was broken, in
coherent. Somehow he was removed
to Culpeper courthouse, several miles
away; thence to Orange, finally to
Gordonsville. At Orange Borum left
his cOmrade alone to fight the chap
lain's way to some place of cOmforta-
BILE abode in the interior. Hence, at
Gordonsville there was an unequal
contest of several days duration be-
tween the iron-hearted military Of
ficials and the determined private as
to which way the chaplain should go
toward Richmond or Staunton.
Meanwhile, it was harder struggle
to get rations for the two, but some
how they were gotten-.for tie sick man, ,
and the private lived on the crumbs
which fell from the invalid's scanty
board. In the struggle for direction
the private won-the chaplain went to
Staunton, where he was taken from
the straw in box ear and placed in a
luxurious bed. In hospitable hands,
surrounded by friends and attended
by the best physicians of that city,