Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-03-18

WdIulSu III over, lrleu IL, fc-UOIleu IL,
and finally, when we had got tired of
the rice diet, we gave the rest to the
old cow, and ate it afterwards in
milk.
After long delay our equipments
came, and we soon broke camp for
Washington. Here we remained a
few days, then went up the Potomac
to Poolsville, where we remained a
fortnight or more, and then went to
Harper's Ferry. We went thence up
the Shenandoah Valley as far as
Woodstock. We came back as far
as Strasburg, where we remained a
few days and then returned to Wood
Stock A sad event occurred at this
time IN the suicide of Col. Holiday
on AAil 8. He had been in a state
of erosion some weeks. He shot
himself in the forehead, and was
found by his orderly dead in by
place where he retired to make way
with himself. Col. Tompkins of the
regular army was assigned to the
regiment and remained in command
until after the second battle of Bull
Run. Gen. Banks headquarters were
at Woodstock, but myself and a part
of the regiment were to do picket duty
at Cedarville, along Cedar Creek.
While here, it became my duty to do
some foraging, as the roads were in
such condition that our supplies
reached us in too small quantities.
/ became somewhat acquainted with
the country and the people for sever
al miles around, and my knowledge
afterwards was of much advantage to
the regiment.
/ will relate little circumstance
which shows the power of imagina-
tion and the condition of feeling, if
not terror, that new regiment was
in when in the supposed presence of
the enemy. We occupied ten or
twelve picket posts at Cedarville, and
had reserve headquarters at a two
story house some distance in the rear );
sergeant or corporal usually had
command of the post. We had real
" seen and had no acquaintance with
the "rebs" up to this time. One
morning the sergeant came in some
what excited and reported that the
pickets had been fired on. The next
night | was sent in charge of the
pickets. We made headquarters at
the old house, sent out our pickets
and awaited results with no little anX-
iety. About 10 o'clock we heard two
shots, and soon the vedettes came gal
loping'In and reported they had been
fired on, but could not tell where the
shots came from or what the danger
consisted in. | braced up and told
the boys l would go up and see what
was the cause of alarm, but none of
them volunteered to 90 with me, and
/ concluded not to go alone. l real
ly felt little squeamish myself. FL
nally we went back about half way
from the creek to the village and
anxlously awaited the appearance of
the rebels. The night was dark and
we kept in line and on the qni ViUe.
While peering intently into the dark
ness | discovered, las / verify thought,
a live Johnny, stealthily creeping up
towards us. We could see his mus
ket in front of him and knew not how
soon he would fire on us. / was in
command, and being too proud to
show the white feather, / shouted out,
sthalt !" But no answer came and the
man seemed to be quietly advancing
all the while. | dismounted, drew
my sabre, went out through gate in
the fence and advanced toward the
enemy. / was getting desperately
brave, and 1 yelled out in tones nei-
ther sanctimonious or polite, "9ou
rebel son, ETC., surrender J"
There was no answer, and had come
up to the rebel and was about to split
his head open. when | discovered L
was making my attack on pine
stump. 1 felt relieved, but confess
that | was in no mood to brag over
the result of my first encounter with
Johnny. Iverily believe that we
should have seen a thousand rebels
by the aid of our excited imaginations
if | had not made a charge on that
stump. The righteousness of the af-
fair brought us TO our reason, and we
quietly waited till daylight when we
returned to the old house, not to be
scared out of it again. | have always
thought the guns were fired to scare
US from Cedarville. This was the
point where Jackson crossed the
creek some weeks later when he
advanced to drive Banks out of the
Valley, and | think some scouts or
citizens were apprised of the fact that
the advance upon us was to be made
by way of the Luray valley, and the
fording place would be needed. We
were soon ordered from this point to
join the regiment whose headquarters
was at Woodstock.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE MONITOR
WnShinOtOn Mar 7IH