The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-11-13

ca
REsENTING Blow.
tive power of pen. painter or human tongue, and
the memory of the witnesses can alone pre-
serve il.
Thus the retreat continued through Fairfield,
Monterey, Hagerstown, aud to Williamsport, on
the Potomac.
The river was too greatly swollen TO render
fOrding possible. and the only means of cross
ing was by couple of low scows, drawn slowly
aud laboriously by ropes from the Virginia to
the Maryland shore aud back. The iasteuings
OF these repeatedly gave way undol the power
Of tie food and their cargoes, which could not
exceed 40 men, standing upright, were
sW EPT DOWN THE RUSHING STREAM,
TO the amusement of the laughing troops aud
prisoners and TO the dismay of the rebel com
manders. listening for the dreaded signals of
Meade's advance.
The rebel army around Williamsport, with
all arms mingled in an indescrbable chaos, was
nearly destitute Of both infantry and artillery
ammunition, and wholly without food for man
or beast. Fully 10000 horses and mules, stag
gering with hunger, could barely keep their
feet much less drag the wagons and guns
through the vast lake Of mud In which the
town seemed snoat; while every house, stable,
shop and shed was filed with wounded not
one in 10 OF whom had medical attention and
rades; aud still the intermiuable rain poured
down on the drowning d isheartened and imper-
illed army. Again the Union captives looked
wistiully toward the northern horizon aud
feryently prayed for a finishing blow from
Meade, aud again their hope died in despair, as
visions Of bloody battles yet to come in Vir-
giniR and dire pictures OF Southern prison
hells rose like hideous specters before them.
Hopeless days succeeded each other. A last
the heavy rains ceased the food of the river
receded, and 10 days after the victory of Get
tysburg the crippled and nearly famisbcd army
Of Northern Virginia crossed TO the Virginia
shore part foFding at Williamsport, the men
10 their srm-pits, holding their muskets aud
cartridge boxes above their heads aud the re-
msinder Of Lees force passing over by tho pom
toon bridge rebuilt at Falling Waters, few
miles below.
Up TO this time / failed TO find ono among
my fellow prisoners who could give me a word
Of news from my regiment. Every soldier
willsI am sure understand my feelings. / was
hungry 10 know what havoc the battle had
made among the comrades / knew aud loved
would have paid any price for the assurance
that any brother, Of the 9Th Mich had come
safely through that bloody Orchard and Wheat.
field. As may be- suTmiscd, had an affection
ate and peculiar interest in the fate OF my com.
rade, George DeuueD, whom / last saw brayeIy
urging his company IN the thick OF the battle
In fact / knew little OF the actual casualties
even Of my own company, but had seen Young
Lacy, Sands, KOwitz and others fall beside
me, and the dead and badly wounded / knew
must have fallen Into the hands of the enemy
who held the Peach Orchard during the night
Of The % but i was destined TO hear of George
Dennen in a manner wholly unlocked for and
peculiar.
On The day our column Of prisoners crossed
the Potomac and while in bivOuac on the Vir,
GINA shore near Bunker Hill, my attention
was attracted by Confederate soldier standing
just outside the sentinels path, who wore a red
cap bearing On its front an artillerist'g eros.
csnpOn and the initials Nv. A."
had never seen the soldier before, but tho
cap and initials i instantly recognized az be
/ longing 10 the famous =" Washington Artillery q
oil New Orleans, an organization well known
10 me while lived there, aud regarded by Tn,
/ residents Of the Crescent City even before the
/ war with pride akin To that Of New York 70,
! It's darling 9TH" Gen. ]. Il. Walton, it's com
mhnder IN my time, was at Gettysburg Lees
| Chief Of Artillery.
The young soldier, whose name / am now
unable 10 recall, and whom / at once addressed
! was naturally surprised 10 find his uniform
/ recognized by Yankee Lieutenant, and still
more 50 when inquired by name for severa
| members Of HE battery, among others Walter
/ Crouch and George Campbell.
Inc CIRCUMSTANCES ana my familiarity Will
/ New Orleans al once admitted me TO his
FRIENDLY INTEREsr,
aud pleasant conversation ensued, In which
/ Ia hls turn he sprung surprise on me ,
though, unhappiiy, less pleasant in its effects
| Our tax Oh the late battle disclosed the fac
| that has battery had engaged our part Of th,
| line near the Sherry house, and he mentioned
casually that sherfys barn had taken fire dur
ing tue caunouade and was burned to tb,
! ground, fact already Of course known TO me
but he further said that he had assisted In tb,
rescue Oi a number Of wounded men, boil
| Union and Confederate who had crept into 1
for its doubtful shelter while the battle WA
stu on, aud who, exhausted from their hurts
were unable 70 escape unaided when the ex
| ploding shells set IL on FIRE.
My interest rose 10 a high pitch when h,
added that among the rescued were two Fed
erai officers of a New York regiment, a Can
| tam aud Lieutenant who wore upon tbei
| breasts badges Of the New York Volunteer Fir.
| Department. The Captain, lie said. was a tall
elderly man, with iron-gray whiskers and hair
| aud tho badge shield bearing the legend O
Engine Company 34"; while the Lieutenant
| young man, Of medium hight, with darL
/ hair, large eyes, aud slight brown mustacbe
and tie mere shade Of an "impcrial" wor,
Oh his breast a round shaped badge Of "Hos,
| Company No. 60" As 10 their hurts. he said
the Captains wound, though painful, was MOI
dangerous but the Lieutenantis wound. b,
| felt assured, would prove fatal-in fact, he wa,
conIaent that he was now among the dead
1 received the tidings like the sting of 4
! minle-balI; for the former Teport aeon rately