Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-05-31
WAR SKETCHES,
0P INTEREST TO WEST VIRGINIA SOLDIERS
IN OARLINS BATTERY.
Tie Engagement at Dead Mans Gap-HOw a Wagon
Train ESCAPED Through the Mismanagemsnt
OiMulligan-StOry by George W.
Mcolslland.
Dead Mans Gap.

threatening OOJu Jle pOSJS dO NOW OlOSA
aud Petersburg, finally lodging down into
MARYLAND, returning through Green
Springs run, between Burlington and Rom
ney, through Dead Mans Gap and on
through to the Southern army, with 500
head of cattle and large train of wagons,
besides other plumber.
We were run into Fort Fuller, where
we spent the night around camp-tires. A
wagon train being guarded by the Fourth
w. Va. Cavalry, was captured. Thoburn's
brigade at Petersburg had to abandon the
post. and withdraw 10 New Creek. We
adva need nearly to Burlington, where we
staid night and day, expecting an
attack The enemy approached WITHIN
sight but we were withdrawn before an
attack was made We fell back to New
Creek From there we were run up on MI
Knobly. There were SIX infantry req,
ments: The First West Virgin a, Second
MARYLAND. Third and Fourth pennsylvania
Reserves, Fourteenth West virginia,
Twenty-third Illinois and Fourth west
Virginia Cavalry. The last was SIX
months cavalry regiment which the gov
ernment forgot to furnish with horses, but
instead started them out on foot with
muskets in their hands.
Tom Carr, of ST. Clairsville, belonged 10
this regiment. He and comrdde was
about the last stragglers who came into our
lines while out near Burlington. Tom
comrade had forgotten to pull the plug out
of the muzzle of his gun when he fired 1t at
the enemy or something else. The conse-
ouence was his gun burst about three
inches from the muzzle. Tom had on a
forage cap with hole torn in the rear part,
which Tom declared had been done by the
''rebels." The cap was powder burnt and
as he wore it his hair was sticking out OF
the hole. If that cap had been on his head
when that shot was fired the whole top OF
his head would have been blown OF.
We wanted them to stop and help US out.
Tom said they would If we would give his
comrade gun, but we had no extra guns,
and did not think to tell them to wait, as
man would soon be killed and he could get
his gun. So they passed on TO the rear.
Besides these six regiments there were
two batteries of artillery, Battery NJ First
Illinois and our battery. We assembled the
mountain, O'Rourke'S battery going up
first and ours following. BY eight O'Clock
the entire force was in position on the
mountain top.
Bill Junkins and ! built good fire some
distance from the remainder of the com
pany. After supper we spread our
blankets, pulled off our boots, and
were toasting our feet before
a bright fire Along came Chalfant, who
SAID, Put on your boots again, boys, you
must sleep with them on. We may be at
tackled any time tonight" Well, here was
ago. | knew how my feet would feel by
morning, as if cased in couple OF stove
pipes.
There was no alternative though, off
went our boots, and we rolled into our
blankets. When the fire had burned lOw,
| began TO squirm, and presently or came
nv boots and up under my head they went
Junkins did the same, and we stretched ont
our feet toward the glowing embers, and
slept like two little lambs until broad day
light
We stayed on Mt. Knobly till toward the
evening of the following day. when we
moved down TO New Greek and up the
creek, in the direction of Burlington again.
An all night, miserable march. 1t showed
aud blowed. We went into camp about two
o'clock in the morning, this side OF Burling-
ton. Next day we moved out bepond Bur-
| lington and about twelve o'clock formed a
junction with Averill's cavalry.
He had been raiding for about two
weeks Gen. Averill was not in command.
They were under Col. Thompson Of the
Sixth w. Va. Cavalry. Unfortunately
Col. Mulligan was the ranking Colonel If
Averill had been with us, or Col. Thoburn,
or Col. johnson had been in command, l
would have had different story to tell
Battery G. of our regiment, or "Ewing's"
battery was with the cavalry. We now
had nineteen pieces of artillery, three bat
teries and little brass l2-pound Howitzer
with the cavalry, which we called candle
stick, six regiments of infantry and |
think about the same Of cavalry.
We soon started up toward Dead Mans
Gap, in a round trot One of the cavalry
men said to me, he was glad Gen. Multi
gan was along | was sorry, but | didn't
express myself. ABOUT dark we reached
tue Gap, a long defile or canon, about three
miles long, an ugly place to pass through,
but easily thanked. Here we halted. and con
trary to all expectations, went into camp
Here Mulligan sent back dispatch TO his
wife. The boys heard of it, but did not
know its contents, but they soon made one
10 suit the occasion. Here 1t is:
so Mrs. co., Hutli0an:
"Meself and StaG safe. Kiss the baby.
"CoL. MULLIGAN, Commanding
We should have charged through that
gap. a complete whipping would have
been better than nothing.
The next morning the cavalry, including
"Ewing'sn battery, went up toward the
gap, while the infantry with the thirteen
pieces of artillery were marched to the
rear to guard the wagon train. Whew
but Thoburn was mad He was there to
fight. You could not have pleased him
better than to lead his brigade against the
enemy. He only consented to 90 to the
rear with the understanding that when
firing should begin in the front he was to
hring up his brigade as fast as he could.
We marched slowly back as the cavalry
started toward the gap in gallop. Just
as we reached the wagon train the booming
of the artillery was heard in the direction
of the gap. Instantly all was animation in
our brigade We stretched out in the road
in the direction of the gapin little less than
no time. the infantry double-quicking and
the artillery trotting We got. back to
where we had camped in less than one-third
of the time IL took us to 60 down few
hours before. soon the artillery firing
ceased and we learned when we got up
there that the artillery horses were so worn
down by constant marching that they could
not take their guns high enough on the
mountain side 10 cripple magnificent
wagon train of forty wagons which moved
up the mountain side and out of their
reach.
Our horses were big, fat, and fresh, not
having marched more than hundred miles
the entire winter put all together. We
could have easily pulled our guns any
where and could have crippled and proba-
bly, captured that train if it had not been
for the miserable stupidity of that man
Mulligan. | always thought he was the
best man in the world to waittill the enemy
was ready to leave and then follow at a
safe distance and see that nobody was hurt.
Our brigade marched through the gap
and went into camp between the residences
of Col. Mcneil and Col. Hsines. The
Third and Fourth PENNSYLVANIA regiments
threw safe guard around Col. McNeils'
house, while Col. Johnson, of the Four
teenth West Virginia, did the same for Col
Haines' residence.
Some of the officers of the Third and
Fourth went into McNeills, and the ladies
began to tell them of the exploits of their
brother, Capt. Mcneil, brave and dash
ing officer ef the Confederate army. while