Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-04-26
WAR SKETCHES,
BEING ANECDOTES AND EXPERIENCES Of
WEST VIRGINIA WARRIORS
On the Field and in the Camp-RscollectlOns Of
Army Life by George W. McOlslland
Of the Wheeling Battsry-Battle
Of Winchester.
Second Days Battle of winchester.


and as soor as | could gather my scattered
senses and remember who | was, ana
where 7 was. the old dread Of battle came
over me. reasoned there was no help;
was in for it. and must stick it out: AFTER
breakfast we learned that Reynolds orl-
gade from Berryville had reached camp.
The great news, of which l was not very
sanguine. was that Mllroy expected 10 1e
reinforced by the Army of the Potomac. IL
seems, in conference held IN balI,lloIs5
Consisting of Generals Milroy, Schenck anu
Hooker and the President, the exposed
condition of our division was under
discussion. Milroy's proposition was
for our division TO hold theHi
in check at Winchester until rein
forced by the Army OF the Fouounac.
This idea was barely entertained and not
discussed seriously as none OF the com,
manders considered the plan feasible ana
when the conference came 10 an emu II
was with this understanding that Mllroy
was TO prepare TO evacuate at moment 5
notice, but he was TO hold the post until
ordered by Gen. Schneck to retire
The enemy's cavalry under Fltzhugh
7 .ee cut the telegraph wire between Balu-
more and Winchester. Milroy receiving
no orders to abandon the post, supposed as
a sensible man would, that his plan had
been adopted at the last moment, and the
next thing he expected was the appearance
of the Army of the Potomac. This was
Milroy's reason for attempting to hold
Winchester in the face of overwhelming
numbers.
About O'Clock we hooked up, went
down the hill in the direction of the Rom
ney road, crossed that road, and out TO
the ridge, probably a mile nearer
our line of Notifications than we
had been the day before though on the
same ridge. We went in battery. Our en-
tire force of infantry was stretched out
along the skirmish line. Our work nearly
all day was assisting our skirmishers.
To our front was the Eighty-seventh
PENNSYLVANIA behind a stone fence, with a
skirmish line of the enemy just across the
street behind another ''stone wall This
was close work. but the Eighty-seventh
was holding its own with very little
trouble. After while force OF the enemy
ran into the old round Quaker church
where we had gone in battery the night be-
fore. | suppose they intended to double
team ON the Eighty-seveLth We were
afraid they would prove too much Tor the
bows, so we brought our guns TO bear, and
sent three or four shells hurting through
the roof of the church. The way those
skirmishers left that church put me in
mind of rats leaving falling building.
There was some connection on the right.
lOur captain could not make out what 1t
was for certain, but he judged 1t was a
man crawling through the grass toward
the battery. No. | gun was pointed IN
that direction. Curran Mendel, the gun
lner covered him so completely with his
piece that at the word of command, whoever
he was would have been torn all to pieces.
lust then he raised his hand and waived II
toward US. Two of the boys ran out to
him. He proved to be a wounded man be
longing to the One Hundred and Twenty
second Ohio. We brought him in and took
him to the hospital
On the other side of Winchester the
two brass twenty-four pound howitzers,
out of the main fort, in charge OF the
Massachusetts boys were operating, doing
the same work we were. saw them plan'
their battery and then cut lot Of ooughS
and cover the glns completely. Then the
Thirteenth Pennsylvania charged the
enemy. Charging up as near as they dared
then wheeled and retreated to our lines
The Eighth Maryland jumped out anc
made counter charge The Thlrteentt
rushed to the rear of tht
guns and reformed AS soon as
the Eighth Maryland reached the
point where our boys wanted them, the
howitzers were uncovered and in quick sue
] GoSSlON three OF lOuE CudlEtS VI ktdpc VI
canister was poured with murderous effec
into their ranks. They wavered ant
broke. Our guns then ceased firing. The
old Thirteenth swooped down upon them
picking up every man left in the regiment
About two o'clock our section was SEN
across on another ridge facing the Romney
road. The intention was TO withdraw the
Twelfth West Virginia TO rest under the
protection of our guns, they having beer
ON the skirmish line all night.
We went back nearly TO the Romney
road. and then turned to the left and as
cended the ridge facing that road.
We had hardly gotten into position when
heard yelling on our left, and looking up
we saw what proved TO be- the Twelfth
West Virginia racing down toward US like
u flock of frightened sheep. never hated
ANYTHING so badly in my life. 1t was our
own Marshall and Ohio county boys Cap
tain Alexander tried to rally them. He
could as easily have rallied u streak OF
forked lightning.
The regiment rushed on past US TO the
rear. seeking cover under the walls and
trees and fences. The enemy was not fol
lowing, so they regained their composure,
formed into line, were marched in front OF
our guns, stacked arms, aid laid down 10
take their much needed rest.
The trouble was all through mistake
made bv their Colonel The orders were
to rally the regiment, and march them 10
the rear. The regiment rallied and were
formed into line. Then. instead OF order
ing them to march to the rear, he began to
commend, Retreat, retreatr' TIE regl-
ment obyeed that command, with the re-
suit above narrated.
About o'clock in the afternoon our en-
tire battery moved out the Romuey road
and halted. We did not 20 in battery
Some one had dropped carbne. Tom
Moffat had picked il up and was looking at
il. Just then six or eight pieces OF OF artil-
lery were fired At once away around 10 our
right. Whats that What's thatl' cried
the captain, as he shaded his eyes moment
with his hand and looked in the direction
of these reports We courtermarched.
and in few minutes were galloping as
hard as we could down toward the main
fo,t. The fun had begun. In less than d
half hour we drew up inerear of the fort
awaiting orders The boys said there
were "a guns playing on that one fort.
thought >. 400 was nearer the number
While waiting the drivers were dis
mounted Just as l slipped from the sad
die an infantryman was standing between
me and the fort. a shell passed over the
fort. and struck the hard ground under one
oil his HUBS. Ilt spun eAONhA N4A ~ u
four times like a top and fell to the GROUND.
Luckily the shell did not burst, but as 1t
raised it passed over my saddle where l
had been sitting q moment before.
Our orders were to return and occupy
the old redoubt where we had encamped
for two or three months. There was some
thing of a hollow between the main fort
and the redoubt, though both on the same
ridge Just as we were descending the
hill from the main fort shell burst in
front our casison and the pieces wounded
both of Dick French's horses. Idismounted
and helped Dick unlock. Dick ought to
have taken my team as he was lead driver
while was swing driver, and as there was
no swing team in the casison, Dick, because
he was lead driver should have taken my
place; but it was an ugly place and l did
not blame Dick for wanting to get out.
climbed back into my saddle. believe
others were as badly scared as | was, and
l was so woefully frightened | hardly
knew nv name We were on a steep hill
side and if Drawer al let the casison roll
he would have brushed me and my little
horses out of the way. But, instead OF
that he held back and as artillery horses