Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-18

thehopes Of those who were fearful that the scene
of conflict might be transferred to the northern
states and relieved the fears of those in Mary
land and Pennsylvania who were on the route
Of what would have been the rebel leaders line
Of march. Thwarted in his efforts to overrun
and lay waste the beautiful farming country of
western Maryland and Pennsylvania Lee was
compelled to retreat across the Potomac and
to seek his old familiar stamping ground in
Virginia. He was closely pursued by Gen.
Meade's victorious army, and the chase from
Gettysburg down to at least Warrenton juno
ton was very lively one.
Inc felnt that had been made upon Rich
mond by Gen. Dix in order to prevent Long
street and his force from joining Lee in his
northern expedition accomplished its purpose,
and when 1t was known that there was no longer
any possibility for the force about Richmond to
be OF any important value to the rebel leader
the Union forces under Dix were ordered to
Join the Army Of the Potomac at Gettysburg.
The order came to us on the peninsula at mid
night on the 4th of July, 1863. The headquar-
tiers OF our force were at Harrison's Landing
and the main body Of the troops were some
miles in advance toward Bottoms bridge. /
remember that during the 4th of July it had
been an extremely warm and uncomfortable
day, and with but few officers in the different
camps or about headquarters the national holi-
Gay had not been an extremely lively
occasion. Toward evening. however, I de-
termined to have q celebration of some kind
and walked over to the camp of the 14lst New
York, having an orderly carry q good-sized
demijohn comfortably filed with ''commissary."
There were about dozen of us that assembled
in the hospital tent there and We proceeded TO
get full OF patriotism and also ''commissary."
There was no regular form of exercises although
there were several impromptu patriotic speeches
and the hope was expressed that before another
a. N yar of s,,.la II
cruel war would be over and we would all be
celebrating the occasion in our respective homes.
1t was nearly II o'clock before we broke up and
l went back to my tent at headquarters and re-
tired. had just got comfortably asleep when
l heard horse galioping up, and a voice which
general commanding, called out sect up,
Frank! We are going to move at daylight"
AN EARLY START.
tumbied out of my BERTH opened the tent
flap and was informed that orders had been
given for tine whole force to move back down
the peninsula as far as Yorktown, where they
would take boats for Washington. 1 was to
have five days rations ready for issue as soon
as the force should arrive. then l was to load
whatever Of the stores could upon the boats
there at the landing and destroy therest to pre-
vent their falling into the hands of the enemy.
1t was busy time from that on till about S
O'Clock, when had everything ready for issue,
had loaded such stores as the boats would take
and had set fire to those which remained on the
ground. went down the river on the boat
from Harrisons Landing and went direct to
FORTRESS Monroe. There met the force which
had embarked at Yorktown and we came to
Washington, going right straight through the
city from the wharves to the Baltimore and
Ohio depot, where we took the cars for Freder-
lex On the way down to Fortress Monroe We
learned Of the fall of yicksburg and conse-
quently became greatly elated at the sue
cess Of Gen. Grant. We knew nothing
about the battle of Gettysburg until we
reached this city, and then learned for the first
time of the terrific fighting that had been going
on there. When We reached Frederick our
brigade was entirely broken up and the differ
emit regiments were assigned to other brigade
1 was left at Frederick with one clerk to set..s
mp the brigade commissary accounts and send
the returns on to Washington. 1 had a wall
tent pitched very near the depot for an office.
another one for my own quarters, and with
orderly, who also acted as cook. anticipated
having quite pleasant time for few DAVIS. On
the third day, however, the quartermaster of
the regiment came down with a wagon and told
me that he was ordered to load up my entire
stuff and that We should join the regiment at
once. As had no horse ut that time 1t was q
question OF a march from Frederick to Berlin.
We kept up with the quartermaster and his
wagon for WHILE but the sun beat down with
great intensity and finally we turned into
u
rest. We finally arrived at Berlin shortly after
dark on Sunday night. Thinking that it would
be impossible to find the regiment at that hour
we pitched our shelter tent on the hill and went
to sleep, determining to hunt up our men the
first thing In the morning.
THE ARMY DISAPPEARS.
When / awoke and looked about me every
thing had q sort OF deserted air, and noticed
that there were very few soldiers about and
detached groups. Upon making inquiries
learned that the entire army had crossed the
Potomac the morning previously. Here we
were, two men utterly ignorant Of where the
army had gone or how to reach our company
Immediately went to the chief quartermaster
and explained to him the situation telling him
how We had been left at Frederick to settle up
some accounts and that now we desired trans
portation to our regiment.
The quartermaster was a great big mar, very
gruH in manner and no doubt had had his
patience sorely tried in the arduous duties that
he had been called upon to perform for the
week previous. He looked at us a moment and
said: "Well, there's the best transportation
imaginable, there's good pontoon bridge and
an open road"
asked him If he thought it would be wise
and prudent for two men to attempt to follow
an entire army twenty-four hours behind them
and run the risk Of getting gobbled by bush
whackers. Well, he said. he thought it was
rather risky, but that that was the best he could
do for us. l told him that thought knew a
trick that was q good deal better than that and
then we went down to the depot, where a train
was being made up to 60 to Baltimore. found