The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-03-24


militia regiment that was on our left on ac-
count of its good behavior, and particularly
| mentioned its commanding officer who, If
| remember rightly, after the long period that
has elapsed since this affair took place, was tall
and slender. with lghtish hair. | saw him adj
vance two or three PAGES in front of his line,
with sword in hand and arm raised. encour-
| aging his men, who wavered and whose line
| broke on the right, as did also the left of the
| line of dismounted cavalry. This was not to
their disciedit and although we received no
| support from our artillery or army, the great
| bulk of the men remained to face Early s
army.
This same army of Confederates, which de-
| feated rs in this and subsequent engagements,
took Sherdans army, with at least three times
the number that our entire army consisted Of
to defeat him, after some very stubborn fighting
and reverses.
/ also have recollection of what he states
that three companies of his regiment remained
behind, not having heard the order to cross the
river when the rest did until long after all the
rest had crossed. The report reached us, and
was circulated among the soldiers, that por-
ton of the Ohio regm ent we're taken prisoners;
but late in the night we heard that they ar
rived safely in camp. As mentioned in my
communication Of Dec 10 we (the dismounted
cavalry were on the right of the line of battle,
and were vigorously attacked by division of
Confederates, commanded, / understand, by
Gen. Rodes, one of Early's most valiant COM
manders, about half hour after We were in
line; and, notwithstanding the bravery and
the efforts of Col. Samuel b. NJ. Young, our
commander, now of the Sd u. S. Cav, it was
impossible to withstand the attack of this SUI
periOr and compact force of three or four lines
of Confederates. Thoburn's Division or force,
believe it was, was on our left and was in double
line, and seeing the condition of affairs on the
lt tn opt Pat l1cho rod
alike, and were driven into the stream by this
solid and undauntcd superior force of Earlys
veterans, except, probably, small detachment
that was on the extreme left. that escaped no.
tice, probably, on account of the approaching
darkness or other unexplained reason that
cannot guess: they were overlooked. Tho field
in front of Us was level. aud the Confederates
could be plainly seen for quite distance as
they steadily advanced toward us. firing as
they boldly advanced. Against the strong adj
vance of these veterans, who knew every inch
oil the ground, we were unable, on account OF
our position and numbers, to make very strong
resistance. They bore down on us unchecked
and irresistible, and We were obliged to give
way.
The placing of our command and the others
who were on the skirmish-line on the opposite
side of the stream from the main army, I still
believe was a mistake, and the failure of our
army that was well located on the hill on the
opposite side of the river to hold the Confed-
crates in check by its artillery is inexplicable
to me- as few guns, properly served, would
have been the means OF enabling US to retire
without any great loss. On reaching the other
side of the river on our retreat, one Of the Ohio
militiamen who was wounded in the arm or
forearm-I believe tho latter-accompanied by
couple of others Of the same regiment, &C.
costed me, told me his regiment, and he or one
of the others told me of the rough usage they
had since they left Ohio. think he asked me
where his Surgeon was and where he could be
treated. The man was short, not moro than
five feet six inches high. thick set, and prob
ably not more than IS or 10 years old. His
companions did not appear to be any older.
As Serg't Osborn says there were 10 wounded
of his regiment, he will probably recollect this
young man. l answered this gallant young
soldier as we'll as / could, and we parted.
On advancing further up the side of the hill.
there was one small feldpiece planted, and al
though it was getting dark a number Of
US halted and stood close by to see what exc.
cution it would do to the enemy, but she'll
burst over our heads just when we reached
there, which was quickly followed by others,
and we were all obliged to fall farther back TO-
ward the main force, where we camped for the
night.
The dismounted cavalry were commanded in
this engagement by Col. Samuel B. N. Young,
and he remained with the portion of it that
did not break until all were obliged to leave
this side OF the river. Our command was CON-
posed Of fragments OF a number of cavalry regi-
ments, Regulars and volunteers, Of the Army
Of the Potomac, and was composed of two bat
talions. The I'd battalion was commanded by
Maj. Henry W. Sawyer, Of the lst N. J. Cav
of Libby Prison fame. The Regulars were
commanded by Lieut. Perry. / think he was
connected with the 9th u. s. Cav but is now
Major or Lieutenant-C Colonel in u. S. cavalry
regiment. Lieut. Perry lost an index finger In
some previous engagement.
We had some recruits and con valescents with
us when we left Camp Stoneman, and a large
number of the disabled, footsore cavalrymen
were placed under the charge Of Maj Sawyer
and were unable to participate in the battle of
kernstown, which took place on July a. 1864,
where our losses were very heavy and our
small army nearly annihilated by the same
army Of Confcderates which gave Sheridan,
with nearly four times the force that Crook had
for active service so much trouble to defeat /
wonder that the force we had held out so we'll
and believe that if Early's men had been
properly handled, and he had had a sufficient
force of cavalry at his command, that we would
all have been taken prisoners.
Serg't Osborn states that the Surgeon and
Adjutant OF his regiment were taken prisoners
This calls to my mind conference held among
the Surgeons near the field hospital, which was
u
mounted cavalry. We noticed from our posi-
ton that the battle was against US, and that it
would only be n short time before we would be
defeated and all taken prisoners, as the Con-
federate advance was unchecked and the sever
est attack against US appeared to be on our
right; that a portion of our line toward the
left and the right Of the regiment at our left
was donbfcd up and broken, and number were
crossing the stream, while others remained
firm and tried TO rally their comrades, in the
forlorn hope that assistance would come. No
encouragement or assistance came, however,
from the main force, and it look ed as if We
were abandoned to our fate This was the
time that the Surgeons consulted with each
other with regard to the advisability Of retreat
ing with the army, and running the risk of
being shot while slowly crossing the stream,
which was quite deep in some places, but easily
forded in Others, although il ran rapidly. Some
concluded to stay and surrender others thought
they would sooner take the chances and dan.
ger OF being shot in crossing the stream than
to be taken prisoner and sent, perhaps, to
Libby for an indefinite period.
j WAS one of the Surgeons who concluded to
retreat with our troops aud take the risk at
tending it. My principal reason for doing so
was that shortly previous to this engagement
my horse was stolen from my Orderly while
he slept. lie had my horse tied, with long
line, TO his waist, and some one cut tho rope in
the night time and took the horse. / slept, and
made pillow of the saddle and wrapped my
self in the blanket, aud in the morning found
myself without horse, and would be compelled
TO abandon my saddle. ETC., If l couldn't get