Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1893-08-11
miscellaneous.
"REMINISCENCES OF THE WAR.

The following sketch of military ser
vice of Col. james W. Albert, VIC copy
from q newspaper published in New
port, Kentucky, where he now resides.
He is n graduate of the Military
Academy at West Point, and besides
serving in the war, of which this sketch
gives an incident, served also in the
war with Mexico, and under General
Harvey in the Seminole War in Florida
lilo was also with Fremont and Emory
in certain of their explorations of the
great West, long before the construction
of the Pacific Railroad.
Col. Albert is brother of our fellow
citizen, Mr.. Charles Albert, Of Home
wood, in this county, and they are sons
of the late Col. John j. Albert, who was
born in Frederick, Nd. in 1887, gradu-
atcd .at West Point in 1911, and for
thirty-two years was Chief of the Corps
of Typographical Engineers, U. s. A..
and died in Washington City on the
9th of January, 1862.
desire to place on record, while some
of the witnesses Of the events still live
to corroborate my testimony. u brief nc
count of tho gallant bearing and intelli-
gent generalship of Capt. James W.
Albert, U. s. A., Typographical En-
gineers) during the trying period COW
cred by the memorable retreat of the
Army of General N. p. Parks, in the
valley of the Shenandoah, Va, in the
month of May, 1862, when attacked by
the superior numbers OF the Amy of
Gen'l Thomas J Jackson (Stonewall }
Captain Albert was at that time serv-
ing upon the staff of the Commanding
General, and was directed to remain at
Cedar Creek until the Union Army had
safely crossed it on its movement north
ward, and then to destroy the bridge
TO assist him in the performance Of this
important duty he was authorized to call
upon the commanders Of troops for such
detail of men for working party AZ
he might require.
was in command Of company Of
volunteers, numbering about seventy
five men, which had recruited and
organized in Philadelphia at the request
of General Banks for special duty at his
headquarters. They were known as
"The Houaves D'Afrique." This little
body of men had been on duty all night,
in attachments, guarding the approaches
to our line of retreat, while person
ally had been on reconnaissance with
three mounted men, observing the move
ment of the main body Of tho euemy
At daylight on the 24th Of May had
called in my outposts and had taken my
position with my company in the column
of our retreating army, but considerably
in the rear.
When arrived at Cedar Creek Bridge
| found Capt. Albert absolutely alone,
apparently abandoned to bis fate, and
complaining bitterly that he could not
get detail Of men from any Of the re-
treating regiments, to perform the duty
Of burning the bridge at tho proper
time. He applied to me to remain with
him and | asseDted ordered my men
ito stack arms, unsling their knapsacks
and prepare the bridge for firing" This
was soon done under Capt. Abert's d.
rection, by an accumulation Of combus.
tible material, and We thon awaited
events.
Up to this time about noon) wo were
under the impression that Gon'l jack
sons main army was in the rear, but
the discharge Of artillery and rattle Of
musketry at the head Of the column sat
isfed us that he had intercepted our
movement at or near MddletOwn, and
that that town or its vicinity was then
the scene of general engagement.
Captain Albert, under these circum-
stances, assumed the responsibility Of
disobeying his orders TO burn the bridge,
IN which action concurred, and this
was very fortunate, for we were con-
PEELED TO use this very bridge in getting
back later 10 the day.
We now moved rapidly forward, hop
ing to Join the main army in time TO be
Of service. Capt. Albert galloped fire.
quently a quarter of mile in advance
Of my handful of men. and kept inc in
formed Of what he observed. When We
arrived within rife shot Of Middleton,
which was then scene Of conflict and
confusion, found him on horseback at
the south end Of the town on the turn.
pike, awaiting my coming. lie pointed
to stone wall running at right angles
to the turnpike and shouted, Get your
men 10 behind that stone wall, quickly +"
His order was promptly obcyed and I
had my men tbinly stretched out behind
this splendid breastwork, their loaded
puskets resting on the top Of tho wall
before my presence was discovered by
the enemy. Just then battalion Of
our cavalry (six companies think
which had tried 10 cut ita way through
! ~ 4 a A