Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-02-11


30th of June, 1862, cannot be forgotten.
McClellan's army was struggling to
shake off the persistent attacks of Lees
victorious battalions, which, flushed
by their successes north of the Chiclla-
hominy and White Oak swamp, re-
mained in daily contact with our rear
guard. The seven days battles We're in
progress, and our army was in full re-
treat for the James river and the shell
tering aid of our gunboats.
Each day was full OF fighting, and
each night of hard marching. There
was no rest for man or beast. In the
evening the troop to which Murphy and
1 belonged was assigned the,duty of pick
citing one of the numerous roads found
in that country, but which could not be
found on any map. 1t left the Quaker
road near Glendale and stretched out
southwestcrly; where it led to or ended
none of US then knew. A little before
sunset tho troop. or rather half troop,
which commanded was pushed out on
this road beyond the infantry, with in
structions to proceed until the enemy
was met, and to establish vidcttes as
close to him as he would permit, and
SO remain during the night.
"Wc had gone but 4 short distance
when the advance guard was fred
upon. one man being wounded. After
ascertaining that it was the enemy's
videttes were posted and the place for
the reserve selected.
The men had not been on post long
when u detachment of regular cavalry,
CO mmanded by sergeant, attempted
to pass on our road. 1t was halted, and
! explained to the sergeant that hos
tile infantry held the road Immediately
in front, and that he could not pass
through their line. He said his orders
to find Gen. Sykes command were inn
perative; that he had some dispatches
and an important message for the gen.
eraL Difficulty in getting to him had
been anticipated, and the message had
been memorized by each of the men,
hoping that some of them might get
through and deliver it.
"He dcployed his men in small
groups, ut wide intervals at the right
of the road, and taking q brisk gallop,
they disappeared in the woods. In q
few moments II heavy musletry fire
was opened on them, and an hour later
one of them came back badly wounded,
having escaped in the darkness from
his captors. He said that several of his
companions had been killed, and that
he feared none had gotten through.
The night was dark and very still.
The road ran through forest of large
trees, whose overarching boughs inter
locked above it, and from the outposts
could be heard the steady tramp OF
marching troops in front of us. We
learned afterward that they We're on
the River road into which ours led
aud were moving toward Malvern hill
with the intention of preventing oui
people from reaching the river.
ITO sit on u horse in the woods dur.
ing dark night near an enemy whose
purpose is unknown, and whom he can
hear moving but cannot see, is not one
of the most enjoyable occupations
that falls to the lot of cavalryman.
1.-THE incidents of the early evening
u man of our own party shot down
on tho ground we now occupied, the
apparent aunihilation of the detach-
ment of regulars, the noises from q
moving column of the enemy's infantry
the recollections of the sanguinary
struggles which had been witnessed
during the past few days, to which
must be added tho effect of exhaustion,