Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-05-04

THE ADVANCE GUARD WAS FIRED UPON.
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 Chicka-
hominy and White Oak swamp, re-
manned in daily contact with our rear
guard. The seven days battles were 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
belonged was assigned theHuty of pick
citing one of the numerous roads found
in that country, but which could not be
found ON any map. II left the Quaker
road near Glendale and stretched out
southwesterly; where it led to or ended
none of us then knew. A little before
sunset the troop, or rather half troop,
which l commanded was pushed out on
this road beyond the infantry, with in
structions to proceed until the enemy
as met, and to establish videttes as
close to him as he would permit, and
so remain during the night.
We had gone but short distance
when the advance guard was fred
upon, one man being wounded. After
ascertaining that it was the enemy's
infantry which occupied our front,
videttes were posted and the place for
the reserve selected.
The men had not been on post long
when a 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 deployed his men in small
groups, at wide intervals 1T the right
OF the road, and taking a brisk gallop,
they disappeared in the woods. In
few moments a heavy musketry fire
was opened on them, and an hour Later
one of them came back badly wounded,
having escaped in the darkness from
his captors lie 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 were on
the River road, into which ours led,
and were moving toward Malvern hill,
with the intention of preventing our
people from reaching the river
ITO sit on a horse in the woods dur
ing a 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 a cavalry man.
The incidents Of the early evening
Ia man Of our own party sho. down
on the ground we noW occupied tile
apparent humiliation Of the detach-
ment of regulars. the noses from
moving column Of the enemy infantry,
the reeolleetions of the sangainarY
struggles which had been witnes sed
turing the past fey days % which
must be adde3the effect 81 exhaustion.