The National tribune., 1894-04-12
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What0ur Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
FORT STEVENS AFFAIR.
Brilliant Engagement More Dramatic
Than Any other Minor Contest.


and bloody battles were fought that stand
without parallel in modern warfare.
These great and important battles occupy
very conspicuous places in history, and over
shadow many minor events of great moment
that historians pass with but brief mentiop.
The brilliant little engagement IN front
of Fort Stevens Zone of the defenses OF
Wash ng on at the time of Early's raid in
1864 is one of these minor events which,
had il occurred at an earlier date in the war
of the rebellion, or been an incident in any
other war, would have prominent place in
history.
The whole affair was of no great magni-
tude as compared with Autietam, Chancel-
lorsyille, or Gettysburg, but the forces en-
gagged outnumbered the combatants IN the
first battle of the Revolutionary war, and
the Union loss was far greater than that sus-
tanned by the Continental army at the historic
battle Of Bennington. The fighting was sharp
and lively, the percentage OF killed unusually
heavy. and the popularity of the surround
ings was calculated to invest it with more of
the dramatic than attached to any other
minor engagement of the war.
In order that we may have proper I'M
Outstanding of the situation, and inasmuch
as Early's raid was the outcome of the mis-
carriage of part of Gen. Grants plan OF opera
tiOns for 1864 it is necessary that we should
briefly refer TO some of the movements made
by the contendug forces just previous to the
time that Early's army made Its appearance
in front OF Washington.
On May 4, 1864. the Army of the Potomac
broke camp and crossed the Rapidan 20 COM
mence the series of operations which finally
resulted in the evacuation of Richmond, the
surrender OF Gen. Lee at AppOmattox, and
the down all OF the so-called Southern Con-
federacy.
The desperate rough-and-tumble fight in
the blood-stained thickeis of the Wilder
ness the brilliant dash and fierce struggle al
the Bloody Angle of Spotisylvania, the
slaughter at Cold Harbor, and the hardshps
and privations which marked the course of
the Army of the Potomac from the Rapidan
to Petersburg are fully recorded in history.
After nearly six weeks of constant march
ing and fighting such as have never been
equaled, the Army of the Potomac took up the
lines of investment of Petersburg. TheSixth
Corps made move to the extreme left, and
after tearing up the railroad at Reams Sta
ton retained 10 it's former position and set
tied down in Camp.
And here may be permitted to state that
at the opening of the campaign of 1864 the
122d n Y, of which | was a member, formed
part OF Shaiers Brigade, First Division, Sixth
Corps. and took part in all the operations in
which that organization was engaged. from
the time the Union army crossed the Rapi-
dan until after its arrival in front of Peters
burg, where We were transferred to Bidwell's
lThird) Brigade, Second Div sion and shared
its fortunes until the close of the war.
Our days of ease and idleness in camp
near Petersburg were few in NUMBER
IL I. d
wanna came reports of rebel raids. Old John
Brown and his score Of negroes did not occa-
sion greater iutier among the cbivalry OF
the Old Dominion than would a solitary
hCrseman among the inhabitants of the
country bordering on the Potomac.
According to the wild rumors that few
thick and fast band of 80 rebels would
commit depTedatiODs which might well en-
ploy 1000 well-mOunted and determined
men. The same band would be reported as
operating at half-dozen different places at
one and the same time. Pucks task of
placing 2 girdle around the earth in 40 min
utes was easy of performance compared with
the impossibilities said to be executed by
these rowing bands.
In time, however, these demonstrations
assumed formidable character, and, it
having been ascertained that a large organ
lied force Of rebels was actually running
riot in Maryland and even threatening the
National Capital, the Third Division of the
Sixth Corps was on the 9th of July ordered
70 Baltimore TO assist in repelling the In
vaders.
A few days later Gen. Grant had more
definite information as TO the strength and
evident intention Of the invading force, aud
decided that il was necessary TO detach
troops for the protection of Washington;
hence the First and Second Division of the
corps were given marching orders July g.
and that night we were en- route, and after
fearfully-dusty march to City Point took
transports and steamed down the James
River.
Gen. Grants plan of campaign Of 1864
contemplated having strong Union force
operate Ia the Shenandoah Valley, and while
the Army of the Potomac was graphing
with the rebel army under Gen. Lee, this
force was to move up the Valley, and, if
possible, reach and capture Lynchburg and
break the line Of communication by which
Richmond and the rebel army drew supplies
from that section.
Gen. Hunter, who was in command of the
shenandoah army, moved bis command up
the Valley, and made such progress that at
the time the Army of the Potomac moved
from Cold Hsrbor to the James River, en-
route for Petersburg, he had reached almost
within striking distance of Lynchburg.
Gen. Lee, June b. detached Gen Early's
corps, then at Cold HsTbor, and hurried il
10 the relief Of Lynchburg. The arrival OF
Gen. Early at Lynchburg, June II, COM
PEELED Gen. Hunter TO abandon operations
against that town, and combination of
circumstances forced him 10 retreat into the
kanawha Valley instead Of retiring down
the Shenandoah, thus uncovering Washing
ton by leaving the Shenandoah Valley free
for Early TO operate In at will and opening
the way for that officer to carry out the
plans OF Gen. Lee, viz, invade the North
make demonstration against Baltimore,
and possibly dash upon Washington, with
the hope that Gen. Grant would feel com
PEELED 10 weaken his lines by sending a large
part Of the Army of the Potomac to the re-
lief OF Washington
1t Is not necessary that we should follow
mp Gen. Early and give detailed account
OF all bis movements. On the 9Th of July
he had reached Monocacy, near Frederick
Md, and was confronted by Ricketts,
Third Division, Sixth Corps, and several
Ohio regiments and other Union troops, the
entire force numbering about 5000, and all
under the command of Gen. Lew Wallace.
Alter almost annihilaiing Ricketts, Di-
vision and brushing aside the other Union
forces opposed to him, Gen. Early started for
Washington on the morning of July 10.
At the time Gen. Grant Started on his