The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-04-12

low the roads. C00l6utn6S we NOulu De
on road and then would 90 through
corniields, meadows, over creeks, fences,
and ravines; most of the time at a smart
gallop and sometimes on a dead run.
Halts were occasionally made TO breathe
our horses and to determine our route.
We had good guides, and also in the
company of Maryland cavalry, which
had The advance, there were many men
born and raised in that section, who were
familiar with the country.
Quite number of our company were
lost during the night, and did not rejoin
aus for some days after our arrival at
Greencastle. The dust rose in
DENSE CLOUDS,
and only by urging ones horse against
the one ahead could place in the column
be kept. AT one time while we were off
the road I suddenly found myself alone,
and was totally at sea as TO what to do
or where to 90. My chum, who rode
beside me, had disappeared some time
before, and l was considerably alarmed
at the prospect of capture.
Everything was as quiet and peaceful
as could be desired, but it was terribly
lonely. | listened for the sound of horses
hoots, but in vain. l think Imust have
fallen asleep while we were walking the
horses, and have turned unconsciously
out of the column, for the discovery of
my situation was very sudden.
1t seemed as if at one minute | was
with the column and the next was alone.
concluded the only thing for me to do
was to give my horse the rein and let
him get me out of my difficulty, so |
urged him on, and after while, it
seemed an age, [ came up with the col
umn, which was then at halt. Many
of the men had dismounted and were
lying on the ground No one knew why
we had halted, nor did anyone seem to
care.
quickly followed the Others exam
pie and was soon in a sound sleep, which
was rudely disturbed by the officers
ordering us to mount and draw pistols,
and in some cases their orders were
emphasized by kicking the men as they
lay. [ received my notice in that man
ner.
1t was just before dawn, and we were
somewhere between Williamsport and
Hagerstown. The distant rumbling of
heavy teams on the turnpike could be
heard, which proved to be an ammuni-
tion team Of Longstreet's army, consist
ing of about 100 wagons. We were
not long in getting in motion, and soon
came up with and routed the force
guarding the train.
We found that some of the wagons
had been purposely disabled, with
wheel of, or the mules unhitched, and
these we left on the pike; but we got
the most Of them in good order, and
carried them with us into Pennsylvania,
with about 100 prisoners.
Many of the wagons were filed with
every conceivable kind of iron missile
to fire from cannon; pieces of old iron,
spikes, chains, old horseshoes, etc. and
IN one wagon, it was said, was the
BODY OF REBEL GENERAL
killed the day before at South Mount
ain. | noticed that some of the wagons
had on their sides the number (Which
/ now forget of some New Hampshire
regiment Probably they had been
captured from Gen. Pope at Manassas.
The rumpus caused by our conflict
with the guard of the ammunition train
drew upon rs the attention of con-
siderable force of rebel cavalry, which
harassed our retreat for while, but the
pursuit ceased before We had reached
the Pennsylvania line, and thereafter
We met none of the enemy and pro-
ceeded leisurely.
Upon our entrance into Pennsylvania
the farmers mistook us for rebel cavalry
and great was their stampede to the
woods with their horses and cattle.
Their error was excusable, for we were
travelstained beyond recognition, being
50 covered with gray dust that all who
wore boards looked like old men.
] remember that at one time during
the night, when it was very dark, |
happened to think that / had hard
tack in my saddlebag and fished it out.
While eating it | noticed that it was
not 50 dry as hardtack usually is, and
had a very salty taste, caused, possibly,
by the horses perspiration penetrating
through the leather. Thought it might
ly well seasoned, and wished there were
two instead of one.
About 10 a. IN. we arrived at Green
castle, Pa, where we were received with
great demonstrations Of Joy, and were
furnished by the inhabitants with what
We had been without for some time
bountiful repast
by this very successful exploit we had
saved to the military service of the
Union about 1900 men, with their
horses and arms, and had captured
nearly 100 wagons, with mules and
horses, and about 100 prisoners. We
SUFFERED A Loss
of about 200 men, missing, many of
whom afterwards rejoined their COM
mands
Our commander. Col. Voss. of the