The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-09-29


After the death of Col. Mcdowell, 1t
Colonel Murchison was made full Col
onel, and Capt. Rogers, of Company D
was made Major vice Ellis promoted.
Soon we joined the main army of North
ern Virginia, and took up a line of
march for Culpepper Court House. From
thence we moved northward, passing
Little Washington and moving with ut.
most rapidity We soon entered the valley
Upon reaching Port Royal, Rhodes Di-
visi IN was detached and sent to Barry
vile, where our division early with
Johnson's was sent to Winchester. In
reaching the vicinity of Winchester our
sharp shooters soon drove the enemy into
their works. In very short time line
of battle was formed and all prepare
tons made for an immediate attack, but
Gen. Ewell finding it a difficult mat
ter to procure a suitable position
for his artillery on the hills
commanding the town spent the day
posting his batteries. The town was
strongly fortified and it was thought
that Milroy with an army garrison Of
of 5000 would endeayor to hold it
Gen. Ewell at once resolved to storm
the works and with all the artillery from
the two divisions, opened a terrific fire
upon their Notifications, which silenced
the Federal guns in three hours time.
At o'clock Hays Brigade of our divis-
ion made gallant charge and carried
the redoubt by storm, capturing and
killing good portion of the garrison,
with but little loss TO the Brigade. Night
coming on Milroy, with handful of his
men, fed in wild confusion to Harper's
Ferry. In this engagement 1000 pris-
oners, equally as many horses and a
vast amount of commissary stores were
captured.
On June 18th our Regiment then
numbering about 800 men, was ordered
to take their prisoners to Staunton, a
distance of 100 miles, and regain the
army then in Maryland at specified
time. With as little delay as possible We
started en- route for Stanton, march
ing IS miles day and guarding prison
ers at night
On July Sd We returned to Winches-
ter, and in conjunction with Virginia
regiment, were ordered to guard an
ordnance train en- route to the army then
in Pennsylvania. Upon reaching Viii
Transport, July 9Th, We were ordered by
Gen. Imboden to take position and repel
any attack that might be made upon our
wagon train which had arrived there,
but could not cross on account of the
high stage of the water in the Potomac
Ga the morning of the 9Th a strong force
OF the enemy advanced on the town by
the HagerstoWn and Boonsboro roads,
with cavalry and artillery. Our force
being very small, four companies under
command of 1t. Col. Els were de
tached and ordered to support two bat
teries of artillery at fferent points,
and the rem Under of the reg ment de-
ployed so as to check any advance Of the
! enemy on the B0onsborO road. Several
! detacEments Of soldiers returning to
| their commands Joined our two rcgi
| ments, viii h swelied ifs rank to a con
siderable little army. At O'Clock N
/ the enemy advanced and opened heavy
! fire with their artillery upon us, at the
same time advancing their dismounted
cavalry A fierce little battle ensuei,
in which the enemy was repulsed with a
loss to our regiment of % killed and
wounded. Besides quite a number OF
/ those that had been temporarily
assigned to our command, General
Imboden guarded our TANKS, while
/ Col Merchison of the j4th Unanswered
this little band, and from the military
skill he displayed on the field, soon wor
the confidence of those that had beer
temporarily assigned to his command
On January 7th we were ordered tC
cross to the south side of the Potomac
to guard a wagon train and to hold The
| heights. We remained there until the
nth, when we were relieved, and joined
the main army on the same day al
HagerstOwn in Maryland.
With the army we again crossed the
Potomac and marching continuously WI
reached Rapidan Station and went int
camp to rest from our long and fatiguinG
marches, from this encampment heavy
artil cry cannonading could be heard IL
our rear, and We were mOmentarlly ex
pecting 10 be moved back to check tn,
advance Of the enemy's cavalry which
was in close proximity, and preparing
to attack our rear guard. From thi
point we moved to Someryille Ford tt
check the enemy from crossing th'
river Our sharp-shooters soon became
wholly engaged and the enemy withdrew
i On the morning of the nth we wer
relieved by a portion of Ssuart's Cavalry
and we again took up line of marcl
for Raccoon Ford to reinforce Johnston
division, which had been threatened b.
heavy force from the opposite side
Here brief fight between the sharp
shooters ensued until late that night
when the enemy withdrew. From thi