The National tribune., 1895-05-02
A LITTLE FRACAS.
How Some of the 1st VT. Cav. Got In a
(.nf. nuf ANnin

How Some of the LIST VT. Cav. Got In and
Got Out Again.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: On July
13. 1863, the 1st Vt,rCav., being relieved from
picket, took MP position under a hill in the
outskirts Of Hagerstown, where we remained
all day, saddled up. and in line. Elders
battery was parked in our rear, also await
ing orders. Othr regiments must have
been in front and flank Of US, on picket and
skirmish-line.
| In the afternoon some Of the enemy's
1 sharpshooters concealed themselves in the
bel-loft of the Seminary, where they an
noyed Elders battery very much. After re-
| peated attempts they finally killed one of
the best gunners. Elder was justly angered
at this, and, quickly yhirling gun around
he sighted it. He gave the order to fire. We
kept good watch of the bell-loft, and soon
with it two men. We could not but give
a cheer at the result. The sharpshooters did
not annoy any of US after that.
Some of the Pennsylvania militia who
had followed up the retreating army of Lee,
| came up 10 Hagerstown this same afternoon.
| Some OF them being anxious to see a live
| rebel, Fitzpatrick allowed them to press up
to skrmish-line, when some of them were
slightly wounded, which caused quite a
commotion among the militia.
| Fitzpatrick laughed at the militia, and said
"Hold on, boys. and will show you some
fun with a cavalry charge" About p. m.
Fitzpatrick sent for the 1st VT. Cav. to come
over where he was, on the opposite side of
the town.
| Col. Sawyer at once mounted up his COM
mand and started on the trot, led by the
Orderly bringing the order from Fitzpatrick.
Reaching Fitzpatrick, he said to Col. Sawyer:
8 want you to charge squadron on
those people down there, and am going to
lead the charge"
Capt. Schofeld, of Co. F, was ordered to
charge his squadron-Co L, Lieut.. Newton,
and Co. +, Lieut.. Park. Some dismounted
skirmishers were thrown out, and crept
well up to the front, sheltered behind wheat
shocks. A Lively skrmish was in progress
when the order to charge was given. Kill
patrick, with his hat one side of his head
and little saber in his hand, was at the
front.
short gallop and we were at the skirmisli-
line. Fitzpatrick turned to one side and said:
" Give 'em -, boys"
On we dashed, squeezing through the
skirmish-line which was blocked in the road
by kicking, squirmng horses and men, caused
by the deadly fire OF the enemy. A few men
got through. Capt. Scofeld's horse was
shot under him, and he fell, wounded, and
was taken prisoner.
The arrangement Of the enemy's lines
here was peculiar. Down the road some so
rods was stone wall running to the left
from the road, and behind this wall was
some 600 or 500 dismounted cavalry. On
the right of the road, and not over 90 rods
from the skirmsh-line, was large barn; in
and around this barn were some so men,
Thus they had a raking fire on our charging
column. However, some % of as reached
the line of gray behind the stone wall and
demanded their surrender.
We had pierced their line, causing quite |
connection. The party at the barn quickly |
closed down on the road to prevent our re-
turn to our lines Seeing our commander |
missing, Lieuts. Newton and Clark quickly |
decided 10 charge our way out again. Moving |
slightly away to the left of the men behind |
the wall, we faced about, fronting the barn.
We now began to fire reyolvers and cheer
as If about to charge the men ut the barn.
In the meantime we sent men to throw down
the fence at our left. When this was done
we started as if to charge the men at the
barn, but instead quickly leaped the fence,
and, guided by the spires of Hagerstown,
which we could just see we made tracks for
the town. We soon ran into two videts, dis
mounted who claimed to be the outside
videts of the enemy's line We mounted
them on the extra horses, which had kept
with MS all the way through the charge.
We soon had the pleasure of presenting
Gen. Fitzpatrick our compliments and pris-
oners
This all might have been fun for Kilpat-
rick and the militia, but not for us. We
went into camp for the night near where we
found the regiment. No history says any
thing about this charge. Even the State
history only mentions it as feeling of the
enemy's position. Every man on that
charge was deserving of medal for getting
out of the enemy's lines when entirely sur
rounded, instead of surrendering, which so !
many would have done.-S. A. CLARK, Co.
+, LIST Vt Cav, Willow Lakes. 8. d.