Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1895-05-18
Passed Owe: a Burning Bridge.
BY COL. RUFUS KING.

| was senior first lieutenant of a
United States Light Battery, con-
sisting of eight guns, six rifles and
one section of underground Napo.
leon.
We had been fighting for three
days continually and marching at
night, so that when the battle of
"Savage Station" was commenced at
the time of the retreat of General
McClellan's army of the Potomac to
Harrison Landing, our command
was pretty well tired out
However we gave good account
of ourselves during the days fight,
and when night came were glad to
lay down beside our guns, regardless
Of the mud, for it had been raining
hard all day.
In the meantime it had been deter
mined that the army should retreat
to and over White Oak Swamp, de-
stroy the bridge and make another
stand, to allow our transportation,
etc, to advance on its way to the
landing.
General Richardson's brigade, to
which our battery belonged, was de-
tailed to cover the retreat of rhc
army and was to remain in front of
the enemy until all the corps had
withdrawn, then silently take up the
retreat following in rear of the
army.
An aid-de-canp was sent from
General Richardson to notify our
captain that we should follow the
brigade, which had obeyed instruc-
tions and was then on the march.
But so great was the fatigue Of our
commander and so deep was his
sleep, that he failed to realize the or.
der, and hardly had it been convey
ed by the staff officer to him than he
sank again into deep oblivion.
The Army of the Potomac con-
tinued it's retreat and reached White
Oak Swamp during the night. I
was sleeping soundly, sweetly,in the
mud, dreaming of the good things at
'Delmonico's" and the sweethearts
at home, when 1 was aroused by
violent tap on the shoulder. My
eyes opened in q dazed manner and
dimly in the early dawn l recognlz-
ed the face Of my commanding off
Ger.
The following words from his lips
fully aroused me to realization of
where l was and that my dreams had
been delusion and snare:
For Gods sake, quick, Lieuten-
ant, arouse yourself! We are left
behind by the entire army, which re-
treated during the night. The Con-
federate skirmishers are now deploy-
ing on the plains In froat of US; we
alone, an eight gun battery, oppose
the entire Confederate army, and we
have got to make ten good miles be-
fore we can reach safety"
Visions of Libby and its attend
ant miscres, instead of Delmonico
and pretty girls, was hardly q pleas.
ant change of thought. But little
time was given ne to ruminate, so
quickly did our captain act. "Mount
at once, move quietly to the battery;
mount all drivers of pieces and Gals
sons, move quietly liz a column until
you are covered by the neighboring
wood" he cried.
Fortunately the wood skirted both
sides of the road leading to White
Oak Swamp about five. hundred
yards distant.
Il will fix prolonges on the Ma
poleon section and when you are full
ly covered by the wood will join you
and will then send the bugler to di-
rect you to move at trot," contin-
ued the captain.
The cnemy's skirmishers were
cautiously advancing, and. in the
dim early dawn, could not detect the
absence of our army. A shot from
one of our captains guns was hint,
however, that there were "Y ankles"
about.
| was making tracks as quickly as
possible for the cover, and it was
not long before 1 reached there.
was glad to hear presently the bug.
ler's familiar voice: "Lieutenant,
the captain sends his compliments
to you and says the entire battery is
now under cover. He wishes you to
move the head Of the column at a
trot.n
Never did obey a command
| more chaerfIlllv and we warn soon