The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-04-11

took back road to Oldtown, Is miles
down the Potomac, and appeared before
that place early on the morning of the
Cd. (See Report of Bradley I. johnson,
Rebellion Records, No. 20, page 354 ;
also, Report Gen. Kelley, same volume,
page 1852
This showed clearly that had Averill
followed even slowly, McCausland would
have been completely penned, first at
Flintstone, second at Cumberland,
third at Green Spring. Had Averill
followed -on the pike, taken the tow
path, or by way of Blues Gap and
Romnev, in either case he could have
co-operated with Gen. Kelley. But
Gen. Kelley ranked him, and it seems
he did not wish to try. Gen. Kelley
plead with Averill TO come to his assist
ance, but there he lay until be was per-
emptorily ordered to follow and strike
him wherever found"
McCausland feared he was trapped at
Oldtown, and is said to have started
fac of truce to our lines with view of
surrendering, but it being fired upon by
skirmishers and driven back by de-
tachment of the 153d Ohio, Gen. john
son commenced to force a passage, Col.
Stough's men having been driven back
and the
IRoNCLADs CRIPPLED
by shot through the boiler Of the en-
CINE, Col. Slough in the block-bouse
was summoned to surrender. Yet with
only about so men he was able to die
tate his own terms, which were that he
and his men be Immediately paroled, all
personal property to be respected, the
men to "retain canteens haversacks,
blankets and rations also hand-car to
carry wounded to Cumberland"
An hour more and Gen. Kelley
would have had his whole command in
front of McCausland, as he had them on
the cars at Cumberland ready to start;
but a miss is as good as a mile" (See
Report Gen. Kelley, Rebellion Records,
Serial II, page 1889
Gen. NcCausfand leaving his dead
and wounded in our hands, caissons
etc, is pretty good evidence he was get
ting away His loss in the fight with
Col Slough was very severe, especially
when numbers are considered.
McCausland, thus safely out, went
leisurely to Romney and Burlington,
when he sent a brigade of 1920 or
1900 men to New Greek, who were
driven out on the 4th of August by Maj.
Simpson with about 400 men from Fort
Piano.
Thence he retreated to Moorefeld,
where Ayerill, after being peremptorily
ordered to follow him, went through
Bath and struck him at Moorefeld,
Aug. z, completely routing his entire
command and capturing a good share
Of Johnson's Brigade.
ALL THAT SAVED M'cAUsLAED
was the Potomac South Branch, which
divided his command, leaving his old
brigade time to move out before Aver
Ill could cross (See Plate "a, Topo-
graphical Engineers Plat, No. 4S.)
Even Gen. johnson was captured,
but not being personally known, slipped
away and escaped. And this with the
same command that had followed Nc
Causland all through Maryland and
Pennsylvania. Is it any wonder Grant
wrote Sheridan as follows:
CITY POINT, Sept j, 1864.
MAJ.-GEN. SHERIDAN, Charlestown. Va:
The frequent reports OF Averilfs falling back
without much fighting, even skirmishing,
and afterwards being able 10 take his old posi-
tiOn without opposition presents very bad
sHearance at this distance. You can judge
better OF its merits than / can, bnt il looks to
me if IL WAS time TO try some other officer in
his place III you think a. / do in this matter,
relieve him at once and name his successor.
(Signedl u. S. GRANT,
Lieulenant-General.
(See Rebellion Records, No 91.)
Or Hunter to Grant. (Rebel Records,
No. II, page 366, Dec. 6, 1860:
=" supposed, however, it was important
that 1should try and create diversion
in your favor, SO ] dashed toward Lynch
burg, and should certainly have taken
il if ii had not been for the stupidity
and conceit of that fellow, Avenll, who
unfortunately joined me at Staunton,
and of whom ] unfortunately had at the
time a very high opinion, and trusted
him when / should not have done So"
(See Rebellion Records, No. Il, as
follows: Kelley to Melvin, page 533
Hunter TO Averill, page $50; Kelley to
Hunter, page 587; Melvin TO Kelley,
page 587; Halleck to Hunter, page
512; Couch to Averill, page 514 Hal
leck to Kelley, page $3.50
] cas- give no other explanation to
these than jealousy Of volunteer Off
GERS Couch ~and Kelley, as Averill had
often Before shown himself brave and
competsiit; also his staying out at the
battle Of Winchester in the latter part
Of the day Of Sept. 19, ETC., for which be
was relieved by Sheridan for not coop
Grating with Torbert. 1T can easily be seen
from this that Gems. Kelley and Couch
were left TO struggle hopelessly against a
superior force, and both were made TO
fail IN capturing or dispensing the enemy
although Gen. Kelley came very close to