The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-08-27

mountain to Frederick City.
At about o'clock the following morning
/ was standing in front of the Eagle Hotel,
on tie corner of the Center Square, when
the advance of Lees retreating army arrived.
This consisted of ambulances flied with
wounded men, sntlers' teams and struggling
horsemen on their way to Williamsport and
Falling Waters, on the Potomac River.
TWAS then that l saw the first Confederate
infantryman who entered the city on the
retreat He was a tall, rough-lOoking
fellow, and about as ugly man as l ever
saw.
We engaged in conversation, and l learned
| that he had been struck with spent ball,
which entered below the eye at the right
cheek bone and lodged underneath the right
lower jaw, which was terribly swollen and
| added to his ill looks. / asked him:
(which way are you going?"
Across the river"
What is wrong?"
1--WE are on the retreat Wegot whopped
like - up there at a little town called
Gettysburg"
| This same morning, July Z, Stuart at
| tackled Custer and Fitzpatrick at Boonsboro.
| Stuart was again defeated, and driven that
afternoon IA miles up the pike to the SUBJ
urbs of the city.
| Just before midday we learned of the
battle going on, and /, in company with a
few others, walked to the southeast end of
the city to Andrew Hager's farm. Here we
found the advance of Stuart's retreating COL
umns, which occupied Hager's barn and
barnyard for hospital purposes The Sur
geons were busy amputating limbs and ex-
tracing bullets from the wounded and adj
ministering such other aid as possible.
/ remained there about half hour, and
then returned to the hotel. Shortly after
| my return the retreating columns came
thronging into the city. Gen. Stuart massed
his troops in the streets and alleys to re-
| sist the victorious columns of Custer and
Fitzpatrick.
George Sands, Col Cramer (both of Hagers-
town and myself assembled to the top of the
Eagle Hotel to view the battle. The sight
which we beheld was indeed terrible, yet
grand. The Federal artillery was stationed
on the pike near the Seminary Building, on
the Boonsboro road, and Stuart's artillery
near the Reformed Church, at the north end
of the city, on the Leitersburg and Waynes-
boro road
The artillery duel over the eastern end of
the city lasted only about a quarter of an
hour, yet it shook the city to its very foun-
dalton, and terrified its inhabitants. We
could see the flying shells, which appeared
like pigeons sailing in the air, rejecting the
golden sunlight as they whirled and twisted
IN their angry flight, some bursting high up
In the air, others falling near the mark. -
When the artillery ceased firing the final
charge was made. This was more than ter
rible, the discharge of pistols and carbines,
the cheers and yells of the men and the
flashes of the bright sabers as they glittered
IN the sunlight being wonderful sight to
behold from position such as we occupied.
One Of Hagerstown's artists, John Stemple,
who had assembled to the top of Mr. Straub's
house, on the corner of the Square and almost
directly opposite TO us, for the purpose Of
viewing the battle in order to make paint
ing of it, was shot through the head by
sharpshooter.
Capt Snyder, 1st Mich, and Capt Penne-
broker, 18th Pa. Cav. with their companies,
led the charge into the city, and both were
wounded In the Center Square. The cutting
and slashing was beyond description; here
right before and underneath us the deadly
conflict was waged in hand-to-hand com
bat, with the steel blades circling, waving,
parrying, thrusting, and cutting, some re-
fiecting the bright sunlight, Of hers crlmsoned
with human gore; while the discharge of
smoke through which we now gaZed down
through and on the scene below, the screams
and yells Of the wounded and dying, mingled
with cheers and commands, the crashing to-
gether of the horses and fiery flashes of the
small-arms presented scene such as words
cannot fully portray.
The contending forces were so intermingled
that sometimes two or more men were cut
ting at one. / saw Capt. Snyder cut down
three men in less than three minutes. He
struck the first man on the head with his
sword, turned and thrust his sword through
the body of another, withdrew it and struck
another on the head and felled him to the
ground after which he was shot in the
side with a pistol-ball and wounded by
saber cut about two inches long above the
right ear. Capt. Pennebroker was shot in
the leg and his horse was killed and fell on
him, injuring the other leg.
Both officers were carried into the Frank
lin House and cared for. Our troops had
now cleared the Center Square of the Con-
federates. and / went down from the top of
the building and ran out Potomac street to
assist in caring for the wounded
helped to carry into Squire Biershing's
house man who it was said had been shot
by lady from her fathers porch when the
charge was made. The soldier was men,
Der of the 18th Pa. Cav, and was from
Waynesburg Pa. He was shot il the head,
and died in about half-hour.
The battle now became general over the
whole city. The troops had mostly dis
mounted, and the charging columns fell
back into their line, and the streets and
alleys were ablaze with fire and smoke from
the contending forces. One of the Connec-
ticut bows who had been on provost dntv
in the city, and with whom l was well ac-
quainted, was marching some prisoners to
the rear. He handed me a musket and
some other accOuterments, and told me to
pitch in, which / did with will.
Entering Squire Smiths yard, a few doors
above the Lutheran church, had good
position behind the iron picket fence. and
was protected by the building adjoining.
There l made the best possible use of nv
ammunition. Three of our men fell in the
yard, and were carried into Mr.. Smiths
house We held our position for over an
hour. Then the Confederate infantry came
marching into the city in a solid body, fill
ing the street from side to side, and bore
down on rs too strong. As my ammuni-
ton was about exhausted, /, like the rest of
the men, retreated in good order.
Crossing the street, l ran into house,
where left my accouterments, and after
the columns had passed again returned to
the hotel
The Federals retreated from before this
overwhelming force of infantry down the
Sharpsburg pike toward Falling Waters,