The National tribune., 1896-06-04

! federate line from right TO lett was CLOS
ing in on us. 1t was high time to leave
that field, and we left hurriedly, but
not in disorder.
On account of the stiffness Of my
rheumatic Joints and the over-exertion
of the day, / found myself unable tc
keep up with the
RETREATING COLUMN.
As my regiment was obliqulng to the
right to reach the road, | thought by
making a short cut across the fields
| could rejoin it in the woods where the
road turned to the left, and thus gain
time and save myself from capture. In
attempting to do this, L got in the range
of rebel battery that was trying to gel
the range of our retreating column. A
shell struck the top-rail of fence | had
Just crossed, and made kindling-wood OF
it; another plowed the ground in front
of me. Obliquing to the left to get out
of their range, | lost my direction.
Passing through a narrow neck of woods,
/ came out on broad meadow, over
flowed in places. Here | Joined squad
Of dozen or more, belonging to diff
ferent regiments, who, like myself, were
trying to reach the retreating column.
We had proceeded about halfway
across the meadow, when two guns Of a
rebel battery near the river opened upon
us at short range. 1t would have amused
disinterested spectator to watch US
lodging shells. A shell would come with
that unearthly shrieking that seemed to
say to each one, al am after you."
Down we would 90 on our faces in the
mud and water. The emptiness of our
stomachs enabled us to fatten out very
fat, possibly saving our lives, thanks to
the kind Government that stinted us in
our rations op such occasions. The
danger past it was up and run, only to
60 through the same performance far
ther on.
We reached the woods without loss.
The rebels threw few shells in the
tree-tops and gave us up. One of the
boys of the 9TH Ind, who was with US,
had captured a prisoner. During our
retreat across the meadow, the Johnny
had kept well in advance, and was as
anxious TO get away from his friends as
we were. But when he reached the
woods and was out Of danger, he was
inclined to lag behind, and gave his
capter considerable trouble. A COM
rade of the 7th Ind boy said to him
Joe, let the - reb 90; we'll all be
captured if you don't hurry along"
Not much | don" said Joe. Get
along, Johnny" and receiving a
SHARP PROD WITH THE BAYoNEr
on the right flank the Johnny moved to
the front.
We could hear the noise of our re-
treating column and of the Confederates
in pursuit. As we neared the road the
query with US was whether we were
coming out in our own lines or the
enemy's. Reconnoiteiing, We could see
the rear-guards of our army some dis
tance ahead and going as if they had
urgent business down the Valley.
The road was apparently clear and
we dashed into it Scarcely had we
entered when company of rebel cavalry
gave us volley and charged US with
drawn sabers. A sharp turn in the
road and the thick woods Lad concealed
them from our view.
We got under cover, and by keeping
in the woods and following the line of
the road rejoined cur several regiments !;
but Joe's prisoner had gone to join his
friends, the enemy.
Gen. Shields met us with reinforce
ments about eight miles from the battle
field. When VIC came up to him he
was on foot in the middle of the road
endeayoring to rally the stragglers. On
that retreat there were quite a number
OF stragglers Or perhaps it might CRATE
less harshly on their feelings to call
them detached volunteers. Some of
them had lost their regiments and were
anxious to find them. Others had been
lost by their regiments and were not
anxious to find their own or any other
regiment south Of the Potomac.
When squad of these detached vol
unteers would approach and attempt to
pass him, Gen. Shields would call out /:
Stop, boys; stop, now, and skirnish a
bit. Halt, | say, and form a line" !"
The boys, recognizing their General,
would halt and form an irregular line.
While Uncle Jimmy was engaged in
intercepting new arrivals it would occur
to some fellow in the line that the Capi-
tol at Washington might be in danger,
and
HE WOULD RURRY OFF
down the Valley to save it, followed by
the others. When Uncle Jimmy was
ready to join bis later arrivals on to his
line it was gone. After few attempts
be gave up rallying detached volun.