The record-union., 1896-05-30

In a few days General Mcclellan re-
organized the army and moved up into
Maryland to meet General Lees Con-
federate army. Our brigade had the
advance Of the whole army in this
movement. We entered Frederick City,
Maryland, driving General Jacksons
men out. This was the time Barbara
Frietchie was reported as having
thrown our stars and stripes in the face
of the Confederate troops.
You have all heard of this story. We
did see many citizens waving our flags
out of their homes as we advanced in
line of battle toward the CITY, but we
never heard of Barbara Frietchie and
her flag until long after the war.
On the 14th Of September we left our
camp at o'clock in the morning,
passed up the side of the South Noun
tain range, and soon after daylight we
came in rear of the Confederate army,
when we opened the battle Of South
Mountain. Here we suffered a very
heavy loss, but carried the position.
All day long this battle was raging,
sometimes near us, and at other times
far north Of US, as the line extended
some fifteen miles along the east side
of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
In the evening grand charge was
made by OUT whole force, and General
LongStreet'S army was driven back to-
ward Antietam Creek. Next day our
army followed, and on the 18th day OF
September, 1862, the great battle Of An
tIetam was fought. Our regiment was
on the extreme left Of our line Of battle.
This line extended over seven miles.
Our army in this battle was, no doubt,
the largest army ever mustered on any
one field ON this continent. The battle
ragged all day, and at night the posi-
tbons were almost the same as in the
morning. You can understand that 1t
was bloody battle. when the official
records state that the loss in killed and
wounded was over q 900.
After this battle we were sent back
into the Kanawha Valley, where we
camped until the spring of 1868. Dur
ing that summer we were kept running
over the mountains, driving out Con-
fererate bands. We were not engaged
in any heavy battles this summer. We
went into winter quarters at Charles
ton, now the capital of West Virginia.
The next spring, in April, 1864, we
again made a rush through the moun-
tains with an army of 10000 men or
more under General Crook We fought
very severe battle at Cloyd Noun
tain and captured the Virginia and
Tennessee Railroad, destroyed the tracks
and bridges, ETC., for many miles Then,
before they could concentrate am army
large enough to crush US, we retreated
back to White Sulphur Springs; then
moved east and Joined General Hunter
at Staunton; then moved south through
Lexington, where we destroyed the Vir-
ginia Military Institute. Then down
past the Natural Bridge and came up
in the south and rear of Lynchburg.
Here we fought all one day to get pos
session of the city, but were driven back
into the mountains with heavy loss.
After cutting our way through the
mountains for 200 miles we got back
to the Kanawha Valley, where we
rested some ten days, and were again
sent to Parkersburg, then on by rail
to Harper's Ferry, where we started
up the Shenandoah Vtalley after Gen.
eral Early's command. Day after day
we had heavy skirmish fighting, until
en- the Oath Of July, when they turned
en- us with a very much larger army,
defeating us and driving us back across
the Potomac River and to Washing
ton. when reinforcements came up from
General Grants army under command
Of General Sheridan, when we again
forced them across the Potomac River
and up the valley.
About the 18th Of September we
fought great battle at or just east of
Winchester, driving General Early's
Confederate army up the valley. In
this battle we lost 1000 killed and
wounded. We followed their army to
Fishers Hill, where we again fought
them two days later, and drove them
from their very strong POSITION We
followed them fifty or sixty miles to
Gordonsville. After remaining there
a few days, we fell back down the val
ley, destroying everything that would
help support an army. We camped at
Cedar Creek, when, on the 10th day
of October, General Early surprised our
army in camp at break Of day, and
drove us back in great confusion some
three miles,
This was one Of the most remarkable
battles we were ever engaged in. We
were very badly beaten in the morn
ing. The fighting was at close
range. LII dDOul SiAty liAiiotCS VIC AOol
nearly 5000 killed and wounded. In the
afternoon we again charged the Con-
federate lines, and In a short time de-
feated their army and captured all of
their ARTILLERY and many prisoners.
This was the time General Sheridan
made his famous ride from Winchester
down. After this battle we moved back
to Winchester, then to Cumberland,
Md, where we camped until the spring.
During the campaign Of 1864 our reg
iment marched over 1000 miles, fought
in nine battles and great many skir-
mishes.
In the spring of 1865 we were again
ordered up the Shenandoah Valley, and
were near Winchester when General
Lee surrendered his army, thus ending
the war. We We're discharged in Au-
gust 1865, having been in service four