The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-07-15

We took the fields on the right, ford ed the stream above the ridge, and pre- ceded by Sherman's brigade, formed on the left of the line. The rebels having been driven below this point the move- ment south was continued. The field was not an open plain but combina- ton Of timber, farm land, hill. vale. thicket and cornfields. The enemy were not much in sight. Their infan- try after few minutes and few vol ieys disappeared. We emerged from grove of oaks in face of battery at short range. They discharged their guns at us and hurried away beyond rifle range, their horses on run. My understanding of Colonel Keys report IS that he had orders to take the bat tery A few rods from our left was a ravine. We were moving down this ra- vine upon the battery's flank when the order to retreat reached us.
 Colonel Keys says: Half an hour earlier I supposed the victory to be ours" An eye witness on the rebel side writing to the Richmond Dispatch used these worlds Tt Is due to truth to say that the result at this time (threa o'clocR hung trembling in the bal ance." A rebel officer writing to the Louisville Journal, after stating that Beauregard had been driven two miles. says: The fortunes of the day were evidently against us Me Dowell was just in the act of getting possession of the railway to Richmond, then all would have been lost" (see Greeley's American Confliot.)
 We retreat ted on tho Bpa If advance
 that is by the ford above the bridge and across lots to the turnpike, half a mile east of the bridge. Our brigade left the field in good order, the regi- ments abreast marching by the left flank. General Tyler in his report says: At no time during the conflict was this brigade disorganized and 1t
 was the last off the feld''
 We arrived at the turnpike just in l time to head off the rebel cavalry in hot pursuit of one of our batteries of artillery. The sight of infantry caused sudden change of purpose. They 1 turned back. At this time complica- | ted event occurred which was almost funny. The highway was thronged with army wagons. The battery was moving upon them with frightful speed. The road must be cleared or there would be pile of wreckage. The mules seemed to take in the situation 1 and by quick movement took from us | the ground we occupied. We as quick l ly fell back; the first line moved quick l CT than the next and in almost no time
 no one knew where he was tat" Our
 retreating was suspended twenty or 1 thirty minutes to restore order. This done we moved on, coming to the turn
 pike quarter of a mile east. Here
 was small stream, on the east bank i of which were some soldiers. Their of
 ficers were getting them into line. We
 joined the movement and stand was
 made against an expected pursuit.
 The demonstration was a success. The enemy did not advance; the pursuit
 was off. The sun sank slowly with his
 red light on; it was night. The uproar of the day was hushed.
 Next we went on the road to Center
 vile, arriving about nine o'clock. We
 expected to pass the night here, but
 the program changed. After an hour we answered the bugle call and re- l sumed the march, our destination being Falls Church, where we arrived at six I in the morning. We remained here during the day. The rebel cavalry l were in the neighborhood. They were I too prudent to monkey with infantry I Rounding up stragglers seemed to be their best hold.
 I In the afternoon, transportation hav-
 ing been provided for, we shipped oul tl camp fixtures and the supplies that re- I mained here to places of safety. We T loaded the wagons and the mules die the rest We were without shelter an6 Il it rained In the evening we took pos session of an abandoned camp two
 miles away and spent the night under
 wet blankets. Tuesday morning we l stepped from a dreary night into thu I loveliest day we had ever seen. Thi:
 camp belonged to an Ohio regiment
 They probably misunderstood orders and went direct to Washington. An
 other camp near, belonging to a NeV
 York regiment, was left in like manner I Our next business was to save thi
 camp property. By two p. m every
 thing of value was secured.
 will here quote from history of tn I Civil War by John s. c. Abbott Afte
 stating that Keys brigade arrived a
 Falls Church at six o'clock a. m.. Mon I day. he says: "Transportation maste Y Hodge had gone direct to Washington for teams. He returned with them il
 the afternoon. They were loaded i'm ii mediately with the stores which ha' accumulated here At eight o'clock Il the evening they again commences
 their march of about three miles to tn
 camp of General Schenck's brigade , where they remained for the night
 The next day (Tuesday) they sent on hundred and ninety-four wagons an two long trains of cars heavily lade with military stores and the standin | camps of two brigades, which but fo these efforts would have been los The amount thus saved was valued a Il two hundred thousand dollars"
 Towards night we moved on to For Corcoran, arriving in the evening I Fort Corcoran was on the west bank C the Potomac above Washington Wednesday, the 2sd, we moved dow the river and entered Washington b Long Bridge. We brought in five prls oners and in the morning of the 24t
 l delivered them over to the proper off cer. (the Provost Marshal perhaps
 We went into camp and waited fc
 transportation home. At New Havel
 l A,,g,,e+ 7+h we were mustered OH