The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-03-18

railroad with Geo. Douse in the ditch, at
NV left, only few feet away.
/ Law alongside and behind one of the
stringers, top of the plank-which was a
large square stick of timber-fir,ng over
it, then living low to reload, until after
awhile the heat became SO intensely hot
moved into the ditch with Douse, and we
dug a pit, throwing the dirt in front of US
with our plates, against some rails that
crossed the end of ii, and soon had hole in
the sand so we could sit and partly stand,
and at the same time be protected from
bullets.
About 8 o'clock dash was made by the
enemy. under cover of artillery fire, TO drive
us from our position, hoping to gain the
pike and proceed on their way TO Wash
inpton. This, at the lime, was miserably
defended Early hoped by forced march 10
capture it before reinforcements could he
thrown in TO protect it.
Here we saw a ruse of the enemy-their
slirmishers, dressed in our uniform, driving
before them some pickets of 100-days men,
who went to cur rear but we could not
long be deceived by their dress. We opened
fire. and made them seek hiding places for
protection, but they did not Withdraw en-
Iirely.
loNdIuS Il OClOck dnOtucT WAS
made to dislodge us, and Gen. Lew Wallace.
in command, ordered the Pike Bridge, over
the river. burned, which left the skirmish-
ers under Capt. Davis cut off from the rest
of our troops, with no way of retreat except
TO swim the river or cross the railroad
bridge. 40 feet in the air, stepping from tie
TO tie.
The enemy shortly moved large part off
by the Buckeystown read, mile east OF us,
to ford below crossed, formed line-oEbat-
tie ard charged our men On the other side
of the river.
Again and again, with two and three
lines-oi-battle did they charge, to be each
time hurled back defeated.
Now the skirmishers were busy, for they
were being pressed by the enemy's sharp
shooters, firing from cencealment in trees
and grainfields, where we could not locate
them.
/ WAS now left alone, my comrade having
been carried of, wounded, aud every time /
raised my head above certain rail bull
Jet would hit the rail, embankment of dirt,
or go whistling past
j was called in to the reserve, and Corp'l
Wright sent TO post me as videt outpost,
and relieve the comrade on duty there,
some 200 yards 10 our left, in the cornfeld.
stretched up TO take observations and was
shot through the head. We carried him
back TO the reserve, and / returned TO the
outpost alone just in time to see in the dis
lance across the river the enemy on their
fourth charge, with as many lines-of-battle.
On and on j saw them come, and our
troops were being withdrawn / heard
Lieut.. Miikie calling TO me to come in
quickly. As / crossed the pike / saw our
reserve on the railroad bridge, and little
in the rear was Lieut.. Wilkie urging me
on.
AS I neared the depot and looked back
along the railroad / saw one OF my COM
rades under the Pike Bridge fighting dozen
Johnnies charging down the railroad to-
ward him. He was riddied with lead
i sped on, paying no heed to the orders to
halt. / reached the bridge and, stepping
from tie TO lie, crossed over in safety under
crossiire from Others Of the enemy at the
bend Ia the river a few rods below.
Capt. Davis ordered us to fail in behind
the railroad, after getting across and fred
one or two shots more and heard the order:
Every man for himselfin arrived at the
Relay House the next evening
. As l look back to that day can but think
my escape a miracle; and of the heroic COM
IA lie covering my retreat, who, riddled with
lead sacrificed his life there under the Pike
] Bridge that j and others might be spared.
The veterans OF the Third Division, Sixth
Corps, believed then-and they believe it
to-day-that Washington was saved from
capture by their heroic struggle and defeat
at MonOcacy; for, let it be remembered,
Eariys entire army was arrested, bruised,
ana detained for SO hours. at an awful sac
rifice OF life to both sides, allowing barely
time for the First and Second Divisions of
our Sixth Corps to be thrown into Washing
ion from in front Of Petersburg in the nick
Of time
Who can say what the damage to the
Union cause might not have been had the
battle of Monocacy not been Fought
DANIEL B. FREEMAN, Co. G, 10Th VT,
1000 Drexel Boulevard, Chicago, Ill.