The National tribune., 1902-02-20

severe losses there.
The lessGs in officers of the I'd Mass
had been unusually heavy, and some of US
who 4 few weeks before had been First
Lieutenants were now among the senior
Captains in the line, and often in com
mand of two companies.
Altogether this was a very unhappy
time for us, and it was, perhaps, more
depressing period of the war than any
other, at least for those serving in Vir-
ginia. Richmond had not been taken, and
after several months of marching and
fighting, our enemy had sullenly with
drawn from its front, and instead Of plans
for the capture of the rebel capital. the
minds of those high in authority were
earnestly engaged arranging for the de-
tense of Washington.
After the withdrawal of the army from
CuIpeper, Pope took position along the
north bank of the Rappahannock, TO watch
the movements of Lees army, while Nc
Clellan transferred the Army of the Po-
tOmac from the James River to northern
Virginia. So far as watchfulneSS went
there was no lack of it There was little
sleep by night or rest by day. for at all
hours we were marched and counter
marched from one fort to another to sup
port batteries and meet the advance of the
at some one of these points, For fully
10 days the soldiers hardly took off their
equipments. nor were the horses in the
batteries Mt the front once allowed to be
anhaIneSsed
One of my most distinct recollections Of
this campaign is the wrptched condition
Of these poor animals from the constant
wearing of their harness in that hot Aug
uSt weather.
Wagon trains had, Of course, been sent
to the rear, consequently there were no |
regular issues of ratiOns, and three DAYS |
issue was made to last for 10 days.
The country was poor and the only |
thing which could be had to exc out those |
mea-er supplies was green corn, which |
at that season. was about right for roast
Ing. 1t was very different from March |
ing Through Georgia." which seemed af-
terward. in the light Of this campaign, to
be one huge picnic.
In the meantime, while Pope was care
fully watching the fords of the Rapnahan-
mock, to our great discomfort, Jackson
was industriously moving his troops to
our right, and when this fact became es-
tablished. movement to the rear was the
order of the day.
In this movement northward along the
Orange & Alexandria Railroad. we first
began ia encounter the troops of the Army
of the Potomac, and make the acquain-
tance OF the commands which had thus far
been known to us only by name
jackson WAS now through Thorougbfare
Gap, marching toward Manassas, and the :
second battle Of Bull Run soon fOllowt ].
We were within sound and easy support !
ing distance Of the troops engaged in that .
battle. but for some reason. which we
were never able to understand, our corps :
was not called on during the two days !
fight. Ii
At the time we did not criticise fhis
>sglect severely, although it is pOssihle
nat the weight of cur 6.000 or 5000 men .
might have turned the scale of that close +.
and hard-fOught contest
After this battle came the northward :
march again. and then the gloomy battip ,
Of CiraDtilly. where Gen. Phil Kearny wa
killed. Our command was in the support
ing line, hut not actively engaged. This .
battle. like SO many others fought in Vir-
ginia, began just before night
The sky was heavily couded, and nj. .
most with the first firing began a crash ! r
ing thunder storm with torrents of rain .
The hattie went on fiercely until long af- :
ter dark: hut the fire on each side grad :
lally slackcned and finally subsidized with .
the storm. The night was a most wretched 81
1ne. We were so near the enemy that no -
lres were allowed, and all talking had 10 ;,
be done in low tones. We were wet :,
through and the ground was soaking. so
that there was nothing else TO do excent :,
to wander about diSconSolately waiting for Il
day to come. u
Before daylisht the army was again ="
moving northward. and late that night ;.
NJ that time part of the rear guard. we u
marched inside the outer defeases of 9
Washington. The advance Of the enemy :
was close in our rear. as we had been well "
lware of by the scattering sllirmish fire
which had followed US through the even "
ne. ard which had prevented any rest on -
hat tireSsma retreat. y
There is ne doubt that the army was in y
somewhat demoralized condition, and =,
With good reason. for the plain English y
Il it WAS that, after few months aggres-
i've carEaign, we had been forced to seek tI
heltcr and prntccti0n inside of the de- ~
ensc5 of Washington. ~
Mcclellan. who had boon gradually u
triprcd Of his army, rs the different corps u
lad been assigned 10 Pore had been W
'laced ia command Of these dnfenscs. He
vas never formally ordered back to the
Command Of the Army of the Potomac. RI
,ut at the personal solicitation OF Lincoln ei
le took charge Of the troOns as they came ~
inside the defcnses and exerted to the ut re
most his rare talent as an organizer TO
eSt"rc the army to condition for effect 81
We work. W
The Army Of Virginia ceased TO exist II
without an order of any kind. and few hi
ays later we find McClelIan's orders
ated Headquarters, Army Of the Poto- 70
lac- Events moved rapidly in those days in
On Sclt. , We had marched into the de- In
efSes of Washington, tired and dSpirited q
nd "n Sert. q we were marching again. of
fis time toward the enemy, rested shnd ~
nth new shoes. cheerful and full Of con 81
dence that we were marching 10 victory IN
III Of the conditions had chauced-we W
'cre no longer retreatins, but advancing: VI
he great mass Of the army believed in Fl
lct,leiiaR. every soldiers havcrSack was in
MI, there was coffee without limit, and ve
he surroundings seemed as cheering as a
'eck before they had hcen discouraging tn
The march did not interfere with the
OF the army, which before fc
iany days was completed and Banks's he
DmiHand became the Twelfth CorDs of no
he Army Of the Potomac dc
Gen. Mansfield. who was assigned to the an
ommand, was fnc-looking. gray-haired M,
cte'an 81 the old Regular Army: but we ihl
ardiy became acquainted with him as q fie
ew davs later he was killed leading his | in
OrnS into action at Antietam wi
Whittier. in his Barbara Frietchie" 4" 10
Pills of the march of the rebel horde" an
hrou"h the streets of the quaint old town bo
Z Frederick. We followed closely on the
eeiS of Stonewall jackson. and II was 70
J this vicinity that Lees important order Io
'as found by 4 soldier of the 9th Ind. as
eur brigade. which disclosed his inten- Nh
ors TO Mcclellan.
Camping one night near Frederick. we su
larcied the next day toward South W
and all that afternoon and ia
vening was enlivened by the battle of IN
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