The National tribune., 1903-08-27
WITH MlLROY IN THE VALLEY.
Wounded Federal Found Refuge in a Con.
federate Home.

| troops of Ewell and LongStreet reached
the Shenandoah Valley on the march &c
Pennsylvania, Miroy's Division, com
posed of three brigades, some 5000 strong
was at Winchester. Gen. Milroy being un
advised of Lees movements.
The Confederate advance guard march
ed around Winchester. cutting off Milroy's
communications with his corps command
er. who was at Baltimore.
At Bunker Hill, II miles north of Win
chester, were stationed two companies of
the STth Pa and two of the 10th Ohio
| not more than 300 men. Gen. Jenkins
commanding strong brigade of cavalry
marched upon Bunker Hill on the even.
! ing June Is, 1863. Our small force met
| him east of the village and held him in
check until our wagon train from Berry
vile escaped. followed by Il troop of the
18th Pa. Cav. We then fell back to a
church ut the cross roads, leaving Sec
ond Lieutenant dead and Corporal NOR
| tally wounded.
| Having halted for n brief interview
with Confederate behind a rock, | found
myself left alone. Instead of following
directly after my company. | made n de-
tour through the yard of Serg't Johnson.
making that movement received a ball in
my left leg, near the knee. Afraid that
| | would not be able to reach the church,
| | followed the path around to the kitchen
door. instead of going straight out over
the fence, as | had intended. Mrs. Jonn-
son and her two boys, II and If years
old were standing at the door. One of the
boys, seeing | was wounded took my hand
| and assisted me into the house. | was
| conducted into Il darkened room. where l
lay and listened to the fighting until
dark. Two bands of Confederates came
to the house searching for Yankees, but
they failed to find me. When all became
quiet | crawled upstairs and went to
bed. My comrades made their escape
and joined the main command at Win
chester
Milroy's little army CALAMITY fought the
hosts of Ewell until the morning of the
10Th. when. finding retreat cut off, some
4 ,433 surrendered, those that made their
escape doing so by cutting their way out
through superior numbers. Doubtless the
delay of that portion of Lees army for
two days was Of great advantage to the
Federal forces in the concentration at
Gettysburg, as Il part of the army was
day behind in reaching that battlefield
/ remained at the Confederate's home
until July 16, when a portion of Lees
returning army encamped around Bun
ker Hill. l had been well cared for by
the Johnson family. and some Union ladies
learning of my presence literally supplied
me with chicken, pastry, and milk. There
were about a half dozen other wounded
Union soldiers quartered In an old house
in the town, but as l was alone with the
Johnson family, 1 think 1 received more
than my share of attention from the
ladies. Three Confederate ladies. at least,
visited me, one of whom. wearing Grape
for Stonewall Jackson, dressed my wound
and sent me flowers. The Union ladies
entertained me by relating the movements
of passing Confederates, and encouraged
me with their enthusiasm for the Union
cause.
Serg't johnson came home. on leave of
absence, remaining some days. He fire.
quently brought officers to my room. The
interviews with them were pleasant and
interesting. / was asked what effect, in
my opinion, the New York riots would
have upon the Union cause. 1 replied
that they would be suppressed, and the
war 90 on just the same. One said the
South did not expect to defeat the Fed
eral armies, but thought the Confederates
could hold their own until the North
would become so divided that the Confed-
crate government would be recognized.
One of the Confederate officers was intro
duced to me as a Pennsylvania. l very
nearly told him that l would rather see
rebel from any other State. Another said
his father was an officer in the Union
army. A Captain questioned me seriously:
Don't you think you are doing very
wrong in coming down here to fight u.s."
Don't you think you are doing very
wrong in trying to break up the Govern
ment?'
I'm the Revolution we became dissat-
isfed with the British Government. We
rebelled and instituted government of
our own. We think we were justifia bic.
Now, We are dissatisfied with the Fed
eral Government, and think we are justif-
able in our attempt to establish South
ern COnfederacy."
| was asked what l would do if given a
chance to get away. When l replied that
would rejoin my command and fight
them again, they seemed to have increased
respect for me.
Having been home week or more,
my Confederate host made a visit to Mar
tinsburg, and when he returned his little
girl, six or seven years old, came up to
my room, and in q serious manner; omi- |
nously shaking her head, said:
Papa has come home and he is drunk |
He is mad, and says he is going to throw
you out of the house."
johnson had treated me kindly. but was
now of the opinion that he should no long
h.'i wv al chcihS III LIS HouSt III ldCl,
his house had become divided against it |
self. He called his wife a Yankee, as she
had taken the oath of allegiance to the |
Federal Government, and told him she
intended to observe it.
On one occasion l overheard her call |
upon him to correct one of the boys. No"
said he, Il don't care. to fight so many |
Yankees, and, besides, reinforcement |
might be called from upstairs
Being defenseless on account of my
wounds, l became somewhat uneasy, but |
j Johnson did not modest me. On the con-
trary, when l became able to put my |
foot to the floor. he gave me a pair of |
and l then went out to visit nv |
wounded comrades. 4 lady invited me to |
her house, and planned for my escape into |
Maryland. When l made the venture |
starting out on crutches. and with my
arm in a sling, 1 was confronted by hosts |
Of Confederates. July 16, l was sent to |
where l did not fare so we'll |
The prisoners who were able to march |
were sent to Richmond while others, like
myself, We're paroled. When Averilps
Cavalry occupied the place. the Confed-
crates having gone, l was sent to the
hospital at Baltimore. NJ. GRIFFITH.
Sergeant. Co. ii, S7th Pa, 1872 II ST.,
Whatcom, Wash.
The Franklin-Nashville Campaign
I |