Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-04-27

borough, marching n few miles in that
direction, when he was tn change direc.
tion to Funkstown and hold the eastern
tront OF Hagerstown. stuart diverged
at Cashtown, via ChewsyiIle, with Jen-
kins' brigade in person On reaching
hagerstown he ascertained that there
was large force OF men from the direc-
ton oi bonesborough advancing on Ha-
gerstown. Chambliss needing reinforce
meEts jenkins was sent to him, and on
reaching Hagerstown found the enemy
in possession of the town. Jones com
Chew's battery. A small body Of infan-
Try under brig. Gen. lrerson also held
the north end OF the town, aided by the
combined brigades of Robertson and
Chambliss, whose numbers did not equal
the quota of one brigade. Stuart saws:
Il telt sure that the enemy's design
was directed towards Williamsport,
where / was informed that our wagon
trains were encamped In n very narrow
space a. the foot oI the hill near the po..
t0mae river The river was ~ swoIlan
that their passage 20 the south side was
impossible. therefore urged ON all sides
the most vigorous attack TO save the
trains at Wilhamsport."
Our force was very much smaller than
the enemy's, and for that reason Gen.
stuart made a personal appeal to his
men to do their best. No appeal coming
from Stuart was ever disregarded. In
this case. as in Others, they did not dis
appoint him. The country between Ha-
gerstown and Williamsport Is almost en-
tirely clear OF woods, but is intersected
by numberless stone fences and bitches.
A perfectly straight Macadam road leads
to Williamsport. The enemy, fighting
from street to street in Hagerstown, it
was a difficult matter to disiodge them,
but at last they were forced from the
town, going in the direction of Sharps-
burg, but afterwards turned In the direc-
tiOn of Williamsport. All of the cavalry
with the exception of Fitz Lee was near
Chambliss was pushed
down the pike towards Williamsport aft
er the enemy, while Robertson and Jen-
kins kept TO the left of the same road ON
Chambliss left flank. Breathed, who had
just reached the field from Greencastle.
went with this expedition.
The nrst charge was made bv the 9th Va, OF
Cnamoiiss brigade, supported by the l3th Va.
OF the same brigade. The charge was { most
brilliant one. Breathed aided them very much
with Johnston's section, taking position on the
sight OF the road. jenkins Was now hurried
up; put owing 10 thenany stone fences and
lowing the enemy an opportunity 10 rally
along the stone fenevs, from which he opened.
raktnK them with his IRE. jenkins dismount-
ed hIs men aud they advanced uudeE these con-
ditions with marked effect. Breathed silenced
the enemy's battery, making him change Do
sltion three times, finally driving him from the
feld. The brigade of Cham0 0liss beIng mount
ed kept them la motiun. They made One coun-
ter charge, but were met by Col. Gordon. OF
the 9th N. C., and driven back. This repulse
was afterwards turned into . rout by Col. g.
L. Lomax of the lith Wa. With drawn sabres
they charged down the pike unoer the heavy
wiiIiamsport road changed their base. Fitx
Lee arrived aud with him WigfAll with the sec
ond section OF Breatheds . battery aud partici-
pated In the attack with his accustomed spirit.
Col. Lucien j. Davis OF the 10Th Va. was cap
tured In this tight. Thua once more dlu stu
arts troopers come up To the expectation OF
their commander and ra 50 the siege on the
wagon traiu at WilIiAmsport.
Baford I'm his report states that this expedi-
ton had for iis object the DESTRUCTION OF the
enemys wagon train at WiiIiamspoFt, Md.
This. j regret, was not accom- plished." Kill
patrick reports q lCss Of Io5 In this action Col.
henry, commanding brigade, lost 10 officers
ia men. buiords lUss was 7S-tOtal, 4Ol. STU
arts loss was "a These Reports show the Sc
verify OF the hghting. On July 7Ih Wool
ford's brigade OF Infantry was sent 70 Stuart's
support and stationed nt DarDsvt.le. From
the sth TO the lzth OF july stuart covered the
front OF the army. Lee had now taken a u rong
position. beng securely entrenched while wait
Ing Tor the angry Potomac 10 subside. These
NOS yuly aays sere occupied by spirited fight
ing between the Federal cava RI and stuart
at Boonso rough, seaver Dam Greek, Funks-
town and on the SharpsbuFg front. IL would
extend this article too much and try the pa-
tience OF an Odd comrnde aud friend, who Ia
kindly printing these articles from pure love
Tor the Old battery we loved. and proud Of our
connection with IL. Brcathed'a battery needs
NO encomium. Her deeds are printed In many
pages In the Rebellion Records. History has
no parallel la modern warfare that %nt IA ha
vaiUr anu achievements OF this battery.
breathed was In it from early dawn 90 dewey
hum more pleasure than 20 be among burst
ing shells and the zip OF the mimic. Artillery
dueis mad no terror for him. he was In his
second heaven, especially II the opposing bat
terry was battery ~, znd u. 5. horse. rhey
were well organized and commanded by Ii. O.
N. Remington. IL the survivors Of Breatned's
what n swapping O. yarns there would Dc. aud
AZ poor Harry Thomas was IN the uesh would
not be uneasy OF the record OF BreaLbed's bat
terry AZ Harry was allowed the floor.
Tne cavalry in ali Of the ACTIONS fought dis
mounted, AID was aided on both sides By small
bodies Of infantry. Gen. stuart accom- pllshed
army until Gen Lee had crossed the Potomac
~ Failing Waters and wiiliamsport. General
stuart, on Juiy lzth, uncovered General Lees
down the gauntlet 10 Meade's Grand Army Of
the Pot0mac. but not q step would Meade
move From the llth 70 the l3Gh of july Gen.
so at last Lee made his arrangement 20 cross
over 20 the south aide OF the Potomac. Long
street crossed at Falling Waters A. Y. Hill mt
the same place. Eweii was 20 wade the river
at Williamsport. At daylight the cavalry was
20 follow kweil over the same crossing, except
fitz Lee. who, 10 he found the Pontoon bridge
clear. was 20 cross &C Failing Waters This
plan was carried out successfully. The night
dark and raining. / laid fIai night 10 : seid
sH KIP ~ w hsea Easssnsa eP slees pAlnE
falling rain from drenching me. No pdnce OF
the realm could have sept sounder than l.
but my spirit was unbroken. l could not help
bat think of the comfortable home had left
behind me when i went 90 the Southland 10
light her battles. ] did not awake until day
light the next morning. when l Immediately
went 20 the ford where the cavaly was cross
Ing. ! did not get there any to- soon, as imme-
diateiy In my rear q column OF Federal cayal-
ry was coming down the Hagerstown pike.
They did NOT annoy US as battery on the
other side OF the river made IL decidedly un-
pleasant for them and caused them 20 halt un-
I'll We sad crossed once again 10 Virginia
soil. This had been the most exhausting cam
paign OF the war 70 US. We left salem, Va.
add dusty roads, With lsttie water and less 90
eat-in q column OF cavalry. whose marching
horses sent up q cloud OF red dust that no man
can describe. This was kept up until july e
when we resched Gettysburg. Then the next
morning came the terrible nght thst lasted
brought ap the rear OF the army. marching In
the rain, skirmishing ali toe way 70 Hasers-
town crossing the river mt WiiIinmsport.
Go be ContlnuedJ