The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-01-27

VI capturing w dSuluS 'oh'
July 18th came bright and
glorious. The first brigade of
the Second Division of the Sixth
Corps and some sharpshOOters
were on the picket line in front
of Fort Stephens. from the par
apet of which could be seen the
lines of Confederate skirmiShers,
from whose rifles the white puffs
of smoke rose as they discharged
their pieces at our pickets. The
valley beyond presented scene
OF surprising loneliness, with the
rich green meadows, its fields of
waving corn, its orchards and
its groves. The principal force
of the COnfederates seemed to be
in front OF Fort Stephens. There
it was determined to give them
battle.
About 8 o'clock in the afternoon
General Wright ordered General
Wheaton TO drive back the Con.
federate skirmiSh line and occupy
the wooded points near the road,
which, being so near our entrench
ments, gave the COniederates ad
vantage of position. ThereupOn,
Col. Bidwell, who was in com
mand of the Third brigade was
instructed to have his men move
outside of the fort and form under
cover ravine aud woods (SOuth of
Battle Ground Cemetery in two
lines directly in the rear of the
First brigade on the sklrmiSh line.
Col. Bldwell was also directed to
select three of his best regiments
to assist in the assault; the re
naming portion of the brigade to
be held to support the general
movement.
Forty years having passed by
since the narrative which | am
describing it is hard to remember
all that passed and shall attempt
nothing more than the essential
scenes.
1t was General Wheaton, |
think, that deployed the Seventh
Maine, the Forty Third New York
and Forty Ninth New York regi-
ments, and skillfully placed them
in position near the skirmish line
under the direction of Col. Bid
well without the COnfederates dis
covering the movement.
A precOncerted signal was made
by an officer from Fort Stephens,
when these regiments were in pc
sitiOn, at which time the batteries
from Fort Stephens and Slocum
opened fire upon certain points
strongly held by the JOhnnies.
The asSulting regiments then
dashed forward, surprising and
holly engaging the rebels, who
were found to be much stronger
than supposed. 1t became neces-
sary to deploy Immediately the
three remaining regiments. Three
regiments of New York and Penn
sylvania volunteers, Bidwell's
brigade on the right of those he
had already in the action, and
two other small detachments from
Vermont brigade were sent to
support the skirmish line imme.
diately on the left of the pike.
The Confederate's stubborn re-
sistance showed that fart her adj
vance than already made would
I require more troops, and two regi
mentS were sent for. Before their
arrival an aide de camp from
General Wright directed General
Wheaton not to attempt more
than holding the position gained,
as the object of the attack bad
been accomplished and the i'm
portant points captured and held.
This whole attack was as gal
LIANT as it was successful, and the
troops never evinced more energy
! or determination. The losses
were severe. the brave Col. Bid
well losing many of his most valu-
able regimental cOmman d erS.
The last shot was fired about 10
O'Clock and the remainder OF the
night was occupied in strength
eniDg the position, burylug the
dead, caring for the wound, Il.
and relieving the skirmiSh line
which had been two days in front
constantly under fire. by troops
/ of he Second Vermont brigade.
The ordinance in the fort sent
volley after volley of thirty two
| pound shells bowling over the
heads of our men into the midst of
the reels and through the (Car
berry, house where, so many of
them had found shelter, and at
the command of "Sedgwick'S man
of irOn," the brave fellows started
eagerly forward. They reached
and passed the skirmishers aud
white puffs of smoke and the
sharp cracks of their rifles became
more frequent; first the rattle of
an active SkirmiSh and then con
tinu0uS roar of muSketry battle.
In magnificent order and with
light steps they ran forward up
tho acnanf thrnuuh tha ornln,I