The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1906-10-18

Union lines began TO break at four
O'Clock in the afternoon until darkness
fell upon all alike, it was one wild thrill
ling scene of turmoil, obstruction and
death. Brave men were there who
would have fought stubbornly to the
end but they could not breast the fear
full current that eddied and whirled and
surged against them. They too had to
give way and be borne along in its re
sistless course. Had even the fry and
heroic Gen. Sheridan rode upon the
field as he did in his Winchester ride it
would have been in vain. A dozen like
him could not have turned back to duty
that defeated, retreating army of men
who had fought 30 long and so well,
fought until victory was nearly within
their grasp and then wrenched from
them by the enemy's reinforcements.
The retreat became panic. Every
man was his own commanding officer,
bent only on saving himself from death
or capture. Thus we hurriedly moved
along with the enemy's cavalry and
flying artillery close upon us, firing
into our fleeing columns and wagon
trains and capturing prisoners
saw teamsters cut their horses from
the wagons, jump upon one of the
horses, put them into the run, leaving
the wagon and contents to the enemy.
Soldiers would pick up rifles smash
them round tree and throw them down
worthless 1t WAS to prevent the enemy
from using them. remember passing
a wagon that had been left by the road
side partly overturned and loaded with
barrels of sugar AS the soldiers passed
1t into barrel would go a hand and
come out loaded to be eaten as they
hurried along. Sometimes one might
load pocket but 1t would not do to
wait, "oelf preservation" was the first
law with us then. On one horse | no.
ticed three soldiers armed and equipped
all fleeing from the advancing foe. On
one of our light field guns a man was
clinging, his arms and legs encircling
the gun and the horses running at full
speed. Whenever the wheels struck a
rock or knoll it would shake him terri
bly, yet he was compelled to cling there
with desperate energy or be thrown off
and probably crushed under the wheels
1t was an awful alternative with him
Better ride on the top of a tornado than
on such place. 1t was sunset when |
reach Cubrun bridge that we had cross
ed early that morning on our way to
the battlefield. At glance | saw it
was useless to attempt to cross at the
bridge. 1t WAS completely crowded with
horses, wagons and men all striving to
get over and caring but little how. A
mans life at that bridge then was not
considered worth saving by anybody but
himself. | saw men crowded off the
bridge, falling ten or twelve feet into
the water and on the rocks below.
What became of them | never knew |
only knew that ii was no place for me
to cross and accordingly l turned from
the road and sought chance further up
the stream. The enemy was pushing us
hard. | must get over soon or 90 back
prisoner Coming to the water it had
the appearance of twelve or fifteen in
ohes deep, but as 1t was rolled | was
deceived for on plunging in | found it
nearly four feet deep Wading through
to the opposite bank l tried TO climb up
but my footing gave way and fell back
into the water. A crisis was with me
now. There must be no turning back
| must go up that bank. Throwing my
rifle up in advance prepared to do my
very best. That Every best" resulted in
falling back again into the stream.
now took glance up and down to see if
there was better chance to climb up
Evidently there was none. Ii was all
the same and | had no time to wade
through four feet of water In order to
find more comfortable chance, Night
was setting in. Rebel artillery wab
laundering close by. The loud
shouts of men, the noise of rolling
wheels and tramping OF horses feet came
to me from the direction of the bridge
where confusion reigned at its height.
with boyish characteristics l began to
think of home and how quiet every
thing was there on this Sabbath even
ing, Not quite three months from the
parental roof and what change! This
was war. Terrible, devastating war,
and | was now experiencing it's awful
realities. But 1t would not do to stop
then In four feet of water and think too
long upon my present condition
must get up that bank without delay. !
resolved TO make one more desperate
browning effort before yielding and ii
not successful give up and take what.
ever chances awaited me. With all the
energy could muster threw my whole
strength into the scale and it turned il
and sezing my rifle | hurried forward
towards the place where we had biv
ouaced the night before On reaching
1t found large portion of the brigadt
already there. The men had come i,
and were still coming in, in squads anC
single az the case might he. some were
asleep. Others were talking ovsr theil
, adventures, while every new conner wat
gladly welcomed by his comrades
Presently the clear, calm voice of Col
Howard ran, out through the night all
falling in the brigade for another move
We had now in large measure gotter
over the panic and worked ourselves
down to retreat and the retreat meant
the defences of Washington and Alex
andria Some six or eight miles of rap
id marching brought us to Fairfax
Court House 1t was now about mid.
night and the heavens dark and heavy
forebodiDg rain. We were ordered to
come to halt and rest, but scarcely
| had we quieted down for the sleep 90
much needed before we were again
| called into line and ordered forward
/ The rain began to fall as we fled out
on to the turnpike and started for Alex.
andria. 1t WAS a long, weary march for
our WORKOUT, disheartened troops. On
and still on we plodded, tired, hungry,
and almost exhausted, with the rain in
creasing and mud growing deeper and
deeper After a hard days march we
reached Clermont in the vicinity of a
former camping ground, at night, having
marched tifty-six miles in the past thir.
ty six hours, together with the expe
rienoes of the past taken on the battle
line. Less than ono week before we