Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-05-03
THE BOOMING CANNON
RECfTALS OF CAMP AND BAT
TIE INCIDENTS.
Survivors of the Rebellion Relate
Many Amusing and Startling Incl
dents of Marches, Camp Life, Forag-

the great rebellion l find many Incl
dents referring to my regiment, brigade
or division, recorded as facts when
they should not be. While / do not
suppose these misleading statements
can ever be entirely remedied, but will
continue to stand as records, l have
made I'D my mind to state one case in
particular ! have been reading re
Gently Of Sheridan's campaign in the
Shenandoah in DR. James Moore's
History Of the Great Rebellion" l
understand DR.. Moore was an officer in
the United States Army. He says:
"On July 90, 1864, McCausland re-
crossed the Potomac with a body Of
cavalry, and moving on Chambcrsburg
Pa, levied 100000 on the inhabitants,
but this being refused he laid the
greater part Of the beautiful town in
ashes. Gen. Kelley met this force, de-
feated and dispersed it." Now, this
part Of MOOre's history Is far from
correct, and the affair is of much more
importance than one would imagine
from reading this account. Gen. Kcl-
ley and his command had nothing to
do with the glorious achievement. To
Gen. Ayercll and the Second Division
Of Sheridan's Cavalry Corps belong
ali the credit AvereIl's Division was
composed Of the Eighth Ohio Cavalry,
Fourteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, Lin
coin Cavalry, New York, First Brigade;
First, Second and Third West Virginia
Cavalry, Second Brigade, and battery
Of six guns. Our division was small,
and the enemy Outnumbcrcd us cOnsid-
erably. We were hot on the trail, and
reached Chambersburg late in the aft
ernoon shortly after the Johnnie had
left, although we caught a few of those
who had imbibed little too freely, and
were consequently somewhat dilatory
about getting out of the burning city.
We pushed along after them for almost
two days, frequently catching up and
skirmisLing with their rear guard. Nc
Causland tried several times to draw
us into an engagement but Gen. Az
erell had other objects in view, and
McCausland made up his mind that
this was the case, so he went into camp
at MOOrestown to give his troops some
rest Of course, we knew nothing of
Gen. Ayerell's plans, and when he
moved his command in different
route from that McCausland had taken
it was all Greek to us. We marched
quite rapidly, and kept it up until after
midnight, when we were ordered to
file off into 4 large field on our left
dismount and stand "to horse" We
obeyed this order, standing quietly,
hungry and tired, for about an hour,
when 4 staff officer came down the lines
and told us to fasten our canteens,
cooking utensils, etc, so securely to our
saddles that they would make no noise
We were then ordered to mount and
move as quietly as possible. We moved
out into the road ana my regiment, the
Eighth Ohio had the advance. We
marched at a quick walk for about a
mile, and were then ordered to gallOp,
and in a few moments we were IN the
MES completely, who rose on all sides.
only to be shot down or captured. The
rebel camp was divided by a small riv-
er-I do not remember the name-part
of the force being on the north side
and the rest on the south side We
killed, wounded or captured all of
those on the north side, but many of
these on the south side succeeded in
making their escape. After we had
attended to the Johnnies we proceeded
to take account of stock. We had over
600 prisoners, artillery, horses and
wagons in abundance The dead and
wounded about equaled in number
those captured, and we had horses
enough to give almost every one a new
mount. Gen. McCausland's army was
entirely dispersed by Gen Averen and
his command, and yet DR.. Moore says
that Gen. Kelley met and defeated
them on their retreat from Chambers
burg. There is much that is interest
ing connected with this affair, but |
will only explain how Gen. AyerelI cot
into the rebel camp without firing a
shot. He sent a body of scouts
through the hills and byways, WHO sue
ceeded in getting inside the rebel lines.
They then moved out and captured the
pickets by saying they had been sent
to relieve them, and when they fell into
line to turn over the post a few revol-
vers We're placed at their heads and
they quietly surrendered, which cleared
the road for our men. This achieve
ment of Gen. Averell'S was the after
clap Of the burning of Chambersburg
and was so brilliant and glorious that
he received an extra star very short
time after it occurred. As the account
of this affair has been so misstated in
DR.. MoOre's history, l would like to
have some Of my comrades who were
With us corroborate me in my version
If l am right.-Yolney B. St John,
Company B, Eighth Ohio Cavalry,
Erie. Pa, in National Tribune.
Number of Pensions Granted
Since tha hnpiDDinr Of tho Civil VVo-