The National tribune., 1908-11-26

across TO where the others hdrouched in
the bushes, and WHISPERED to us that
Col. Sully was going to act as an out
post down at the bridge, aud we were
to notice carefully and wait until he
rode up past the artillery, ana when he
blew his whistle then to fire upon the
rebels in the sunkenofoad Zone volicy
and then retreat again. Soon the dense
mass of the advance guard of rebels
came down the opposite hill, unlimbor-
ing two brass howitzers near the top
when Col. SulIy called, out, Halt! Who
comes there?" A rebel officer called
back, Come in here, Yapk." Sully
challenged again, then turned his gray
mare up the road with the speed of
the wind, rushed thru the artillery, fol-
lowed by a shower of rebel bullets,
blew his whistle, and such a volley
never was delivered before. There was
but one single roar, with the rifles ana
two pieces of artillery. The rebels
broke in wild confusion. Halt! Haiti"
shouted the officers, but 1t was no use;
they had buck fever" and ran like
rabbits over the hill, leaving their two
howitzers.
spiking the Cannon.
The 1st Mimi. again ran off toward
Washington, the artillery ahead. But
the two pieces of rebel artillery were
too tempting a morsel for Col. Miller.
He asked Serg't Gooderich and myself
if we had any rat-tail files in our cart
ridge boxes, and was answered that
each had two. run back and spike
their howitzers," said he, and away we
went. 1t was very dark now, but up
against the sky we could see the line
of muskets on top of the south hill.
Each ran to his piece, and with the
butts of our rifles we effectually drove
q
ran after the regiment, which had got
ten far ahead. When the ringing of
our strokes on the brass pieces came
to the ears of the rebel officers they
came after US with all the mounted
ren they had there, and race for
life was on. We could run across the
stringers of the bridge, but the plank
we had removed, and the banks of the
creek were too steep for the horses, so
the Johnnies were compelled to stop
and relay the plank, when they We're
again after us. We must have run for
more than a mile, when we met Col.
Miller with a company waiting for u.s.
When the rebel horsemen again came
up they were met with volley which
again sent them back, and again we
ran to catch up with the regiment.
When we were again with the regi-
ment Col. Sully ordered the Major COM
manding the New York cavalry squad
ron to fall behind, and act as rear
guard. Then came one os those mis-
takes, amid the darkness, which so sell
dom happened in the arnly-a criminal
which places many a noble
soldier hors du combat, by their own
friends. 1 have seen this matter re-
ferred to by some one, who must have
certainly incorrect. We had Just
crossed the Loudoun & Hampshire Rail-
way, near Vienna Church, and were
just as we had been, the
regiment doubled together SO as to
make the same eight files, besides the
file closers, and as we marched into
one of those dense masses of pine
grubs which grow UP all over old to-.
bacco fields, and where we occupied
all the space between the bushes, which
were dense copse, without anticipating
any more attacks from the srebels, the
men asleep, locking arms, walking
slowly 1 was locked arms with Capt.
Russell on my left, with Private White
IN my right, and surely was asleep, when
echelon drove directly into our rear,
the men apart like c.laff, while
sabers whistied thru the air, hewing
their way down thru our men, who fell
off the grade under the bushes on each
side of the road, and began TO empty
The saddles of the cavalry with great
Many bit the dust from saber
strokes, pistol shots, and the Sharp's
rifles rang out with wild chorus. The
earth was soon piled with dead and
wounded men and horses. But the mis-
AXE was soon discovered, and the New
York Major and Col. Miller roared out,
Cease firingI" Col. Sully came back,
demanding of the Major if he had seen
no rebels to kill that he must kill his
own friends. Sully, in terrific rage, or
dered the Major to be bound and
thrown into an ambulance, and told
him he should suffer for his gross care
essness. In vain the Major assured
the Colonel that he supposed he had
been cut off by the advance guard of
the rebels, and resolved to hew his way
thru. Sully would have none of it.
White, with whom 1 was locked
arms, was killed. and fell onto me, I
FELL onto the Captain, and all rolled
down into the bushes. Lieut.. Zaren-
berg, of the 1st Mimi, was shot and
wounded, and many another
good soldier fell by the hands of his
1t was with sad hearts that
we recommended our retreat to Chain
Bridge, on the Potomac, just opposite
Md, and a short dis
-ance above Washington.
1 have never known the extent of
damage done by this encounter. Neith-
er have I any knowledge as to what
was done with the New York Major, If
anything. 1 hope nothing was done.
He showed the bravery of good off,
GER, and had it have been the rebel ad-
vance who had cut him off it would
have redounded to his credit much. I
should like to hear from anyone who
knows the sequel of this sad affair.
We were too much occupied with the
march toward South Mountain and An
-ietam to ascertain anything more than
he fact that there We're more places
vacant among us.-M. e. Billings, Ser
seant, Co. L, 1st Mimi, and brevet Lieu
u. S. ", Calistoga, Cal.
The 9th N. II.