The National tribune., 1908-11-19

began to start at p. m. with the in
fantry and artillery following as soon
as it was dark enough to vail their
movements. Longstreets Corps crossed
by the pontoon bridge, and was followed
by that of Hill. Rodes's report describes
the fording of the Potomac:
MY division waded the river just
above the aqueduct over the mouth OF
the Conococheague- The operation was
a perilous one. 1t was very dark, rain
ing and excessively muddy. The men
had to wade thru the aqueduct, down
the steep bank of soft and slippery mud
in which numbers lost their shoes and
down in which many fell. The water
was cold, deep and rising. the lights on
either side of the river were dim, just
affording enough light to mark the
places OF entrance and exit. The cart
ridge boxes of the men had to be placed
arOud their pecks; some small men had
to be carried over by their comrades;
the water was up to the armpits of a
ftiil-sized man.
"All the circumstances attending this
crossing combined to make it an affair,
not only involving great hardship. but
one Of great danger to the men and
company officers; but be ii said to the
honor of those brave fellows, they en-
eountered IT not only promptly. but
actually with cheers and laughter
"FVe crossed without loss. except OF
some $4,000 or 10000 rounds of ammu-
milton unavoidably wetted and spoiled.
After crossing I marched a short dis
tance beyond Failing Waters and then
bivouacked, and there ended the Penn
sylvania campaign"
Gen. Longtreees Account.
Gen. Longstreet gives an account of
the crossing by the pontoon:
Gen. Lee, worn by the strain of the
past two weeks, asked me to remain
at the bridge and look to the work of
the night And such a night is seldom
experienced even in the rough life of
the soldier. The rain fell in showers.
sometimes in binding sheets. during
the entire night: the wagons cut deep
in the mud during the early hours, and
began TO stall going down the hill. and
one or two of the batteries We're stalled
before they reached the bridge. The
best standing points were ankle-deep
in mud. and the roads halfway to the
knee, pudding and getting worse. We
could only keep three or four torches
aliSht, and those were dimmed at times
when heavy rains came. Then. to
crown our troubles, a load of the
wounded came down. missed the emo
OF the bridge, and plunged the wagon
into the raging torrent. Right at the
end OF the bridge the water was three
feet deep. and the current swift and
surging. 1t did not seem possible that
man could be saved. but every one
who could get thru the mud and water
rushed to their relief, and Providence
was there to bring tears Of Joy to the
sufferers. The wagon was righted and
on the bridge and rolled off to Vir-
ginia's banks. The ground under the
poles became so puddled before day
light that they would bend under the
wheels and feet OF the animals until
they could bend no further as5 then
would occasionally slip to one side far
enough to spring up and catch horses
foot and throw him broadside in the
puddled mud. Under the trials and
veXationS every one was exhausted of
patience. the General and staff we're
ready for family quarrel az the nnly
relief for their pent-up trouble wien
daylight came, and with it Gen. Lee to
relieve and give us opportuuIsr 'ar a
little repose.
The division of the Third c, IN
der Gen. Heth, formed the reai - the
infantry line, which was 10 be covered
by Fftzhugh Lees Cavalry. But the
cavalry Brigadier rode off and crossed
the river. leaving, 1t is said, a squadron
for the duty. and the squadron followed
the example of the Brigadier The con-
sequence was that when Kilpatrick's
cavalry rode up IL was taken to be the
Confederates ordered for their rear
guard. Instead of friends, however.
Gen. Heth found a foe. He was sur
prfsed by dashing cavalry charge,
Gen. Pettigrew was wounded, and died
atter lew days Some artillery. three