The National tribune., 1909-02-11

so he was left for time without a COM
maHd. but was later givtIn uommand
in the West, where he malntained his
reputation as a fighter II he, did not
win any great achievement.
After the war he was app ojnted In
dian Agent in the then, Territory of
Washington, and died in Olympia sew
eral wears ago. an honored member of
the Presbyterian Church. A Pew years
later his widow died there also. Sh.
received a pension of f5A a month, Sc
cured, partly at least, thru the efforts
of an officer who was with tht7 General
at Winchester. Maj. EdSon Gerry. of
the 18th Pa. Cav, who dfed at Belling-
ham in February or March. 1904. If
he had lived until May he would have
been SO years old II
I cannot write from personal knowl-
edge of the fighting around Winches-
ter, as 1 never got away from Bunker
Hill until the Confederates fell back
from Gettysburg and took me to Win
chester, on the 18th of July ton my
back. Cos. G and H of the S7th Pa
and two companies of the 116th Ohio
(about 800 men) were attacked Satur-
day evening, June 13, by Jenkins's Bri-
gade. which history gives at 1900, but
my host, Confederate Sergeant. esti-
mated his force at from 1900 to 5000.
A small company of the 18th Pa. Cav.
was there, but they went with the
wagon train that preceded the Confed-
lerates from Berryville. They cut their
feeding short and struck the pike for
more northern cline on the first ap-
proach of the enemy. and finally reach
ed Carlisle, Pa. After the wagon train
escaped. finding that we were being
f1anked by overwhelming numbers. we
fell back to the churches. 1, however,
never reached the church, being shot
thru leg as L was running thru yard,
and was taken into the house of Con-
federate Sergeant, and cared for for
over month, passing for a parolad
prisoner, with my arms hid in the house.
Other wounded prisoners were quar-
tered in an old house, except mem
Der of the 116th Ohio. with a broken
leg, L think, was cared for in another
family. Our little force held the
churches until night, and made their
escape, and marched IL miles to Win
chester to join their regiment. Three
or four of my company were left be-
hind, two were concealed in Martins
burg until hiding became .monotonouSl
and risky, and they surrendered. but
one made his escape to his home in
York County. and was ashamed to be
seen. The Second Lieutenant and n
Corporal of my company We're killed
at Bunker Hill on Saturday evening
June 13, and the Captain was killed
Monday morning at Carter's Woods. I
will not pretend to give the details of
that unequal contest, but may be able
to give some additional data of interest
According to official accounts. Gen. Mil
roys force consisted of $500 effective
men. OF the S7th Pa. not more than
$50 were present for duty June IL, two
officers and II enlisted men We're killed
and two officers and "a men wounded,
nine officers and 100 men taken pris-
oners. The regiment became divided.
The Colonel. with 154 men. reached
Ferry, and 221 officers and
men escaped to Bloody Run. Pa, and
so reached York, which still left few
to be accounted for. The, total loss in
the First Brigade, under Gen, Elliott,
was reported to be 1,949;, the, Second
Brigade. under Col. Ely, 1,430: the
Third Brigade, under Col. yMc,Reynolds,
1,054: making a total loss of 4,433.
Gen. Edward Johnson, who COM
nlanded the Confederate forces at Car
ters Woods, reports the, capture of
$500 prisoners and about LIS, horses
and IL stands of colors. He says: THE
enemy fought with earnsstness. They
made four successive attempts to carry
the bridge. Two sets of my cannoneers
G3 out of 16) were Killed or disabled.
Col. Andrews, in command of my artil-
lery, fell at this bridge" q s IL
Where, the battle would have been
il Lees army had reached Pennsyiva-
MIA two or three days sooner ynay be |
difficult to tell, but evidently they would |
have found less resistance, and might |
have gone on to Harrisburg, as was
at Bunker Hill. The cavalry
did overrun my home, 20 miles from
in the direction of Harris
burg, and some amusing incidents
might be related of their operations
thru the county,. NJ. Griffith, Ser
geant, Co. II, 87th Pa, Billingham,
Wash.