The National tribune., 1910-06-16

Rhine for sleep or rations. The sun was
Extremely hot and the roads dusty and
Isandy, and the men were footsore and
9aded We went nearly back to Wash
sngton again. and went into camp on a
hill near Chain Bridge. In two days
march of 19 miles was made to Tenley
town, where we had bivouacked on the
FIRST night after leaving Washington.
rhe next day we were ordered in an
other direction, and on the morning of
the goth forded the river in the beauti-
full Shenandoah Valley, which was to be
the scene of the greatest achievements.
The tents were pitched near the Ber-
fyville pike and not far from where
the enemy had passed the previous
night. At sunset that night orders came
to return to Washington as soon as pos
sible. Accordingly the troops retraced
their steps to the Capital again, march
1ng all night and not making halt un-
til II O'Clock on the morning of the
21st. When the men crossed back over
the river they found the water was up
TO their armpits and nearly over the
head of some of them. and when they
climbed the banks On the mountain side
many of them had lost their shoes and
had to trudge on in their stocking feet
or barefooted.
Gen. Early did not prepare to quit
that region until he had warned his
antagonist even tho he failed to carry
"a otiCsclou 4idS lIlO lIle NdpiLdl. we
moved towards Harper's Ferry on the
2Sth. Nineteen miles of hard marching
brought us to Halltown, where, tired
and hungry, we camped and enjoyed a
good ration of beef and little fun at
the expense of an old gentleman who
came to headquarters inquiring for a
Host COW, but her fate was sealed, and
he discovered no evidence of her save
in the stewpans over the fires.
Harper's Ferry was reached on the
Both, and then we trudged 13 miles to
Jefferson, and after a halt and short
nap we were off again. On the last hot
night of the month. exhausted for lack
of proper food and rest, the weary boys
passed back thru Frederick. and chose
camp near good spring of water.
The camp was pitched on high ground
overlooking the surrounding country
and IT was pleasant to behold it after
our long and tiresome marches. Oui
experiences during August were simply
repetition of those of July. But our
movements did net long wear the as
pect of an aimless campaign after Aug.
10, when Gen. Sheridan assumed COM
mand. Then began the destruction of
The Confederate power in the Valley.
Under Gen. Sheridan.
When Gen. Sheridan decided to at
tack Gen. Early the Sth VT lay at Ber-
fyville, Va Late in the afternoon we
received orders to be ready to move i'm
light marching order at o'clock Mon.
day morning, equipped with two davs'
rations and 100 rounds of cartridge to
each man, we turned towards Winches-
ter, and heard artillery firing at a dis
fance. wilkins mounted brigades swept
thru the Berryville Canyon in the morn
ing, driving the enemy from the out
posts and clearing the way. Col. Thorn
as, with the Sth VT. arrived at the front
just before 10 o'clock, Sept. 19, 1864
and was assigned to the Second Brigade
(McMillan's), in the first line of battle
with the First Division (Dwights), held
In reserve. On the left of our Nine.
teenth Corps the Sixth Corps had al
ready formed, with the Third Division
IRicketts's) on the right Of the pike
The Eighth Corps. assigned to the right
Of the Union lines, was moving upor
the Redbud River. Such were the po.
sitions at 11:40 a. m. A grand advanc,
yas ordered across an open belt o.
ground to the woods and clearing be
Sond, and then the battle became gen
Srai and deadly. The Sixth Corps wal
Eoon driving the Confederates. Ramseu
And Rhodes, back over an almost opeI
field, while Growers Division made 4;
sharp attack on Gordon from the cover
of the woods.
At first Gordon's line fell back, and
inspired by their success, Growers Bri
kades charged forward under a wither
ing lire; but the enemy received
Strong reinforcement. Then the success.
was reversed. and both Grover anc
Ricketts were forced back with terrible
loss. In this repulse the l4th N. II. ot
growers Second Brigade was so nearly
ennihilated that the lines were com.
pletely broken. and the remnants of tho
companies wandered away and disap
peared. The color guard remained or
The field, still bearing their colors aloft
and when the Sth VT. came into actor
they took a place with the color com.
pany of our regiment.
:. It was at this juncture that, after
having been held in reserve for a few