The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-06-07

ihSl lHoSe Ci the enemy and al AMI
mated engagement prevailed between
them until night, At times our line
approached within some 800 or 100
yards or the works. The casualties
on either side were not heavy.
| took occasion to visit the splendid
residences Of the Blairs and explore
the elegantly o~rnamented grounds.
The capacious Spring House contains
hundreds Of crooks Of the finest milk,
which @quenched the thirst of many
weary "rebel' that day While the
statuettes, paintings, books and furni-
ture in the dwellings Toasted many
an eye. All the houses in the vicinity
had been prec pitately abandoned by
their inmates, who, it would appear,
hardly knew of our coming before we
We upon them. To have required
that our Boys should not, now and
then, appropriate an occasional trophy
Of their visit. would have been de-
manding too much. [ remember for
hours listening to the swelling strains
Of our national airs, as some OF he
men, gifted with a talent for music,
drew them forth from grand octave
pianos, which the fair Union darnselS
who owned them would doubtless
have thought le:ecrated by the touch,
had they known it.
Slept lu%xuriously at night on a sofa
III the Roche House as it Vas called
ill elegant mansion opposite the Sill
yer Spring"
July 12-Breakfasted in the Roche
Fiouse,-rhe entire pantry, with its
confer IS and crockery, having been
considerably left at our disposal.
Constant SkirinjShinS and c~annonaulnS
(the latter exclusively on the side IF
the enemy, as our ligh batteries
could not have lived before their siege
p-eces), were kept UP during the day.
Their choil cot fra ta "a r11r1n1r ff
houses and destroyed a great deal of
property, but that was no concern OF
ours. The arrival of achievements
in their works was constantly visible,
and at one time the skirmishing grew
so exceedingly spirited, that q great
Engagement seemed inevitable. At
night, it was deemed prudent TO with
draw, which We did, marching all
night and as far as the vicinity Of
| Rockville.
l have heretofore aid that no one
seriously anticipated the capture of
Washington. 1t would have been mad
ness with our force, to have assaulted
those works. however feebly manned
they may have been, and l do not, for
a ONE credit the popular idea thai
We could have entered the City by a
prompt and rigorous effort to that eff
feet. AS it was, what q commentary
was presented upon their pompous
IloiIdC6S u dtSlI uCllOh 10 IAlIullIoIlu,
that, at the very moment when Grant
was supposed to have it almost with
in his grasp, Gen. Lee had contemp-
uuously detached and dispatched a suf-
ficiant force to threaten their osvn
Capital,
While such occurrences were trans
piring around Washington, our Cav
airy had penetrated beyond Ba!u-
more, burned the residence Of the
Governor Of Maryland, and destroyed
miles of railroad and several bridges
between hat CITY and Philadelphia
The great Yankee heart was terribly
p~erturbed. the sensitive Yankee
poeI1et-nerve was touched, and thf
cry Of apprehension was loud ano
deep.
AS we withdrew at night, a sudder
lurid glare, Illuminating the horizon
announced that the incendiarisns or
our own soil were in part avenged
and the superb structure of Montgom-
cry Blair was soon a vast heap o.
ashes. This was not done by author.
ity. The men had taken the matter
of justice in their own hands.
July f3.-rhe enemy only essayet
a feeble pursuit with Cavalry, Whicf
we turned upon and easily replsed a
Rockville. We then DETECTED toward;
mid-day,-and then marched all nigh
again. recrossing the Potomac. a
Edwards Ferry, early On the morn
ing of
July ti.-That being the same da.
Of the month upon which We re
crossed it, at Williamsport, after tn
invasion Of last year Went into am
near L~eesburg, Loudon Co. l rernern
Der to have been 50 overcome b.
want of sleep on this day, after tw'
nights deprivation and the grea
fatigues of our hurried marches, a
; frequently to have dczed and nodded
!, in the saddle while in motion.
July f5.-Rested in camp.
t July 16.-Resumed the retrograd
!, movement through Leesbufg an
, Hamilton. Just as we reached Snick
!, er's Gap (Blue Ridge), a large bod
| of AverilPs Cavalry, which had beef
concealed in the woods, made q sud
2 den and impetuous dash upon tn
> wagon-trains in rear Of the infantry
and before the prop disposition
cou1d he made for resisting them. tn