The National tribune., 1910-12-22

Eighth Corps and Averill's Division of
Cavalry had an engagement with the
enemy at Winchester, in which we had
the best of il, for the rebels were driven
back with loss to both sides.
On July II Gen. Crooks Eighth
Corps, Ayerill's Division of Cavalry,
and some 90-days regiments of Ohio
and Pennsylvania met a large force OF
rebels at Smokers Ferry. In a battle
that lasted several hours Crook ordered
his lines TO fall back. The new regi-
ments with us in that fight acquitted
had never been under fire before that
day.
Abandoned Their Guns.
When the retreat started we of the
cavalry took our position in the rear
A New York battery of heavy brass
cannon, somehow, in getting back to
the road, got the carriage of one of the
guns astraddle of stone fence. The
batterymen just embarrassed the horses
from that and another piece and
mounted and rode off, leaving their
gun. When we of the rear guard came
up a squad of men dismounted, and
got the gun clear of the fence, put the
harness on cavalry horses and took the
gun to camp with us. That night
some officers Of the battery came TO our
camp and wanted their gun. Gen.
Ayerill objected to that proposition.
However, the gun was turned over TO
them the next morning.
We fell back to Williamsport, crossed
over the Potomac, and infantry and all
marched down the Maryland side OF
the river to Harper's Ferry. Our army
were at Cumberland, Monocacy juno
ti0h, and with Gen. Crook in the VAL
ley.
Gen. Hunter had come to Harper's
Ferry, and he ordered the army TO con-
solidate there. The sides of the noun
tains were bristling with heavy artil-
lery. which was set in position at every
available place. The rebels had also
brought in all of their raiding forces
and'now lay in our front near Charles
town, a few miles south, where Johr
Brown was hung Just before the war
One day q lot of men had been de-
tailed to work on fort on top of Boil
var Hights. and 1 recollect that the
rebels came down nearly to our lines
and had quite a skirmish with some OF
our infantry. We had a 100-pound
rified cannon on the top of Maryland
Hights> which some OF our men used
on the rebels. The next day the cay.
airy was sent up to Williamsport
crossed over the river and went up the
Valley to find our old friends, the rebe
cavalry. We soon found them in 6
stronger force than we had met before
80 we retired.
When we got near the Potomac Riv.
er at Williamsport they dropped back
We crossed over, and met the wagor
train which had brought upsour Spenc.
er rifles. We had been using The ole
Smith carbine, a siRgle-shot breech
loading gun. We made the exchang,
that night and next morning. with oul
newSEuns and each man well supplied
cartridges. we recrossed the rive
and Started after the rebels. A little
beyond Bunker Hill, at a little creel
with steep banks, where we could orosl
with our horses only at the road, sew
eral of US put spurs to our horses snC
made for low ridge which crossed the
road about 200 yards away.
Both Sides Surprised.
When we gained the ridge iInagin,
our surprise to see a whole division o
rebel cavalry drawn up in line or col
umn by squadron. They were in ne
shape to receive an attack. they being
on level, open plain. We that frs,
gained the hill opened fire on them
The distance was about 500 yards, on,
men came up and formed in line or
the high ground, and a battalion of ON,
cavalry charged down on them, Will,
the line on the ridge opened up a terri.
flc fire.
They soon broke up in confusion ant
went up the pike in hurry Wher
we first gained the top of the hill sew