Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-12-21
Markers One, Six and Eight.

Continued from last week.
Markers One, Six and Eight.
KEARNEYsv1LLEa UvILLA, CROSSING OF
UyILIA AND CHARLES Town ROADS
On. the Sixteenth of October. 1862.
Brigadier General Humphreys crossed
the Potomac at Buffers Ford, with Six
Thousand Infantry, Five Hundred Cav
airy, and six pieces of artillery, and
advanced on the roads leading to Kear-
neysYille. Another force, commanded
by Rrigadier General W. S Hancock,
with his own brigade, fifteen hundred
from other brigades, four regiments Of
cavalry, and four pieces of artillery,
advanced from Harpers Ferry at the
same time, in the direction Of Charles
Town. We had, at the time. line Of
pickets extending from the North
Mountain to the Shenandoah River.
The advance was SO sudden that it cut
off some Of the pickets.
Company d, Of the Twelfth Virginia
Cavalry, was picketing from Engle's
Hill to the Shepherdstown road. The
reserve was near where Marker No. s
stands, at the intersection of the Uvilla
and Charles Town roads. A sharp en-
counter took place between the Federal
advance and company D. little south
of this point in Rocky Lane. Captain
Knott was wounded in the shoulder.
Many Of the company were from this
section, and knew every road. They
easily made their way through the enc
my,s lines and joined the Regiment.
Thus they played even; for about a
month previous. our line of pickets
were being advanced, and company D
struck their pickets at Duffields, and
chased them back on their company re-
serve at Marker 8. They held their
own until the company had closed up,
when charge was made and they were
driven to Lucas woods, where regi-
ment was stationed. They all dacamp-
ed and crossed the Potomac.
Humphreys advance guard went as
far as Smithfeld, and his main body a
little south of Kearneysville- The Con-
federates had been destroying the rail-
road in this section, and some of GEN
eral Winder's Infantry was near. They,
with Fitz Lee and Hampton's Brigades
of Cavalry, commanded by General
Stuart, attacked late in the evening
of the Sixteenth of October, Marker
No i. and, after some severe fighting,
drove him from his position. They
were steadily driven back on the Seven
teenth, but made determined stand
two miles southo Shepherdstown, on
the Shepherdstown and Duffields road
at what is called the Forks. A brigade
of regulars. commanded by Major
Lowell, U. S. A., occupied this part of
the field, and the Importance of holding
it was apparent. Back of him was the
Trough road which led to the ford on
the Potomac and also the road leading
to Shepherdstown. If the position
were carried his retreat was endan-
gered. Trees were felled across the
road to impede the artillery and cav.
airy, but Winder's infantry forced
them back slowly, and the whole force
crossed into Maryland.
The losses on both sides were consid
cradle. No estimate Of the losses
could be found. Our badly wounded
were taken to the Uvilla churches and
neighboring farm houses, and cared
for. Many wounded had been left at
these churches after the battle at
Sharpsburg, and those unable to get
away were paroleds by the Federals.
At this point is planted Marker No. 6.
Markers Two, Five and Seven.
BuTLER's WOODS, MoLER.s Cross
ROADS AND Uv1LLA.
After the Gettysburg Campaign,
with Lee back in Virginia and Harpers
Ferry in the hands of the enemy, the
situation in Jefferson County was
about as follows: The enemy pickets
extended about miles out from Har
pers Ferry. with signal and spy sta
tons on Maryland Heights. AM
movement of troops in day time coult
be seen by them Even many of tn
pickstposts were under their observe
ton. The Shenandoah River was high
hardly fordable. Lees army was i
Jefferson and Berkeley Counties unit
after the middle of the month. tn
Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers wer
carefully pieketed, and the army IN