The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1912-10-31
AsWEAR
',RSB
18TH PA. At SHEPARDSTOWN
Eyewitness Tells Story Of Crossing
OF River by 4th Michigan ant
Sllenced Battery.

F. A. Ludlow. Holden. Mo-, compli.
ments Comrade McElroy on his ac-
count OF the crossing of the 11Sth Pa.
at Shepardstown. / was an eye-wit-
ness to that affair, writes A. V. Cole
or Hastings, Neb., in the National
Tribune. On Sept 10, 1862, l think,
the 4th Mich. was moving down ra-
vine on the north side of the Potomac.
near Shepardstown Ford. A rebel
battery stationed on the south side of
the river near the ford opened fire on
us. A member of Co. F was killed
and others were injured. This Incl
dent did not cause the regiment to
feel very friendly toward that battery;
and as we approached the canal which
runs along the north bank of the riv-
er at that point, We were halted and
the Colonel (Childs) said: Boys, are
you willing without orders) to ford
the river and try to silence that bat.
tery?"
AS remember it, there was no dis.
senting voice. Al lsaid, Yes" AS 1t
was now getting quite dark, we filed
down into the canal. We forded the
river, captured the battery, and dump
ed 1t over the bank. No one on our
side was killed, but two or three we're
slightly wounded. 1t was surprise
to the enemy. They had not thought
or an attack of that kind after dark.
After accomplishing what we started
out to do, we formed for our return to
the north side.
AT this point the wagon raod, or foot
path, ran at the foot of the bluff near
the river. AS we were crossing this
path on our return we heard the clat-
ter OF horses feet crossing up the riv.
er' We waited for their approach. and
TO their dismay we took them In.
There were seven of them-some
members Of Gen. Lees Richmond re-
porters. We returned to our camp on
the north side of the river without fur.
ther interruption.
Ihe next morning before we had
cooked our coffee or had our break
tast, we were ordered to return to the |
south bank of the river. We took the
same position that we had occupied
the night before, gathered in a few !
prisoners, wagonload of -four that |
mad been abandoned, and many other
things. / never shall forget two pris-
oners we captured, one long, lank
North Carolinian, the other a short
lr1shman. The North Carolinian CON-
menced to whine and beg, saying he
hadn't fired shot. But Pat SAYS: "I
fired a shot and will do IT again If I
get chance" We had some respect
for the lrishman, but very little for
the man that whined. After we had |
accomplished what we were ordered
to do we again returned to our camp
on the north bank for the purpose of
getting our breakfast, after which we
were to prepare to march.
While we were doing this, the 18th
ia. crossed the river and took the
same position that we had occupied
an hour before. They had been in
line but a short time when strong
force OF the enemy came out of the
woods and attacked the 118th with
such vigor that they were compelled
% retreat. They were driven over
he bank into the river, some below
he dam and some above. The ford
vas just below the dam. Those that
vent In above the dam had to swim
or their lives, and I understood at
he time that some were drowned.
I believe that this was the 118th's
lrst experience, as they had just come
o the front. They were known as
he Corn Exchange Regiment, the
ride of Philadelphia. Seventy or rs
t their number were killed as this,
heir first, experience. We were on
ne north bank OF the river, where we
ould see every move that was made,
nd yet we could not get to them in
me to render any assistance. Whose
ault was 1t that caused the slaughter
those noble Pennsylvania boys?