Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1913-07-11

Federal division on July 8 and tossed
some shells into the vanishing foe, but
was ordered by Meade mot to bring
on battle" General John Sedgwick
led his corps farther on and overtook
the Confederate wagon trains huddled
in great confusion around Fairfield
pass. with only General Jubal Early's
division to keep off the pursuers
Sedgwick looked the ground over and
said the position was too strong to be
carried by assault.
Federal Cavalry Pursuit.
General Judson Fitzpatrick also sci
out July 8 to head off Lee with three
cavalry brigades. He struck General
"Jeb" Stuart's troopers in Monterey
pass and while fighting them in front
was attacked in the rear by a body Of
Lees infantry. The dashing cavalry
man cut his way through Stuart's lines
and rode off toward the Potomac will
1880 prisoners in his train. Lees
wagons were under a strong escort
commanded by General J. d. Imboden
Fitzpatrick often attacked the moving
column so boldly that Imboden was
compelled to use canister to save his
train.
Fitzpatrick reached Hagerstown, Nd.
and found it In possession of Stuart
but he did not turn back. Captain
Uric Dahlgren, on Kilpatrick's staff
distinguished himself by charge into
the streets packed with Stuart's troop
ers. Captain Lindsay of Company A.
Eighteenth Pennsylvania cavalry. had
been killed in a hand to hand fight
and Dahlgren led the survivors Of the
company in dash across the public
square. He lost leg in the exploit
and was given a colonel's commission
for gallantry.
lmboden's column of trains was
fourteen miles long. When it reached
the Potomac the river was so high on
account Of recent rains that crossing
by fords was impossible. Lees bridge
to the Virginia side had been destroy
ed behind him by Federals. His artil.
lery. including that under Imboden
was without ammunition. and If ever
an army was in u plight it was the
Army OF Northern Virginia. facing a
flooded and bridgeless river with the
foe closing in.
Confederates Turn to Fight.
The town Of Williamsport was con
verted into hospital for the Confed
crate wounded. General John Blu
ford's Federal cavalry rode up to the
outposts. and 1mboden turned to fight
Wagoners were formed in line and
differed by wounded soldiers who
were able to handle sword. Several
boxes Of ammunition had been brought
over from Virginia in boat, and I'm
boden's guns met Buford's trooper,
with doses Of canister.
Lee marched his infantry to Failing
Waters. on the Potomac. little sup
posing that the pontoon bridge he had
left there on the march north in June
had been destroyed while he was fight
ing Meade at Gettysburg 1t was gone
and the Potomac swept over the fords
in a resistless food. Fortunately the
position is In bend and could not be
attacked on the flank. Lee fortified
the narrow line across the peninsula
and waited for Meade or the falling of
the tide.
Meade arrived at the river on July
II. and Lee stood ut bay behind earth
works. Lee had but few rounds of
ammunition for his guns, and every
one of his regiments had fought in the
thick of it at Gettysburg. Meade had
plenty Of everything. and his fresh di.
visions. which had not fred shot at
Gettysburg. outnumbered the battered
battalions Of Lees army.
A Sequel to vicksburg.
On July s, 1868. just after the Fed.
I