The Washington herald., 1914-08-07
THE WAR DAY BY DAY
Fifty Years Ago.
August l864-Th Confederate Cavalry Column that Had
bebug Pa July go Was 0veraken by Federal Cavalry
w. AvereH Near MOOre6d West Va and Dispersed Heavy
Loss Into the Mountains

he Washington Herald)
The manner Of the attack and route
are described in Gen. Averelrs report as
follows:
Gen. Bradley Johnson's brigade was
found posted in line OF battle on either
side Of the road, one mile north Of the
South Branch. without q moments halt
or delay. my advanced brigade, under
Maj. Thomas Gibson. Fourteenth Penn
sylvania Cavalry. deployed. and with an
eager shout dashed forward upon the
enemy's lines with such impetuosity that
waiting only to fire a few shots they
broke and fed in the widest confusion
leaving two pieces Of artillery and a large
number OF horses. and throwing away
, whatever impeded their flight
Giving them no time to reform. Glib.
son pursued them hotly to the river, pre-.
cipitating them over its steep banks
across and into the ranks Of McCaus.
land. who. with another brigade, was
posted on the south bank"
In DisordcrIy Retreat.
Here the Confederates endeavored tc
make a stand. but a brigade under Col
William H. Powell. Second West Virgins
Cavalry. crossed the river under severe
fire and routed them a second time, roll
ing the tide OF fugitives back toward
| Moorefield."
The fleeing Confederates took two diff
ferent roads into the mountains. The
: portion under Gen. McCausIand made 9
brief stand. Then they resumed theil
flight in disorderly retreat, heading fol-
the gaps through which they might
| reach the Shenandoah Valley.
Their discontinue was augmented by
hard blow sfrfIrk than
by the Twenty-second Pennsylvania Cav,
airy, under Maj. George T. Work, which
had been sent before the attack by a
side road to a position from which to
strike them in the flank. Mai. Work took
thirty-five prisoners and about 100 horses
Gen. McCausland's loss was four guns
all his artillery-his caissons. with one
exception, nearly all his wagons, over
100 horses. 40 prisoners. including thirty
eight officers. besides forty-one killed and
wounded.
thirty-two wounded.
Gen. Bradley T. johnson was among
the prisoners taken, but his identity not
| being established, he mingled with the
other prisoners and effected his escape.
Gen. Johnson reached the Valley with a
loss of 800 Of his men. He believed the
disaster could have been retrieved had
his command been properly armed. EX-
cept in two regiments and part of a third
there was not a saber in his command.
After their long Enfield rifles had been
discharged they were useless. and with
out sabers the men could not charge.
Gen. Johnson in his report severely
criticised Gen. McCausland for being
three miles distant. at Moorefield. when
the attack began. and declared that the
expedition as 4 whole was not conducted
in accordance with military rules
Every crime in the catalogue Of in
fanny has been committed, I believe. ex-
cept murder and rape" he reported.
Highway ROBBERY OF watches and pocket
books was Of ordinary occurrence; the
taking OF breastpins. finger rings and ear
rings frequently happened. Pillage and
sack Of private dwellings took place
hourly"
The burning Of other towns than Cham
bersburg. notably Hancock, was IN
doubtedly prevented only by the close
pursuit Of Averels men.
Gen. Early in his report stated that
this expedition was virtually wrecked.
The disintegrstion of Early's command
of more than 1000 men. which was TO
end in It's dissolution under the assaults
of Sheridan, had already begun.
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