Putnam patriot., 1917-01-19
Abandoned at Winchester
The Great Disaster Seen From the Rear
 by au 18th Conn. Boy.

(Written by J. H. Sawyer, Go. B. 18th Conn. Lafayette, Ind, formerly .of Putnam.
 On Saturday morning, June Is, 1s6c. eight soldiers of the 18th Conn, including the writer, who was then recovering from fever, were in the regimental hos pital, located hundred yards or so west of the camp. These patients were convalescing, all able, excepting one, to get around, but not lit for duty. The hospital was large wall tent. The cots were home made, four crotehed sticks were the supports, two poles the rails, barrel slaves laid across for the springs. kuapsaek, blanket and overcoat made a fine bed equipment, quite luxurious for private soldiers The tent stood near the road On the other side of the road, just over the stone fence, lay some dead horses. q When the wind was right, the odor from that direction was all that could be imagined.
 The camp of the 18th Conr., Col. William c Ely, then a part of Mil roy's Division, was on the lefthand side of the road leading southeast from Winchester, Va, toward Milwood and Front Royal. About mile east from camp, Abraham's Greek crossed the road. At this point a road led south. ward to Front Royal, skirting long hillside of open fields; the other road keeping on eastward and upward thru a deep cut to Miiiwood. A little way up the hill from the intersection of the Front Roya! road, and on the south side of the Nillwood Road, siocd two deserten brick buildings close together.
 For 6 week or more there hau been rumors of trouble ahead, laying on arms at night, doubling the pickets, extra scouting duty and other unusual things had kept the soldiers on edge. The main idea was, "Fhe Jonnies are coming On Friday evening, June F, various scouting parties had re-  enemy in sight other than the usual local Confederate troops.
 "Ihe Jonnies are Coming"
 In the very early hours of this Sat urday morning, the 18th Conn. had been aroused from it's sleep, struck tents and marched out into the road. There it stacked arms and lay down along the stone fences on either side awaiting the next move. It remained there till about s o'clock l should say, when orders came 10 return to camp and pitch tents. But fe W tents were up when mounted Orderly ctme tearing down the road. We watched him turn into camp. Immediately came the thrilling long roll ot 0rums, ="Fall in, fall in" Soon the regiment, in column of fours, came up the road and turned into the field thru d gap in the stone fence near the dead horses. It quickly disappeared around the shoulder of hill, headed toward the valley turnpike. It soon reappeared and went to the southeast in the direc. tion of the Front Royal Road, going to it's first experience with hostile lead and iron. This regiment, although having been in the service over nine months, had been doing provost guard duty, garrison and bridge guard duty around Baltimore, and had only come to the front late the previous month.
 The camps of our two neighboring regiments, the S7th Pa. and the 9th Md, were not visible from our point of view, but we heard their long roll and their movement out of their camps. About the time that the 18th Conn got out of sight, section of a battery came dashing past our tent and turned into the Front Royal Road. As we stood watching them, the muffied boom of cannon from the direction of the turnpike came to our ears. Owing to the ,intervening hill and the still, sultry atmosphere, the reports sounded distant, though they were not far away.
 ssl guess the Jonnies have come now, sure,n said one.
 "lL does sound so" said another While listening to this portentous sound, our attention was attracted to 8 moveme mt on the hillside, south of and higher up than The two brick buildings We could see men collect ed around field piece that had sud denly appeared there. Directly, white cloud of smoke arose from that spot followed ty the boom of the gun. Next instant, screaming, rushing, vindietive sound in the air over our heads, followed by crash in the field beyond the tent. Looking that way, we saw haze of smoke and dust near the ground.
 Shell Comes
 "Boys," said one, !" those are Jon nies. That was a shell. They are fir ing on us."
 Another boom from the hillside, an- other shell passed over, but nearer; then another, still ,nearer. Just then Dr. Carlton, 18th Conn.,, rode up. He said: "Boys, it's getting rather hot here. You'd better make your way to the general hospital in the city. It's in the Taylor house."