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CHAPTER XII.
THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN.
Our brigade went into a camp regularly laid
out, and we were soon in quite comfortable condition, though our baggage
had not yet come up. Here, for the first time since we crossed the Ohio,
fuel was issued to us, and the men fully appreciated the fact that they
were once more in a loyal community. Many of the gardens that supplied
Washington City and Georgetown were in this neighborhood. Abundance of
watermelons, cakes, pies and what seemed great luxuries were offered, and
as the morning papers announced that Washington was safe, the men
concluded a fortiori, that they were, and sat down to the enjoyment of all
these little extras with admirable gusto.
On the 4th of September the regiment was mustered and pay rolls made out
and forwarded. The regiment had not been paid since at Luray, and there
was now six months' pay due.
During the day it was announced that Gen. Lee was crossing into Maryland
near the Point of Rocks, and orders came, to be in readiness to march at
once. The wagon trains had not yet come up. The Second Corps moved out to
near Rockville, where MoClellan had his headquarters, and where the whole
army seemed to be massed. The Fourth Ohio was suffering from sickness
to a considerable extent, and went into convalescent camp at Tenally Town,
where it remained for several months. Its place was filled in the brigade
by the One Hundred and Thirty-second Pennsylvania, commanded by Col.
Oakford.
From this time up to the 10th the army moved about five miles per day,
generally going into bivouac in very close quarters.
On the 10th, marched to near Clarksburg, where we
got rather better quarters, and where some of our baggage reached us which
we greatly needed, the men suffering much for want of clean clothes. On
the evening of the 10th the advance came in contact with the rebel cavalry
and had some skirmishing. Next morning, we moved about, three miles, when
the writer was sent to the front with the Eighth Regiment, with pieces
loaded and bayonets fixed, it being reported that a considerable cavalry
force blockaded the road. We moved cautiously through a dense woods, with
skirmishers deployed, and over the Walter's, plantation, beyond
his residence and farm buildings, where we threw out a strong picket line,
and halted. Gen. French and staff, commander of our division, soon came
up, and after hearing our report, dismounted, and took dinner with this
hospitable planter. The rebel cavalry in some force had been on his
plantation the night, before, but it was not believed that any
considerable force was now in the; neighborhood. We maintained this
position during the night, and in the morning rejoined the division, and
moved forward a few miles and formed line of battle near Littletown. Our
brigade soon advanced, keeping up a good battle front, and felt its way
along to Monocacy. During the day, heavy firing was heard occasionally to
the front and right, which notified, us that Burnside was
advancing on Frederick City. The rebels had been in Monocacy during the
day in strong force, and had slaughtered and driven away a good many
cattle, but had confined their military operations to shooting down a few
negroes, whose dead bodies our men found and buried. They had also
destroyed the rail road bridge and some other property.
On the morning of the 13th, the Second Corps moved out early towards
Frederick, the whole corps having come up. Between Monocacy and Frederick,
Gen. McClellan with his staff and the McClellan Guards, a dashing body of
some hundreds of lancers passed us. As a staff officer had preceded him
and given notice that the men would be permitted to cheer as the General-in-Chief
passed, they did so, most vociferously. Soon Gen. Burnside came along on
his bob-tailed horse, with a single orderly, and when fairly recognized,
was greeted with a cheer as uproarious and as hearty as that given to
McClellen.
We passed through Frederick, a most beautiful town, and decorated
profusely with flags and banners in every quarter. The ladies waived their
handkerchiefs from the the windows and cheered us. We undoubtedly saw the
veritable Barbara Fritchey, of Whittier's memory. The men were almost wild
with enthusiasm. We had not seen a woman's face that wore a smile in a
year. The vinegar visaged Virginians" were the subjects of comparisons
that were indeed "odious." One of the enthusiastic Hibernians
shouted, "Colonel! we're in God's country again!"
We passed through the city and halted near the reservoir, where the men
had dinner, and after resting for a short time the Eighth again went on
picket; not being called in until the corps moved next morning.
Early on the morning of the 14th heavy cannonading was heard to the front.
We had learned from Staff Officers that Gen. Burnside was to attack
South Mountain Gap and Gen. Franklin Crompton's Gap, and presumed this
to be the attack of Burnside at South Mountain. We were soon called in
from picket, a few rations were hastily distributed, and orders issued to
be in readiness to fall in at a moment's notice.
The corps soon moved across the fields to the right of the Pike, and round
under the east side of the Catoctin hills, up which we wound in a zig-zag
direction, halting for a time in the woods on the summit. The roar of
artillery in front was almost constant, and occasionally the dull, heavy
swell of musketry could be distinctly heard. The men were impatient to
move forward. Their wish was soon gratified. As we came out of the woods
on the brow of the hill the whole panorama of the valley of Middleton lay
before us, calm and beautiful, but on the verge and on the mountain slopes
beyond we caught suddenly a most distinct view of the battle. The smoke
from the rebel fire burst out continually along the summit, while
Burnside's artillery from the plain below was belching forth volumes of
smoke, but the same to us was perfectly mute. The tramp of our twenty-five
thousand men, the rattle of our artillery along the stony roads, and the
hum of subdued tones of voice among our troops completely shut out any
sound from beyond. Every one remarked this. But the scene to the eye was
grand beyond description. Batteries were sweeping across the plain under a
full run and going into position. Columns of troops would burst forth from
the woods on the mountain side and move gracefully across open spaces, and
disappear in the woods again. Skirmish lines appeared and
disappeared along the ridges and
crests. Clouds of smoke would break forth among the woods, underneath
which we would catch occasional glimpses of the combatants. When within
about two miles of the Gap the corps halted, or rather was formed in line
of battle along the crest of a considerable ridge, and rested for a time.
The view of the battlefield was now considerably hid, but as the troops
became quiet the storm and thunder of the battle, and its echo along the
hills that surround the valley were loud and startling and seemed in
strange contrast to the mute scene, as it had appeared amid the din of our
own march.
About sunset the second corps moved forward, over fields and-fences,
ditches and brooks, allowing nothing to vary the line for some distance;
but as it grew darker the sound of the battle died away, in front, and the
order of march changed. Soon we came upon the dead and wounded, ambulances
and stretchers, and finally halted at the foot of the mountain among the
dead and amid the scenes of the day's carnage. The victory to our arms had
been complete; but the loss heavy. Over fifteen hundred men had been
killed and wounded. Among the slain was Gen. Reno, one of the most
dashing of the Federal officers. We could get but little report of the
battle.. We knew that Gen. Cox of Ohio, with his division, had been
engaged. The Pennsylvania troops were greatly elated with reports of the
battle and seemed disposed to appropriate the victory to themselves. An
officer rode among them saying the Bucktails have covered themselves
with glory! Hurrah for Pennsylvania!" when the Ohio troops sung out, "the
Buckeyes have covered themselves with glory! Hurrah for Gen. Cox! Hurrah
for Ohio!
There was but little chance for sleep. The men were crowded together on
the ground where the battle had
raged, the ground was filthy and damp, the ambulances were rattling by all
night, and the stretcher carriers busily hunting for the dead and wounded.
Finally Lieut. Lewis, then acting Adjutant, and the writer found a couple
of rails, and placing them near each other, made our couch in the interval
between them with a guard over our heads formed by a couple of muskets
fastened in the ground by the bayonet.
In the morning our arms were carefully cleaned and inspected, and sixty
rounds of ammunition issued to each man.
About ten o'clock Richardson's division moved through the gap, and were
soon engaged at Boonsborough and continued the fight during the day,
driving the enemy back on Sharpsburg. Sedgwick's and French's division
of the Second Corps moved next, and passing through, the gap, came up with
and formed on Richardson's left,
Boonsborough was carried, and the whole corps moved, after dark, to beyond
KeedysviIIe. Here we again lay on our arms, the divisions being masked
behind a considerable ridge, which, hid us from the enemy. |
