Cattle in the Corn.
While resting in the camp on this mountain slope, from which the corn fields stretched away for miles, the army cattle were driven up, the fence bars were let down and the cattle turned in to a large field, beautiful in its waving green product. In one hour’s time that field looked like new ploughed ground, not a green blade was left. The army advanced to the Gap, and in crossing the ford the enemy opened fire upon them, and a brisk engagement followed. From our position we could hear the cannon and see the smoke of the battle. This continued until sunset. We were ordered out on picket, and took our posts in the woods, being cautioned to keep a sharp outlook. Our troops began to fall back, and our second sergeant brought in the pickets exclaiming in breathless haste “The army is cut to pieces and in full retreat.”
Of course we hurried back into ranks, drew forty rounds of cartridges, and, guarding the wagon train started on the “double quick” for Washington. This was at nine o’clock at night. We marched without a stop until eight o’clock the next morning, when we halted at Leesburg. That night in passing through burning pine woods the train was fired upon from ambush and some were wounded. During this hard night march the men walked along nearly asleep on their feet, and if there was a temporary halt they dropped in the dusty road, asleep instantly. After a short rest at Leesburg we pushed on and went into camp near “Chain Bridge” at Washington. We arrived at night, completely worn out from our long forced march. The Regiment stacked arms, spread blankets on the ground and lay down to sleep. We lay upon our gum blankets and covered with the woolen ones. During the night it turned quite cool and rained hard. We were soaked through when we awoke in the morning. We started fires, made coffee, ate some hard tack, then wrapping our blankets around us, sat down in the mud to silent meditation. It rained hard until about noon, then began to break away. By night it was clear and we had a good sleep.
The next morning, July 21st, we drew new shoes, formed ranks, crossed the bridge and followed the Sixth Corps who were just breaking camp as we came up. We marched through Maryland via Rockville to the battle field of Monocacy, which we passed over. We saw there the signs of the fierce fighting, the high fences full of bullet holes, and the grain stacks that obstructed Gordon’s advance. We forded the river and marched on through Frederick city. Some of the boys of Company A at this point “straggled” and slept in the fields just beyond the town. They came up with the regiment the next day in time to draw rations, and resumed the march until we reached Harper’s Ferry. Somewhere on this march an incident occurred that made an impression upon my mind that I will never forget. I call it