CHAPTER VIII.
During the latter part of the night of the 3d, and all day of the 4th, the weary and dispirited troops of Lee retraced their steps. There was no confusion, no disorganization, for, except the depleted ranks, the army was as intact as when it marched over the same road but a few hours before, on their way, as they believed, to certain victory. But how different must have been the feelings of all as they looked around and missed the familiar forms and features of their comrades now still in death or prisoners in the hands of the enemy, thousands of them wounded and dying. To add to their wretchedness the rain commenced to fall in torrents shortly after they began their retrograde movement, and continued the whole of the next day, making the marching very fatiguing and the roads almost impassible for the wagon trains.
Steadily they retired, followed by the army of Meade at a respectful distance. In fact it was a mere show of following that was demanded by the people of the North after what they believed to have been a great victory.
“Do not let the army of Lee escape you,” was more than once telegraphed to the Federal General. But that officer knew better than all others the shattered and disorganized condition of his own army, and the certain destruction that awaited him should he venture an attack. To follow, then, to quiet the clamorings of the people and the officials at Washington, was all he pretended to do. Had this not been the case he would have gladly taken up the gage of battle so defiantly thrown down to him by General Lee at Hagerstown, and where he suffered him to remain until the Confederate Commander, tired of waiting, again resumed his march by the same slow stages towards the Potomac.
On the 14th of July, Steuart’s brigade recrossed the river at Williamsport, and took up the line of march in the direction of Martinsburg, after an absence from Virginia’s soil of just twenty-six days, of which eleven were spent in Pennsylvania and fifteen in Maryland.
Passing through Martinsburg, destroying the railroad at and near that place, the command went into camp near Darksville, where it was determined to rest and recruit the tired troops for a few days.
On the 22d Johnson’s division broke camp near Darksville and proceeded to Winchester, where it arrived that evening after a fatiguing day’s march.
Next morning rumors prevailed that the enemy were crossing at Snicker’s Gap, and the troops were hurried forward to check, and if possible drive them back. They were found in no force, however, and after a little artillery practice they retired.
Passing through Front Royal and Luray, and crossing the mountains at Thompson’s Gap, on the 28th of July they took the road leading to Madison Court House, and passing through that once beautiful village, marched for Orange Court House, via Gordonsville, crossing the Rapidan at Liberty Mills, and arriving at their place of destination on the even of August 1st.
The division was destined to remain here some time, and the incidents attending its stay, and many of the subsequent movements of the Second Maryland, I will give the reader in the form of a diary.
Friday, September 6th.—Up to this date but little of interest has transpired since our arrival, August 1st. The troops have greatly recovered their spirits since the disastrous invasion of Pennsylvania, and are eager to again meet the enemy. We are now thoroughly organized, and although our regiments and brigades do not number as many men as they did three months ago, still we have a large and efficient army. To-day, at five o’clock, P. M., we were called upon to witness a sad, sad scene, in the execution of ten men in the Third North Carolina, of our Brigade. Their crime was desertion, and that under peculiar circumstances. They were men of families, and intelligence had reached them that their wives and little ones were in want. Unable to resist the appeal, these poor fellows started off without leave to succor them if possible. But, unfortunately, they took their arms with them. An officer of their regiment (Adjutant Mallett) was sent to bring them back, and was killed. They were apprehended, tried by court-martial, and sentenced to death. All that it was possible to do was done by their friends to save them, but in vain; and these brave men, who had proved their devotion to the cause in which they had embarked on many a bloody field, were at last to die by the hands of their comrades. The execution took place upon the brigade drill ground, and was witnessed by the whole division, which was drawn up so as to form three sides of a square. The doomed men evinced the greatest firmness when pinioned to the stakes, and died like the brave men they were. At the first fire all fell dead but one, and it was necessary to discharge three shots into his body before life was extinct. It was indeed a sad, sickening sight.
September 11th.—To-day we had a grand review of Ewell’s Second Army Corps, by General Lee, who expressed himself highly pleased.
September 19th.—This morning the whole of Johnson’s division moved in the direction of Fredericksburg, and halted, after a march of twenty miles, at Mitchell’s Ford, on the Rapidan, where we formed line of battle, in anticipation of an attack from the enemy, as several small parties of Federal troops could be seen in the distance. The command remained here until the 8th of October, inviting an attack, without being gratified, when the division returned to within five miles of Orange Court House.
October 9th.—This is a cold, frosty morning, and at daylight we moved towards Madison Court House, and encamped within four miles of the place.
October 10th.—We were awakened at five o’clock, and moved at six, passing to the right of Madison Court House, and shortly after forded Robinson’s River, where our cavalry had a skirmish, capturing about one hundred of the enemy. After crossing the river, we moved in the direction of Culpepper Court House, and encamped within eight miles of it. During the evening heavy cannonading was heard in our front, and it seemed as though a fight was imminent, as it was well known Meade, with his whole army, were not far off.
October 11th.—The column moved at early dawn, and, marching slowly, went into camp in the vicinity of Culpepper Court House. During our march we saw evidences, on every side, of Yankee vandalism. Whole fields of corn had been wantonly destroyed, and the citizens complained bitterly of the treatment they had received.
October 12th.—We were aroused at two o’clock in the morning, but did not move until half-past six, when we continued the road to Culpepper, passing a great many deserted camps, which gave every evidence that the enemy had abandoned them in haste. Leaving Culpepper to the right, the command soon after forded Hazel River, and struck the Warrenton turnpike at Jeffersontown.
From this place to the Rappahannock, a distance of three miles, a sharp skirmish ensued, the enemy retiring. In this affair quite a number of prisoners were captured. At dark we crossed the river, and took up our quarters in a deserted camp.
October 13th.—The column moved at sunrise, taking the Warrenton pike, and passed through what was once the beautiful Warrenton Springs, though now nothing but a mass of ruins. From thence our route lay through the village of Warrenton, six miles distant, and near which we encamped for the night. It is now pretty generally believed a fight will not take place this side of Manassas, twenty-two miles distant, as the enemy are rapidly falling back.
October 14th.—We moved at sunrise, taking the road to Manassas. The cannonading was heavy during the entire day. After marching sixteen miles the division went into camp about five miles from the old battle-field.
October 16th.—Early in the morning the brigade moved to the front and formed line of battle at Bristow’s Station. A sharp artillery fight soon after commenced which was very destructive to the horses, though fortunately the men escaped with a few slight wounds.
We remained in this vicinity two days, busily engaged destroying the railroad, when we turned our faces towards the Rappahannock, marching parallel with the road, and crossed over a temporary bridge on the 19th.
October 26th.—The division moved at 7 A. M. and recrossed the Rappahannock and advanced to Bealton Station, where it formed line of battle.
October 27th.—All quiet save a little skirmishing between the cavalry and artillery. To-day at dress parade the long-looked for order was read detaching the battalion from the brigade, and transferring it to the command of Colonel Bradley T. Johnson, who had been ordered by General Lee to assemble the Maryland Line, and picket the line on his flank from the White House to New Kent Court House, and protect his communications with Richmond, with his Headquarters at Hanover Junction, where the North and South Anna rivers were of vital importance to him.
On the 2d of November the battalion took the cars at Brandy Station and arrived at the Junction next day.
Although the men had endured such great privations in the long and arduous campaign of the summer, they left the front with regret; but they were still anxious to see the Maryland Line assembled once more, and to be with their old friends and companions. In the Line every man felt a deep interest and took a just pride, and it was hoped that should they be again united they would never be separated. It was not from any feelings of dislike to General Steuart that they openly expressed this preference, but that the General could not be induced to believe, and for sometime before their departure he had been exceedingly arbitrary in his treatment of them, which did engender a dislike, and therefore the order to leave was hailed with delight.
The author has forgotten to mention, and will here give it but a passing notice, that whilst encamped at Orange Court House, the battalion was augmented by an eighth company, from Richmond, under the command of one Captain C. C. Callan. They were not Marylanders, but a set of worthless men, with a few exceptions, who had been taken out of the military prisons there. It was contrary to the wishes of the officers and men of the Second Maryland that they were assigned to that command, and the matter, for a time, excited no little feeling. However, they were not long troubled with Captain Callan, who was dismissed the service, whereupon most of the men deserted. The few who remained were still designated a company, and by their choice Lieutenant Bussey, of Company D, became their Captain.