During this time the gallant McNulty and his brave command were hurling death and destruction into the ranks of the enemy, but to no avail. With the retreat of the cavalry under Lomax, McNulty limbered up and sullenly fell back, unlimbering at every available point, and opening his fire upon the pursuing foe, thus enabling the cavalry to escape. In this manner the village of Woodstock was reached. Still through its streets he continued to pour into the faces of the advancing enemy destructive discharges of grape and canister. But the gallant little battery is doomed, for the enemy press upon them in overwhelming numbers, and still they disdain to abandon their pieces. Beyond the town they make one more effort to stay the dense masses now almost enveloping them, but even as the gunners are ramming home the last double charge of canister, they are captured and cut down in the act.
Twenty-three men and the four guns fell into the hands of the enemy. Lieutenant McNulty who had had his horse killed under him, with the balance of his men fought their way through, and escaped.
For his gallantry upon this occasion, McNulty was placed in command of a battalion of artillery, and the command of the Baltimore Light Artillery devolved upon Lieutenant John W. Goodman, Junior Second Lieutenant.
Soon after the disastrous fight at Maurytown, Goodman was ordered to Fishersville, where the little left of Early’s artillery were preparing their winter quarters. Whilst here every effort was made to procure guns, horses, &c, for the battery, to replace those lost in their last fight, but without success, for the Confederate Government had none to spare. But the brave fellows were ready for any duty that might be assigned them, and when Sheridan, in March, threatened Lynchburg, they gladly obeyed the summons to repair to that place and assist in its defence in any capacity. But their services were not required, and they were in a few days after ordered to Petersburg, to help man the fortifications there.
When the great crash came, and the little army under General Lee was forced to retreat before Grant’s overwhelming masses, along with the rest was to be found the remnant of the Baltimore Light Artillery—one day fighting as infantry, and the next as cavalry, or assisting some battery in trouble. Noble fellows, like their comrades of the Maryland Line, they were true to the cause they had espoused to the last, and, like the Infantry and Cavalry, were determined to fight on whilst a ray of hope remained. Alas! that last ray disappeared with Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Court House, and when told they were disarmed, and no more to be led against the enemy, these veterans, who had unhesitatingly faced death in all its dreadful shapes on so many bloody fields, wept like children. Surely Maryland should be proud of her “Young Line” in the Confederate States Army, as she was of her “Old” in the days of the Revolution.
END OF THE “MARYLAND LINE.”
ATKINS’ BRIGADE
AT
SECOND MANASSAS.
The campaign before Richmond had ended, and McClellan’s shattered and beaten army was reorganizing upon the banks of the James. Our loss had also been severe, for the enemy’s artillery had played with fearful effect upon our dense masses at Malvern Hill; and we, too, had much to do before again prepared for the field. But the untiring and indomitable Jackson was soon once more at the head of his legions, and marching rapidly in search of Pope, whose advance, under Banks, was reported in the vicinity of Cedar Mountain.
The First Maryland Regiment of Infantry, under the command of Colonel Bradley T. Johnson, (and to which I belonged,) having suffered severely in the many desperate battles of the summer, had been ordered to Gordonsville to recruit, directly after the battles around Richmond, and it was whilst there the thunder of Jackson’s cannon announced that he had once more encountered the “Commissary of the Valley,” and we did not for a moment doubt the result.
It was on the evening of the 17th of August, if I mistake not, that a long line of prisoners arrived from the battle-field, who were turned over to Colonel Johnson, to be forwarded at once to Richmond. My company was the fortunate one detailed for the service, and taking a train about 10 o’clock that night, we reached our destination shortly after daylight next morning.