The Maryland Line in the Confederate States Army.

by W. W. Goldsborough

On the 8th, but twenty miles were made, and the troops went into camp at Webb’s Mills, tired and hungry. Provisions for men and forage for horses must be had, but there seemed a scarcity of both. The farmer upon whose place the First Maryland encamped declared he had neither. The smokehouse was searched, and nothing but two or three pieces of bacon was revealed, which the man insisted was all he had in the world. Poor fellow! he had the sympathies of the whole command. But he was a Union Yankee, and what Yankee won’t lie, even for a piece of bacon? for while all hands were sympathizing with him in his extreme destitution, some of the men inadvertently kicked over a few armsfull of rotten hay where had been an old haystack, when, behold! before their astonished vision lay an immense pile of bacon buried in the ground, and thus covered. The poor old wretch was wild with fright, but when assured only enough would be taken to feed the few men of the command, he could scarcely credit his senses. We wonder whether had it been a Yankee command in a Rebel country the owner would have escaped with his bacon? No; had he saved the house over his head he would have been fortunate.

Bright and early, on the morning of the 8th of May, the troopers were called from their sound slumbers by the loud blasts of the bugle, and after a scanty feed given to their horses, and a slice of the old man’s bacon partaken of by themselves, the “mount” was sounded and the march resumed. They were that day to witness an unusual sight, as all were aware, should nothing interfere, for the command was on its way to Oil City, to destroy the immense quantity of oil known to be there. The roads were in a most wretched condition, but the twenty miles that separated them from their prey was soon traversed.

As expected, a large amount of oil was on hand, calculated at 300,000 barrels, which was principally in large boats, into which it had been pumped, to be conveyed off and barreled. The coming of the audacious Rebels was altogether unexpected, or much of it could have been removed to a place of safety. But this time the fates decreed against the Yankees, and many thousands of dollars worth of Northern capital was to fall a prey to an outraged people’s avenging torch.

Preparations were immediately made for a grand illumination. The works were first touched off, and next the barges, and perhaps such a sight as followed it had never before been the province of man to witness. Immense volumes of dense black smoke arose, and with the lurid flame mounted high in the air. The burning boats were cast off from their moorings, and floated down with the current, enveloped in smoke and flame, and as the oil ran out and covered the surface of the water, it appeared as though before them lay a sea of liquid fire. For hours the raiders watched the vast conflagration, which seemed a lamp of magnificent proportions, lighted to illuminate the whole world.

It served as a beacon to the enemy, though, and the troopers were admonished to be up and away.

On the 10th, the march was resumed, and by the next day the column passed through De Kalb and Glenville, and encamped within six miles of Duttonville.

For several days the march was continued at a rapid gait, without an incident worth mentioning. Horses, beeves and sheep were gathered in great numbers, and started for the Valley, to mount and feed the troops of the Confederate army. Save these, all other property was respected.

Through Dutton, across Elk river, on they went, passing “Imboden’s Life Insurance Command” at Somerville; thence across the almost perpendicular Flat Top mountains; and on the 16th encamped within four miles of Lewisburg—men and horses completely broken down.

A rest was here absolutely necessary to refresh man and beast. But a day was allowed, however, and on the 18th they were once more on the wing, and from day to day the march continued homeward, until the battalion reached its old camp, near New Market, on the 30th of May, after an absence of thirty-nine days, on one of the most remarkable raids of the war.

But the expedition was by no means a success. General Jones’ original purpose was to destroy the Baltimore and Ohio railroad at various important points, but, as he might have expected, these points were guarded by large bodies of troops, which compelled him to forego that intention. He started without accurate information, and only learned it when in the enemy’s country. He then turned his attention to gathering the stock along his route, much of which, however, never reached the Valley. It is true he did destroy an immense amount of property and a few unimportant bridges, but it had no practical results. One of the valuable lives lost, then, was worth more than all the good accomplished. And, moreover, his command returned to the Valley in a completely broken down and unserviceable condition.