From that time, General Powell’s name was familiar to the ears and memories of the First Maryland cavalry, and many were the vows there uttered over the dead bodies of their comrades to avenge their death—and they were fearfully avenged, though the chief assassin escaped.
In November, 1864, the battalion, now in General Davidson’s brigade of Lomax’s division, crossed the mountain and camped near Washington, in Rappahannock county, in order to obtain supplies, which were now exceedingly scarce. For days at a time the only food was apples and bread made of corn meal of such miserable quality as to be utterly inedible except under pressure of the direst necessity. Coffee and sugar had long before disappeared—so long that it was a real effort of memory to recall their flavor—and the taste of meat was now a matter of rare occurrence, and then often obtained by the capture of a bewildered squirrel or rabbit, or the accidental falling of a tree on some luckless hog, which happened oftener than people would suppose or believe who are unacquainted with the pertinacity with which that animal will haunt a cavalry camp to steal from the horses, and at which they have often been known to be killed by a kick. Apples were, however, in abundance, and excellent, and assisted greatly in keeping up the commissariat.
Supplies of all kinds, however, were exhausted in two or three weeks, and the battalion moved back to the neighborhood of Madison Court House. Here it remained until December, when General Davidson was relieved by General Jackson, the former General having been only temporarily in command during the absence, while wounded, of the latter, the proper commander of the brigade.
At this time the enemy made a simultaneous advance upon Madison Court House, Staunton and Charlottesville, at which latter place Custer’s division of cavalry was fought by Brethod’s battery of horse artillery, composed mainly of Maryland soldiers, without support of any kind; and so bold and vigorous was their defence that Custer retired with loss, under the impression that a large force confronted him. The column advancing upon Madison Court House, consisting of two divisions, was engaged and held in check nearly a day by Jackson’s brigade, the fight having begun in the morning and lasted until 9 P. M. The battle was closed by a charge of the First Maryland upon the left flank of the enemy, which was most advanced. The charge was made less effective by reason of the leading squadrons stumbling into a deep and wide ditch, which, owing to the darkness, could not be seen until too late to prevent the horses from falling. But although not damaging the enemy to the extent hoped for, it had the effect to break and scatter his line in confusion, and keep him quiet for the balance of the night.
After waiting for some time for further demonstrations from the enemy, and there being none, General Jackson quietly withdrew his brigade a few miles, and the men lay down in the snow, which covered the ground to the depth of ten inches, to get a little rest. In the meantime General Lomax, who had been notified in the beginning of the enemy’s advance, was assembling at Liberty Mills his different brigades, which had necessarily been scattered in order to subsist. By daylight General Jackson was moving to that point, where, after partaking of some food, the troops were directed to throw up rude breastworks, which was done by piling fence rails along the banks of the stream. This had scarcely been accomplished when the enemy made his appearance and deployed most beautifully on the opposite hills, when a brisk skirmish began, which continued all day and until night, when the exhausted troops were ordered to unsaddle and seek some rest, but they had barely dismounted when a courier dashed up and reported that the enemy had crossed the stream, and that they were to be charged at once. In an instant the gallant troopers sprang to their horses, and Jackson’s brigade dashed at the enemy’s advance. For some time the ground was stubbornly contested, when Jackson’s column to the right and left of the First Maryland broke, which compelled the whole to fall back. They were quickly rallied, however, when a desperate charge was made, and the enemy in turn compelled to retire. Lomax then withdrew his division to Gordonsville, where it rested that night, and at daylight it was again drawn up in line of battle to meet the enemy, who had made his appearance. A sharp but brief conflict ensued, in which the enemy was repulsed, when he withdrew, and finally retired by the road he came to Winchester.
CHAPTER X.
After this affair the brigade of Jackson retired to within twelve or fifteen miles of Orange Court House, where it remained until about the first of March, when Sheridan moved down the Valley in heavy force, and captured the little that remained of Early’s command near Waynesboro’. The First Maryland was ordered to hang upon his flank, which it did with great tenacity, first striking him on James river, beyond Charlottesville, and following him to the White House, on York river. So small a force could accomplish nothing by a direct attack, and it therefore confined its operations to cutting off scouting and marauding parties, which amounted in the aggregate to more than their own number three times over.
The battalion rested for some days near Richmond after it had returned from following Sheridan, when it was ordered to join Lomax in West Virginia. It accordingly marched to join that officer, and when about two days advanced on the journey, was ordered back with all speed to report to General Fitz. Lee at Stony creek, twenty miles from Petersburg.
Reaching Richmond on the evening of April 2d, 1865, it went into camp on its suburbs. Early next morning (Sunday) the battalion moved through the city, and had the pleasure of greeting many of their comrades, prisoners on parole, awaiting exchange. The day had nothing of Sabbath quiet, churches were unattended, and the streets filled with anxious crowds of soldiers and citizens eagerly seeking and discussing the army news. Already many painful rumors were rife betokening disaster, but resolutely refusing to doubt the success of the cause in which their very souls were embarked, the little band of Marylanders—now reduced to less than one hundred in the saddle—pushed on, followed by the regrets and blessings of their paroled brothers, whose obligations forbade them, as yet, to take part in the stirring events then occurring. As the lines at Petersburg were approached, it was inexpressibly cheering to see everything calm, and the army apparently as confident and defiant as ever.
It was well known that the odds against General Lee were immense, but all Confederate victories had been won against such advantages, and an abiding faith in the justice of their cause, and genius of their great chief, kept up the spirits of Colonel Dorsey’s command in spite of all drawbacks. When, therefore, bodies of troops of greater or less force were seen in motion, on or near the Petersburg road, in perfect order, and advancing towards the sound of the firing, which had all day been heard in their front, the Maryland soldiers took these facts as perfect confirmation of their pre-entertained opinion that all the news which had given rise to such distressing rumors were, instead of a retreat of the Army of Northern Virginia, only a strategic device on the part of General Lee to bring Grant out from behind his breastworks in order to attack and destroy him. Nor was this idea weakened at all when, after reaching Petersburg about dark, they found everything prepared for motion, and heard that General Lee’s lines had been broken. The heavy batteries in front were in full action, and it naturally seemed that so much firing must indicate stout resistance.