They placed us in an orchard so close to the fort that the shells would crash through the tree tops above our heads. This was not of long duration, until a rebel line of infantry came out of the woods and charged the fort. The fort reserved their fire until the rebels got close up to it, and I began to fear that it would be taken, when all at once it let loose with artillery, and a galling infantry fire from a line of troops that we had not seen. Such a noise I never heard. The smoke and the gathering twilight hid all the combatants from view, but we could tell from the sound of the guns that the rebels were falling back, and that the Union infantry was following them up. Directly all firing ceased, and we knew that the enemy had been repulsed. At this time we drew two days’ rations of beef and flour, but before we had time to cook it we were ordered to fall in, and under a heavy guard began marching to the rear. The whole rebel army came pell mell, almost a stampede. The cavalry and artillery filled the road, the infantry going through the fields. The cattle they had stolen in Maryland were also driven through the fields, the drivers yelling and swearing, making the air hideous with the din. A fine residence of a United States Senator was burned to the ground. All this made an impression upon my mind that I will never forget. I learned afterward that after their repulse at Washington, the word was passed that General Hunter was advancing from Harper’s Ferry to attack them in the rear. We marched all night and forded the Potomac at Edwards Ferry early the next morning. We waded the river, which came up to my arm pits. I being small. We camped near a big spring not far from the river, where we rested and cooked what little we had. The next morning two days rations were issued, and cooked, and we again took up the march passing through Leesburg, Va., and on through Snickers Gap, getting to the Shenandoah river after dark. Here we camped for the night. The next morning they allowed us to bathe in the river. We resumed the tiresome march and pressed on to Winchester where we halted in the edge of the town. While here we drank from a spring the coldest water I ever saw. We then marched to Kernstown where we encamped for two days. Here Joseph Rowland and Joseph Hays of my company made their escape. This left eleven of our squad still prisoners. Sergeants James Nichols and Rees McCall; Corporals James and William Harrison, brothers and Privates W. W. McCracken, Thomas Broaders, Philip Frank, Wm. Houser, James Cruit, Peter Garratt and myself. The stop here gave us a much needed rest, and we again drew our two days’ rations of beef and flour. Two days’ rations may sound big, but a hearty man could eat it all at one meal without discomfort. I do not remember the exact amount, but know that it was not near enough to satisfy our hunger.