The Maryland Line in the Confederate States Army.Goldsborough, W. W. (William Worthington)
History
The Maryland Line in the Confederate States Army.
Goldsborough, W. W. (William Worthington)
Confederate States of America. Army; Maryland -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
“How do you like that, Colonel?” I heard Captain Willie Nicholas ask,
who, convulsed with laughter, had been watching the performance.
Drawing forth his handkerchief and wiping from his face the profuse
perspiration that covered it, the Colonel replied:
“I shouldn’t have cared; but, d—— it, she smells so strong of rosin
soap, and I never could bear the stuff.”
That night the First Maryland went into camp close by the Winchester and
Martinsburg turnpike, and about four miles from the former town. Upon
the call of the roll but one man was found missing, Lieutenant Colonel
Dorsey, who had been severely wounded through the right shoulder after
entering the town.
On the morning of the 26th orders were received to move to Martinsburg,
and there collect the large amount of stores abandoned by the enemy. Two
or three days were consumed in this duty, after which we rejoined the
main body of the army, encamped near Charlestown.
General Jackson’s movements since the battle of Winchester had much
puzzled his troops, and entirely confounded the enemy.
“Surely,” we reasoned, “he is not going to cross over into Maryland with
the handful of men under his command, for McDowell would quickly compel
him to return, and then it would be too late to escape Fremont, who will
certainly come down from West Virginia with his army of twenty-five
thousand men.”
Our situation seemed a critical one; but then Jackson was with us, and
with him nothing seemed impossible.
The day after our arrival at Charlestown General George H. Steuart was
ordered to take the First Maryland and two batteries of artillery and
attack the enemy’s camp on Bolivar Heights, while a small force was also
directed to make a demonstration from the Shenandoah Heights upon
Harper’s Ferry.
It now became apparent to all that the whole movement of Jackson from
Winchester was a feint, but for what purpose we were entirely at a loss
to conjecture. Little did we then dream of the splendid combinations
General Lee had formed for the relief of Richmond, the principal moves
in which had been intrusted to Jackson, the first of which he was
executing.
Our batteries opened upon the enemy posted on Bolivar Heights about ten
o’clock in the morning, and continued the fire without intermission
until late in the afternoon, when his guns were silenced, and it became
evident he had abandoned the heights. The infantry then crossed over and
took possession of his camp, which was found entirely deserted. As soon
as we were perceived the batteries upon the Maryland Heights and at
Barber’s house opened their fire, without effect, however, and our
object having been accomplished, after helping ourselves to the
bountiful meal we found on the fire, we retired, and went into camp near
Halltown.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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