USA > Maryland > The Maryland line in the Confederate Army, 1861-1865 > Part 4
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It was on this march, in the vicinity of Columbia Bridge, on May 16, 1862, that the term of enlistment of the officers and men of Company C, First Maryland, expired, and they were discharged from the service.
It was near Luray, on the 21st day of May, 1862, that the men of the First Maryland were gratified with a sight of the glorious Jackson. Away off in their rear, as they trudged along the turnpike, went up a mighty shout. Louder and louder it swelled in volume as it grew nearer. The Maryland boys had never heard that shouting before, and did not know its meaning until an old Virginia soldier who had heard it before called out : "Thar comes old Jack or an old har'." And presently an officer was seen riding furiously up the road bareheaded and bowing right and left. It was Stonewall Jackson, under whose leadership, through the long marches and hard battles that summer, the First Maryland was to win a reputation that will live for all time.
The evening of their arrival at Luray the following order was read, detaching the First Maryland from Elzey's Brigade and placing it under command of Brigadier-General George H. Steuart :
SOLON, May 17. 1862.
Major-General R. S. Ewell :
For the purpose of carrying out the order for organizing the Maryland Line, I have detached the First Maryland Regiment from Elzey's Brigade and assigned it to Brigadier- General George H. Steuart. Should you need the regiment, I have directed General Steuart to remain with you, but so soon as he can be spared I wish you would direct him to return to the Valley District, as it might facilitate the organization by being in the Valley.
T. J. JACKSON, Major-General.
The parting between the regiment and General Elzey was affecting in the extreme, and there were but few dry eyes present after their good old General had delivered his parting speech.
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General Ewell did need the regiment, and took good care not to part from it during the Valley campaign, nor until after the battles before Richmond.
On the evening of May 22 Jackson's army, about 12,000 men, went into camp within an easy day's march of Front Royal, where it was expected the Federals would be first encountered, but in what force was mere conjecture.
Near noon on the 23d a halt was made some three miles from Front Royal, and whilst the men were resting themselves an aide rode up to Colonel Johnson, whose command was well in the rear, and handed him the following order :
Colonel Johnson will move the First Maryland to the front with all dispatch, and in conjunction with Wheat's battalion develop the enemy's position at Front Royal.
JACKSON.
Colonel Johnson read the order from General Jackson to the men, and proud of the distinction conferred upon them, the First Maryland moved to the front with an elasticity of step that elicited the admiration of the whole army.
Pushing rapidly forward, the commands of Johnson and Wheat, preceded by a small squad of cavalry, soon came in sight of Front Royal, within a mile of which a picket post was captured.
The surprise was complete, and in a few minutes the Confederates had full possession of the town, several of the enemy being captured in the streets. It was then learned that the infantry force in front of Johnson and Wheat was composed of the First Maryland Federal, two companies of the Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania, besides a detachment of the Fifth New York cavalry and two pieces of artillery, making, all told, 1,100 men, under command of Colonel John R. Kenly, of the First Maryland, a soldier of the Mexican War and known to be a gallant man. Johnson's force consisted of 275 men, Wheat's of 150 ; total, 425.
Drawing his forces up on a commanding ridge a short distance outside of the town, Kenly calmly awaited the attack.
Colonel Johnson quickly threw forward in skirmish line the companies of Captains Herbert, Nicholas and Goldsborough, all under command of Lieutenant- Colonel E. R. Dorsey, with Wheat on their left. These troops moved with admirable precision over the intervening bottom land under a heavy fire of musketry and artillery, until they reached a position that afforded them some shelter, from which their fire did much execution.
In the meantime the Confederate infantry were moving in considerable force to Kenly's left, whilst a large body of cavalry was crossing the river some distance to his right. Finding himself likely to be surrounded, Kenly was at last compelled to withdraw across the river and endeavor to effect his escape to Winchester. He had made a gallant fight, and had delayed Jackson's advance some hours, and this was precious time to Banks.
STONEWALL JACKSON'S RIVAL,
=
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At the first evidence of Kenly's withdrawing his forces, Colonel Johnson ordered the whole of the First Maryland to advance (but three companies having been engaged), when many prisoners were captured on the river's bank, although the greater number succeeded in escaping over the two bridges, but in a disor- ganized condition.
At this point Colonel Johnson halted his command. It had fulfilled its mission, and the pursuit was to be conducted by cavalry. These overtook the fleeing Federals after they had gone some three miles, when after a desperate fight the entire body was captured, though not without severe loss to the attacking cavalry, for Kenly fought his troops like the brave man he was.
Thus ended the battle of Front Royal, in which First Maryland met First Maryland, and the scenes that were enacted that night when the prisoners were brought in are indescribable, for in the ranks of each were found dear friends, and in some cases near relatives, and the attention shown the vanquished by the victors did much to cheer them in their hour of captivity. Colonel Kenly and Adjutant Tarr were severely wounded, and to these Colonel Johnson and his officers paid particular attention. Colonel Kenly in his official report thus speaks of the treatment he and his command received at the hands of their captors :
" I desire also to state that since we fell into the hands of the Confederate troops our treatment has been kind and considerate, except that but a scanty allowance of food has been given to us, which I ascribe rather to its scarcity among them than to any disposition on their part to deprive us of it."
But this statement of " kind and considerate treatment of which Colonel Kenly speaks is at variance with the following extract from an official report signed by five officers of his command, who were evidently badly scared, and deserted their companions and their colors in their hour of need, and who never stopped running until they had reached Hagerstown, from which safe point of observation the report is dated :
The rebel infantry forded the North Branch stream and flanked us on the left. We were again ordered to move, left in front, up the road toward Winchester. We had marched about two miles when a wild shout was heard, and rebel cavalry came dashing into our lines, cutting right and left, showing no quarter. displaying a black flag. A portion of their cavalry captured our train, except one wagon and eight horses, which were cut loose by the teamsters (?) to escape on. A severe fight was kept up until our whole force was cut to pieces.
THOMAS SAVILLE, First Lieutenant Commanding Company B. JOHN McF. LYETH, First Lieutenant and R. Q. M., Company H. GEORGE W. THOMPSON, Lieutenant, Company D. CHARLES CAMPER, Lieutenant, Company K. GEORGE SMITHK, Captain. Company C.
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The reports spread by these men and others who had run away from the fight created a feeling of intense excitement in Baltimore, of which the rowdy element took advantage, and hundreds of the best citizens who were known to be in sympathy with the cause of the South were brutally assaulted upon the streets.
The comparatively small loss inflicted upon the command of Colonel Kenly is sufficient evidence that the Confederates were not fighting under a black flag. The black flag that these frightened officers saw was nothing more than the battle-flag which had been adopted owing to the fact that the similarity between the Confederate flag and the Stars and Stripes had upon several occasions brought Southern regiments into conflict, resulting in serious loss of life.
The following extract is taken from the columns of the Baltimore Sun of June 6. 1862 :
Colonel John R. Kenly, of the First Maryland Regiment, in company with Surgeon Mitchell, who were captured at Front Royal, arrived in this city yesterday morning from Frederick. . Colonel Kenly said it was needless to recount anything in regard 10 the fight. save and except to peremptorily deny that any brutality was shown by the Confederates toward himself or his wounded men. He speaks in the highest terms of the manner in which he was cared for after being taken prisoner. The story of his having been shot in an ambulance and his wounded men butchered upon the field, and other like horrible -tories. are base fabrications. Colonel Kenly says many officers of the First Maryland Confederate Regiment visited him. The actions and treatment of these officers were particularly kind.
On the morning of May 24 the army moved forward, the greater portion under Jackson going in the direction of Middletown to intercept Banks, who it was believed would fall back from Strasburg to Winchester. General Ewell, with Trimble's Brigade, the First Maryland and Brockenbrough's Baltimore Light. had instructions to move toward Winchester. Brigadier-General George H. Steuart, who had been detached from the Maryland Line and placed in temporary command of the Second and Sixth Virginia Cavalry, was dispatched to Newtown. General Steuart was quite successful in this expedition, capturing many prisoners and wagons, and advising General Jackson of movements which indicated that Banks was preparing to leave Strasburg. But Jackson reached Middletown too late, for the main body had passed that point.
In the meantime General Ewell, with his command, augmented by the arrival of the two regiments under General G. H. Steuart, was advancing to Winchester by the turnpike from Front Royal, and had occupied a position about three miles from the town as early as 10 o'clock at night. Heavy firing on Ewell's left during the afternoon and until late in the night indicated that Jackson was steadily advancing upon Winchester from Middletown.
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Before daylight in the morning of May 25 the First Maryland was ordered forward by General Ewell to open the battle in his front. Colonel Johnson deployed a portion of his regiment as skirmishers, and steadily they moved through the darkness toward Winchester. But as the day dawned a fog arose so (lense that objects could be seen only a few feet away. Not knowing where he was, and fearing that he might run into a superior force of the enemy, Colonel Johnson wisely assembled his men and ordered them to lie down in an orchard. And it was well he did, for when the fog lifted in a measure right in front of him, not over two hundred yards away, lay a large body of the enemy behind a stone fence. It would have been folly for Colonel Johnson to have attacked them with his little command, for it would have meant their destruction.
But the spattering fire of musketry was heard on the left, and it was evident that Jackson was moving forward to the attack. Suddenly the fog disappeared entirely, and the sight that met the gaze of the Maryland boys was, indeed, inspiring, although for the moment they were compelled to hug the ground closely for fear of being seen by the enemy, for they were completely isolated from the remainder of Ewell's command. In front of them, and off to their left was a long line of Federal troops drawn up on the outskirts of Winchester. Their skirmishers were falling back before those of Jackson. Suddenly there emerged from the woods a long line of Confederates. They moved with the most beautiful precision, although their trail was marked by dead and wounded men at every step. It was General Dick Taylor's glorious Louisiana brigade and the Tenth and Twenty-third Virginia.
Beautifully the line advanced upon the doomed Federals, and as the right of Taylor's Brigade brushed by the First Maryland, Colonel Johnson could remain a passive spectator no longer, and he led his Marylanders in the headlong charge along with the men from Louisiana and Virginia. The enemy could not with- stand the attack, but broke and fled through the streets of Winchester in dire confusion, closely pursued by the victorious Confederates.
But on the right Ewell was too slow, and had he pushed forward at the moment that Colonel Johnson left him, but a small number of Banks' army would have recrossed the Potomac.
In his official report of this battle General Jackson said :
"With the First Maryland on his left and Trimble's Brigade on his right, General Ewell now moved toward the eastern outskirts of the town. That advance was made about the time that Taylor's Brigade was so gallantly crossing the hill and charging toward the western side of the town."
But in this General Jackson is in error, as far as the First Maryland is concerned. That command entered Winchester on the western side and reached the eastern side almost before Ewell had put his troops in motion.
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Even then the army of Banks should have been destroyed or captured had there been any cavalry to pursue the panic-stricken enemy. Where was Jackson's cavalry ? Ashby's troopers were in the vicinity of Middletown and all the cavalry was disorganized by the victory or were out of place. It was left, then, for the infantry to pursue the fleeing Federals, which they did for some miles on the Martinsburg turnpike, when they were halted from sheer exhaustion. About an hour after the infantry had been halted General Steuart with his cavalry came up and renewed the pursuit in a highly creditable manner, but the main body of Banks' army was now beyond the reach of successful pursuit and effected its escape across the Potomac. General Jackson in his official report said : "There is good reason for believing that had the cavalry played its part in this pursuit, but a small portion of Banks' army would have made its escape to the Potomac."
Four miles beyond Winchester Colonel Johnson halted the First Maryland to await further orders. In the pursuit they had captured many prisoners, com- missary stores, etc., but the most remarkable of their captures was a wagon partially filled with breastplates, one of which, taken from the person of an officer of the First New York Cavalry by Colonel Johnson himself, can be seen in the relic room at the Confederate Soldiers' Home at Pikesville. Federal officers wearing breastplates ! Had these doughty soldiers on this occasion reversed the use for which they were intended and worn them on their backs many of them would have escaped what soldiers consider to be mortifying wounds. But, then, these breastplates served to amuse the Maryland boys exceedingly, and many of them were tied to trees and made targets of.
In this Winchester affair Licutenant-Colonel E. R. Dorsey of the First Maryland was wounded, and never returned to the command. Two days after the battle of Winchester the First Maryland entered Martinsburg, and on May 29 the First Maryland, with Company A, Maryland Cavalry, and Cutshaw's Battery marched from Martinsburg to beyond Charlestown. On the 30th the enemy was found at Bolivar Heights, and an artillery duel ensued between Cutshaw's Battery and a battery on the Heights, but although of some hours' duration no damage was inflicted upon Steuart's command, and it is questionable whether the enemy suffered any loss, save the killing of a horse. After a time the fire from the Federal battery ceased, but it was not known that he had withdrawn. However, that question was soon settled by Private Richard Knox, of D Company, First Maryland Infantry, who, rifle in hand, boldly traversed the intervening space, ascended the steep, and stood in proud possession of the enemy's camp.
By order of General Steuart. Colonel Johnson then occupied Bolivar Heights with the First Maryland and Company A of the Maryland Cavalry. The enemy was seen in great numbers at some distance gazing upon the invaders in mute astonishment. But this did not endure long, for soon a puff of smoke from a
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heavy piece of ordnance, followed by the explosion of a shell overhead, warned the invaders that they were not to be left in undisturbed possession of Bolivar Heights. Shell after shell came from two or three Federal batteries in rapid succession, and the reconnoisance (for that was all it was), having fulfilled its mission of conveying to the enemy the impression that Jackson intended to cross into Maryland at that point, General Steuart ordered Colonel Johnson to withdraw.
This expedition under command of General Steuart evidently frightened the Federals in Harper's Ferry out of their wits, and carried consternation to the authorities in Washington. It is amusing to read some of the many dispatchies forwarded to Stanton by one General R. Saxion, then in command at Harper's Ferry, one or two of which we will quote :
The Honorable E. M. Stanton :
HARPER'S FERRY, June 1, 1862.
The enemy moved up in force last evening about 7 o'clock, in a shower of rain, to attack. I opened on them from the position which the troops occupy above the town and from the Dahlgren battery on the mountains. The enemy then retired. Their pickets attacked ours twice last night. A volley from General Hough's breastworks drove them back. We lost one man killed. My men are overworked. Stood by their guns all night in the rain. What has become of Generals Fremont and McDowell ?
R. SAXTON, Brigadier-General.
HARPER'S FERRY, May 31, 1862.
The Honorable E. M. Stanton :
Telegraph General McDowell to press on with all possible haste. All my pickets driven in last night. Enemy in force in my front, and, I believe, on both flanks. My position is strong. Shall try to hold it.
R. SAXTON, Brigadier-General.
Stanton telegraphs Saxton :
WASHINGTON, May 31, 1862.
Brigadier-General Saxton :
Report immediately by telegraph the particulars of the disgraceful conduct of Maulsby's Regiment in abandoning their post last night.
EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War.
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HARPER'S FERRY, June 1, 1862.
The Honorable E. M. Stanton :
I have reliable information that on Thursday Jackson had ordered his army to storm this place, but the shells from our batteries were so destructive that he drew back out of their range and endeavored to draw us out to attack him.
R. SAXTON, Brigadier-General.
And all this fright and commotion was caused by Dick Knox, supported by Bradley T. Johnson at the head of the First Maryland Infantry, and Frank A. Bond, with Company A, First Maryland Cavalry. To think that a visit of these gentlemen to Bolivar Heights should have stampeded Maulsby's Maryland heroes and caused poor, unhappy Falstaff Saxton to call upon Stanton to not only hurry up McDowell's army, but to send him that of Fremont's also ! It is too amusing !
That night the First Maryland Infantry went into camp about three miles east of Charlestown. On the 31st the regiment was rear guard of the army, and marched seven miles beyond Winchester. At daylight on the morning of June I Colonel Jolinson aroused his tired men, and the weary march was resumed. Why the occasion for this rapid retrograde movement ? There was much discontent manifested among the troops, for all had thought they had come into the valley of Virginia to remain. But then they consoled themselves with the knowledge that they were with Jackson, and what Jackson did must be in their interest.
Little did these brave men know of the powerful combination that was being concentrated to insure their destruction, and nothing but the master hand of their great leader and their legs and indomitable courage averted it.
Fremont was coming from Franklin with 25,000 men to intercept Jackson somewhere near Strasburg, and this rapid marching meant that the Confederate Army, with its long line of wagons filled with valuable stores captured from the enemy, and the four thousand prisoners, should pass that point before Fremont should reach it. Fremont was held in check by a force thrown in his front near Strasburg, and Jackson's little army was safe for the time being.
But then Shields was marching a large force from McDowell's command to intercept him near Port Republic, and Jackson was still in imminent danger from an army in his rear of double his strength following him closely and one in front nearly his equal in numbers.
The enemy's cavalry vigorously pursued, and encounters with the rear guard under the glorious Ashby were of daily occurrence. At Ashby's request Colonel Johnson, with the First Maryland, was detailed to support him, and was consequently during the march from Strasburg well in the rear of the infantry column.
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On the afternoon of the 5th of June, 1862, the rear guard of Jackson's command passed through the streets of Harrisonburg, and filing to the left a short distance below that town, took the road to Port Republic, Fremont's advance at the time being close up with Ashby's rear guard of cavalry. On the night of the 5th the troops went into camp about two miles from Harrisonburg. At reveille on the morning of the 6th the men were astir, and after partaking of a hasty breakfast the weary march was resumed. To many it was their last meal, for before the sun had disappeared in the western horizon the First Maryland had to mourn the loss of some of its best and bravest, who lay cold in the embrace of death, and the spirit of the chivalrous Ashby, the Bayard of the Confederate Army, had also winged its flight from earth. It was his error of judgment that brought about the disaster, and he paid the penalty with his life.
After laboriously advancing on their journey some four miles over a most wretched road, during which the wagons of the long train and the artillery were being constantly stuck in the mud, which greatly retarded the march of the infantry, a halt was ordered. Ashby and his cavalry were resting in a strip of wood, and a short distance beyond in a field was the First Maryland. Suddenly there was borne to the ears of the latter a yell, followed by the rattle of small arms. The enemy was upon Ashby, and that, too, most unexpectedly, for many of his troopers had unsaddled their horses.
For some minutes this firing and yelling continued. Colonel Johnson grasped the situation at once. Ashby had been attacked, but by what force ? Hastily calling the First Maryland to "Attention !" Colonel Johnson led it in the direction of the wood from which these sounds of conflict emanated, but as the command advanced, the yelling and firing seemed to recede, until they were far away.
A dismounted prisoner was next seen coming to the rear under guard. He was a dashing-looking fellow, in a handsome, well-fitting uniform. He was nervously swinging one of his gauntlets in his hand, and seemed cast down and mortified at his ill fortune. At that moment the glorious, whole-souled Colonel Bob Wheat rode up. Springing from his horse he rushed up to the discomfited trooper. Their hands were extended simultaneously, for the recognition was mutual. "Why, Percy !" exclaimed Wheat ; "why, Bob !" stammered the other, and then they sat down in a fence corner and talked of the good old times they had had together in Italy under Garibaldi. The Federal officer was Colonel Percy Wyndham, an Englishman, in command of the First New Jersey Cavalry. He had persistently followed Ashby for days, and Ashby had expressed his admiration for the daring cavalryman who had given him so much annoyance. But poor Wyndham had ventured too far and had met his Waterloo, for not only himself but sixty-three of his men were captured and many killed and wounded,
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and the remainder were driven in great confusion more than two miles back upon their infantry. But, alas ! it was a dearly bought victory, as will be seen.
Whilst in pursuit of the fleeing enemy Ashby observed off to the right, isolated from any support, what appeared to be a regiment of infantry. He conceived the idea of capturing or destroying this force, and upon his return from the pursuit of the cavalrymen he reported what he had seen to General Ewell, and urged that General to give him infantry enough to accomplish that object. After much hesitation General Ewell reluctantly granted General Ashby's request, and placed the Second Virginia Brigade at his disposal. It was a very small brigade, under command of General George H. Steuart, and to this brigade the First Maryland had been temporarily attached.
Placing himself at their head, General Ashby moved up the road some distance in the direction of Harrisonburg, and then struck off through the woods on his right. At this point, feeling that he should soon be in the presence of the enemy, General Ashby called upon Colonel Johnson for two companies of the First Maryland, which he wished to thrown out as skirmishers. Companies D and G, under the command respectively of Captains James R. Herbert and Wilson C. Nicholas, were given him, and with these he continued his advance, closely followed by the Fifty-eighth Virginia. It was not long before the enemy was encountered. The Fifty-eighth was then ordered to the support of the two Maryland companies, so desperately battling with overwhelming odds, and for a few minutes the fighting was very severe, and the little Fifty-eighth was evidently getting the worst of it. In those few minutes the noble Ashby had rendered up his life, after having had his horse killed under him. In the meantime the reserve companies of the First Maryland, under Colonel Johnson, had changed its position from the right to the left, and the men were lying on the ground with the right flank of the regiment toward the enemy. At this critical moment General Ewell rode up to Colonel Johnson and exclaimed : "Charge with the First Maryland, Colonel Johnson, and end this miserable affair !"
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