Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/488

 482 Southern Historical Society Papers,

large assortment of army clothing. The extensive machine shops and depot buildings of the railroads, and several trains of loaded cars were entirely destroyed. From Chambersburg I decided, after mature consideration, to strike for the vicinity of Leesburg as the best route of return, particularly as Cox's command would have rendered the direction of Cumberland, full of mountain gorges, particularly haz- ardous. The route selected was through an open country. Of course I left nothing undone to prevent the inhabitants from detect- ing my real route and object. I started directly tovi^ards Gettysburg, but having passed the Blue Ridge, turned back towards Hagerstown for six or eight miles, and then crossed to Maryland by Emmetts- burg, where, as we passed, vi^e were hailed by the inhabitants with the most enthusiastic demonstrations of joy. A scouting party of one hundred and fifty lancers had just passed towards Gettysburg, and I regret exceedingly that my march did not admit of the delay neces- sary to catch them. Taking the road towards Frederick we inter- cepted dispatches from Colonel Rush (lancers) to the commander of the scout, which satisfied me that our whereabouts was still a problem to the enemy.

Before reaching Frederick, I crossed the Monocacy ; continued the march through the night, via Liberty, New Market, Monrovia, on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, where we cut the telegraph wires and obstructed the railroad. We reached, at daylight, Hyattstown, on McClellan's line of wagon communication with Washington, but we found only a few wagons to capture, and pushed on to Barnsville, which we found just vacated by a company of the enemy's cavalry. We had here corroborated what we had heard before — that Stone- man had between four and five thousand troops about Poolesville, and guarding the river fords. I started directly for Poolesville, but instead of marching upon that point, avoided it by a march through the woods, leaving it two or three miles to my left, and getting into the road from Poolesville to the mouth of the Monocacy. Guarding well my flanks and rear, I pushed boldly forward, meeting the head of the enemy's column going towards Poolesville. I ordered the charge, which was responded to in handsome style by the advance squadron firving's) of Lee's brigade, which drove back the enemy's cavalry upon the column of infantry advancing to occupy the crest from which the cavalry were driven. Quick as thought Lee's sharpshooters sprang to the ground, and, engaging the infantry skir- mishers, held them in check till the artillery in advance came up, which, under the gallant Pelham, drove back the enemy's force to