Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 24.djvu/355

 ././//,///>' /{i-i in tin (ittti/xliiirii Ciiiiiiui,),,. :U7

tin- condition of our lame horses. I took the same rad and in a village we discovered a blacksmith shop. We helped ourselves and had tin- horses quickly shod. Fortunately we were not molested by the enemy. At night, stormy weather set in and we took refuge in a large barn.

AT CASHTOVVN.

July 5th. In the morning we rode to Cashtown, where I met General Fit/hugh Lee, and then we marched by way of Summits, the place of our engagement of June 23d, to Greencastle. The enemy attacked General Lee, but was repulsed with heavy loss. At 12 o'clock at night we met General Imboden's brigade, in charge of the wagon-train. The road was in a sorry condition, on account of the rain, and cut up by the wagons, some of which had to be left behind. At Greenwood and at Greencastle the train was attacked by Federal cavalry, but they were repulsed without being able to do much harm. All our men discussed our serious defeat at Gettys- burg, its causes and probable consequences, and all seemed to agree that the disadvantage arising from our extended line was the cause of t'.ie disaster. Our army surrounded the Union army in the shape of a horseshoe, and, therefore, reinforcements could not, in case of need, be promptly rendered by one part to the other. The enemy, on the other hand, had the advantage of a concentrated, hilly posi- tion, which we were unable to take, after the success of the first day's battle had failed to be followed up, thus allowing the defeated army time to fortify and be reinforced. All regret the loss of the brave soldiers, estimated at from 15,000 to 20,000.

July 6th. In search of Jenkins' Brigade, I marched to Hagers- town, Md. I was enjoying a delicious dinner at the Washington "Hotel when one of my troop informed me that the enemy was in town. I called my men together; we heard the shooting between some cavalry of the Wise Legion and the Yankees in the streets, and we hastened to assist the small Confederate force. We came too late. Colonel Davis, commanding, had his horse killed, and was taken prisoner, and his men were falling back. Fortunately, a regi- ment of Confederate infantry entered the city at this critical moment, and we proceeded to drive the Yankees out of the city. They were in strong force, and skirmishing was kept up until half-past 5 o'clock, when Jenkins' Brigade came to our succor. The Union cavalry re- treated, but surprised our wagon-train at Williamsport, and des- troyed a number of wagons. We encamped near Hagerstown.