The Negroes
While marching one hot, dusty day, a little negro boy, about ten years of age, came out from a farm house and walked along with us, on his road to freedom. After marching awhile he became very thirsty and appealed from one soldier to another for a drink of water. He was refused by several but his thirst increased and he became desperate. Rolling his eyes in agony, with the tears streaming down his cheeks, he exclaimed, “Please sir! for the love of God, Massa, give dis heah poor nigga a drink of water.” We could not withstand such an appeal so we gave him a drink from our canteen. I suppose he became tired and went back home where there was plenty of water, at least we heard no more of him.
We did not see many negroes during our service. They hid away when the army passed. Occasionally we would catch a glimpse of a colored woman peeping from a door or window grinning at us. Two boys came back with us from Virginia. By passing as body servants we brought them through to Chillicothe. One was a black, ignorant fellow, by the name of Henry. He was about town for several years, employed as a hosler. The other was a bright mulatto, intelligent in conversation, but unable to read or write. He was anxious to get an education. We afterward heard of him as a school teacher near Chillicothe.
The negro could always be depended upon to assist Union soldiers in their efforts to escapefrom prison, and they approached their cabins with confidence, knowing that they would give them shelter and share their last morsel of food with him, and guide him along his way. Many a weary, hungry soldier has blessed the memory of his kind benefactors, with black faces and white hearts. This was the experience of our two boys, Cook and Martin, who escaped from Mosby, and has been the experience of hundreds of others, who, escaping from the prison pens of the south with the north star as a guide made their way through rugged mountains and trackless forests, back to “God’s country.”
From Frederick, the army marched on to Harper’s Ferry. Crossing the “Pontoon bridge” we passed through the town and went into camp at Halltown. We reached this camp on July 23d and remained there two days. The Sixth and Nineteenth Corps having passed up the Shenandoah Valley in pursuit of Early. Gen. Crook’s forces engaged Early at Kernstown, but losing heavily, had been forced back to the Potomac. This reverse caused our forces to fall back to Maryland Heights. On July 25th our Regiment “fell in” on the left and began what is known as the terrific “hot march” The sun was blistering, the heat seemed concentrated in the valley, while the dust rising in clouds was suffocating. As we plodded along on this short march of four miles, men could be seen dropping from sunstroke. I saw an officer throw up his hands and fall backward off his horse. Comrades pulled them to the roadside and did what they could for them. It was reported that thirty-five men had suffered sunstroke on that hot afternoon.
We crossed the Potomac and began the ascent of Maryland Heights, arriving at the summit about sunset. The view from the top of the mountain was grand. Tier after tier of bluemountains fading away in the distance, while a rebel wagon train moved slowly up the valley, shrouded in a cloud of dust that looked like it was a mile high. That night there came a welcome shower. The next morning we were ordered down and again took up the march back to Monocacy junction. Our Commanding General Kenley made the remark, “the boys were taken to the top of the mountain to see the sun set.” We arrived at the junction in the evening and rested. In the mean time our officers heard of the second invasion of Pennsylvania. General McClausland with a body of Confederate Horse crossed the river and pushed on to Chambersburg where he made a demand upon the citizens for the sum of $500,000, threatening that if it was not paid to burn the place. It was impossible for them to raise this amount of money so he fired the city, reducing it to ashes. This was one of the most cruel, wanton acts of the war, perpetrated upon defenceless citizens. While we were rushing frantically up and down the valley of the Shenandoah trying to find Early, his forces were marching through Pennsylvania marauding at their leisure. At this time Gen. Grant came over from Washington to consult with his Generals in regard to the situation. While standing on the station platform I heard the following conversation between Generals Grant and Hunter. Grant said, “General Hunter, where is the enemy?” Hunter replied, with a tremor in his voice, “I don’t know, General.” At this Grant in anger, exclaimed, “Move your troops back to Harper’s Ferry, cut off his line of retreat and you will find out.”
Orders were immediately given to return to the Ferry and the infantry boarded a freight train and were rushed back to Harper’s Ferry. McClausland in the meantime retired from hisraid and escaped to the south. We marched to our old camp ground at Halltown, arriving there July 28th. We remained quietly here for two weeks. During this time our boys, taking advantage of a well earned rest, engaged in all kinds of pranks and amusements. We were paid off while here so we had some money. The most striking event occurring here was