Soon after the battle of Sharpsburg, the Baltimore Light Artillery, now under command of Captain W. H. Griffin, was ordered to join the cavalry and infantry of the Maryland Line, then encamped near New Market, in the Valley of Virginia. Here they passed the fall and winter months quietly in camp,and in early spring were again prepared, with recruited ranks and renewed equipments, to enter the field.
On the 13th of June the infantry and artillery of the Maryland Line, with one company of its cavalry, all under command of Lieutenant-Colonel James R. Herbert, moved towards Winchester, near which place they were to unite with the division of General Early, which was moving across from Front Royal. Near Kearnstown a body of Milroy’s cavalry was encountered, but a shot from the battery scattered them in all directions. A short time after, Early came up and proceeded to form line of battle. The enemy soon made his appearance in force, and opened a severe fire upon Griffin from his batteries, which was vigorously responded to, and in a little while the enemy were driven beyond Kearnstown. Early, as soon as he had formed his line of battle, moved forward, and by a spirited charge of Gordon’s brigade, drove him into his strong works to the left of Winchester.
The next afternoon Hays’ Louisiana brigade was moved around to the enemy’s right with orders to charge a strong line of works whilst the artillery opened upon him in front. Griffin was posted on a commanding hill a little to the left of the pike, and threw his first shell into the very centre of the Star fort. Finding he had the exact range, he commenced a furious fire, which threw the enemy for a moment into the greatest confusion, and greatlyassisted Hays in his movement upon their right. The fire was soon spiritedly returned by a Federal Maryland battery, and continued until night, when Milroy evacuated his fortifications and attempted to escape with his army, but in this he was unsuccessful, although he himself succeeded in reaching Harper’s Ferry with a few of his troops.
The precision and effect with which the guns of the Baltimore Light Artillery were served upon this occasion elicited the highest praise from General Gordon, to whose brigade it was temporarily attached, and as a mark of the high esteem in which he held the battery, he procured them permission from General Ewell next morning to select from among the captured guns the best pieces, to take the place of their own, which were greatly inferior.
The day after the battle of Winchester, the corps of General Ewell took up its line of march towards the Potomac. The Baltimore Light Artillery was directed by some subordinate officers to report to General Nelson of thereserveartillery. The order occasioned the greatest surprise and indignation throughout the command, for always before they had led the advance and covered the retreat. Such an indignity, as they considered it, could not be tamely submitted to, and a protest was immediately drawn up and forwarded to General Ewell, who at once ordered the battery to join Albert G. Jenkins’ brigade of cavalry, which was the van of the army in the invasion of Pennsylvania.
The battery crossed the Potomac on the 18th ofJune, and that day joined Jenkins, when the whole command moved rapidly forward in the greatest good humor. Many were the jokes they practiced, and many the quaint sayings, peculiar only to the soldier. “Take them mice out of your mouth,” one would bawl out as an officer with well waxed moustache rode by; “take ’em out, no use to say they ain’t thar, for I see their tails stickin out.” And as another came along, but a short time in the service, and wearing a “boiled shirt,” and white collar, his ears were sure to be assailed with “say mister how long did you have to soldier ‘afore one of them things growd’ round your neck?” And the staff officer, with handsome cavalry boots, would be requested by a dozen voices to “come out of them thar boots, for it’s too soon to go into winter quarters.”
En parenthèse, soldiers are queer beings, and will have their joke, even in the face of almost certain death. At the battle of Malvern Hill, whilst the First Maryland regiment was awaiting its turn to “go in,” and the men were closely hugging the earth to avoid the terrible fire of grape and canister which swept over and around them, I heard an officer of the regiment remark to another at his side, whose face was pressed close to the ground, “say, Captain, you’ll get a scrape down yourbackdirectly, and you know it’s something we don’t allow here,” and the officer addressed coolly turned over on his back, remarking, “well, if it will please you better, I’ll take it in front.”
The command of Jenkins pursued its march rapidly through Maryland, and struck the Pennsylvania line near Greencastle. Thence their way lay up the Cumberland Valley to Shippensburg, where a halt was made for a short time to allow the tired troops to partake of the delicious apple-butter, ham, bread, &c., furnished them in abundance by the startled inhabitants. Whilst thus enjoying themselves to their hearts’ content, the cry of “Yanks” was raised, and in an instant the scene changed. Cavalrymen sprang to their horses, and artillerymen to their guns, but the wary enemy could not be induced to come within range of Griffin’s Parrott’s, but retired towards Carlisle, followed leisurely by Jenkins.
Upon arriving within sight of that town, the Yankee flag was found defiantly flying from the public buildings, when Jenkins, supposing the enemy to be there in force, prepared to attack. Placing two pieces of artillery in a position to rake the main street, and disposing of his other troops in the most available manner, he demanded the surrender of the town. It was not long before a deputation of the “solid” citizens made their appearance, and surrendered the place, which General Jenkins at once took possession of.
After remaining at Carlisle one day, during which time they were bountifully supplied with provisions and forage by the citizens, the command moved in the direction of Harrisburg. At Mechanicstown asmall body of cavalry were encountered, but a shot from Griffin caused them to heat a hasty retreat. Upon reaching the Susquehanna, the Confederate commander found the opposite side of the river strongly fortified, but he at once opened fire from his batteries, which was promptly responded to. This continued until late in the afternoon, when the enemy’s infantry advanced in force, and a severe skirmish ensued, which lasted until after night. General Rhodes (I have forgotten to mention the fact that Jenkins and Rhodes united their forces at Carlisle) having accomplished his purpose, that night withdrew in the direction of Gettysburg.
Upon arriving at Gettysburg the battery was ordered to report to Major Latimer, who assigned it a position a short distance to the left of the Cashtown pike. In the terrible battle that ensued, the Baltimore Light Artillery played its part, and when the retreat commenced it was kept in the rear to assist in covering the passage of the army and wagon trains through the mountain passes.
At a point near Mount Zion the enemy had so stationed his guns as to completely command the road through the gap over which a column of infantry must pass. There was but little time to spare, for the enemy were pressing them hard. Captain Griffin was ordered to place his guns in position, and if possible silence the battery. It seemed a desperate undertaking, but there was no alternative. Quickly the brave fellows ran their gunsto within point blank range, and opened a deadly fire. It was promptly returned, and a heavy artillery duel continued for some time, when the enemy’s battery was driven from its position, and the infantry and wagon train passed in safety. I have heard it asserted by old soldiers that this was one of the most desperate artillery fights they ever witnessed. And the Marylanders had every reason to be proud of their victory, for it was their old antagonist, battery M, of the regular artillery, that they had again measured strength with.
At Hagerstown the battery participated in a severe cavalry fight, in which the Confederates were entirely successful.
After the army of General Lee recrossed the Potomac, the battery was ordered to Fredericksburg, where it remained for a few days, and then rejoined the main army at Culpepper Court House, and was assigned to the battalion commanded by Major Beckham.
For two weeks everything remained quiet, and well it was, for human endurance had been taxed to the utmost limit in the severe campaign of the summer, and required rest and repose.
On the 10th of September Meade became restive, and General Lee moved forward to give him battle if he desired it. Beckham was ordered to advance and take position with his artillery near Muddy Creek. In a short time the enemy appeared in force, and a sharp artillery fight ensued. Theenemy then threw forward his infantry, and compelled Beckham and his supports to fall back to the vicinity of Culpepper Court House. The artillery was here ordered to take a position and “hold it.” The fighting soon became fierce, and the Baltimore Light Artillery was exposed to the severest part of it, but they gallantly held their ground for some time, despite the fire of six pieces that were playing upon their three. But this could not last long, for all support had been withdrawn, and the enemy’s dismounted men were advancing in heavy force. It seemed scarcely possible to save the battery, but the brave fellows had been in such scrapes before, and they determined to hold on to their pieces as long as there was a hope. Retiring through the town, they had nearly accomplished their purpose of escaping, when a body of the enemy charged up a cross street and captured the rear gun, with Lieutenant John McNulty and nine men attached to it. The remaining guns were safely taken off the field.
The next morning the enemy made their appearance in considerable force, and the battery was enabled to repay them for the rough treatment received the day preceding, for as a body of cavalry were engaged in drill, entirely ignorant of the close proximity of the Baltimore battery, it opened upon them with deadly effect at very close range.
After the affair at Mine Run, which soon followed that at Culpepper Court House, the battery was detached from the main army, and temporarilyassigned to duty with General Young’s brigade of cavalry. On the 9th of October that General crossed the Rapidan, and advanced by way of Madison Court House. His progress was slow, as the march was by circuitous and concealed side roads in order to avoid the observations of the enemy. On the 10th Young met the advance of the enemy at James City, without an intimation of his approach, and their bands were regaling the citizens with patriotic airs, when a shot from Sergeant Harry Marston’s gun, of the Baltimore Light Artillery, plunged into their midst, and abruptly terminated the musical entertainment for that evening at least. In a short time a battery was brought up, and a severe artillery fight ensued. Soon another made its appearance and opened an enfilading fire upon Griffin, but notwithstanding, he stubbornly held his position. Whilst this was going on a large force of the enemy’s skirmishers attacked the Confederate flank, and threw the cavalry into some confusion by their unexpected onset from this quarter. Griffin at the instant wheeled his pieces, and opened with grape and canister upon this new enemy. This checked them until the supports came up, when the enemy were compelled to retreat precipitately.
On the 12th a sharp engagement took place near Brandy Station, where the enemy were driven across the Rappahannock, and pursued to the vicinity of Cub Run.
After this affair the army retraced its steps toCulpepper Court House, when the Baltimore Light Artillery was ordered to proceed to Hanover Junction, and report to Colonel Bradley T. Johnson, who had been directed to assemble the Maryland Line at that point, and keep open General Lee’s communication with Richmond.
The battery spent the winter and part of the spring here most delightfully, and by the 1st of May was ready for the field with recruited ranks, for Lieutenant John McNulty and many of the men captured in the battles of the preceding year had returned from Yankee prisons, and were once more ready for the fray.