The Maine bugle ... campaign; 1-5 Jan. 1894-Oct. 1898 - Maine.gov

FIFTH NEW YORK' IN THE VALLEY. 159
for time, I linally lircd the depot, as well as a large outbuilding to the south, containing
tents, and the various jjiles of tents, poles, etc., lying near together, with some half-
dozen vacant wall and A tents that were jiitched close l)y.
Moving now to the summit of the hill north of Strashurg, I found that my own
command, as well as a jjortion of the First Vermont C avalry, a portion of (ieneral
Hanks' body guard, and Hampton's battery, were cut off from the main body by the
rebels. Infantry, cavalry and wagons were streaming back in wild confusion along the
road and the fields on either side as far as the eye could reach. The battery having
been at once ordered to the summit of the hill, I supported it with my cavalry, formed
in line of l)attle in the (ield on either side. A few shell checked the small force of
rebels who were jiressing on us from Middletown. After a hasty consultation Colonel
Tompkins, Captain Hamilton, and myself decided to try and rejoin the main body by a
mountain road on the west of the pike. Colonel Tompkins stating that he had a cap-
tain who could guide us. Colonel Tompkins, forming the advance with a portion of
his regiment, was to move out the cross road a jiiece and halt until the column should
be formed, the battery and my own command following. I ordered forward companies
A and F. to support the battery. I would earnestly call your attention to the fact that
'I have not since seen Colonel Tompkins and his command, and to the critical
situation in which I was placed by his desertion, as he took with him the only guide
we had, the \'ermont cajitain. I have subse(|uently learned that Colonel Tompkins
pushed on without the battery, and that cimipanies .A. and E, of my regiment, entered
Winchester about I A. M. on Sunday with the battery. Captain Hampton and his two
l)altery wagons remained with me. 1 halted a few minutes for Captain Hampton to
bring u|) tiiese two battery wagons from the rear, and llien moved rapidly on, hut could
not overtake the battery.
Hefore moving 1 ordered Capt. Foster, of Ct)mpany M, to bring out of the village a
loaded supply train of thirty-live wagons that remaineil there, which he did in the face
of a large bt)dy of rebel cavalry who ajipeared to the south of the village. I also
i)rought up a portion of (ieneral Hank's body guard, and some of the First Maine,
I'irst Michigan, First Maryland, First Virginia, Tenth Maine, and Fifth Connecticut,
some telegraph operators, one of the signal corps, etc., who had been cut off near
Midilletown.
Now, about five 1'. M., I moved forward as rapidly as the battery wagons allowed,
and without halting, along rough roads i)arallel with the pike, making inijuiries at
every step. Late in the evening we reached a grade running to Winchester and join-
ing the Strasburg pike, say one and one half miles south of Winchester.
At one time, just before reaching this grade, we heard the beating of the enemy's
drums, and I ascertained that they were not more than three-tiuarters of a mile from
us. About eleven miles from Winchester 1 came upon a road runnmg westerly again
to I'ughtown, fourteen miles, easterly six miles to Newtown. Learning that the grade
I was on entered the Winchester and Strasburg pike, and thinking I might be com-
]>elled to take a more westerly road, I halted here, to be sure of a way of retreat, and
throwing out j)ickets on the Newtown road, ordered forward Captain Hammond's company
to reconnoiter as far as the pickets of (General Hanks', if possible, and send me
report. While standing here signaling was going on from a height many miles in our
rear for a long lime, and two rockets, possibly in reply, were sent up from near Win-
chester.