Читать книгу A Summer in Maryland and Virginia; Or, Campaigning with the 149th Ohio Volunteer Infantry онлайн

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“In addition to this I found other troubles which mitigated against the success of my movement. Across the fields through which we were to advance, there were strong and high farm fences which my men must climb while under fire. Worse still these fields were full of grain stacks so high and close together that no line of battle could be maintained while advancing through them. The movement began, and as my men reached the first line of high fencing and began climbing over, they were met by a tempest of bullets, and many fell at the first volley. They pressed on and around the grain stacks, with no possibility of forming allignment or returning effective fire. The men, deprived of the support and strength of a compact line, pushed forward and drove the Federals back to their second line. The Union troops stood firmly in this second position, bravely defending the railroad and highway to Washington. Between the two hostile lines there was a narrow ravine, down which ran a stream of limpid water. In this ravine the fighting was desperate and at close quarters. To and fro the battle swayed across the little stream, the dead and wounded on both sides mingling their blood in its waters, and when the struggle was ended a crimson current ran toward the river. Nearly one-half of my men fell there. Wallace’s army, after the most stubborn resistance, was driven in the direction of Baltimore. The Confederate victory was won at fearful cost, but it was complete, and the way was opened for Gen. Early’s march to Washington.”