History of Western Maryland. J. Thomas Scharf
aroused of the danger that threatened them, and one and all, from the officer to the private, entered into the contest with such a determined zest as led to the utter rout and discomfiture of the enemy and the signal failure of their base attempt. They experienced a loss of one captain, two lieutenants, and two privates killed, and two privates mortally wounded, and one prisoner, it was also very evident that they removed a large portion of their wounded with them in their precipitate flight, as a detachment of the command subsequently sent in pursuit found evidence of blood all along their line of retreat. I experienced a loss of four enlisted men killed and sixteen wounded. Capt. Vernon experienced a serious wound in the head, but it is the opinion of the battalion surgeon, W. R. Way, that it will not prove fatal. I am deeply indebted to the officers and men of my command for the daring displayed by them on this occasion, and earnestly commend them to the division commander for his favorable consideration.
" I have the honor to remain,
" Very respty yr. obt. servt.,
"Henry A. Cole, Major Commanding.
The following is a list of the killed and wounded of Maj. Cole's command, as shown by the report of the medical director:
" Medical Director's Office.
" Harper's Ferry, Va., Jan. 10, 1864.
" Brig.-Gen. J. C. Sullivan,
"Comdg. 1st Division, Dept. of West Virginia:
"Sir, — I have the honor to report the following list of killed and wounded in the Independent Battalion, Maryland Cavalry, Maj. Cole commanding, during an attack made on the camp on Loudon Heights, Va., by Mosby's and White's forces, at 3 a.m. of the 10th January, 1864:
" Killed. — Company B, Sergt. J. J. Kerns; Company D, Private George Burford.
" Wounded. — Company A, Capt. G. W. F. Vernon, wound of head and left eye; Ord.-Sergt. Zimmerman, flesh wound of the left leg; Private D. W. Carnes, gunshot compound fracture of right leg; Private H. F. Null, wound of abdomen; Private I. Craighton, flesh wound of left leg; Private E. Godwin, gunshot compound fracture of left leg; Private Samuel Stone, wound of abdomen.
" Company B. — Lieut. Samuel Rivers, flesh wound of left foot; Ord.-Sergt. J. C. Stouffer, flesh wound of left hip; Sergt. C. W. Ham, flesh wound of left arm; Private Samuel Rivers, gunshot compound fracture of left thigh; Private Gotlieb Foos, wound of shoulder and left lung; Private B. F. Filler, wound of right shoulder; Private A. Sosy, wound of abdomen.
" Company C. — -Private Weaver, flesh wound of left thigh.
" Company D. — Private R. Cross, wound of right hip; Henry Howard, flesh wound of right thigh.
"The above I believe to be a correct list of the casualties.
" Very respectfully,
" Your obedient servant,
" William Hayes, Surgeon U.S.V.
" Medical Director."
For the gallantry displayed by Maj. Cole and his command upon this occasion the following complimentary orders were issued:
"Headquarters of the Army,
" Washington, D. C, Jan. 20, 1864.
" Brig.-Gen. B. F. Kelley, Cumberland, Md.
" General, — I have just received through your headquarters Maj. Henry A. Cole's report of the repulse of Mosby's attack upon his camp on Loudon Heights on the 10th instant. Maj. Cole and his command, the battalion of P. H. B. Cavalry, Maryland Volunteers, deserve high praise for their gallantry in repelling this rebel assault.
" Very respectfully,
" Your obedient servant,
"H. W. Halleck, General-in-Chief."
"Headquarters Department West Virginia,
" Cumberland, Md., Jan. 20, 1864.
"Respectfully transmitted to Brig.-Gen. Sullivan, commanding post:
" I take great pleasure in thus conveying to the officers and men of Maj. Cole's command this evidence of appreciation on the part of the general-in-chief of the gallantry displayed by them.
B. F. Kelley, Brigadier-General."
"Headquarters First Division, Department West
" Virginia, Harper's Ferry, Va., Jan. 26, 1864.
"Respectfully transmitted to Maj. Henry H. Cole, who will cause this communication to be read to his command. I take great pleasure in transmitting the thanks of the general-in-chief, which the command so richly deserve.
"John C. Sullivan, Brigadier-General Volunteers."
While Lee was defending his lines at Cold Harbor, Hunter was ravaging the Valley of Virginia and moving on Lynchburg, for the purpose of destroying the stores, manufactories, and railroad bridges at that place. Gen. Early, who had received orders on the 12th of June at Cold Harbor to move with two battalions of artillery and the infantry of Ewell's corps, numbering about nine thousand men, to destroy or disperse Hunter's force, arrived with his advance at Lynchburg on the 18th. In the meantime Gen. Breckenridge, who had been sent from Cold Harbor to Waynesboro' with a small force, by a forced march had arrived at the same place. Hunter with his command arrived before Lynchburg; on the 18th of June, and made a slight attack on Early's lines, which was repulsed. Fearing that he would be cut off from his base, Hunter rapidly retreated during the night, closely pursued in the morning by Early and Breckenridge. He continued retreating across the mountains towards Charlestown, Kanawha, leaving Washington exposed. Lee, seeing the opportunity to make an attempt on the capital, and believing that such a demonstration might lead to the raising of the siege of Petersburg, telegraphed to Early whether, in his judgment, the condition of his troops would permit such a movement across the Potomac. Gen. Early determined to make the attempt, and immediately set about to carry out his plans. With a force of about twelve thousand men in rags, and many shoeless, he moved down the valley on the 28th of June from Staunton, and in spite of the intense heat and almost intolerable dust, advanced by forced march about twenty-five miles a day. He reached Winchester on the 2nd of July, and on the 3rd, dividing his force into two columns, he sent one under Breckenridge to drive Sigel out of Martinsburg, and with the other marched to drive Mulligan out of Leestown. Both columns were successful. Sigel retreated across the Potomac at Shepherdstown. Col. Bradley T. Johnson, who had been promoted to brigadier-general of cavalry, and assigned to the cavalry brigade of W. E. Jones, who was killed at New Hope, led the advance of Early's command, encountered Mulligan's advance, and after a severe fight drove them out of Leestown with loss. Gen. Weber, in command at Harper's Ferry, evacuated the town, and after destroying the bridges over the Potomac, retired to Maryland Heights. Early destroyed the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, and boats along his line from Shepherdstown to Harper's Ferry.
On the 5th of July, Gen. Johnson with his cavalry crossed the Potomac at Sharpsburg, part going to Hagerstown and part to Boonsboro'. Breckenridge with his command crossed the Potomac the same afternoon, followed on the next day by the rest of Early's command. After receiving some stores, which he was greatly in need of. Early on the 8th of July