Augusta County: Diary of Michael Reid Hanger (1861)
Whilst eating our breakfast this morning we received orders, to pack up &c. and be ready to move in 10 minutes. The West Augusta Guards33 were put in front, our Co. next, for skirmish. When we got about 2 miles from Camp, we were halted. The Augusta Guards went crossed the fence, and demployed along a fence running perpendicularly to the road. Our regimnet (the 5th). Then formed into Platoons, and from platoons into a square [picture of a square] in the road. The fire was opened by the Augusta guards, we (our Co) was then ordered to jump the fence and deploy a long with and in rear of W. A. G.'s. the remainder of the Regt. pressed on in the road and commenced firing. In deploying my three Companions were McCampbell 34, A. C. McClure, 35, and McCoun 36. we all kept up a constant firing. In a short time the enemy began to give way, running &c. We were still firing into them, we advanced then fell back. We repulsed them 3 times, at last they rallied their forces, and commenced to advance we then gave way. Capt. Pendleton then opened of one of his 6 pound cannon on them, but they still continued to advance, the Artillery then also gave way, we retreated on back, to withn 3 miles of Martinsburg, we here took our respective positions again to meet them. but they didn't come on , and we got orders to move on again, So we came on to martinsburg. and camped for the night at the big Spring 2 1/2 miles from town. In our Co. only 2 were wounded. Mr McNamara 37, who was shot in left arm ball glanced and cut his breast considerably Mr. Arthur McCluer 38 got a slight wound on the head from a spent grape shot, it is just a mere sckrah [scratch]. In the W. A. G.s, Jack Doyle 39 received a slight wound from explosion of a shell. One of Capt. Doyl's 40 men was killed, and one Continental 41 under Capt. Avis 42 from Winchester. Balls flew in every direction, the shell passed over our heads, and fell about 50 paces in the rear and exploded, the balls were whiselling in the trees above us in a hurry It is thought that the enemy numbered about 10,000. against us of about 380 men. Col. Jackson 43 says, we did most capitally. Stewarts 44 Cavalry brought in 40 prisoners this morning to martinsburg. 9 more were brought in whilst at Big Spring. One was a Surgeon in Northern army, one Lieut, a cavalry man, and 6 others, privates. I suppose, we had the post of honor in the retreat (the rear).