railroad, and went into camp. Twenty-eighth, marched at 5 A. M. past White Plains; after tramping fifteen miles went into camp. Twenty-ninth, marched at 7 o'clock A. M. in the direction of Front Royal, reached Rectortown at 4 o'clock P. M., and two hours later fell in, in light marching order, and moved forward, leaving the baggage until May 31st, when at 4 o'clock a. M. it moved forward towards Front Royal, reaching Piedmont at 9 A. M., and Markham at 4 P. M.; moved to within six miles of Front Royal, and camped for the night. June 1st, marched to Front Royal, and at 4 P. M. moved forward some three miles on the Luray road, and went into camp. June 2d, marched at 6 A. M., marched thirteen miles, and went into camp. Third, marched at 7 A. M., reached Luray at 12 M., passed through the town on the Newmarket road, some two miles and camped. Fourth, remained in camp all day. Fifth, marched at 5 A. M., marched four miles, halted, put up our tents, and prepared to be comfortable, when at 3 o'clock P. M. we were ordered to move. This was occasioned by the close proximity of the rebel batteries on the opposite side of the river. The regiment marched about one mile and again halted for the night. Sixth, ordered to march at 4 A. M., fell into line at 5, moved two miles, halted, stacked arms, soon fell in and marched about two miles farther, pitched our tents, and at 6 P. M. fell in and marched back to the place the regiment left in the morning, where we arrived at 12 at night, and went into camp. Saturday, 7th, the regiment was up at 4 A. M. and marched at 9 A. M. (the baggage was ordered to Luray and Front Royal; Sergeant C. H. Edgerly and Private Willard Denison, of Company H, were furloughed home for thirty days), marched up the east bank of the Shenandoah river, a distance of four

teen miles, halted at 6 P. M., and went into camp. Eighth, marched at 4 A. M., halted at 6:30 for breakfast, and at 8:15 again moved forward; soon heard the artillery firing at Cross Keys on the west side of the Shenandoah river and mountain. The regiment moved on up the river and about 5 o'clock P. M. were in sight of the rebels, whose ambulances and train were moving rapidly in retreat in the direction of Port Republic from the battle of Cross Keys. The Union forces were under the command of Major-general John C. Fremont, and the Confederate army commanded by Major-general Thomas J. Jackson. The Union army took shelter in a strip of woods at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountain, near Port Republic, Virginia, and bivouacked for the night.

CHAPTER V.

Battle of Port Republic-The Twenty-ninth Suffer Great Loss. On June 9th, in the dim light of early morning the enemy began to move, and soon our artillery opened a brisk fire on them. The Twenty-ninth regiment, under command of Colonel Buckley, was ordered to fall in, and at 6:45 o'clock marched out of the timber into the open field, and moved forward a short distance, when the men unslung knapsacks and other equipage and, reduced to light marching order, advanced by the right flank, and when near the rebel position came into line on the double quick. While doing so we were obliged to pass a board fence; and at this critical time the rebels opened a heavy fire of musketry, but the regiment moved steadily forward and took position in the open field. The rebels in front of our right wing were behind a strong post and rail fence.

From the base of the mountain to the Shenandoah river was about one-half mile. The extreme left of our line extended into the timber and near the base of the mountain with the right flank extending to the river. The Fifth, Sixty-sixth and Seventh Ohio regiments were on our left, and the Seventh Virginia, Seventh, Thirteenth and Fourteenth Indiana on our right. The Twentyninth being about the right center regiment during the battle, and at this time in support of Huntington's battery, which was belching forth its shot and shell, doing deadly execution in the ranks of the advancing rebels. When in close range the rebels charged. Reserving our

fire until they were almost upon us, the order was given, and with a yell the entire line poured its leaden hail into the gray clad columns of the chivalry, producing fearful slaughter, and following with a charge so impetuous that they were forced to retire from their secure position behind the fence, and here, for more than three hours and a half, our brave fellows, though outnumbered ten to one by the enemy and fighting against fate, kept them at bay and held the position. During this charge it is said that Allen Mason, of company C, Twentyninth regiment, captured the colors of the Seventh Louisiana Tigers, and Lieutenant Gregory and a part of company F made prisoners of twenty-five of the same regiment. At last the little handfull, who had so gallantly contended against such fearful odds, were forced to retire. The Twenty-ninth regiment moved to the rear, perhaps an eighth of a mile, and came to a halt, holding the rebel forces in check until the entire Union forces had passed to the rear. In the meantime the rebels had opened fire upon us with a battery at close range, which did fearful execution in our rapidly decimating ranks. When all our troops had passed, our regiment faced to the right and moved obliquely into the timber; the rebels in the meantime passed down the road and we were nearly surrounded, and now, for a distance of nearly two miles occurred a desperate struggle for freedom, The men fought with the desperation born of despair. Brave old Colonel Buckley (who before beginning the day's business addressed the regiment, saying: "Aim low, men, and at every shot let a traitor fall!") on foot, his own and one other horse having been disabled by a shot, rallied the men, and with sword in hand with them succeeded in cutting their way through the cordon of gray devils almost surrounding them, and escaped to

the mountains near, where some one hundred men of the different regiments of the Third brigade, with Colonel Buckley at their head, bivouacked for the night. The small remainder of the regiment, except those killed, wounded or captured, succeeded in reaching the main army. Captain Baldwin says that those who reached the main army of the Twenty-ninth regiment numbered only thirteen officers and men.

The night succeeding this eventful day of blood and carnage was spent amid the gloom and darkness of the forest. The men gathered about their brave commander as if to shield him from the damps of night, their thoughts turning meanwhile to the absent comrades, many of whom, how many they knew not, were lying, still and ghastly, upon the bloody field, a sacrifice to the incompetency of the general commanding. The day following, the little band began its weary march to the rear, seeking shelter at night in some unused furnace buildings. The next day they came in sight of the rear guard of the retreating army, where they found the small remnant of the Twenty-ninth, who had escaped death or capture, and who, when they saw their beloved colonel alive and well, fairly rent the very heavens above with their glad shouts of welcome.

The number of the Union army engaged in this battle was some twenty-five hundred, and could form but one line of battle, while Stonewall Jackson's official report shows his army to have numbered some thirty-four thousand. The Twenty-ninth regiment lost heavily in this battle. The aggregate was: Killed, 12; wounded, 33; captured, 105; total, 150.

After the battle the Twenty-ninth regiment moved down the valley to Luray, where the command encamped for a few days' rest, then forward to Front Royal, and on