History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, by Samuel P. Bates.

] 864 SHERIDAN AT WINCHESTER. 639
suddenly made his appearance in Maryland. As fast as they arrived, the regi.
ments were sent by rail towards Frederick, whither the rebel force was tending.
At this time Colonel Staunton was commanding the Second Brigade of the division. A portion of the brigade, comprising the Sixty-seventh, was on slow
boats, and did not arrive until some time after the balance had gone forward.
Colonel Staunton remained at Baltimore to bring up the delayed part. On the
morning of the 9th, the last of the brigade moved out, and when within a short
distance of the Monocacy, left the cars and marched to New Market, Maryland.
The main body of the division under General Ricketts, with the forces of General Lew Wallace, had made a heroic stand at Monocacy; but being greatly
outnumbered, and outflanked, was compelled to retire. On arriving at New
Market, Colonel Staunton drew up his force in line of battle across the road on
which Ricketts was retiring, so as to protect the rear of the retreating column,
and when it had passed, brought up the rear. When Early discovered that it
was only a single division of the Sixth Corps that was opposing him, he turned
his column towards Washington.
Ricketts marched rapidly back to Baltimore. The Sixty-seventh now under
command of Captain Samuel Barry, of company D, was left at the Relay House,
where it remained, until with the division it re-joined the corps, the enemy
having been driven back. In the operations of the army under General Wright,
which lasted during the remainder of the summer, and kept the troops almost
constantly moving through northern Virginia and Maryland, for the most part
fruitless, the regiment participated.
In the early part of September, Colonel Staunton and Captain Barry being
now out of the service, and Lieutenant Colonel Burnham having been discharged
at the expiration of his term, to accept the rank of Major in the regular army,
the command of the regiment devolved on Adjutant John F. Young, he being
the ranking officer present for duty.
At this time the Army of the Shenandoah was lying at Clifton, three miles
from Berryville, and was under the command of General Sheridan. The rebel
army under Early, was strongly posted on the Opequan, four miles north-east
of Winchester. Sheridan, anxious to attack, having been visited in his camp
by General Grant, who gave him the desired permission, took advantage of the
absence of one of the enemy's divisions, that had been sent to dislodge Averell
from Martinsburg, and at a little before daylight on the morning of the 19th of
September, advanced to give battle. The Sixth Corps moved first, and took
position on the enemy's front. The Third Division was on the right, and the
Sixty-seventh at the extreme right of the division. The Nineteenth Corps was
directed to form on the right of the Sixth. and to conform to its movements,
but was two hours later than the Sixth in coming up. A slight ravine prevented the Nineteenth from connecting with the line on its left, and in the progress of the charge this interval increased in magnitude. The enemy discovering the gap, at once pressed through, and driving the left flank of the Nineteenth doubled it back upon the centre. Turning immediately upon the right
of the Sixth, he attacked upon flank and rear- striking the Sixty-seventh at
the moment when it was upon one of the enemy's batteries, which he was attempting to run from the field by hand. Encompassed in front and rear the
division was thrown into some confusion. Fortunately a small force which had
been held in reserve was thrown into the breach, and the division hastily reforming, soon regained all the ground lost.