, when the former fell back to Boonsboro
also fell back from a position now greatly exposed and formed on Shelby
made an advance against the enemy and checked him for a short time, then fell back before the weight of numbers, which seemed to swarm over the hills, while Shelby
took new position about the college.
was ordered back to meet the enemy south of the college and Newburg
, which he did, until Shelby
could reform behind his line on a ridge overlooking a valley, which separated the ridge from the town.
, in turn, fell back, after several volleys from his shotguns (falling short and ineffectual), and formed on Shelby
's left, MacDonald
going into line on his left.
The enemy had now reached the college hill, and played his batteries of twelve guns upon the Confederate
line, answered by Bledsoe
with spirit, and by the little howitzers under Shoup
, which had gone into battery on the ridge.
This artillery duel was kept up for half an hour, while ladies and little children, who had fled from their pretty homes in Newburg
, crouched in terror as the artillery played over them, down in the valley between the contending lines, their bedding having been thrown out by the enemy, and houses dismantled.
It was a most touching scene—the reality of ruthless war.
had information that the enemy was advancing by a route on the right, threatening his rear, and he ordered the command to retire down the Cove creek
road, receiving the enemy by regiments in successive formation along the road.
Seeing this movement of the Confederates
, the enemy advanced with great boldness, infantry, artillery and cavalry, but being checked until the last crest of the mountain was reached and the train was secure beyond it. There Shoup
's little battery, gallantly sending defiance to the foe as he advanced, was partially disabled, and the guns, with the assistance of