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hours less than fifty men kept many thousands in check. . . . Tht enemy, driven to
desperation, resorted to a charge of cavalry that swept everything before it. The led horses,
wagons, straggling infantry and camp followers were hurled down the mountain in one
confused mass. Ineffectual efforts were made for a rally and resistance, but without avail,
until at the foot of the mountain a few joined Captain W. G. Welsh's company of the Mary-
land cavalry, stationed at this point, and drove back the advance of the enemy. But this
mere handful of men had to yield to the increasing numbers of the enemy.

Captain Emack and Welsh lost heavily for the number engaged in this affair,
the greater part of their men being killed, wounded or made prisoners, and among
the wounded and captured was Lieutenant Adolphus Cooke, of Emack's company,
a most dashing young officer, who lay insensible for several days before regaining
consciousness. Lieutenant Cooke remained in prison until the close of the war,
much to the regret of the men of his company, with whom he was very popular.

We left Company A, First Maryland, under Captain F. A. Bond, with orders
to move to the front and protect Ewell's wagon trains moving on another road
from that upon which Emack and Welsh had fought the enemy so heroically.

The following interesting description of the experience of Company A is from
Captain Bond to the author :

On the night of the 5th we encamped upon the top of the mountain, possibly ten miles
from Hagerstown. By sunrise next morning we were on the march, and about noon reached
the head of the column. There were miles of wagons, which had halted on the outskirts
of Hagerstown. I had no authority to give orders, and as there appeared to be no enemy
near, and a considerable body of our cavalry was in the town, I determined to get some food
for men and horses, and for this purpose directed my men to break ranks for an hour, and
then assemble at the same place unless sooner recalled by the bugle. I rode off, and was in a
fair way to get a meal when I was informed that the enemy in force was approaching the
town upon the opposite side to that by which we had entered. As the information seemed
reliable I abandoned my dinner and hastened back to the rendezvous, and the bugle call
soon rallied forty-six of my one hundred and nine men. With this handful I rode through
the town in column of fours, and halted immediately in the rear of the Tenth Virginia
Cavalry, commanded by Colonel J. Lucius Davis. This was a strong regiment, numbering, I
thought, some five hundred men. I shall here state that I was accompanied from Gettysburg
by George W. Booth, at that time Adjutant of the First Maryland, but who was not suffi-
ciently recovered from a wound received two months before at Greenland Gap to do duty,
but who was by my side during the entire affair. R. G. Harper Carroll. a brother of
Ex-Governor John Lee Carroll, happened in the town as a civilian, and. although he had
only a pocket pistol, he gallantly joined us, and later on. when it appeared we were running
away, he appealed earnestly to me not to retreat.