221

each man, but which there was no time to cook, and the flour was tied up in bags,
handkerchiefs, stockings, or anything else at hand that might serve the purpose;

and so it remained for two days before opportunity to cook it offered, the battalion
being in the meantime constantly engaged.

At last it was impossible for human nature to hold out longer, and the second
night after the fight at Amelia Springs it was determined to cook the flour. As
soon, therefore, as night came on — which rendered the enemy's fire less accurate,
and induced his cavalry to become less aggressive — the brigade, leaving a strong
picket force still actively skirmishing, withdrew behind a neighboring hill and
prepared to cook. There were no cooking utensils nor any convenience to bake,
but soldiers who had gone through a four years' war had many devices at hand
to meet exigencies. A detail with canteens was sent to the stream near by for
water, and oil cloths were substituted for kneading trays. In this way the flour
was hastily moistened into a paste, and as hastily parched in the embers of the very
spare fires which proximity to the enemy reduced to the smallest possible dimen-
sions that could be dignified with the name of fire. The skirmishers were then
relieved by some who had eaten, to make similar provisions for their wants.

From this time until Lynchburg was reached, on the night of the ninth of
April, when General Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House, the First
Maryland subsisted on corn and some rations taken from the captured enemy. It
was hard to take food from prisoners, perhaps, but necessity knows no law, and
between starving men the weakest must yield.

Every day's history was much the same, a constant night and day struggle
with the enemy's cavalry, who would scarcely be repulsed at one point before they
had to be met at another, perhaps five or ten miles distant.

When the army reached the vicinity of High Bridge it was ascertained that
a force of the enemy was directly in front, having by a forced march, and being
unencumbered, passed around General Lee's left and thrown themselves directly
in his path. The brigade, which was now commanded by General Munford,
General Payne having been disabled by wounds at Amelia Springs, was at once
ordered to attack them, which it did with much gallantry, all being dismounted
except the First Maryland, which was sent to the left to cut off the enemy's retreat.
The enemy, which proved to be a brigade of infantry and about two hundred
cavalry, behaved very gallantly, and at once met General Munford vigorously.
His cavalry charged several times, but were repulsed with heavy loss, while their
infantry and Munford's dismounted cavalry kept up a heavy fire, both sides
suffering severely, without material advantage to either. At length Deering's
Brigade came up and dismounted, and joining Munford, a general charge was
made by the dismounted men in front and the First Maryland, mounted, in the
rear and right flank of the enemy, which resulted in the defeat and capture of his