Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-04-13
Tbc shIrt-Gan Fight.

NV
oaiI Sftv of Us had been engaged for several
NJ conforming a secret duty, and were returning.
days" ~ mass vely near the British lines, and to
we boinc taken and also to save wide circuit of
avon yo Resolved to encamH in secret place wo
miles, r through the day, and under the shadows of
kne" Va, ass unseen on the direct course of General
rlgnv L,s camp The day was beautiful, and the
Mol- had chosen for resting place was those
sP' nooks shut out apparently from the rest OF the
so} bv lines Of hills, impenetrable under brush and
"O,~; forest a small but clear and deep stream
akS Il and the sun was at such decinatlon as to
IA" ;2 half of the little spot in the shade we lad
ln'o" arr arms relieved ourselves of knapsacks, and
10"" mo the scdnty store upon The grass. ate with
'FeoJj o3netite refreshed ourselves from the mpd
= IF the stream, aud then each amused himself
as Gor testing awhile some went in to battle, and
-, one as the pleasure seemed to increase. fol-
y S until the whole party were in the stream. This
!o"l cr about half an hour and most of US had re-
al n the shore and were dressing, when new
u.., ro was given to the scene }y Of the number
;no that he was going to wash his shirt. Now,
'"!' of Us had worn these peculiar garments two,
NJ and four weeks, and some even longer without
Ia having been once washed, and there Is no doubt
tboir needing ii very much for, mind you, the
VI" IN those DAYS who could afford two shirs-who' g
b,,s-was curiosity. The idea, therefore, was
.oad one, and many Immediately began dsrobing
Ensef again, and soon were busy as washerwOmen,
thing away like fulIingms AS the pieces were
fnsbed they were hung in the sun on the limbs of
,-ao. or spread out on the grass Many were still
engaged IN their washing; some were stretched on
the ground in deep sleep, were wrestling, some
aiming. some collected III knots, telling stories !;
aarv all naked as the day they were born In fact,
. baDpy as fellows could be with one shirt, and that
rving in the sua and but mOrsel in the knapsack,
rbpn we were started-yes indeed, really frighten-
oJ ~ a voMey of muskelry. the balls Of which
rbi.,ipd by u.s. fortunately ouly making few slight
assh wounds
"Tbe sound of musketry although it surprised US
,- first we were too much accustomed to hearing
10 remain long under panic so, the next moment
f,lnd each man of US in The possession of his mus
Eet and himself covered by tree. We had not long
10 wait before a large body of British broke through
the underbrush, which had before concealed them,
and rushed with fixed bayonets upon us. But Their
rrcgress was suddenly checked by our fire, which
lad a large number of them dead before u.s. We had
not time TO reload, when the enemy again charged
down upon us, and we were forced to give way. We
ran some distance, and reloaded, stood our ground
70 to this time we had not thought OF the condition
ne were in when one of the officers all at once cried
out BOYS will you lose your shirts then casting our
eyes around quickly, we gave shout. Now tor
our shirts . and rushed forward like many naked
devils As soon as the British came to our view, we
poured in a we'll directed fire, and immediate y
charged with the bayonet. SO suddenly had this
movement been made that, having supposed that we
were still running the other way, they were com.
rletely surprised, and then their turn to run
Alter them we shouted still with our new watch
word, Shirts The officers of the enemy having a
length succeeded in securing the attention of the
men, wheeled them, and gave a return fire, which
killing, as we supposed, some of our party, agair
took 10 our heels and the red coats, taking up GU
crv Of Shirts came pell-melI after Again WI
tuned and charged the British running, they il
turn again charging upon US, each party shoutin!
Shirts until finally it became regular shirt-tai
fight
At engh, becoming somewhat exasperated witt
The game, and constantly reminded of our shirts b.
the enemy screaming il in cars, and recollecung
too that we would not cut very pretty figure re
turning to quarters sans c1HotteS, We made des
rerare charge, and finally succeeded in gaining tn
day by driving the British tror the field Severa
Of our patty were wounded, but none killed. Not 81
with the British. The dead were scattered all owe
the little green space, and through the woods; ant
putting on our garments, and leaving the dead to b
buried by their own people, we took the circuitou
route which we had avoided in the morning (thereb
having been obliged 10 fight a little batje) al
reached the camp about midnight, where we cause
little merriment, and often afterward, as we re
lated our adventure of the shirt tall fight.