The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1861-08-22
The Slaughter of the Black Horse Caval-

WnlcG is Dy Tar tue Eost siaPuici du'
evidently correct one, yet published:
Commencing with the attack, be says
In the first charge upon the masked bat
terry, in line of battle, the 69th New Y orl
we're in front, then the Zouaves, and il
the rear the lst Michigan. Rising to the
top of the hill, about thirty rods from The
Rebels, We fired, intending to fall back Q
little and load. as previously ordered
Just then this order was countermanded
and We we're ordered to rush on, unload
ed. This new order was imperfectly uD
derstood. and a portion fell back; upon
which all did the same, but not more
than two or three rods. creating some
disorder; but We were in no sense 'driv-
en- back" After loading. we rushed for.
ward, crossed road, deep ditch and a
fence, descending the hill, firing as we
advanced. By the time we reached The
foot Of the bill--the Rebels having fallen
hack-thc men OF the three regiments
we're mingled together, every man try
ing t6'get in front, as though fighting on
his own book The din of battle was SO
terrific that no orders could be heard
We we're in this position nearly stationa-
~ perhaps half an hour
We then changed, not TO retreat, cut
to take up new position more to the
righ!, TO get at those who were firing at
us from that quarter. We were not fol
losed by the enemy on the left. We
were 10 this vicinity constantly engaged
between four and fse hours, though it
did not seem aD hour.
Ricketts, Battery Of eight guns was
stationed Oh the right of our division, and
was taken BY the Rebels. A portion of
all three Of the regiments, without any
orders. rushed promiscGou-ly to retake
the battery, which vas done Here was
sene haDd,to- hand fighting. The horses
were all killed or had run away, aud We
could not take of the guns, till the Reb.
els rallied With aD increased force, aud.
after spikiug the guns, we fell back TO
Our former position. Facing again TO
the Rebels, saw them falling back, try
ing 70 draw away gun into wbi' b | bad
myself driven spike, but ere they had
got it many rods our bullets had made
such havoc that they abandoned it.
In a few moments | saw two Rebels
sdsaDeiBg to the gun-one with a rife,
aud one with flag. which be vas 10 the
act Of planting by the gun. The man
standing next to ne and the Rebel rife
man drew upon each other. aud both fell
at the same moueUt, killed, as | believe,
by each other At the same time. took
deliberate ain at the flag. bearer, and be
fell as | fred.
By the time hsd reloaded, another
Rebel was seizing The flag, aud be too fell
as | fred. TSo more fell at this point
In q similar manner as fast as | could
load. | was some fifteen rods distant,
aUd nearer the gun than most of ny com
rades, though in other parts of the iiue
others we're 10 advance.
At this moment, the Black Horse Cav
airy made its appearance obIiquely FROM
the right; all the while the masked bate
~, as we'll as iofantry, ~as pouring upon
US fearful FIRE of shot, shells, canister,
sc. As the cavalry appeared, 600
strong, upon the full gallop, carbiue 10
hand, our 6riug for the moment mostly
ceased, each nan rcsersing his charge to
receive them With suitable honors.
The horses o. the cavalry were all black
CT gray. Their trout showed line OF
perhaps ten rods. Our FIRE was reserved
until the left of their front vas within
FIVE CT Elk rods Of our right, uhen we
poured a continuous voley at them, killing
most Of the borses 10 front aud many on
their sides. As they tell. pitching their
riders to the ground, those following fell
over them aad from our bullets, and in
FIVE miuutes we bad sent them probatly =
four thousand pills, ADD they lay piled
upon each other, msDgled, kicking,
struggling, dying ID ass of men and bOr.es
"a sight Of horror to which DO descrip-
tiou could do Justice! Our sim was
4 of,ly at the horses; and | doubt not
maGy ore of the ueu were killed by the
horses than By our ballets.
Tue story that all this fighting was
done ~ the Zooages is fal.e. The three
regiments were mingled together, and all
fought equally well. here speak what
/ know, for was directly in front of the
cavalry, and nearly in the center. III
was the gcoeral opinion that not over half
a dozen of the cavalry escaped alive,
though there may have been more.
Daring this brief but horrible work
the masked battery aud large bodies of
infantry we're pouring their fire into our
ranks, aud our men were falling on eve
RI hand. We again returned their fire.
aud soon after, Lieut. Mauch having been
struck down, | end two others assisted
him back, aud on returning, We found
our men still standing their ground.
Soon after this flag of truce was
raised By the Rebels twenty or thirty
rods in our front, and our fire slackened.
Immediately the white flag fell, aud our
colors we're raised. We knew not what
to make of it at the moment, unless they
we're about to surrender, but supposed al
te.ward the de-ign was to lure Us into
a more deadly range OF their batteries. ln
few minutes the rebel lag only was again