Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-08-27
The EIghth Georgia RegIment.


lhi0"i inc hAiennaono VAL Dlspafch.t
The Eight marched 27 miles over the
mountains, fording the Shenandoah. to
Piedamont on the Manassas Gap Railroad
arriving there about 10 NJ, Friday. The
march wes fatiguing in the extreme. Af-
Ter delay OF few hours they left for
Manassas on the cars, aad slow. tedious
ride brought them To this point late Satnr-
day morning. They marched three and a
hall miles to camp in the woods, without
tents, and without food Early the pext
morning they were ordered to the fipbt.
where they arrived after a circuitous
wearisome, and at times double-ouick tramp
| of between ten and tH elve miles.
Breathle,s, tired, faint and footsore. this
gallant fellows was eager for the ARRAY
They were ordered to support Pendletnn's
Virginia Battery, which they did amid a
furious storm Of grape from the enemy.-
Inactive as they were compelled 20 be uu-
den this FIRE, they stood cool aud unfiurried
They were finally ordered To Charged Sher-
I mans bzffery. 70 Dc tbs 4 vas necezearv
TO cross an intervening hollow, covered by
| the enemy's FIRE and establish themselves
in thicket ianking the enemy's- battery.
They charged 10 a manner that ELECTED the
praise of Gen. Johnston.
Gaining the thicket they opened upon the
enemy. The history Of warfare probably
| affords no instance Of more desperate fight
| ing than took place now. From three sides
! fierce, concentrated, murderous, unceal-
ing volley poured in upon this devoted
aud heroic six hundred" Georgians
The enemy appeared upon the bill by the
thousands. Between six and ten regiments
were visible. Ii was a hell Of bullet rain
in that fatal grove. The ranks uer, cut
down as grain by a scythe. Whole plat-
oOns melted away as if by magic. Cool,
uBflinching and stubborn, each man fought
with gallantry. and a stern determination
TO win or die. Not one faltared. Col,
BartOw's horse was shot under him. Ad-
jutant Branch fell, mortally Wounded
Lieut. Col Gardner dropped with shattered
leg. The officers moved from rank to rank
irum man to man, cheering ard encourage
rng the brave fellows. Some of them took
the muskets Of the dead and began coolly
firing al the enemy.
IL was an appalling hour. The shot
whistled aud tore through trees and bones.
The ground became literally paved with the
fallen. Yet the remnant remained
composed and unquailing. carefully load
ing, steadily aiming, unerriugly firing. and
then quietly looking to see the effect Of
their shots. Mere boys Tough; like vete-
raus-unexcited, saye with the stern "uhite
heat" fameless civilization, that battle
gives to brave spirits.
After eight or ten rounds the regiment
appeared annihiIated. The order was re-
iuctlantly given to cease firing and retire.
The stubborn fellows gave 10 heed. 1t was
repeated. Still no obedience. The battle
spirit was up. Again it was given. Three
vOlleys had been fred after the first com
mand. At length they returned, walking
and fighting. Owing to the density Of the
growth a part Of the regiment got separated
from the colors. The other part formed
| in an open field behind the thicket. The
retreat continued over ground alternately
wood and field. AT every open spot they
! would reform, pour a volley into the pur-
suing emery and again retire.
From the account If the enemy, who
stopped to give water to the wounded and
rifle the dead, it seems that the Eight cut
| to pieces the Sixth Massachusetts,, half de-
molished the Rhode Islanders and made
deadly havoc among the regulars, But q
horrible mistake occurred at this point
Their own friends installing them for the
enemy, poured fatal fire upon their mu-
tilated ranks. At length they withdrew
sixty men, Of the six hundred they took in
| Balaklava tells no more heroic tale than
( this Into the valley Of death marched
/ the six hundred" As they retired they
passed Gen. Beauregard. He drew aside.
fronted, raised his hat, and said: Il salute
! the Eight Georgia with my hat eff"