Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-08-14

WIPE uirectly upon this question. az Al sinvoive
some political considera lions as,l we'll as propri
: ely oi military action. t...
N am, cir, your obedient servant, sea- w.
Nal BEsJAMiN F. BUrLKR.aC
IN ne ElEhth Georgia Hegim enr i'm IN :
hatle at stone Ridge. T'N,
4 The following graphic description OF scene,
on the battle field, and the gallant coud1ct ~
tne Eighth Georgia Regiment, was written fo,
tnet hichmond Dispatch by, a gentleman who
July: ~ y -FS41' =" wy III Tfi'f ~ "
4 On Thursday, the 18th instant, about Q p
NJ, this regiment left Winchester for, Mama.
Il sas, under command of Lieut. Colonel Mont.
gomery Gardner. Col. Barlow had been n,
some weeks acting BrigAdier-G eneraI Of a brje.
ade, consisting of the seventh, Eighth, Nintb
ana Eleventh Georgia Regiments, and a bat,
The Eighth marched twenty y-seven miles over
the mountains, fording the lShenandoah, to
riedmont, on the Manassas Gap railroad, and
arrived there about noon Friday. The march
was fatguing In the extreme. After deIav
OF a few hours they left for Manassas on ia
ears, and a slow, tedious ride brourht Jtbe M IA
this point late on Saturday mornipr., Tbsg
marched three and half miles to camp in tbe
woods, without tents, and without food Early
next morning they were ordered TO the fight,
where they arrived after circuitous. wesYi.,
some, and at times double quick tramp Of be-
tween ten and twelve miles. f''N "
Breathless, tired, faint and footsore the gal,
liant fellows we're eager for the affray. They
were first ordered to support Pendleton,s Vir.
ginia Battery, which they did amid furious
storm OF grape from the enemy. Inactive az
they were, compelled to be under this fire, they
stood cool and unaurried. They were finally
ordered to charge Sherman's Battery. To do
this It was necessary TO cross an intervening
hollow. covered by the enemy's fire, and estab,
ilsn themselves in thicket fanking the en-
emy battery. They charged in . manner that
elected the praise of General Johnston, = :.
| Gaining the thicket, they opened upon the
enemy, The history Of warfare probably AZ.
fords no Instance Of more desperate fighting
than took place now. From three sides q fierce,
concentrated, murderous, unceasing yolley
poured IN upon this devoted and heroic s'six
hundred" Georgians. The enemy appeared up.
on the hill BY thousands. Between six and ten
regiments were visible. II was hell of bullet,
rain In that fatal grove. Tho ranks were cut
down as grain by q scythe. Whole platoons
melted away as il by magic Cool, unainch-
ing and stubborn, each man fought with ealIau.
tfy, and stern determination to win or die.
Not one faltered. Col. Bartow's horse was
shot under him. Adjutant Branch fell, mortal.
| ly wounded. Lieut. Col. Gardner dropped with
shattered leg. Tho officers moved from rank
to rank, from man to man., cheering and en-
couraging the brave fellows. Some of them
TOOK the muskets OF the dead and began coolly
hiring tthe enemy. t.n '.l. l -UifIf 5ati, -
itwas an appalling hour. The shot vbistled
and tore through trees and bones. The, ground
became Utterly paved with the fallen. Yet the
remnant stood composed and unqualing, care
fully loading, steadily aiming, unerringly firing,
and then quietly looking to see the effect Of
their shots. Mere boys fought like veterans
-unexclted, save with the stern "white heat"
hameless exhilaration, that battle gives to brave
spirits. .f' ~. IL ~ : :.
After eight or ten rounds the regiment, an.
peared annlhilated. The order was Reluctantly
given to cease firing and retire. The stubborn
fellows gave'no heed. It was repeated, Still
no obedience. The battle spirit was up., Again
it was given. Three volleys had been fred af-
Ter the hrst command. Az length they return
ed, walking and fighting. Owing to the density
OF the growth, part Of the regiment we're seu-l
arated from the colors. The other part formed
In an open field behind the thicket. The retreat
Continued over ground alternately wood and
neld. AT every open spot they would reform,
pour voliey into the pursuing enemy and
again retire,sfnu 50 fyuodt ,gs,.l. q, ,I.....,
! From the account of the enemy who stopped
70 give water to the wounded and rife the dead,
1t seems that the Eighth cut to pieces the Sixth
Massachusetts, half demolished the Rhode
Islanders, and made deadly havoc, among the
regulars Bat Q horrible mistake occurred at
this point Their own friends, taking them for
the enemy, poured fatal fire upon their mutt.
lated ranks. At length they withdrew from,
the night. Their final rally was with some ak.
ty men, OF the six hundred they took in. Ba-
iaklaya tells no more heroic tale than this: "Ins
to the valley OF death marched the six hundred 10
AS they retired, they passed General aBeaurs.
gard. lie, drew aside, fronted, raised, his hat,
ana A. So SAD; o, !, salute the Eighth Georgia with
OF all the companies of the regiment. the
oeiethorpe Light Infantry suffered most. They
were on the ext'eme right,e enearest the enemy.
ana mus were more exposed.E Composed of the
nfst young gentlemen of Savannah, their terri
bic loss will throw gloom over ther whole
eayc. An organization Of five or, six, years'
s.anolng, they were the favorite corps of Sa-
Captain, and was idolised BY them, while ~
had band OF sons In them. 1t sis suoposed
that bis deep grief at the mutilation of his bows
caused him TO expose his life more recklessIy
than was necessary. He wished to die with
them, II be could not take them back home.-l-
They fought with heroic desperation. =, An
young, all unmarried, all gentlemen, there was
not one of the killed who was not an ornament
to the community and freighted with brilliant
promise. In sending them TO virginia, Sayan-
nah sent her best TO represent her, and 1thels
loss proves how well tksy stood nm; how well
that city was represented 10 battle where. all
After Tie gallant Eighth had retired With M,
Q fragment, Col. Bariow Y, by Gsus I,saurephrd,s
order, brought up The Seventh Georgia, exelaim,
ing, in reply TO Col Gartreli. OF tbe Ssvsnth
who asked him where they should poSa Give
me your Gag, ana Twill tell iyou.,, Leading
them to their stand amid terrible FIRE, ne
posted the regiment In front Of the enemy, and
exclaimed N those eloquent tones 30 full Of high
feeiipg that his friends ever expected from him |
- 7SSen, Zen, beauregard says you must hold this |
position, and, Geofgisns, ! Sppeal'to lyouto hold
wv 0iA n9iiassnoo sllsq % ad3 ssi fis, a ass
= aRegardless of llfeu gallantly. riding amid ths
hottest nre, cheering the men, Inspiring them
with his fervent courage, he was shot In the
heart and fell from ahis' horse They piaked
him up.s With both hands clasped over, his |
breast, he raised his head with god, like effort,
bis eye glittering IN It's last CLEAN with 4 blaz-
ing light, he-said, with last heroic flasli1ofl
HE lofty epifitg c'They ahaxe rkiued me, bnt,
boys, never give up the field" emphasizing Tho
'never" In his peculiar and -stirring manner,
that all who. know him will 90 feellngly ly recall.
Thus perished az noble b souf as ever breashed. 4
'''"'' "! .ILN ~ ,tIuI1ssd q TafIlL 10 II