Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-08-17
"UP FOURTH AND CHARGE I"

aot been confirmed, so far as We are advised.
"UP FOURTH AND CHARGE"
To the Editor Of the Whig:
The following Is an extract from 4 letter, not
tended for publication but | cannot withhold
from Il public narrative SO Interesting and graphic.
rne "FOurth" alluded to is commanded by COL James
Prestou Who conducted himself throughout the terri
bic ordeal with heroism and courage that challenge
universal admiration The writer Of this letter is no
ess distinguished for his modesy than his merit and
son for himself mpersha5e honor the field OF bat
ie:
CANP MAR CKsTREyLLE, Aug. 10, 1861.
have received both your letters in which you ask
ne to tell YOU show the boys behaved in the battle "
would have Sered before this aud told you they be
hiVed admiraby-more like veterans than untred rooi 5;
N, had all the duties Of the company TO perform. In
rider tha, Won may fully understand our condition, and
hs praise that Is really do. tbs boy together with our
-egiment-for We all shared ake-I will give you very
,ref narrative, beginning Thursday before the battle
ne day we left Wiuchestsr-sad when have done, !
mink you will agree with me in saying that no troops
aver endured bunse- thirst fatigue, WEAKNESS aud utter
Irostration with Little complaint did and
Off ,e-s.
We left Winchester Thursday evening after o'clock
,ad nothing o ca. since early breskisst-hsd been
nlsr arms DALI the day beiore--had pulled dos5
eoees and stone walls ior.niles around, expecting an
stack from Patterson. We arrived at the Shenandoah
iter dark-undresses-hun our ammunition around
n necks 10 keep it dry-wsdsd the river 10 the night
ressed as soon - possible aud marched on crossing the
Blue Ridge and arriving at little town called Paris, In
f,,1o,u abnut hall plevap in tina night Here wa
tAckeI arms aud stretched out ths grass aad slept
oundy for three hours without any covering save a
fs5 ci,lds that Hoated about ia the heavens Under
rms aud on the road again by three oclock-marched
even miles to Pedmon. Station, Oh the Manassas rail-
Oadhatsd and sndeavored to get breakfast but there
none to get. The baggage wagons were miles be-
lad we had nothing to do but wait patiently and fill
ID with water ult the arrival Of the baggage. After
came We managed to gs. something - eat. This was
nc frat sir G, leaving Winchester. The then
),cked inside and out with men and baggage aud IN
The Junction. Arrived there late in the evening
after supp.r Crackers and warm waer and after dark
re were marched four miles in the direction Of Bull
ala--weut to b,d on the ground between 10 and II
clock with clouds to with before. Next morI
ng marched about two miles due east, pu, in posi-
lou and kept under arms oil 6ay-no.hing to cat eI.
go. feK fragments Of crackers-slept by that
.ht, aroused ct 8 o'clock in the moruing-breskfAt
}, crackers aud bacon. We we're then marched in the
i ccion Of our old encampment-haited here sho t
ine-tbe couaonading which was gon. TO our ls' t
nd in front told that the battle had begun. We then
marched about four miles 10 Northwest direction,
10, 10 position and remained there about 40 hour News
,ams that strong demonstration was being made
,gain.t Mchells ford Al once marched nearly over
b. same ground bad just come 70 point opposite
he ford Did get in position bsore the news came
bat the enemy we're turning left aanh. Again We
,ere hurried back, and halted about midway between
10 ford sad the lett OF line tbs plaza where the
,itsle was decided. We remained at this poiut about
. 81 minutes, and we're thea marched up in double
gick tine over dusty road s1d under the hottest
ever felt TO the left dstaH OF nearly three
ales We were reirly ,Ih us;sI when go; into the
zhi; many would have fallen BY the wsyside but for
ne fear OF being thought cOsardy. Wehad not drop
wat,F nor mouthl to eat during Ill this time. We
"a not want 10 eat but vsre nearly famishtd for
Slter. As soon got to where the fight was goug
on simeut OSue lust behind battery Of for
.uns bot 500 iiorsssel TO eleven We were ,de to
DO Sn jus. behind he basryn order to escipe in some
MEASURE the shot, sLsl bombs, grape aud canister
lod every deadly missile the inventive genius Of the in
rnal Yankees could suggest. For two hours We lay
ia re, three fires coOytrgug right over ustwo rih
.terie3 AID 500 Of Woods shsrpshooters-who got 70
pouring into US before we ordered to charge
Flr the whole hours without any cessation the air
filed with grape ard canister and the fragments
u bursting bomb, and shells--sometimes shell would
h,-st oat ovsr M and hiring death bv the vholeaae-