Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-10-06

waited, but as we emerge from the covarae
the woods, like a thunderbolt from . .lo,,d'
less sky, comes the booming of cannon and
the whole earth in front of US seems torn -
by grape and canister. Our exhausted col.
umn falls back in some disorder, and we re-
treat down the mountain, unpursued, to re-
form. The sun is now but an hour high
Hills little division has kept the enemy in
check all day, and we are again preparing to
make another attack, when Jones' division
OF Longstreets corps arrives, and gladly do
We hear the order given for us to retire
Jones division fought the enemy till about
9 o'clock, when finding them strongly posted
on the top of the ridge, in heavy force, it re.
tired to a position with US near Boonsboro', |
where we lay on our arms till near dawn,
when an order was given to give the Gap up,
and fall back to the Potomac river. We have
tull onc-fourth of our division killed, woxn-
dsd and missing among the woods on that
mountain. The word missing means
those who are not knoWn to be killed or
wounded, but are not present. At 4 O'Clock,
on Monday morning, we take up our line of
march. We had hardly gone four or five
miles before the news reaches US that the
enemy are pursuing. Our wagons are en-
dangered. The column forms a line of bat
tie on the first line of hills that run diags-
nally to the road, and our wagons move on to-
the front. This causes the enemy to halt,
and form in battle array, and while they are,
disposing of their forces to the best adyan-
vantage for attack, we quistly move off by
the flank to the next succession of hills, and
thus continue our retreat Until we arrived on
the South side of a small creek in the visin-
ity of Sharpsburgh, three miles from the riv-
err. Here we formed a junction with Long
ctraaf's enrnc Irho ol~o nod hao~ Achk:--~I
day long on Sunday, on another mountain
farther South,) formed a line of battle and
determined to make a stand. But the enc
my was wary and though making demon
STATIONS, did not dare to cross the creek,
which remained the dividing line between us
!, until Wednesday morning. We threw out
t skiriI ishers to the creek bank, placed our
artillery in position, and though desultory
! fighting between pickets was continuous, and
. not an hour passed but the booming of cam
non and the whiz of she'll grated on the ear,
We ate, slept and stood in line of battle thro'
v the long hours of Monday night, Tuesday,
/ and Tuesday night. Tuesday, one division
of Jackson's victorious corps jGned us. They
had, while We were fighting on South Noun.
tain, Sunday, been busily fighting near Hsr-
per's Ferry, and succeeded on Monday eve
. ming in capturing the whole.garrison ola, 900
LII A@h SNCS All " . khSN dtIu dUOuL ~
Q of the most improved pieces OF field artillery.
together with a large lot of ammunition. clio
q thing, shoes, and horses and wagons. | have
seen all the captured articles myself. Our
line of battle was now formed anew. Jack
ct sons troops were put on the right; d. H..
Hills in the centre, and L.ongstreet's on the
t left, facing the creek, and with their backs
towards the Potomac. All day long Tuesday
we could see heavy columns of Yankees
arriving in front of. our lines, and | felt
~ that the crisis was near. At. day light on
Wednesday morning, we were awakened by
or heavy artillery and musket firing on our
~ left, and each man was ordered to his place.
#. Desperate and heavy does it roll from the
x, i lsf5ss and 2 tbs tbs t sHpq So sseRS t eo& faH liffrn ping to-
n wards us, and they say the enemy has at
lie tackled our left flank in heavy force, and our
1r men are falling back. Look at that cloud of
~ dust! Our artillery is retreating, and while
ar we are s~training our eyes in the direction of
ne the retreating mass ofmsn that are just emer-
a ging i'll view, away over the open hills on
mr. our lift, a galloping courier arrives, and di-
r. reefs Gen. Hill to change his front to the
,r. left. Quickly we are faced to the left,
h. marched through q growing field of corn,
in and thenfled 10 the left in a long lane that
re runs parallel to our left flank. Our whole
no division takes position in, the lane-Ripley
eT on the extreme left, Garland's next, Rhodes
I'm next, and Anderson's on the right. Away
i'll goes Longstreet's retreating line to our rear.
,r. In a few moments | could see the advan-
hit cling line Of Yankees. Three heavy columns
zee are approaching us, extending to the right
at. and left as far as we can see, each column
i. about 100 yards behind the other, and the
of nearest scarce 400 yards distant. To oppose
or. this. was Hills weak little division, scarce
ny one-fourth as large, and my very heart SUM
I'd within me, as | heard Gen. Anderson say tt
rv one of his aids to hurry to the rear and tel
nd Gen. Hill for Gods sake to send us reinforce
nm ments, as it was hopeless to contend agains
X the approaching columns. 1t was now abou
he 8 o'clock. The battle h'd begun also on tn,
len right of our first position, and jackson wa
eS. hotlv engaged. Sharp-shooters were sen
about 80 yards to the front of us, and on
nd. line ordered to lie down in the lane. ant
IN hold their fire till the enemy was close to us
en-. I stood near Col. lew on the crest of a hill
in front of our position, and gazed wit
ing tumuituous emotion over the fast approach
ing line. Our little corps seemed doomed t
ust destruction, but not an eye HInched, nor
,ur. nerve quivered, and you could observe tn
AXE battle-light of determination on every coun
nv. tenance, and l then felt sure, We would d
honor to our noble old State that day, thong
.hiz we would not live to see it again. On move
svs the columns, until l could distinguish til
at stars Oh their Haunting banners, see tn
the mounted officers, and hear their words
und command. Just then, a Yankee horsema
To waved his hat at us, and Col. lew returne
ON the compliment. 1t was the last [ saw
the Colonel. Our ~skirmishers began to fl
ress on the advancing line, and we returned 4