Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1864-03-29
HARD FIGHT--..THE "STONEWALL
nhIGADE' DEFEATED..THE FIGHT
RENEWED AND THE ssSTONEWALL
BRIGADE" SUCCESSFUL.
~ e, 80
CAMP SToNEwALL BEIGADE. I
March oath, 1864.


Thinking our friends [of whom hope there
are many in Augusta, would like to hear what
the boys OF the old ssSToNEwALL's are doing
THESE snowy times, thought would tell YOU OF
big light We had yesterday.
Day before yesterday was one of the worst days
we have had this year. 1t commenced showing
early IN the day, and continued until late in the
hisne, III consequence of which We found, on l.
waxing Ia the morning, old mother earth cover
ed with snow about fifteen inches deep. This
was just what our boys wanted. We were be.
ginning TO think Winter would pass away with
out our having a SNOWFALL.
Quite early IN the morning, the 4th and 5th
formed ana started to storm the camp of the 9th.
er three regiments. We succeeded in routing
them after some very heard fighting. But this
was not enough to appease our desire for fun,
SO part OF the whole brigade, together with
some Louisanians, and commanded by Louis
ana Col. drew up in line in front of DOle's cor
gia brigade, and challenged them to combat,
which they were not at all 10th to accept; but
quickly forming, charged for small bridge
across raYne which divided the contending
parties and led by Gen. Dole in person. Here
occurred one of the most stubborn fights of the
kind ever known.
zen. Dole tried several time to force his horse
over, but in vain. He was at last knocked from
horse, and, supposing him badly hurt, both
sides ceased firing. We then agreed to let them
1t may be well here to state that a great ma
ny of our side, thinking the fight over, and hear
ing that the Ord, Gen. Stuart's brigade, was in
possession of our Camp, left che field. By this
We were considerably weakened. In the mean
time Gen. Dole was bringing out every man.
Well, all the preliminaries being arranged, the
nght soon. became general. First one party
would charge and then the other, and the tide of
battle ebbed ane flowed without either gaining
any decided advantage. Thus things continued
Tor some time; but after while our boys had to
give way. We would rally every few PAGES, and
stand tor some moments, but finally they proved
to many for US. We wished very much for Gen.
Walker, but no one appraised him of it. They
continued to drive US until we reached orr camp
where they halted and went back exulting over
their victory. Nothing could please them more
than to say that they had whipped the ssStone-
wall BRIGADE for 1t has ever been a source of
envy to many brigades that any one should
take the name OF him who, when living. they
loved 70 follow to fields OF glory, and whose
memory, now that kind Providence has taken
him away, they revere and hold most sacred.
Hestlllties now ceased for awhile but the NOR
tlneatlon OF defeat, thing unknown to the
army of Northern Virginia, much less the
"Stonewall brigade,'' was ranking in the bo
som OF every man.
About this time, Gen. Dole and Staff under
took raid through our camp. They were
which two of the party lost their hats. They
claimed that it was as successful as Kilpatrick's
Gen. Walker now rode out and formed the brig
ade, determining to fight to the last, but such
was the enthusiasm of our boys, when led by our
gallant Brigadier, that We broke their line the
first charge, and drove them through their camp
in complete rout. After giving three cheers
for Gen. Walker and the,ssStonewall Brigade
We returned to camp entirely satisfied with our
days work.
i write this account of our SNOWFALL battle
hoping it may entertain some of our friends.
and also to correct some of the rumors which
reach our homes, that we are all depressed and
in low spirits about our affairs. I assure you
these are all false. Our boys all in fine spr-
its and look forward to the coming campaign
with anything but feelings of dependency,
and hope, ere the beginning of another year,
with the blessing Of the God of battles, to free
VirgInia's soil from the presence of our unscrupu-
lous and blood-thirsty foe. PRIVATE.