Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1864-08-11
SAsDr Hook Nh. !
NEAR HARPERs FERsr Va. !
July 2Sth Is64)
DEAR BIO.

giving you details OF our movements ii
mp to that date little dreaming Of d
what was TO take place on the NOR {
row. il
Between 9 and 10 o'clock on Sunday
fripg was heard on the out r
posts b all supposed 81 first that
itwas only a repetition Of the preyl-
days work, but as time passed the
firing grew louder and nearer, soon
all were under arms, and about IL Nj. {
our forces moved to the front A {
heavy line of skirnishers met our !
view who steadily fell back before I
our advancing lines until they had
gained the summit of the snrronn-
ding hills IN our front and fanks,
then it was that sight met our eyes
that few who witnessed 1t will ever
forget. Instead OF line of skirmish- I,
ers were two long lines OF Infantry
advancing in almost the form OF
horseshoe. On they came with
shouts and yells, $4,000 against our
little band not one third that number
the missiles of death flew thick and
fast into our ranks, it was madness
to remain where we were. and worse
than madness To advance against
such formidable force, with their
line of hattie overlapping ours more
than half mile--almost enclosing us
as it were like huge boa. To re-
treat then was the only alternative
Stahbornly our men fell back con-
testing every foot of ground-car-
rying with them their wounded com
rades. bnt few of whom fell into the
enemies hands. Our Brigade { lst)
marched through Winchester in good
order and again formed line of battle
on the opposite side. By the fine
and successful maneuvering of Col.
R. B. Hays commanding lst Brigade
we were enabled to extricate a body
of our cavalry from very precarious
situation. All praise is due this gal
liant and accomplished officer for the
manner in which he brought his men
1 off the field and for the ultimate
safety of the Brigade composed Of
the 5th and 18th Va. and 23rd and
. 36th Ohio regiments. A cooler, fir
:. mer man | have never yet seen in
action. Amid q constant storm of balls
and shell, he rode along his line
= seeming always to be in the right
b place. For more than six miles he
:: marched his command in line of bat
: tie facing to the rear-haltiug at all
: favorable positions to pour volley
/: into the ranks Of the pursuing col
: umns, until finally growing tired OF
this general stand was made-an
. ambush of the whole command form
!. ed In the edge of a wood-just at
night fall, and oil oe-.HiaIIue 10 lie
|. down with further instructions to
|: withhold he fire until the enemy got
J: within q certain distance-say 90 yds.
): and then "blaze away. On came the
;: rebel cavalry-uconscious of the
;, d~-sor that awaited them-until with
:: in the desired 'distance-then volley
:: was poured into them, a yell given
Il and--we heard no more of the enemy
/ that night. Our retreat was continu-
=: ed until we arrived at Bunker Hill
y, distant ! believe II miles from Win
E: chester.
q: In the foregoing account ] have
e.: given yon the details incident only tC
]: the movements of our Brigade ir
r: which was participant and eye-wit
r: ness. As regards the movements o.
t: the other Brigades comprising the
2: 2nd Div, and of the 1st Div. knowr
t: as Sullivan's / know no hing save
by hearsay which is very unreliable
authority.
In this battle the loss in my Co
r, (B 18th Va was s men killed and
wounded, and in the regt SO killed
}: wounded and missing. some of the
D. missing will however, think turn uI
r yet, which will reduce the loss tC
about IS. OF its officers, 1t. Col j
!, r. Hall. wounded in the arm, rather
! severely, Capt Simon Williams in the
> head, not expected to recover, 1t
e Joseph E.. Mccoy through both
l. thighs severely and 1t James w
I, Hannah in shoulder slightly.
Il Ut Jul u. lOSb % hlAlN0 WOuldCN
r. and missing. the 23rd Ohio l20, and
!. the 36th Ohio ll2. 5 I'D 12
q The loss in the 4th Va. fist Div
Ilearn was about 80 men and two
: offieers-Lt's Sissol aud Cliee.
1t. CrI. Shaw S4th Ohio was NOR
tally wounded and died at Williams
port.
b Col Mulligan commanding Brig
: ade-a brave, gallant and efficient
officer, was shot from his horse add
: left in the hands of the enemy. The
; country will mourn his loss shall
r never forget his appearance as he
3 rode past our lines just in the COM
) meneement of the fight, such look
of nobleness I never before saw
in mans countenance-as with coat
of revealing his green shirt, emblem
aticaT OF his native land, and without
hat his locks streaming in the air,
he arose In his saddle and gave vent
to his feeling exclainIng. "bully boys
brave boysLstand up to it keep your
line unbroken." Many acts of hero
ism could relate but time presses.
Monday morning dawned on us,
wet and cold, without shelter exposed
to the pItIless storm for hours,
hungry and tired. our Door boys las