Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1867-02-14

had been massed under cover between the
ked Bud and the Harryville road. moving
to attack kamseur Oh his left flank, while
another force pressed him in front It
was moment of imminent and thrilling
danger, as it was impossible for Ramseurs
divlslan. which numbered only about
100 mnskets, to withstand the immense
force Advancing against it. The only
chance for us was to hurl Rodes and
Gordon upon the flank of the advancing
columns and they were ordered forward
at once to the attack. They advanced in
most gallant style through the woods into
the open ground, and attacked with great
vigor, while Nelson's artillery stationed OH
the right, and Braxton's on the left, open
ed a destructive fire. But Evans brigade
Of Gordon's division, which was on the
extreme left of our infantry received a
check from a column of the enemy, and.
was forced back through the woods from
behind which it had advanced, the enemy
following to the very rear of the woods,
and to within musket range Of seven pieces
Of Braxton's artillery, which were without
support. This caused pause in our ad-
vance and the position was most critical,
for it was apparent that unless this force
was driven back the day was lost. Brax-
tons guns, in which now was our only hope,
resoutely stood their ground, and under
the personal superintendent of Lit Col.
Braxton and Col 7. IT. Carter, my then
Chief of Artillery, opened with canister
on the enemy. This fire was SO rapid and
well directed that the enemy staggered,
halted and commenced falling back, leav-
ing battle flag on the ground, whose
bearer was cut down by canister shot
Just then, Battles brigade of Rodes' diyis-
ION, which had arrived and been Termed in
line for the purpose OF advancing to the
forward and swept through the woods,
driving the enemy before it, while Evans
brigade was rallied and brought back to
the charge. Our advance, which had been
suspended for a moment was resumed,
and the enemy's attacking column were
thrown into great confusion and driven
from the field. This attacking force of
the enemy proved to be the 9th and 10Th
corps. and it was a grand sight to see this
immense body hurled back in utter disor-
der before my two divisions, numberingra
very little over 5000 muskets Ramseur's
division had received the shock Of the enc
my's attack. and been forced back little,
but soon recovered itself Lomax, on the
right, had held the enemy's cavalry in
check, and with part of his force, had
made a gallant charge against body of
infantry. when Ramseur's line was being
forced back, thus aiding the latter in reco-
vering from the momentary disorder
Fitz Lee on the left, from across the Red
Bud, had poured a CALLING FIRE into the
enemy's columns with his sharpshooters
and horse artillery, while Nelson's aud
Braxton's batteries performed wonders
This affair occurred about II o'clock, A.
NJ, and a splendid victory had been gain
ed. The ground in front was strewn with
the enemy's dead and wounded, and some
prisoners bad been taken. But on our
side Maj Gen Rodes had been killed, in
the very moment of triumph. while con-
Quoting the attack of his division with
great gallantry and skill, and this was a
heavy blow on me. Brigadier Gen. God
win of Ranlseur's division had been killed,
and Brig. Gen. Goodwin. of Gordon's d.
vision had lost an ARM Other rave men and
officers had fallen, and we could lily bear
the loss of any of them. Had / then had
body Of fresh troops to push our victory,
the day would have been ours, but i'll this
action, in the early part of the day, I had
present only about I 1000 muskets. about
1900 cavalry, and two battalions of artil
lery with about 80 guns; and they had all
been engaged Wharton's division and
kings artillery had not arrived, and I'M
boden's cavalry under Col. Smith, and
McCausland's under Col Ferguson were
watching the eneny's cavalry on the left,
on the Martinsburg roaa,and the Opequon
The enemy had fres49brps which had
not been engaged, and there renamed his
heavy force of cavalry. Our lines were
formed across from Abraham's Greek to
Red Bud and were very attenuated. The
enemy was still to be seen in front in for
lniaable force, and, away to our right,
across Abrahani's Greek, at the junction
Of the Front Royal and Wildwood roads,
he had massed a division of cavalry with
some artillery, overlapping us at least a
mile, while the country was open between
this force and the Valley Pike, and the
Cedar Greek Pike back of the latter;
which roads furnished my only means Of
retreat in the event of disaster. My line
did not reach the front Royal read on the
right or the Martinshurg road on the left.
When the order was sent for. the troops
to move from Stephenson's depot, General
Breckenridge had moved to the front, with
Whartons division and Kings artillery, to
meet cavalry force which had driven our
pickets from the Opequon on the Charles
town road, and that division had become
heavily engaged with the enemy, and sus-
tanned and repulsed several determined
charges Of his cavalry, while its own TANKS
were IN great danger from the enemy's