Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-04-26

anu tue Oplect was TO ure upon the mead OF
the column it debouched, to give the idea
that their further advance would be contested
and to compel them to develop line of bat
tie with skirmishers thrown out, &C. The
delay which it was hoped TO occasion by such
demonstration was advisable in order to in
crease the chances of our infantry then march
ing by another and parrallelrOad to the Court
House. URder Major BIS personal superin-
tendence, shells were thrown and burstexactly
| in the head of the column as it debouched.-
The desired effect was obtained !: the head of
| the enemy's s advance was scattered aud it was
only with some difficulty u line of battle with
skirmishers in front was formed TO continue
the advance. was sitting. on my horse near
Breathed and directed him to Withdraw his
gun, but he was so much elated with his sue.
cess that he begged to be allowed to give tho
enemy some more rounds. He fred until
their line got 81 close that you could hear
them calling out: .sSurrender that gun you
rebel son of b-h." Breathed's own horse
had Just been shot. The cannoneers Jumped
on their horses, expecting of course the gun.
to be captured aud retreated rapidly down the
hill. Breathed was left alone. He iimbered
the gun UP and jumped on the lead horse
1t was shot from under him. Quick as light
mig he drew his knife, cut the leaders out of
the harness and sprang on swing horse. 1t
was also shot from uuder him Just as he was
/ turning to get in the road. dc then severed
the harness of the swing horse, jumped upon
/ one of the wheel horses aud agtin made the
desperate trial for life. The ground was open
| between the piece and thewoods : the enemy
had full view of the exploit; aud Breathed
at last dashed off unharmed, almost miracu-
lously escaping through shower of bullets"
This timely act of daring helped to impede
the march of the federals, and as every mo-
ment's delay at this particular juncture was of
| the last importance, its influence upon the ul-
innate issue of the campaign can scarcely be
| estimated As it was, the advance OF the en-
emys cavalry and infantry occupied the CO.
veted position at the Court House, but a hri-
gade of the first division of Longstreet's corps
arrived in time to drive them out before their
main body reached the ground. The advance
of the federal infantry was Maryland Bri-
gade. 1t suffered severely. Col. Phelps,
since and NJ. C. from Baltimore was brought
in wounded and prisoner, and laid upon the
sward near locality known as the Block
House.
Many such incidents, full of peril and of the
highest soldierly courage, occurred IN the mil.
itary career of Breathed, aud itwas no marvel
that he was the pride of his corps aud that in
one of the several times he was stricken down
from his saddle by the balls of the enemy,
the Commander in Chief hastened to drop
him the beautiful tribute of sympathy and
respect which pre!aced this Imperfect tribute
to his memory.
will relate one more instance of his ex>
trarordinary valor and let it close this cores
pondence. IL resembles more the days of |
knight errantry, than OF modern battle. 1t |
seems extravagant but its truth in every par |
ticular can be vouched for by many living |
witnesses. After Graut had broken the Con-
federate lines around Petersburg and Gen.
Lee had taken up his memorable retreat
which Terminated at Appomattox, and in its
last stages, when surrender had been dis |
cusscd in council of war held near Farmville.
and the hopes of many brave men sank never
again to be revived, Breatheds courage grew
feroer and more conspicuous than in the
palmiest days of Confederate triumph. 9
He left the marks of his artillery and of his
own sabre all along the route.
With view of preventing the destruction
of the celebrated sHigh Bridge" which spans
the Appomattox and its adjacent low grounds
force OF Federal troops consisting OF bri-
gade of infantry with squadron OF cavalry
that had been detailed a body guard for
Gen. Ord, under command of Gen. Ried of
Philadelphia, were detached and sent by
flank march TO take possession of the bridge
This movement having been ascertained, |
Gen. Rossers division of cavalry was sent to
attack them, Breathed with one battery of his |
command accompanying him.
When ROsser reached the bridge. he found |
the federal force in possession and instantly |
attacked thern with vigor. The fight became |
hot and furious and close handed. Gen. |
Ried himself .ell at the hand of Brig. Gen. |
~, Codo
cavalry officer, and the smoke of his pistol |
was yet curling about his person, when he too
fell, pierced through the vitals by minnie |
ball from the musket of Outstanding federal
infantryman Col. Boston of the 9th Va.
Cavalry aud Maj. James Thomson an artillery !
officer from the neighboriDg county OF JET /
ferson Va, also fell about the same time.
The fight had about reached its climax and
was of doubtful result, when Breathed was or
dered to take command of portion of the dis
mounted line and to charge them upon the
enemy. Breathed rode to their front and
gave the order, but the men falteTed, and /
failed to respond. The two lines of battle
we're close together, and the ringing words OF
command were as plainly heard by the enemy
as bv his own men. Breathed saw and knew
this and felt that the success OF the entire en-
gagement depended upon the promptness with
which his order was obeyed. lie drew his
sabre aud gallOping about forty PAGES in front
of his line and pointing to the near line ofthe
enemy, shouted to his men to follow him
just as he uttered tbe'Words, two federal cav
airy officers of the rank of Captain, belonging
to 0rds body-guard. left their line at full
gallop, and came laundering down upon him.
Breathed often told the writer that when he
saw them coming flashing thought passed
through his mind as to how he should receive
them-whether with his sabOr or pistol, but
as they came with their sabres he decided to
meet them with their own weapons.