Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1870-02-19
Msa Rev. A. G.. Hopkins. formerly

Snow battle in the army oil Nof'ne'"
Virginia, which took place near Pisgsh
| Church, Orange County. Virginia on
The 23d of March, 1864 -
yesterday deep snow fell ; bu! this
,.ornire 5righ, sun dispersed all clouds
| and refreshed The camp of the Army oil
Northern Virgins. The boys began
! snow bs,linp 10 The Slonewsll Brigade.
After many repimsn.sl skirmlshes, The
Stonewsll and Louisiana Brigades COM
bined. and offered SNOWFALL battle TO
! Doles' Georgia and Rsmseur's N, Z.
Brpsdes. The gsun.lc, was declined at
firsl by The Georglsns on the ground iha!
thew were mot used TO snow But soon
the pride Of those two large Brigsdes oil
Rodes' Division, who had won just lame
in arms, was kinded. and they resolved
to chas,ise the baugh,y little band OF Viz
pinians and Louisianians. After much
| irregular skirmishing both sides became
somewhat organized. The men OF john
sons Division were commanded by Maj.
Goodwin Of La and Rodes' Division by
Brig. Gen. DoIes' Of Ga. After a long
contes. Doles drove Godwyn peIl NELL
nearly mile across an open field. and
pursued his routed forces into their camp.
Doles withdrew towards his camp. God
wyD dispatched couriers 10 Hid. Qrs., and
sent recruiting officers through his two
Brigade camps. Doles' men. flushed
with victory stood upon hill in the open
! field, threatening demolition upon their
foe Godwyn's men s,ung to desPera-
ton, rallied in from, OF the camp. Brig
| Gen. James A. Walker Of the S.onewsll
Brigade was placed in command Of the
ViIginians and Louisianians-Co!. VIM.
Terry OF 4,h Va, in command Of Stone.
wall Brig. and Brig. Gen. Stafford of La.
Brig. took command Of his men. Does
was now reinforced by Battles Alabama
Brigade and vas busy recognizing.
Walkers position was at the angle of
the two edges of some wood. This furn-
ished an old 'Jackson's foo,cavalry man
fine opportunity of practising his Ia
mented Chiefs fond strategy. Accord
ingly Walker placed Terry a, the edge Of
woods parallel 10 The enemies line, and
ordered them TO 'prepare ammunition
(snow bslls). Stafford was led under
cover TO concealed position along the
edge Of the woods in from. Of Terry. al
RICH. angles to The formers ine,and much
nearer the enemy
Jus, here a small body Of cavalry was
seen 10 dash from The body Of The 'ene
my down a ravine on our left. 1t was
generally thought their mission was
peaceful and intended 10 arrange Terms
But the quick military eye Of Care,
Doyle, Co. X, 2nd Va. soon discerned
their hostile character and he alone charg.
ed upon them; for, Doyle heard the rat
ding OF Team throgh our camp to the
rear, and spprecialing the value of COM
missary slores determined 10 save them.
Unaided and alone Doyle assailcd them,
and, whether by his heroic exertlons or
not. they suffered by the raid, as many OF
them rode off hstiess.
Terry was ordered to engage the 'ene
my s,ubbornly, as was his wont. and at
given signal from Gen. Walker TO fall
back upon reserved ammunition and 10
draw Doles into the ambuscado OF STAT
fnrd's men. Al the word The 'Stonewall'
advanced; Doles net ihem-an engage.
men,, quick. sharp and terrific in its gran
deur ensued. Walker rode gsllan,ly At
the front OF his men. cheering them by
presence and word, and when the shock
came, he, the admired Of all his followers.
was the chief objec. Of his brave enemies
assault. Countless snow.bslls flew and
broke about his head, and the proud enc
nv rushed TO seize the marked hero.
With sten,orian voice he shouted Re.
treat, Retreat The enemy though! him
beaten; they rushed upon him TO make
repri.al OF hero. But this wa, the sig
nal. His men tarried only long enough
to release his chatting stee1 from num-
berlsss hostile hands that held the bii,nnd
10 bring Off their brave .nos.coVered
chief-lhen fed as il for safety. A lew
steps bronsh, Doles into the hitherto con-
ceaIed hands Of Stafford. His boys rush
ed out; Terry's men rallied and returned
upon their adversary. Once more there
was a vas, cloud of snow from breaking
balls tina, filed the whole air and almost
obscured the SUMS brigh. face. The
foe was worthy Of Walkers steel but
when the snow.smoSe lifted the enemy
had recolled. Charmed by the sklll of
the leader. and inspired by the brilliant
success Of his tactics, W aker's men push.
ed their advantage, pursued the foe, dis
persed them in route, and drove them into
and through their camp. Many prisoners
were captured and sent TO the rear till The
issue vas known. and one long, loud
cheer rent the air that beautiful evening.
Just before The golden sun sank 10 the
horizon.
Here was battle that continued all
day with changing fortune. Five Br-
gsdes we're engaged in 1t. Never did
any cause inspire its champions with
more excitement, zeal, exerllon and cour-
sger Many prisoners were taken and re-
taken.
Gsllantry was never more signal or u.
UNIVERSAL, end none excelled in this beyond
the quartermas,ers and commissaries.
Ye, !, was bloodless. aud left upon 10
heart the blemish OF one unkind feeling.
II this were war. and these its results.
how many recruits could be had for the
next. Certainly none who participated
in the pleasant enthusiasm Of this battle