The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1877-05-01
Irish Soldiers In the Late War.
The Ninth Massa chusetts al NAL
yern Hili--General Buffers Ac-
count OF lt.


vern HIlI..General Buffers Ac-
count Of IL. s
The General alluded to the scene at
Malvern Hill, in 1862, where Porter's
Corps was acting as rear guard, as fol
lows:
Is it wonderful, then, that men Of the
same religious faith, with such examples
of heroism and self-sacrifice before them,
went to do battle for their country. re-.
gardless Of perils and dangers of the
battlefield, and met death as calmly as
they would lay down to nights repose,
like flowers at set Of SUM-
+, The, Ninth, with two supporting regi-
rnents, are ordered to take position to
hold in check the advancing enemy and
gain time or-the rest Of the army. The
Ninth advance to their position as order
ed BY some mistake or misconception
Of orders the other two regiments do
not go forward. 1t is now midday. The
advance of Jackson's Gorpsis seen wind
ing out of the wood which had conceal
ed his brigades. He turns the head Of
his column TO !''sweep away" as be. sees
that green flag, which meets his eye as
the MONDAY sun-gilds the sunburst.-
Looking around them the soldiers Of the
Ninth see the whole of our army in re
treat. and they are left alone, their sup.
port not having come up, to stantf the
shock Of the fighting corps of Lees ar.
my. Not long time have they to wait.
A volley pours into them from the ad.
vancing lines Of the foe. That terrific
yell we know so we'll follows. Tore.
treat is capture to ourselves, with de.
struction to our, army. To stand, as we
are under this plupging fire, will indeed
sweep US from earth. They charged
Let US meet the enemy half way! For
ward, now! Charge! with sncn cheer
as only .Ilishmen can give. The toe
gives back That glistening line of steel,
over which proudly floats the green dag
Of Erin, is too much for him. He seeks
shelter in the wood from whence be
came Back, now, the Ninth! Give
ground slowly, as If on parade. We
must get position where they canno,
flank Us, and where, IL 1t is possible, oui
support may come up. Again the rebels
charge They think we are retreating,
! do they They'll fnd out! Abou,
face. the Ninth At them again! An.
other sight OF the sunburst advancing
and they take to the woods again, bul
our loss of officers and men is fearful :.
Again and again was this repeated, from
noon till four o'clock in the afternoon
Our commander now knows that he can
rely on no support, aud that the safety
OF the army depends upon his regimen,
alone. 1t is now four o'clock. The
Confederate General Cobb takes the field,
with his own legion at the head Of Jack
sons column, and With him the Nine.
teenth North Carolina and the -Four.
teenth Virginia, in the language of Coun,
Estvan, . Prussian officer serving on bis
staff, "foaming at the mouth" to see the
best troops OF the Confederate army
foiled by single regiment. Cobb drives
his brigade forward to crush that small
line of blue over which waves in defiance
though torn with shot and shell, the
green flag and the Stars and Stripes to
sether, He comes out Of the wood with
his brigade deployed in two lines.
| : COLONEL Quincy AND HIS MEN.
One would think the very appearance
Of those charging lines OF gray would
cause the blue to vanish from the field
Our Lieutenant Colonel, the cool ba, da
ring Quincy, makes his disposition to
meet them by counter charge. Sread,
now. boys : he shouts. "Colof-bearers
forward! Men, follow your culors! J"
Now the cheer, and our blue line cut
through the charging columns as il I
we're q Damascus blade OF shining steel
The tide Of battle is stayed-nay, il
turned back. But what a loss Of oul
officers and men! Our blue line is short
er now as we close up our ranks. Th'
dag Of the golden harp is saved, bu
bathed in the blood Of its heroic defend
els. O, God, the green is red now, as
will be again and again before dear oil
Ireland gets her place once more anon!
the nations of the earth. .e.4