The daily gazette., 1877-09-03
Second Battle of Manassas
The Part Mahone's brigade
TOOK in It.

ne Eart mahone's brtGade
TOOK in 1t.
A writer in the Norfolk Lsdqer details
some interesting facts as to the part Ma
homes Brigade shared in the second
battle of Manassas. They will be inter
esting to all OF the survivors of that
bloody field, many of whom reside in
this city and section. The writer says.
To-day, (the Both of August) is the If
teentb Anniversary of a day glorious in
the history of the Southern Confed-
eracy, and was also one in which Ma
homes Old Brigade, though small frac-
ton of the whole, displayed its usual
courage and endurance, and contributed
In no small degree to the important and
glorious result. We have neither the
ability, space nor incliLation to give
general history of the historic combat,
which has been often and fully describ-
ed, and our object IL simply to rescue
from oblivion some Of the incidents which
fell under the observation of one in the
ranks, and to revive in the minds of the
survivors the memories of their former
hardships, dangers and undying achieve
ments.
General Anderson's Division, with
which the Brigade was connected, had
marched hither and thither from the
time of leaving Louisa Courthouse, sub
sisting mainly on roasted corn, with oc-
casionally little fresh beef or flour,
generally without salt, and the day pre-
vious to the battle wPs still many miles
from the ground. A forced march,
through Thorougbfare Gap, almost with
out halt, brought the command on the
night of the 9th into the immediate
vicinity of the Federal forces, bivouack-
ed on the field, whence they were with
drawn to safer position, and formed
hattla m
the whole scene of the previous days
battle, and where, before the sun would
set, SO much more blood was to be
shed.
The men, utterly broken down by hun
ger, thirst and fatigue, threw them
selves upon the ground, and slept heavil-
ly. As the morning passed on council
of war was held but few yards in rear
of the Brigade, at which Gen. Lee was
attended by his faithful and trusted Lieu
tenants, Gen. Jackson, Longstreet and
Stuart, the scene forming an inefface-
able picture upon the memories of all
who witnessed 1t. AT its conclusions,
Gen. Lee summoned our commander,
| and said to him, as nearly as we can re-
member, General Anderson, take your
| men to the woods yonder and refresh
\ them; l may not need you, but these
people must be driven back" The men
| indicated, but scarcely had the ranks
| been broken and few supplied with
food than they were reformed and push
ed forward to nee led point. AS they
neared the field of carnage, the line of
battle was formed, and almost immedia-
| tely the work of death commenced, a
private in the Forty-frst Regiment be-
ing the first victim. Onward it advan,
ced, halting occasionally for an align
! I'D
| to storm of shell and canister which
swept the ranks, and left the ground lit
tered with dead and wounded. Charg-
ling with a cheer into the smoke, the
| battery was captured, and itsl infantry
supports captured, killed or dispersed
| Still onward, and soon Gen. Malone
was borne wounded to the rear, and the
number of casualties was momently in
| creasing.
But the closing of the great tragedy was
the most terrific and sanguinary. Towards
hightfall large force of the snemy made a
determined stand, in an almost lnpenetra-
BILE thicket, and before its appalling fire the
| impetuous advance OF the Brigade Was
checked, Alignment preparatory to tinal
aud deceisIveg charge was attempted, but
the close and effective fire Vi the e1emy
/ had besa 80 disastrous among the field ot11-
/ Gers that no advance was made, and tue
men, ma maintain,ng their line, returned ALhe
| fire with telling effect. Col. Weislger, of
| the Twelfth, VINO had assumed command OF
the Brigade when General Malone was
wounded, was also wounded aud borne of ;
Col. Crump OF the s x eenth, WAS killed,
and Lieut.. Col. Ham wounded; Lieut.. Col.
Harry Williamson, OF the Sixth, was severe
ly wounded; Major p. May, OF the Twelfth
| was killed, and Captain Lewellen, who
| d.1 IA a nj
Cameron, had both been disabled by wounds
Col. Allen Parham, of the Forty fist, as
sumed cammand Of the brigade, but before
this could be effected and order restored the
battle had ceased, and the enemy continued
his retreat Ia the direction OF Centreville,
entirely vapquished aud demorallzed.
| In addition to the casualties detailed
above many of the officers and men OF the
Brigade were killed or wounded, among
whom we may mention Lieut.. j. ID. Smith
leo. H. Sixth, woHnded IN the head and
both arms,dyIng from their effects souetlme
later at Aldie, Lieut.. Burgess, Com
pany B, mortaily wounded by shot III the
lower abdomen, and Color bearer Alex
smith. also OF The Sixth, wounded. Lleul.
lanes May, Co. A, Twelfth, was disabled
for life by a ball in the hip. A host OF pri-
Yates now rest in forgotten graves in that
,1olootha. and OF the survivors, many Will
near the tokens OF the battle to their graves,
INIT a glorious victory had be sn won, and
the regiments had earned the right 10 iu-
scribe another name upon their batIle-hag.
To-day is also the anniversary OF another
achievement of Mahone's Brigade, Which
on0ht 10 be commemorated. On the BOTH
of August, 1868, after most OF Gen Lees
army had been withdrawn fiom the vicinity
OF Culpeper Court house, a large force Of
!, Federal cavalry crossed the Rappahannock
river. and brushing ava the slight cavalry
force opposing them, advanced boldly into
the very camp of some of Mshone's reg.
. ments. The Brigade was quietly unae'
, arms, and an uninterrupted pursuit io
miles, most, OF the time at double
ouIck. was commenced. The enemy Kept
no Iunning fire with their carbines, which
, caused some loss, but they continued thell
flIcht until the river was gained. Among
the killed on our side was Captain Branct
! of the Richmond Greys, Twelfth kaElmen,
young and gallant soldier and chivalrou:
gentlemen. The boys looked upon Tue
whole aft air as a holic, aud but for tn
heat and fatigue would have pos lively en-
ed The race, as they called 1t.
, Severe Heply.
IL. 8 aaroastlc rHmark, Burn