Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-05-18
AN OLD BATTLE RE-FOUGHT.

THERE-EULOGY ON GEN. BRECKEN-
RIDGE-EXCURsIoN FROM sTAUNToN,
&C., &C., &C.
The thirteenth anniversary of the battle.
of New Market was celebrated. there last
Tuesday, by a gathering of soldiers and
citizens, an eulogy upon the character OF
Gen. Breckenridge by Gen. John Echols,
and a poem by Prof. Salyard. The matter
has a large local interest in Augusta. she
having furnished men to the fight, and the
orator and military who engaged in the an
niversary celebration of it. Among those
who were engaged ON the well-fought field
were Gen. Jno. Echols, who commanded
the right wing; Its. Carter Berkeley anG
Hugh Fultz, A. S. Berkeley, Edward Kin
ney and Sergeant Jas. Blackburn. OF Nc
Clanahan's battery (the sergeant firing the
first and last gun of the day.; Capt. Chas. A.
Holt, of the 62d Va, who was badly wound
ed; Capt. Frank Berkeley, of Imboden's
staff; J. Ad. Cochran, of Imboden's caval-
ry; Its. J. Fred. Effinger and Jos. A. Har-
din, Of Derrick's battalion; Capt. 7. G.
Morton, of Edgar's battalion; and of the
cadets, S. Travers Phillips, who was wound
ed; Donald Allen, A. H. Fl. Stuart, Jr.,
(since dead} Carter Harrison, J. A. Stuart
nephew of Ex-Secretary Stuart) Carrie
Taylor (sjnce dead), a son of the late Edwin
M. Taylor; W. B. Crawford, and e. W. FL.
Turner, a son of Prof. A. ]. Turner, and j.
Imboden. The celebration, Wednesday at
tracted large crowd Of visitors, and be-
low we give an interesting account of it.
1t is but just to say about the complaints
which come in very thick from the Staun-
ton visitors, that there was no lack of gen
erous hospitality among the people at New
Market, but the managers of the celebra-
ton seem to have had too little experience
in such matters to make the efforts OF the
citizens fully available.
AN OFFICER WHO NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
vETERANs AND THE CADETs-THE
FIGHT--sCENES AFTER THE BATTLE,
&C., &C., sc.
ssOld Breckenridge means business,
said a lazy-looking citizen, saunterine
along Augusta street on Friday afternoon
thirteen years ago, as your reporter, then
in Echols' brigade, was going out of Staun
ton, on its way to New Market, as it al
forwards turned out. The brigade had just
made d forced march from near the White
Sulphur. AS the sun sank the troops went
into camp for the night, near Mount Craw
ford, and the next morning took the pike
again. On their way they overlook the
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE
CADETS.
pretty tired and dusty, but cheerful and
''spiling for q fight as the old vets would
laughingly tell them. Many were the
comments of the dingy, weather-beaten
dressed, smooth-faced boys, with theil
bright guns and well-packed knapsacks
They seemed to feel as it it was a sort o.
indignlty offered them to have to go tt
battle On equal terms with "them boys
|, and held their ''biled shirts in great con.
|. tempt. "What do they know about fight
ling?" say they. excepting step and going
Through the manual amt shooting Yam
KEGS. They II run at the first fire and
start a panic. PC Better stayed at schoo
and stuck to their books instead of coming
uOWu uCIC W JldJ oOlUlOl. NGW
(aIluding to the last issue of Confederate
scrip was a favorite term of reproach
The writer was frequently, on the march,
appealed to. by men upon whose courage
he was much more willing to rely than on
their judgment, for his opinion as to wheth
er ''them boys would face the music. >
&4es," he replied, They've too muci
pride to run. If the first shock is not toe
heavy take care that they don't put yot
old fellows to the blush!'' The cadets
took these taunts and jeers generally in
good part; in fact, they seemed to feel
rather ashamed of being SO clean and
young, and to have a corresponding degree
Of respect for the old soldiers, who had
smelt powder and crossed bayonets with
the enemy-;I feeling familiar to all raw
recruits.
The troops next camped within Or lC
, miles OF New Market and the young sol
dierS who had never seen q live yankee
crowd curiously around a batch of fifty
Or sixty prisoners, the cavalry had just
brought in, and begged for the privilege Of
relieving the guard.
The night before the battle was dark and
stormy, and at 2 O'Clock in the morning
the long roll was beaten, the companies
rapidly formed, and answered to theiI
names, tho not face could be distinguish
ed in the darkness. The little army set
out on it's silent march, and the rising sun
found us near the scene of conflict.
The plan of battle, disposition of forces
and general results have been SO clearly set
forth in the admirable address of General
Echols, that [ will only further relate
some incidents of the fight. The writer
being at the right Of his company, and the
Cadet Battalion Immediately on his right,
had the best opportunity of witnessing the
behaviour Of those noble cadets under
their
BAPTISM OF FIRE.
1t was trying ordeal when our line
double quicking down the hill. just after
coming within range of the enemy's bat
teries, heavy shell almost the first that
was fired, burst directly over their heads
making wide gap in their beautiful line.
Eight boys fell, and with painful suspense
we watched their broken line, as some halt
ed to look back at their fallen comrades
who called to them not to leave them, while
others plunged on. Would they stand, or
would the shock be too much for the IN
tried soldiers ? Il was a moment of I'M
certainty, to many who watched, but on
ly moment. The admirable discipline Of
the corps served them now in this critical
juncture.
Loud above the roar of cannon and the
cracking of small arms was heard the
powerful voice of 1t. Col. Ship
s'CLOsE UP BATTALION.''
AT once the sicKen1ng gap was closed,
the line dressed as if on parade, and the
gallant boys marched into the thick of the
fight with the steadiness Of veterans never
hating, though they fell by scores, until
the last hill is reached, the enemy democrat
lied, and in retreat, and a glorious victory
won.
It was fearful moment when or bri-
gade reached the top Of the hill just in front
of the Federal batteries. The rain was
coming down in torrents, but not faster
than the shower of grape and canister, and
small shot from the opposite hill. Anoth-
Ell regiment had been there before us, and
with many dead and wounded lying in the
mud, was recoiling before the storm of