The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-07-14

was then attacked upon the left flank by q
second column OF the enemy, ana forced 70
retire. while Stewards moved steadily for
ward Jones keeping up the alignment. The
gallant Louisiana Brigade, In It's 1mpetuOuS
charge, had cleared the field In its immediate
front, and advanced some distance to the top
N d small hill at the edge Of dense thicket
While occupying this position 1t was attacked
by the Federal column which had encountered
and driven back the StOnewall Brigade; to
meet this charge the First Louisiana Regiment
was faced about and wheeled to the rear Just
in time to receive yOlley from the enemy,
then only thirty PAGES off, by which Gen. Stat
ford was mortally wounded. But this advance
was quickly checked. The brigade was then
moved by the right flank a short distance to
the rear and faced about on new line. Jones
brigade, seeing this movement and believing
the LOusianians to be retiring from the field,
became demoralized and withdrew in confu-
sion. Their gallant commander
GEN. J. NJ. JONES,
used every effort by persuasion and threats,
10 rally his dlsorganlzed brigade, but in vain:
a few brave spirits remained on the leld, ana
forming short attenuated line heroically
awaited the onslaught OF the enemy CraHed
with modification at the conduct of his brig
AIDE, the general rode out in front Of his little
handful Of followers who remained true, and
deiiantly called out to the enemy to come on,
at the same time dischargng his pistol at the
advancing column. Scarcely second elapsed
before he fell TO the ground, pierced by, hun
dred bullets. True and faithful TO the last,
his youthful adiutant general, Capt. Early "a
nephew Of Gen. Jubal A. Early) remained
close by the side OF his beloved commander
and shared the tragic fate of that impetuous
soldier.
The Louisiana brigade on this occasion
moved with precision, in perfect order, and
behaved with such gallantry that Gen. John
son said afterwards that 1t had saved his
division.
At the critical iuncture when Johnson's
division had been cut in two by the retreat Of
Jones brigade and was threatened with an
utilization, Early's division came up. Hays
brigade was formed on the left Of the Pike and
Gordons' on the right. At this time the field
did not wear very encouraging aspect;
Jones men were running pantc-striGken to the
rear, and the danger seemed imminent that
our whole corps would be borne back by the
heavy masses Of Federals who were rapidly
advancing, elated by their recent success;
Gen, Gordon, IN command OF his own, and
Daniels North Carolina brigade, was ordered
To charge, and dislodge the enemy from
the threatening position they had gained
between the two wings OF J0hnsOn's
division; most gallantly and success
fully did he perform the work marked
out FOR him. He drove the Federals beyond
their original position, killing and wounding
many, and taking numerous prisoners-one
whole regiment, from the colonel down, sur
rendering to Col. Lamar, OF the Sixtieth GeOr-
gia. After pushing the enemy for several
hundred yards, Gordon perceived that he was
ON a line with the Federal line OF battle;
promptly dividing his column and changing
front TO the right and left he struck the TANKS
of the enemy with great impetuOsity, dOu-
bling them up, and clearing the field for the
width Of quarter Of a mile. A few minutes
after this charge field of dry sedge, over
which Gordon had passed. strewed with dead
and wounded Federals, caught fire. many OF
the wounded
PERIsHING In TILE FLAMES.
This splendid achievement of Gordon's
forced the Federal General (WarTen) to with
draw his whole line, and relieved Johnson's
front from the great pressure which had
threatened to irretrivably break it,
GEN. LEROY A. STAFFORD,
who fell early this morning, mortally wound
ed, at the head Of his splendid fighting bri-
gade, was wealthy planter of Louisiana, OF
which State he was native. Early in the
war he gave up the comforts Of luxurious
home to do battle for the constitutional
rights of the South. He was man of culture
heart and amiable disposition, he had many
friends and no enemtes-eXcept those of his
country. For long time he commanded the
Ninth Regiment Of Hays' Brigade; a few
weeks before he metr1Sith his sad fate in the
sombre shades 81 the Wilderness, he was
,ssaadRa Brlgadisr General and placed at the
head OF the Second Louisiana Brigade. AS a
soldier he was remarkable for GOODNESS, iudg-
1nent and bravery-q qualities which he con-
spicuously displayed during the many actions
Id which he was engaged. In the teegraphic
announcement of the battle of the fifth OF
May, made by Gen. Lee to the War Depart
Inent at Richmond, our great leader paid 3
graceful tribute to the sOldierly virtues and
accomplishments of the lamented Stafford.
While GOrdon's movement was In progress,
the enemy formed heavy column to turn the
left flank Of EwelIS CORPS which, II success
full, would have involved the loss Of our artil-
lery and ordnance train, parked by the road
side Immediately In the rear of our division.
HAYS BRIGADE
was ordered to go at double quick to the
extreme left to check this threatened attack.
Arriving at the designated spot, we formed on
the left OF Walkers brigade, with which we
were to charge as soon after getting into po-
sitlon as possible. Gen. Walker (now Lieu
tenant Governor Of Virginial was made &C
Quainted with this order, but for some reason
declined to join our brigade in the charge,
leaving us to Ego it alone"
Without delay the clear, Sonorous voice OF
Harry Hays rang out, Charge" and the bri-
gade went forward with rush through the
thick woods, driving in the enemys skirmish-
ers, and quickly reaching his first line OF
battle broke and scattered it like chaff before
the wind. Emerging into narrow field, from
our left wing could be seen the second Federal
line, which overlapped ours by at least one
brigade. The danger Of attacking such an
extended front was evident; but tour boys then
had the Federals on the run, and were toe
eager and impetuous to be halted. Over the
open field they rushed and entering the dense
woods beyond they were checked by a heavy
force posted behind hastily constructed field
works This obstacle would undoubtedly have
been swept away had it not then become ap-
parent that the enemy were rapidly closing in
upon our TANKS with the intention of enVel-
oping and capturing our brigade. To escape
this impending danger Gen. Hays was forced
to withdraw his little command across the
field under a muTderous fire from front anC
flank, to within short distance Of the posi-
tion we occupied before the charge. In this
retrograde movement the brigade lost heavily
THE CASUALTIES
amounting to 254, which was nearly one-thirC
of the number Of men who went into action
Though we were driven back, this charge haC
the desired effect Of staying the enemy's pro
jected thanking movement until reinforce
ments arrived, by which our line was ex
tended as far to the left as that of The
Federals. Among the many noble fellows
who went down in this fight never to ris'
again, was Capt. Thomas Hunt BscOe, com
manding the Fifth Regiments nephew 0
the Hon Randell Hunt and MI Il RiScOe