The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-03-03

! to Eveji; thither followed, to remain In res
y serve until The, general forward movement tn
tho afternoon, by which Fremont was driven
| back, with loss oof prisoners We did not per.
ss3t far as Shields was near upon ls.
t lenrned from Ewell that there had been
Some pretty Fighting In the morning. though
. less than might lave been expected from
Iremout's large force ! know not II the
presence Of this commander had n benunb-
Ing Enlluence on his troops, but GER
tanty bis advanced cavalry md Infantry had
proved bold and erAerprisinR. ln the evening
moved ko the river and gatnped. Winders
andlo tIsr brigades crossed the bridge. and,
fIiisIng Emo night, ffiiwHt WITH fftttett 81 tie
army drrv neaH, leaaing I.rimbalLs brigade
with tho cavalry at Cross Keys. No one ap-
Tprehended another edvancH by FREMONT
| The following morning Snpahy., ninth q
June NY command passed the bridge, moved
severed hnneased yards down the reml, and
halted. Our trains had gone cast over the
| Blue Ridge:
The SIN appeared above the mountain
Suddenly, from below. was heard the din Of
battlc--loud Hhd sustained artillery and
small arms. orhe men sprang to their arms,
| formed column and marched. gnlloped for
ward Il short mile TO see the following scene. .
| From the mountain clothed to Its base with
urHlergrowtH and timber, a level plain. clearv
| open and snooth, extended to eriver This
| plain was some tb1asnnd yards in width, A
! half mile north was gorge, through which
| howed small stream, cutting the mountain
at right angle. 1'he northern shoulder Of Slris
gorge projected further into the plain than
| The southern end ON an elevated plateau of
tlte shoulder we're placed six guns, sweeping
every inch OF tie plain TO The south. Three
| lines Of the enemy, at Intervals, their right
touching the river, we're advancing. steadily,
| with banners flying and arms glea Ing In The
| sun. gallant slow they cane on. Winder's
and another brigade with two batteries,
alone opposed them. This small force was
my Irlshmen preelletsd ''3beids boys s's were re
after fighting, Below, Ewell was hurryna
his men over the bridge, but, It looked rs # we
should be doubled up on him ere he could
cross and develop much strength. jackson
| was on The road little In advance Of his line,
where the fire was, hottest, with feins ON hig.
horses neck, seemingly bn prayer. AttraetelF
| by my approach, no said IN his usual low
| voice, '"Delightful excitement" | replied It
was pleasant to learn lie was enjoying him
self but thought he might have an indiges-
ton Of such fun II the six-guu battery was
not sienced He summoned u young officer
| from his staff and pointed up the noun
| tain The head OF my approaching
and speedily came to 81 path running parallel
with the river We took this path, The guide
leading the way. From him ! learned that
the plateau occupied by the battery. had been
following, made by the Burners In hauling
wood, came upon the gorge opposite the bat
tory. Moving brislsly, We reached the hither
side of the gorge, a few yards from the bat
| terry. Several regiments were posted near,
| and 'iflemen were In the underground on the
slope above. Our approach, masked by
timber, was aanssuspeotsd. ,,, The bot,
from its elevation to fire over the advancing
lines. The head Of my column was deploy-
ing, under cover, for attacE, when the fire to
our rear appeared to reeede, and loud Fed
eral cheer was heard proving jackson TO be-
hard pressed. 1t was rather an anxious mo-
ment, demanding instant action. Leaving
staff officer to direct my rear regiment, the
Seventh Louisiana,
cob. HARRY BAYS.
TO form In the woods as u reserve and halt +
ordered the attack. With IL rush and shout
the gorge was passed. and we were In the
battery. Surprise had aided us. but the en-
emy's infantry rallied In n moment, and drove
lis out We returned, to be driven out the
second time. The ritlemen above worried us
no little Two companies Of the Ninth Lou
above tlenl and dIsodge them, which was &C.
compished. Tho fighting in and around the
battery was hand,to-hand. Many fell
| from bayonet wounds. Even the artillery
not laid down in the Manual" and died at
their guns. AS Conan said to the devil,
u was claw for claw. i called Tor Hays,
but he, the pironptest Of men, and his SPLEEN
did regiment, could not be found. Something
| unexpected had occurred but there was little
time, for speculation, With desperate rally,
we carried the battery for u third time, and
held it. The riflemcu above had been driven
| off, and VIC began to feel little comfortable
when the rear line of the enemy. attracted by
| marched. and, with their left near the river,
came in full view Of our situation Wheeling
to their right, with Golors advanced, like
| There seemed nothing left but to set our
backs to the mountain and die hard. At
the instant, crashing through the underwood,
came Ewell, outriding staff and escort. He
secured reinforcement, and was welcomed
with cheers. The line before us halted and
| threw forward skirmshers. moment later
q q shell came N shrieklng along IT; Loud Con
and Jackson, freed from his tolls, came like a
whirwind, the enemy in rapid retreat. We
| turned the captured guns GIN them as they
passed, Ewell himself serving as Il gunner
Though rapid the retreat never became
| rout. Fortune had refused her smiles, but
Shields and his brave command preserved
their organization, and were formidable to
the last.
Whether the difference between his force
and Fremont'S was of men or commanders, i
leave to others to decide. Jackson came up
With intense d Sc; light N n his eyes grasPed my
captured the battery. thought the men
would go mad with cheering, especially the
Irishmen.. huge fellow, with one eye closed
and half his whiskers burned by the explosion
of powder, was riding cock horse on a gun,
and, catching my attention, yelled out,
Didn't we tell ye to bet on the boys?' Their
success against brother Patlanders seemed
uouDiy Wtlcoilt. foblaHRt people, tileSe IriSH
Fighting every one's battles and cheerfully
taking the hot end of the poker, they are only
found wanting when engaged in what they be-
lieve to be their national cause. Excepting
their defense Of Limerick under the brilliant
Sarslield, / recall no domestic struggle in
which they have shown their worth.
While Jackson pursued Shields without
much effect as his cavalry, left in front of
Fremont, could not get over till late-we
attended to the wounded and performed the
last offices to the dead-our own and the Fed
eral. / have never seen SO many dead and
wounded in the same limited space. A large
farm house on the plain, opposite the mouth
of the gorge, was converted into hospital.
| Ere long, my lost Seventh regiment-sadly
| - t,r,ao i'm