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


haps the circumstances mentioned some lines
back had ohscufed his star. III 80, a few short
hours swept away the cloud, and II blazed
like Sirius, over the land. | approached hin
might be crossed by stepping on. the cross
ties, as the enemy's guns bore less directly on
1t than on the other bridge. He nodded ap.
prevail. The Eighth Louisiana was on the
right OF my line, near at hand. Dismounting
Col Kelley led his regiment across under b
sharp m,isketry fire. Several men fell, to dis
| appear In the dark water beneath but the
| movement continued with great rapidity, con.
| sidering the difficulty Of walking on ties, and
| Kelley, with his leading files, gained the
shore; whereupon the enemy fred combusti
| bles previously placed near Che centre Of the
/ ttitptttts+ htiAsse Tho lnas Of this structure
would have seriously delayed lis, as the rail-
way bridge was not noored, and | looked al
jackson, who was near by. watching Kelley's
progress He nodded ut me again, and my
command rushed at The bridge. Concealed BY
the cloud of smoke, the suddenness of the
movement saved us from much loss, but 1t
some Of The men burned their hands Sc.
| verely throwing brands into the river. We
were soon over, and the enemy IN full Hight
| TO Winchester with the loss of camp. some
gums and prisoners. just ae emerged from,
| flames and smoke, Jackson was by my side.
| How he got there was u mystery, as the
| bridge was tbronged with my men, going Mt
| "a doublei" but | remembered thinking his
| costume was improved by fire. We followed
| the enemy on the Winchester road but to
| little purpose, as we had few cavalry over
tho river. Carried away by his ardor, my
cpmmssary. Major Davis gathered a score
Of mounted ortlerlies aud couriers, and follow
ed on the track. A volley from the enemy's
rear guard laid him low Oh the road, shot
through the head We buried him III a field
near the place of his fall. He was much be-
loved by the command, and many gathered
st.,(I
chaplain at hand, repeated such portions of
the service for the dead as II long neglect of
pipus things enabled me to recall.
Late In the night Jackson came out Of the
mentioned that | should move with him at
dawn, then relapsed into silence | fanced
he looked at me kindly, and Interpreted this
Into All approval Of the conduct Of my bri-
aade. The events of the day anticipations %
the morrow the death of Davis, drove away
sleep, and watched Jackson. For hours he
sat silent and motionless with eyes fixed on
the fire. | took up the idea that he was in
wardly praying, and he continued through
out the night.
OF In the morning Jackson leading the
way-my brigade. small body Of horse, and a
section Of the Roctbridge (Virginial Artillery.
forming the column. ! directed Major Wheat,
with his battalion of "Tigers' to keep close to
with the horse aud artillery at Jacksons
heels, and, after several hours. were some dis
lance In advance of the infantry, with which
| remained. A volley In front, followed by
wild cheers, stirred us up to IL double, and we
speedily came upona moving spectacle; Jack
son had struck the Valley pike at Mddletuwn
twelve miles south OF Winchester along
which large body of Federal cavaly, with
many wagons. was Fastening. north. He had
attacked Mt once with his handful of men,
overwhelmed resistance, and captured pris-
oners and wagons.
..D...- THE GENTLE aTtGERa"
were looting right meri'ily, diving in and
out OF wagons with the activity Of rabbits in a
warren an occupation abandoned on my ap-
proach and, in n moment, they were In line,
looking as solemn and virtuous as deacons mt
a funeral. Prisoners and spoils were prompt
ly secured.
The cavalry was from New England-a Soc
ton In which horsemanship was an unknown
art--and some OF these ccntaurs were strapped
to their steeds Ordered to dsmount, they
explained their condition, and were given time
to unbuekle. Many breastpatcs and other
protective devices were seen here and later Mt
Winchester. We did not know whether the
Federals had organized cuirassiers, or were
recurring to the customs toms, Of Gusavus Ad9.
pike, pierced through breastplate and body
by a rifle ball. Iron clad men are of small ac-
count before modern rifles. A part of the
enemys column had passed north before
Jackson reached the pike, and this. with his
mounted men, he pursued. Something more
than a mile to the south, q road left the pike
and led directly west where the Federal Cen
eral Fremont, of whom we shall hear more,
commanded the Mountain Department."
Attacked IN front as described, q body of
Federals cavalry, artillery and infantry
with some wagons, took this road; and. after
moving short distance, drew up on a crest
with unlimbcred guns. Their number was
threatening. The brigade was rapidly form
ed. and marched straight upon them, when
their, guns opened with effect A shell
knocked over eight men of the Seventh Lou
an eminence to get u view, struck
plodcd The saddle-cloth on both
sides was. torn away, and ! and Adiutant
Surget, who was just behind me- were nearly
smothered by earth; but neither man nor
horse received q scratch. The enemy soon
limbcred up and fled west. BY some we'll d.
rccted shots as they crossed n hill, the Vir-
gina guns with us sent wagons flying in the
air and produced u scaheration. With this p
west and turned north down the pike At
dusk we overlook jackson, pushing the
enemy with his little mounted force himself
in advance Of all. i rode up with him,
At no time. was there resistance enough
and a whisiling bullet from some N', Gov,
ert met us. but there were few casualties.
l Vulie FenlclnDoT bDltlklllg AT Jne Gll1e Inat
Jackson was invulnerablc, and that persons
near him shared that quality. An officer,
riding hard, overlook US, who proved to be
the quartermaster Of the army. He reported
the wagon trains far behind, impeded by bad
road in Luray Valley.
"The ammunition wagons ?" (sternly)
"All right, sir. They were in advance, aud
doubled teams on them and brought them
through" O
Abr lin a tone Of relief
To give countenance to this quarGermaster.
IL such can be given of a dark night, re-
marked, loosely: Never mind the wagons.
There are quantities of stores in Winchester,
and the general has invited us to breakfast to-
morrow"
jackson owho had no moro capacity for
iests than a Scotchman, took this seriously,
in fact, he Vas Of scotehoIrish descent, and
shis unconsciousncss of jokes was ''de race"
SWithout physical wants himself, he never re-
membered that others were differently con-
stitut.Ad and maid littln hood 10 tho nninn,i..-