The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-05-31

y toVA Up the time and worried the
ItsoPle py ltlSy delay which was o~ccaSioied
" arranging the forces and assigning
GgLnnands one Ohio Major mot knowing
iM1eFe hy5 position was until FIVE minutes
peiofe the opening Gre. Other delays
might be mentioned, but It Is sufficient 70
say that 1t was q badly managed affair.
Inc enthusiasm that was expected TO be
aroused In the breasts OF the old soldiers
JAILED TO respond at the sight as was anti.
ctpattd. Comparisons are odiouS, and the
trtte saying never found q fuller exempli.
hGation than by reference 10 last wears
event when we remember what astirring
anu realistic affair II vas when mentally
photographed along side Of yesterdays
However, the forces were finally arrang-
60 and took up their positions. Col. W.
w. Miller actedas Post Commandment; Col.
Y. ), =. Baron, Chief OF Staff; North Side.
Vol. William Curtis, South Side, Col. W.
L. Bridges.
Col. w. B. Curtis had command Of the
torce occupying a position at the north
end O. the Fair Grounds and composed Of
the following companies: Two pieces OF
Marietta Artillery; Company II, Tenth
pennsylvania, Tom Young Guards, Second
Ohio; Company A Second Ohio. Delaplain
Guards, Martin Guards; Matthews Light
Guards and Sheridan Rifles. Coi. BRIDGES.
assisted by Major Moore, Of the Second
Ohio, had command OF the force at the
south end Of the grounds, consisting Of
the following companies: st. Clairsville
Guards, Davis Light Guards, McCook
Guards Gof Light Guards, Salem Rifles
n two pieces Of Marietta Artillery, Col.
Bridges to attack Col. Curtis,
throwing forward the Golf Light Guards
as sEirmtshers, and ordering the Salem
RIFLES 70 execute simultaneously a move
ment on the enemy's left flank. Col. Cur.
It's placed In reserve the Matthews Light
Guards upon his left rear, supporting his
artillery, and threw forward the Sheridan
Rifles rs skirmisherS.
The sktrmish line opened the fun nv n
brisk fire with a good showing nj mimic
warfare, which resulted in Curtis Skin.
mish line being driven in, when the bat.
teries open up to drive back the flank
movement OF the Salem Rifles. Amid the
boom oil the artillery and the sharp crack
OF the rifles Col. Bridges advanced his
whole line to the attack and opened up a
heavy ire on the enemy, but wa sur.
prised, when advanced about a hundred
yards by an attack on his left flank by
Company Il, Tenth PENNSYLVANIA and the
Tom Young Guards OF Curtis command,
Col Bridges then halted his line and turn.
ing his batteries onthe unexpected enemy
drove them in confusion beyond the line
ofreserves.
This should have been followed by a
brilliant move on the part OF Col. Bridges
by q direct attack, but, bymutual consent,
both sides quit and held a sort OF s%elf.con.
gratulatory j%ollification, an armistice. as It
were. Everybody wanted to know why
they didn't go on, but years hence nobody
VIII know any more about thesudden ces-
sation in the clash OF arms than thew do
now. The sudden stop spoiled what
promised to be well carried out battle,
the gods, or some OF the bunelinr
mortals, willing 1t otherwise, 'andit was 80.
Alter enough time had elapsed, in which
the biggest battlegever fought could have
been won, the forces rallied again, and the
command was given "once more into tho
preach, dear friends, once more" Col.
bridges giving the command to
charge upon Colonel Curtis line,
which wa done in g9od style, but
without any enthusiasm. Bridges com.
mand captured the enemy's guns in this
charge and planted their flag on the cap
tured battery, but were surprised by a
Hank attack Of the reserve under Major
Lott, which gave Col. Curtis time to re.
form his line, which then charged forward
with cheers. The opposing force was driver
back and Col. Curtis succeededin recaptur.
ing his guns. Col. Bridges r%etreating in
good style to his original position, reform.
ed his men. He then sent out the Da.
Wis Light Guards, Jefferson Guards and
one piece Of artillery on Maj. Lofts right
hank, driving all before him, whereupon
hi advanced his whole line, taking Curtis
guns and dragging them to the centre OF
the field, and leaving them supported by
companies. Col. Curtis now reform.
ed his line, charged forward, and did some
beautiful work, the scene in the southern
portion OF the field being decidedly real.
lstlc. Most Of his force was engaged here.
n the rattle oil the musketry, combined
with the deep roar OF the cannon, stirred
all 70 enthusiasm, and was by far the best
n mos successful manRuvre Of the con.
test. Curtis re-took his lost guns in this
engagement and retired to his original no.
sition, and the fray was soon over. List
Of killed Q, wounded 0, a remarkablv
fuss.
There were many ludicrous happen.
ings IN the fight. At one time two
divisions Of the opposing forces were
standing within ten feet OF each other.
peppering away and standing each others
CALLING fires with a bravery that deserves
special mention. The bulwark OF Leonidas
sinks into insigniicance when compared
to this modern Thermopylean immoiation.
Such reckless bravery, if it had been
viewed by Napolean, would have made
the "grey-eyed man Of destiny" turn Green
with envy, But in the heat of the frav
are not responsible for their actions
as instanCed in the battle OF Lookont
Mountain, when the Union soldiers
climbing over the crest Of the aspiring
heights, and chasing the Confederate
forces over Mission Ridge, SO surprised at
the!r success, wept, laughed, and in the
excitement some used the butts OF their
muskets instead Of the muzzle in pursuing
the flying enemy.
But how about the braves who turned
their batteries on their comrades m Il cer.
tainly was a decided mix at times. and
there was no telling when a man wonid
be shot down in cold blood (?) The sus.
pense was fearful, and it was only owing
to a ~dispensation OF D. P. that some OF the
iladiesd did not faint. 1t would really have
been a CORY field il it had been a business
engagement. But now,
Trim Vis3gsd war has pulled down his summer VA,
And let all honor fall on those who did their lest
In conclusion We would remark that tho
affair wa a sad failure in its most impor.
tant particulars. All praise is due the
interchangeable committee who had charge
OF the arrangements. The visiting mill.
manner OF their entertainment, The CON.
worked hard for sncceae and Il 80