The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-02-05

tIC iihSSs ~ 80 NSO's - ~ - - vi
affairs, gallors to Jackson with the despair
ing cry,-''my God, General. Mis IS terrible.
THcy are beuting us back! Wey are Jeattng
as tack r.
"Well, then, replies the calm old
PRESBYTERIAN elder and college professor
IRE hoUhore to gre them tile Joyonet.
Refreshed by the ~undismayed self poise of
the COvenanter stock, the descendant Of the
Cavalier rushes back to his painting battal-
ions. shouting, ''.Stendy! men, steady
Yonier stpnds Jachson's Trgtainns, like a
stone acoH! Let as resolre to die, right here,
0nd nee shall cOa9uerr
The unthoughted allusion to State pride
(then very strong among the troops goes
straight to the hearts of the South Caro-
l%inians, Georgians, Alabamians, and Miss
lssippians, in the disordered ranks; and
though little more than a mob, all regiments
being inter-miXed, it is a mob of gallant
spirits who once more face about, and check
the on rushing foe while the Convenanter's
men, unaware of the proud title the Cavalier
has bestowed upon them, are proving them
selves worthy to bear it and ''Stonewalr'
becomes historic-through a baptism of
fire and blood.
1t is not long. however, before the con-
t%inually lengthening line of the Blue Coats
over-laps the Contederates at both ends, and
iSSISaO vi dI'tu 10 lnCN IldDlC. Illus ny i =
a. N. the Federals have doubled back the
Southern lett wing for nearly two miles.
have secured free passage over Stone Bridge,
and a firm toOt-hOld upon the brow of the
| Henry plateau. Ricketts, famous six-gun
ri1ed battery and Grif6n's u. S. regular ar
tillery haze secured positions whence they
can rake the Confederate lines for miles over
the hills.
REsoLUrE o BY JOHNSTON AND
B~EAUREGARD.
1t will be remembered that Beauregard
and Johnston at 4 a. III. issued orders for a
general attack by a movement to turn the
ing the Confederate LIT. Gen. EwelI was
to lead off, from Union Mills, on the ex-
IRENE right, and be followed by D.. K. Jones,
Longstreet, and Bonham, as fast as they
saw a chance to join In the assault. For
t~unately the order to Ewell mis- carried, until
late in the day by which time the roar of
the battle at Stone Bridge warned Beaure-
| gard that there was no need IT going IN
search OF the enemy inasmuch as he was
coming down from the upper tords, sweep
ing everything before him Ewell and Jones
got in motion as soon as they received orders,
and were already attacking the Federals in
the direction of Centreville, when the news
of the danger on the left was received.
Early's brigade. which had been designed to
support the fanking column, was at once
started to the relief of the left wing. and at
ter a !, ngna"ch Of thirteen miles st quick
step reached the Henry plateau just In time
to take part ILL resisting the last onset OF the
foe.
Meanwhile Beauregard and johnson, af-
ter waiting for several hours. on a hill near
the centre, listening for sounds of Ewelrs
advance, became at length uneasy at the
protracted firing on the left, four miles
away, and ealloped in that direction; Send
ing orders for all spare troops to follow
them. Arriving near the Henry plateau,
they found the mangled remnants Of Evans,
Bee, Barlow. Hampton, and Jackson. wa
vering before dense masses Of the enemy,
and apparently ready to break up in total
route; having lost many of their bravest
leaders, and being exhausted by the unequal
struggle. Both generals, with their aides,
dashed hither and thither, collecting the
squads and companies, and forming new
lines; shouting all the while that reinforce
ments would soon arrive, and that all would
be we'll. Amid the melee, Gen. Johnston,
seeing the need of a little dramatic encour-
agement, seized the colors of the 4th Ala
bama, whose colonel had fallen, and galloped
forward to meet a demonstration by the
enemy. BY these efforts. the line was main
tanned until a new disposition could be made
as follows: the 9Th Virginia (my regiment)
on the right Hampton's Legion on its
left the fragments of Bees brigade on
Hampton's left Jackson's brigade on Bee
left Barlow two regiments west of Jack
son and Elk Gov. Billy Smiths regiments
on the left of Barlow. Fishers Sixth North
Carolina afterwards came in still farther to
the left, but of that | shall speak.
Beauregard estimates his force. at this
time, as mot more than 6, 800 men of all
arms" including Ii guns, confronting an
assault by 20, 900 infantry, seven companies
of regular cavalry, and "a guns of the heav-
lest field pattern. He gives deserved!y
high praise, to the Confederate artillerists
(Pendletons's, Imboden's, Stanard's, and
AIburtis' batteries, with sections from Wal
tons and Rogers, whose rare skill in
planting shells where the enemy were thick
est carried terror into their ranks before they
arriva1 u,thip mnSt ot-Shnt IF nnr limos