The National tribune., 1880-09-01

III you do remember ask you to FOLLOW me closely rs
attempt describe what subsequently transpred as
remember the and history has recorded them.
Jacsons corps of the rebel army occupied the line of
the abandoned Independent railroad his left resting in the
vicinity of Sudeys Mills and his right to the north and
west Of Groveton. Longstreet marching down TO
unite with him from direction OF Thoroughare Gap
his column forming with that of Jackson an obtlse
angle. Between jackson and Longstreet however when
the battle of The Both began there was small gap thus
leaving the right wing of the army of the former exposed
flank attsck from the Union forces but the rebel
leader had foreseen his weakness aud strengthened his
position by massing his artillery at the point of threat
ened danger. The Union forces within the angle
thus formed and the south and east of it. their lines
facing west and north.
Now for more particular description of the ground
upon which the battle fought The high ground to
the Of Groyeton held by the enemy, he extreme
right of Jackson) thus commanding the Warrenton pike
The railway TO which have alluded in nearly
eastery aud westerly direction and like all graded roads,
presents sometimes embankment - sometimes a cut
Imagine if YOU can heavy piece of timber out which
emerges an embankment :" fill of some twenty or
thirty feet IN height fiat OH top and which running west
ward perhaps hundred and twenty yards in
cut of from eight to ten feet deep and about the
width the boJtom which cut continues in the
direction for about two hundred yards and then tends
slightly the northward debouchng upon the open ee
waited ground Now imagine yourself standing upon the
southern edge of this cut, midway between the timber
whence the embankment issues and the slight norhward
bend where the roadb bed debouches the open plain
and face south Upon your left you have woods
inc the railway at right angles and extending in direct
line for six hundred yards forming side of parallel
ogram your front running from east to west another
piece of timber free from underbush on the side nearest
you and say three four hundred yards from left
right forms the second side; and the railway line
hack makes the third side. The remaining side to the
west is open rolling country except that where the line
of the road makes the bend toward the north there
the southern side and at right angles to it, small ravne
nged with bushes and stunted trees. From your feet
toward the south the ground falls slightly for five
yards and then drops away more rapidly till it forms
elevation or ridge upon which you stand of fifty
feet in height From the foot of this declvy stretches
out into level plain crossing which you ascend gentle
even slope the timber which, already observed faces
the Now turn directly about and you will perceive
that side of the roadbed the ground slopes
gently upward until has attained elevation OF three
or four feet above that whereon you stand and then
gradually and evenly falls away heavy timber couple
of hundred yards distant thus forming ridge parallel
with the cut, and commanding position overlooking the
ground described lying TO the southwark Upon this
ridge on the day of battle, about thirtysiX guns 12-
pounders-at point where the embankment terminates
in the open field, six guns-howitzersof the cali
bre the same distance N rear OF the cut (mldway o.
tween The timber and the bend in the road and four guns
lust beyond the bend but masked from troops approach
ing in front by the small ravlne already mentioned Be
hind these guns lay the main body of ackson army and
the and embanment iii front OF them were occupied
by heavy force OF his infantry Behind the timber III
rear Of formidable position stationed elevated
ground the remainder Of the rebel artillery which, when
the Union forces advanced, sheed them the heads
have thus hastily sletched the position of the right
wing Of Jackson, and will briefly point out that
the left of our line confronting him. In the strip
timber running parallel with and about SIX hundred yards
distant from the abandoned railroad, lay the lst brigade
st division of the Fifth Corps composed Of the 18th
Massachusetts the left extending westward to the oper
field the 18th New ork, 9 Rochester regiment next
then the 25th New ork <d Name, S@d hasSachusetts
and 1st Michigan, the latter extending into the timber
running north up the embankment by about com
pany This brigade numbered about 800 men. Farther
to the but DETECTING toward the south act
in the direction of JacksonS extreme right and from
Longstreet expected and partly crossing the
Waenton pike stretched the other troops Of the
some A. 500 men
have been thus particular in describing the genera
situation in order that the movements following b
more clearly understood. Henceforth will more espe
ciay follow the fortunes OF my regiment and brigade
As lay waiting for the order to attack we could lool
the black hroated muzzes of the guns crownng th
of the ridge before us except those of the fou
pieces screened from view by the rayine in front and
little left just before US, along the edge of TIA
# timber furnishing temporary shelter, rail enc
''staked and ridered about six feet high and between
+ it and us wagon road
d But will not dwell longer upon these details. Th
e order for to advance. The 1st brigade was
d open the coiet by storming the height We efC tn
Is timber and began climbing the fence The rebel guns
sight opened upon with grape and canister while fror
beyond the heavier batteries OF the enemy sent perec