Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-03-09


attacking the enemy IN front aud faux, |
pressed on to their intrenchmeuis and !
.tormed them, Capturing several hun
dred prisoners and five pieces of arhl-
lery. So sudden was this attack that
scarcely any organized resistance was
offered to the =ssaut--the Federal !
forces flying IN the widest confusion,
leaving the field slreWed with their guns
and knapsacks.
In this attack the men Of Colston's |
division bore a prominent pait. They !
advanced with great enthusiasm; soon
caught up with Gen. Rodes' line; and,
minglng with it in inextrcahle coufd-
son, went oyer the enemy's works aud
aided IN completing the rout cf The Fed
eral forces.
Col. Cruichfeld, Jacbson's chief Of
artillery, now hurried forward bis
batteries and opened heavy fire upon
the enemy's epualemeats near Chance
lorsyllle, which drew from their artil-
lery a furious response. The fire was
directed down the road, however. and
inflicted small loss upon the Confsder-
ate iuflntry. They were advancing to
the right and ltf. Of the road, led by
Jackson IN person, and those who saw
him at this moment declare that he
seemed completely carried away by the
excitement Of the moment. He leaned
forward on mis- horse, extending his arm
far in from, as though he wished t.
push the men forward" ," aud hls voice
was heard exclaiming. Press forward,
Press forwardu every few minutes
during tie entire attack. When not
thus mastered BY the ardOr OF battle.
his right hand was raised alofl with that
gesture nov familiar 10 his men, as
though he were PRAYING to the GOi of
battles fer victory. [Capt. Wilbourn,
OF Jackson's staff, saws: FrCqceuty,
during the fercest Of the cOuilict, he
would stop. raise his hand, and tlrn his
eyes toward heaven. as fpra)i1g for
bl ssng on orr arms. The frequency
with which this vas done that evening
attracted the attention Of all with him.
Our troops made repeated charges ,lriy-
ing the euemy before them every time,
which caused loud and iOag-continned l
cheeiing along our entire line, whicn !
WAS ever the si.ual for YclOry-and |
Gen. Jackson would Invariably raise hi /
hand aud give thanks to Him who gave |
the victory. have never seen him
seem so well pleased with the progress
AID results Of flht as on that occa-
sion. On several occasions dnring this /
fight, as he pissed the dead bodies Of
some of our veterans, lie halted, raised I,
his hand as if to ask blessing upon
them, and TO pray God to save thelr
souls."I
The charge of the Confederaies had
resulted IL the complete route of the
right wing Of the Federal army. Jack |
son had burst upon them from the /
woods so suddenly tina. they could not .
or did not make the least resistance
Whole regiments ran without firing a
shot. Batteries went of at gallOp, /
ran INTO trees and fences, and were |
captured and turned upon them. At
single blow Jackson had paralyzed the |
risht wing Of the Federal army, and
they were rushing IN complete disorder
upon the reserves. A writer in a |
Northern journal thus describes tie
scene:
THE flying Germans came dashiug
over the field in crowds, slampediug
and running as only men do run wien
convinced that sure destruction is
awaiting them. l must confess that l
have no ability to do justice TO the
scenes that folio ved. 1t was my lot TO
be in the centre of that field when the
panic burst upon Us. Nay l never be u
witness to another such scene On one
hand was a solid column Of infantry
retreating at double quick on the other
was dense mas OF beings who were
1,ing rs iast as their legs could carry
them. followed up by the rebels pour
log their murderous yolleys ia upon us,
yelling aud hOoling. to Increase the
coufdslon; hundreds Of cavalry horses,
left riderless at the first discharge from
the rebels. da,hins frantcally about in
all directions scores of batteries flying
from the field ; battery wagons, ambu-
lanees. horses, men, cannon, caisSons,
all jumbled and tumbled together
in one inexricable mass--and
the murderOus tire of the rebels still
pouring in upon them! To add to the
terror of the occasion there was but one
means of escape from the field, aud
that through a little narrow neck or
"a, iue washed out b. S;O,fs Creek. -
Toward this the confused mass plunged
headong. For moment 1t seemed as
if no power could avert the irghtiul ca
lamity that threatened tho euure army.
On came the panic-strcken crowd, a
terrified artillery riders spurrng aud I
lashing their horses TO their utmost; a
ambulauces upselting aud being dashed /
to pieces against trees and stumps /
horses dashing over the 6eld; men fly 1
ing aud CRYING with alarm-a perfect
torrent Of passion, apparently uncon' a
trollable. The men ran in all drec- d
tons. They all seemed possessed d
with an instructive idea Of the shortest II
and most direct line from the point Il
whence they started to the United Il
States Mine Ford. aud the majority Of j