Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-12-10

pregnable. So it seemed to every
soldier under him, and while Early
marched they slept and dreamed OF
home. So it seemed to me yesterday,
as / rode along the long line of
breastworks which the Federal army
had thrown up. Hills which nature
had lain out for forts were still fur
Their strengthened with spade and
pick, and stone walls and deep a
vines were powerful supports. No
wonder Sheridan smiled in contempt
as he came up the Winchester pike.
IN THE GRAY OF MORNING.
Day was slowly breaking. 1t had
been a chilly night and fog had set
tied down over hill and valley-over
tho tents in which the Federals
! slept-over the men in gray who
were creeping softly down. AS the
Confederate artillerymen stood at
their horses heads to prevent them
from neighing they could hear from
across the creek:
"Who goes there 2"
"Friend with the countersign."
advance one"
Now the birds begin to twitter
and chirp in the pines and oaks; the
fog whirled about in fantastic
shapes, and just as the green willows
showed their tops through the flying
fog, a crash of musketry down by
the mountain, said to 10000 men a
battle had begun.
DOWN ON THE LEFT.
Early had brought his infantry
safe out of the jungle, and formed
them within pistol range of the first
row of Federal tents. They were
heard moving through the thickets
and across the stony hillsides, but
the pickets believed the noise to
come from the line. Two thousand
feet above their heads lowered the
pine-clad mountain, and what foe
could break over this defense. The
horses were neighing for their prov
ender, camp sentinels lazily pacing
their beats, and a few early risers
were stirring up the slumbering fires,
when out from the morning mist
yelling and cheering and firing, came
the Confederate battle-lines. At
the first volley Of m%usketry, Early's
centre and left pushed forward on
the double-quick, and it wasn't ten
minutes before Sheridan's first line
was rolled back on his second.
THE CAMPS.
The Federal camps were supplied
with everything in provisions and
wearing apparel. The Confederates
were hungry and ragged and poorly
equipped. 1t vas but natural that
the men should stop to plumber and
eat. A third of the entire Confed-
crate army halted in the first line of
camps to plumber the tents, catch up
horses, and in many instances broke
from the ~battle-lines to riot and
plumber, and men drank coffee with
shot and shell plunging yer their
heads.
SECOND LINE.
Sheridan's second line was not
surprised. 1t was astonished, but
there vas ample time to prepare for
the shock. But no stand was made.
Ten thousand panic-stricken Fed
erals, closely pressed by a gray line
OF battle, carried the second line in
to the third, and breastworks were
deserted without a shot being fired.
THE THIRD LINE
stood. 1t had timely warning of
the advance. Every piece of artil-
lery had a plunging fire, and every
soldier had cover. When Early
struck the third line over half of his
army was behind him engaged in
plundering the camps of Crook and
the Nineteenth Corps. Early had no
artillery On his right. Not a horse
or a gun could be moved through the
jungle. He depended on the musk
etry to help him capture Federal
cannon, and as fast as they were
taken they were manned by men
who had to lay down the musket.
Almost every cannon in the two