The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-10-26

~" al n,iauiSHt anu consumed. About
2o'clock a. m. on the morning of Thurs.
day we silently retired from our picket
lines, and by the light of the shoulder.
ing ruins OF Pope's depot of supplies
;0iioWed the corps across Bull Run, at
biacRourn's ford, to Centreville. which
"hs SO changed, since we saw it at the
beginning of the war, that we would not
nave recognized it. At this moment the
situation was extremely critical. Popc's
army, which we had hanked, was coming
down the Warfenton pike in our rear,
ana IT was reported that Franklin's corps,
Just landed from McClellan's army below
lt!chmond, was coming up the other end
OF The same road from Alexandria. 1t
seemed that we were indeed between
the upper and the neither mill stone. 4"
Bu! Gen. Jackson was equal To the cx.
traordinary emergency. The game was
up; the hunters on all sides we're in full
cry, and cold Reynard" doubled upon his
track. He faced about and turned down
the Warrenton turnpike until he crossed
the famous Stone Bridge. At this point,
as The advance of Pope was already in
sight meeting him, he left the road and
boldly struck into the country nor,hward.
AS soon as he had fairly cleared the road,
he halted and drew up his exhausted fol.
lowers along :he limo of the independent
Railroad track, facing the road which
Pope was moving. Footsore and weary
me Confedera!es were at bay, and then
followed the most unequal conflict be-.
tween one corps, worn out by hunger,
sleepless nights and forced marches, and
the whc.e Federal army, numerous fresh
and well appointed. As to The part borne
by our brigade in this terrific struggle. I
had occasion soon after, when the events
were recent, to make an official report,
which know to be accurate, and | ask
permission to give an extract from it:
AN OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE FIGHT.
Brisk firing was heard upon our right
and on we hurried to the scene of action
and reported to Gen. Ewell, who was di.
recting the engagement. We arrived on
the battle. field after dark, finding Gen.
Ewell badly wounded. Soon afterwards
the firing ceased. We slept upon our
arms near Ewells battle. field, and the
next morning at early dawn we were
placed III line of battle OH the extreme
lett OF the corps near Catharpin Run.
Our brigade occupied a small wooded
knoll, having railroad excavation bend.
ing around the east and north fronts and
a cleared field on the northwest. This
position WAS slightly in advance of the
general line, and, besides being the ex.
tremc left, was considered important be.
cause Of the Sudley Ford road which il
commanded. Our line made an ob,use
angle pointing towards the enemy, one
side of which ran nearly parallel with
the railroad cut and the other along the
fence bordering the cleared field before
spoken Of. Within these contracted lin.
its was the little tongue OF woodland
which ne were directed TO hold at ali
hazards. On this spot we stood and
fought, with intervals of cessation. from
3 o'clock in the morning till dark. We
repulsed many cbargesoI believe seven
the Federals, persistine in their effort
10 carry the point, constantly hurled
fresh columns upon us. During the diff
ferent struggles Of the day the regiments
were shifted as occasion required. |
can only advert to the positions of the
regiments at one or two important juno.
lures, Ii the morning they were posted
as follows: The 18th, Col. Edwards, on
the right; to his left the lst, Lieut.. Col.
AlcCrady; to his left the 18th, Col.
Barnes; to his left the 14th, Col. Nc
Gowan, the latter being thrown back
along the fence bordering the field re-
ferred to, and Orr's Rifles, Col. Marshall,
behind the centre in reserve. Gen.
Gregg, with his staff and all the field
officers, were dismounted The fight
was commenced by us. From the noise
which came from the woods across the
railroad cut and the constant firing of
the skirmishers we knew that we were in
the presence of the enemy, and Gen.
Gregg sent out Lieut.. Col. McCrady
with his regiment to ascertain his loca.
tion and numbers. He had gone but a
short distance beyond the railroad cut
when he fell upon large column
and returned: Gen: Gregg, having thus
discovered them, directed the lst and
18th Regiments to advance and drive
back the enemy These regiments com
menced the advance together, but ms the
enemy threatened to flank the line on
both the right and left, they soon sepa.
rated. The 1st, in order to protect its
threatened right, inclined to the right
and drove the enemy handsomely up the
railroad. Col. Edwards, with the 18th,
supported this movement, and gallantIy
heid mis- exposed position on the right for
the greater part Of the day. The 18th
being pressed by a heavy column on its
left, Col. Barnes changed front to the left,
and charging in the most spirited man.
ner, drove the enemy down the railroad,
breaking and routing them as often as
they attempted to make stand. When
he had driven of the enemy and was re.
turaing Col. Barnes was Joined by Col.
Marshall, who had been sent to his as
distance, and the two regiments again
charged and drove large body massiug
near tho railroad. All the regiments
were at this time recalled by an order of
Maj. Gen. Hill not to advance and bring
on general engagement, but to hold the
position and act on the defensive. These
dashing charges in advance were success.
ful, and at IL N. our front was entirely
cleared of the enemy, but they soon be-
gan to close around us again. 1t hap.
pened that there was an interval of about
one hundred and twenty-five yards be.
tween our right and the left of Gen.
Thomas brigade. Opposite to this in.
terval the railroad cut was very deep,
and the enemy getting into the cut ut
some point beyond, crawled unobserved
down the excavation to a point opposite
the interval, and in very large force made
g rush to enter this gap. The attack
from that quarter was unexpected, and
for short time threatened to be success.
full. The assailants succeeded in getting
nearly across the point of woods to the
field on the northwest thus for moment
cutting off our brigade. but it was only
for moment. The Fourteenth Regf-
ment, which at that time was in reserve,
was promptly wheeled into the gap, and
assisted by the left regiment of General
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