The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-03-30

r was advanced to reinforce d. 81. Hill on th,
left. In half an hour more the sun would b.
down. If the Federals could hold the line al
hour more they could hold it forever. The
roar of cannon died away all at once, and thu
whole Confederate army advanced Hoods
brigade of Texans formed behind ticket
through which shot and shell from the Fedora
guns were moving swaths four feet wide Al
they moved out they rushed. Grape and can
, lister were exchanged for shot and shell, but
, sill the lines advanced, over ground into which
men sank to the knees-0ver deep ravine-
over rocks and through thckets, death moving
them down at every step, and then they rush
ed. Ii was not rush of men, but of devils
Their screams rose above the crash of musket-
ry, and even as they rushed they fixed bayo-
nets. Not Federal moved out of the path
of that advance. 1t struck the blue lines and
melted them as liquid iron would melt snow.
1t cut swath into the Federal position lust
Its own width, reaching from rayine to the
parrot guns ON the crest.
1t was just at shutdown. Already the SOM
bre shadows of approaching night were set
Ting down upon hill and valley The flash of
every musket could now be seen-the red
flames from the cannon made the whole field
blaze. Slocum bad been pat in across the
highway which led to Gaines Mill in one d.
rectlof and towards Old Cold Harbor in the
other. 1t was between Warren and Lowell
that the Texans rushed. 1t seemed as if no
body of men could live through such hurri
cane of death. The fire of at least eight thous-
and muskets and twenty pieces OF artillery
was concentrated on that one brigade leading
the rush, but it came on and on and on, and it
wedged itself in the Union lines and remained
there. For ten minutes mob of ten thous-
and men whirled round and round in that eddy
of death, and then the Federals gave way
slowly, foot by foot, and fighting so despe.
raey and dying so CALAMITY that every Con-
federate historian has lifted his hat to the dead
and spoken in praise of the living.
DYING GAME
When the Union lines began to fall back
the Second New Jersey aud Eleventh Penn
sylvana refused to move. They were fighting
desperately on TANKS and front with McLaw's
Texans, and though exposed TO merciless
fire their lines could not be broken Unable
TO break their front, the Coniederates fanked
them, and yet they fought on. Aye and it Is
EConfederates who tell it, too. those gallant men
continued the fight. After they were entirely
surrounded, and their arms were only laid
down when the Confederates, awed at such
bravery, ceased firing.
| TOO LATE.
| When it was seen that the Federal lines
were breaking some one ordered charge of
cavalry on ID. H. Hills flank. Five hundred
Of the regular cavalry massed and charged into
the jaws of death. They were swallowed up
as drop of water sinks into the dry earth-a
useless sacrifice, and yet forlorn hope.
NIGHT CAME DOWN
To still the boom of cannon and the crash of
musketry-to hide the blood-stained trees and
stones and grass-to give brief rest to men
with blood-shot eyes and hoarse voices and
exhausted bodies. Then, from hillside and ra-
vine-frGm field and swamp-from thicket and
open field came the walls and groans of the
wounded. Men crawled here and there-men
struggled up to fall and scream out with new
agony-they dragged themselves over the
bloody ground to lap the red waters of the
creek and gain strength for another shout fol-
succor.
And there were thousands who neithed cried
out nor moved. As they fell and died so they /,
lay, the soft dew of summers night falling
upon white faces which wars glory would
tighten no more.
McClellan's right was beaten He ust fall
back-he must have more than the sagacity OF
Napoleon 10 bring that army to the James
as a body
UNDER THE GREEN TREES"
In these sketches Stonewal Jackson's bat
ties have been taken in reverse. We found
him first on the blood-stained field of Antie-
tam-amost at the close of his career, instead
of at the beginning. The world knows how
he fought there. We found him at Kernstown
fighting one to four-fghting, falling back
grmly giving way to fight again. We saw
him strike the Federal armies right and left in
the Valley and fill Washington with white
faces. We found him at Fredericksburg on
Lees right-at Charlottesville in Hookers
In his front. We have found him at Gaints'
Mill. Fate waited for him before striking
last blow. 1t was the hammer in his grasp
which shattered the Federal position. With
out him Longstreet would have been pressed
back outed -annihilated.
Christian in his taith-a child in his SYM
pathies-a General who cared not for the
worlds admiration SO much us for the COM
fort OF any single man who followed him in
his wonderful marches. He had the courage
of a lion and the heart of woman. Tn
pomp and glitter of war were not for him
His banners grew old and faded and shot-torn
HIS leglons grew ragged and foot-sore and
weary. No matter who fnltered-Jackson
mad faith. No matter who hesitated-Jackson
advanced. Fierce in the heat OF battle, be-
cause it was his duty to kill, when the roar OF
cannon had died away the groans of the
wounded reached heart which had sob for
every groan
Partlsans may keep their bitterness of heart
but the world has spoken. The man whom
they hate died forgiving ALL Struck down at
Charlottesville, amid the roar of battle, he
was removed to die amidst the softest peace
Strong men wept like children when they saw
that his last hour had come, but if they had a
| feeling of revenge down under their sorrow,
he had none. With malice towards none
with forgiveness for all, his life went out as
his pale lips whispered:
Let us cross over and rest under the green
| trees y
And may he ever rest
NEW STORY OF LINCOLN 's-Presdent
Lincoln is quoted by Charles Gibson, of st.
Louis, as telling a story illustrating Thomas
H. Benton's turn for the drama. Benton and
Jackson had long been at feud, and had not
met for many years until Jackson was Presi-
dent and Benton was Senator from Missouri.
1T was in this room," said President Lincoln,
at the White House, that their first meeting
took place. Jackson was seated at this very
table, when the door yonder swung open and
Benton stalked in and stood silently in the
middle of the floor jackson looked up and
recognized him at once, and recolected at the
same time that he had no weapon to defend
himself. EQUALLY silent he got up, walked to
the door, locked it and put the key in his pock-
| eft and went hack n his scat Then he said.