Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-06-15
NOT fouphs to any great extent through patri-

The enemy made their first attack on that
part of our line to the right of the Hagerstown
road, and at first pressed it back by their over
powering numbers A section of the Wash
ington Artillery of New Orleans which had
been sent back disabled with the wagon train,
suffered heavily here, and its guns were at one
time almost unnamed. Recruits coming up
from the wagons, went to the pieces and
worked gallantly to help the little detachment
vigorous, and we held the ground easily enough,
with the aid of the teamsters and the 20"
men.
Sergeant John Newton, at Hart's Battery,
had been placed i'll charge of the wagon train
of the battery, and was with it near the river
when the fight began. He left the wagons
and hurried to the front at the first gun. Mis-
sing his own command, he came upon the fee
BILE Louisiana Battery, and at once took charge
of one of it's guns. There for half an hour he
commanded and encouraged the feeble detach-
ment until he fell cut in two by shell. The
remnant of brave Louisianians, touched by
his conspicuous gallantry, tenderly buried him
after the fight, and adopted appropriate resolu-
tions to his memory, which were forwarded to
us the next morning. No more earnest patriot
gave his life to ''the Lost Cause" than this
gallant son of Erin who fell among strangers
III an unrecorded but not inglorious battle.
The waters of the Potomac will chant re-
QUEEN over no more heroic dust than fills this
unknown grave.
A FIGHTING CHAPLAIN.
Shortly after the fight began an officer, with
the insignia of a captain, reported to me for a
place with the left. Iput him in command of a
squad that had just preceded him, and was
moving into position. His GOODNESS, self-pos-
session and daring soon attracted attention
and his command was rapidly enlarged.
After the battle was over l inquired his
name, and he answered for himself, saying: 81
am Manning Brown, chaplain Of the Second
South Carolina Cavalry" Many later battle
might have had different results if the bat
talions had been commanded by such men as
the Rev. Manning Brown of the Methodist
Episcopal Church.
FITZPATRICK.
was determined, however, that so rich a prey
as Lees whole transportation service should
not escape him, and about O'Clock P. NJ.
made a terrific onslaught on the right and
centre with dismounted cavalry and artillery.
Gen. Imboden sent message to the left for
help but while we had solid line of wagon
ers there, and were holding our own easily
enough, it was matter of some difficulty to
determine how to handle such disorganized
body as reinforcing column. 1t was solved
by advancing our left against the enemy's
right as the surest way of relieving our hard
pressed comrades away over the hills to the
right the firing was heaviest. The wagoners
went forward in splendid style, and the enemy
slowly fell back before them. They had just
began to believe that they were going to whip
Fitzpatrick, Notwithstanding the odds in his
favor. AS for advantage in numbers, doubt
if he had much at this part of the fight; but
he had organized troops, which we didn't
have.
THE REPULsE AND RETREAT.
The fire on our right began to slacken as
the left advanced. About this time we heard
the rattling of musketry to the rear OF the
enemy's right, and his retreat was observed a
few minutes later all along the line. The
gallant Young, of our escort, in command OF
the remnant of Hampt0n's old brigade, had
come in on the Mercersburg road, and was
hammering their right and rear opposite our
left Then the wagoners knew that Kilpat-
rick was whipped. depressed forward until
we met Young, the enemy 0ozing from be-
tween the two forces on the road towards
HagerstoWn. It was now near dusk, and the
battle had lasted since 2 o'clock. There had
been glory enough won, and neither the wag-
oners nor Company 20" felt any desire to
pursue Kilpatrick's horsemen in search OF
more. The wagons were safe and the team
sters went back to feed their mules, and talk
over the wonderful victory and Company
''Qn sought shelter from the drizzling rain,
under the grateful cover of a wagon, where
his repose was undisturbed for the remainder
Of that night.
STUART AFTER KILLPATRICK.
But Fitzpatrick had blundered on another
mishap. He had retreated towards Hagers-
town, about four miles from the scene OF his
discontinue, and just as the advance reached
that place it met Stuart, with the Confederate
cavalry, coming to look him up. He had
disappeared from Stuart's front, east of South
Mountain, the previous night, and it was
rightly surmised that he was tracking up
Lees trains. Stuart followed, not quick
enough for the relief of the wagons, but in
time to deal him heavy blow in running
fight in the direction of Boonsboro' that night.
AN UNRECORDED BATTLE.
Such is an imperfect sketch merely of one
Of the numerous unwritten battles of the late
war. AS many men were engaged in 1T, per-
haps, as in any battle of the revolution except
Y Yorktown. Yet it will never become histori-
cal because it was so overshadowed by greater
events that it seems Insignificant beside them.
It furnished instances of valOr and devotion
equal to those of any contest during the war,
and as success it's Importance will not be
disputed. But it can never have history,
because the participants on the Confederate
side were mostly strangers to each other,
away from their proper commands, or were
-combatants who had less aspiration for
military glory than for the comforts inside of
A poOd covered wagon.
But they fought gallant fight that day
whether actuated by glory or wagons, l know
not-and offer this humble tribute to the
of those who fell there.
In conversation with Gen. Imboden, whom
accidentally met after the above article was
written, he has furnished me some facts that
had previously escaped my attention, and l
here append the result of the interview.
Gen. Imboden was specially detailed by
Gen. Lee at Gettysburg on the morning of the
4th of July to conduct to Virginia the wagon
train and prisoners captured. The force CIV
en- him was, all told, about 2, 100 men. These
were to guard the wagon trains, as well as
some 5000 Federal prisoners captured at Get
tysburg, to the Virginia Valley by the safest
course west of the Blue Ridge Capt. Eschel-
mans Battery of the New Orleans Washing
ton Artillery, which had been disabled at Get
tysburg, Hart's Battery and one gun from Pc
grams Battery, constituted the artillery of
the escort.
Gen. Kilpatrck's force, as stated by him.
self. was sixteen regiments of cavalry, con-
sisting of his own and Gen. BufOrd's COM
mands united and three six gun batteries of
horse artillery, making total force of some
thing over 1000 men.
The Confederate escort of 2,1O0 men was
divided as have stated-Young, command
ing Hampton's shattered remnant, being ten
niles back, while large detachment from
[mhoden,s force in WilliamSpOrt WAS necesSa- |