The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-07-27

run ioW, tne rebel line began TO lap ana
at last to converge on the regiment.
The creeping fire in the woods behind
threatened to cut the regiment off
from the rest of its brigade on the left,
and dropping short began to come
from the right where support was ex-
pected from Browns brigade; but
which had been hastily withdrawn
from its position without Colonel
Beavers knowledge. Three times
messages were sent by General Brooke,
unaware of the departure of Brown,
that Colonel Beaver could connect
with Brown, or his own brigade
would advance and pick him up, but
none of the staff officers were able to
pass through the burning woods and
Colonel Beaver remained in ignorance
of the situation. AT length the ad-
vancing fire admonished him that
something must quickly be done. He
called up one of those cool, sure
headed sergeants on whom a COM
manding officer leans and sent him to
find where the supports lay.
Colonel" said he, with n hot ex-
clamation, and he came back, "the
Rebs are in there"
Mo-" Kissinger," said Colonel
Beaver, II guess you are mistaken"
NO. was the reply; "a Reb in
there, he says, says he, You ID
Yank, you uns better get out of this
here,'h
The One Hundred and Fortv-eighth
WIS "in the air." 10 use O military
phrase. Browns brigade was gone
and the fire had cut the One Hundred
and Forty-eighth off from Brooke,
making it impossible for him to adj
vance the line and help the regiment
out of its peril as he intended. The
time had come for retreat and retreat
under appalling odds In the hot fire
of action, grouped In the burning
woods, torn, disordered, flanked by
fire and sword, the regiment had to be
handled with the nicely of the parade
ground.
Quickening the fire along his line,
checking, for an instant, the rebel ad-
vance, Colonel Beaver took his regi-
ment and bent its curving line, with
its left as pivot, until the right rested
on the river, and then, standing OH
the river bank knee deep in mud, the
covering fire of the rebel advance
covering his whole line of the retreat,
the woods cracking and falling as the
fire, minute by minute, crept nearer
the point from which his companies
We're emerging to cross the open banks
of the stream, Colonel Beaver passed
his entire regiment across the river,
fording last himself He reached the
opposite shore nearly overcome with
the labors of the critical movement.
When the retreat began he had given
up his horse to, and brought from the
burning woods, lieutenant of his
regiment who had lost a leg. The
faithful steed had been wounded before
he had been given his manned burden
and fell dead just as his master reached
the bank of the river in safety. Col
onel Beavers diary records the fact
that the saddest news of the year came
to him just after he had saved his
regiment-it was that great and brave
John Sedgwick had been killed.
At the head of the bridge, General
Brooke was still holding open a path
of retreat for the absent regiment
when it's colonel reported to him with
his command "in magnificent shape"
1t was moment of great relief fol
him. Its fate was q mere matter OF
speculation up to this moment. 1t was
alone to find its way through the burn
ing woods and in face of a calling fire
from the enemy. 1t had been saved
by the coolness, presence of mind and
military genus of its commander.
Colonel Beavers first words were o.
bitter regret for the wounded he haC
left behind in the blazing forest, foot
for the flames. He had saved hi.
regiment; but at cost which, al
General Brooke said, while the two
men stood together, was part of thu
unavoidable loss of war. Even will
this cost, the hazard and accident of ,
battle had been for him the opportu
nifty to display the highest qualities o
the field. OF less import in the wide
work Of the campaign, the incident i
given here, because from Hancocl
down each of Colonel Beavers superi
ors noted it, as scene for the displa.
OF consummate ability. Said Genera
Hancock in his report:
~ feel that cannot speak to-
highly of the bravery, sOldierly con
duct and discipline displayed b.
Brooke's and Brown brigades on thi
occasion. Attacked by an entire di
vision of the enemy (Heth's) they re
peatedly beat him back, holding thei
ground with unyielding courage unit
they were ordered to withdraw, whel
they retired with such order an
steadiness as to meet the highes
praise"
General John R. Brooke, in the o.
fetal report to General Hancock, says
n.
II would practicularly mention
Colonel James A. Beaver, One Hund
red and Forty-eighth Pennsylvani