South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1884-04-11


reiterated. We would ask the Tar
heels If they bad any tar, they would
reply that they were out, "a they had
to let US Virginians have all they had
to make US stick in the last fight.
About the iirst OF June we got or.
devs to cook three days rations aud
be ready TO move at moments warn
ing. Our pioneer troops were in
camp short distance from the rail.
road station, aud did not get orders
for Tie rations until near night as they
had neglected Us. So when the or
Gers did come, we had to be i'm hur.
ry and draw our raiions from the
commissary at the crossing and cook
them that night. Therefore, in order
to lose no time, our Sergeant detailed
about 20.Of us to go with him to the
comnissary, and carry them to camp,
when we got there all hands were
busy weighing and packing up, and
we had to wait sometime, and while
waiting, Sam Nunnely and myself,
noticed a large pile of hams laying
there and not guarded. We soon
stole u ham apiece. and hid them,
and told some of the other BOYS about
it, and when we drew our rations and
got back to camp we found we had
nine extra hams for our trouble,
which was fine treat, and kept us
in extra rations for sometime, as the
bacon we drew, was side meat, the
hams being reserved for the officers
We never let an opportunity pass to
get extra rations. no matter if we had
to steal 1t, rs the motto WAS impressed
on US, that every thing was fair in
war;
On the third of June our army took
up the line OF march, and our corps
went west through Culpepper Court
| House and went into camp few
miles beyond, and remained few
days. One day we were ordered to
fall in, and we marched in hurry back
through Cnlpepper, and heard that
the enemy had crossed the Kappa
hammock river, and they were fight
ing at Brandy Station, we were soon
halted and remained there about one
tour,aud then marched back to camp.
We then found out that it Was gen
eral cavalry fight, and one of the hard
est cavalry engagements there was
during the war, "a the enen.y's ca.
valry had crossed in force end talk k
our cavalry by surprise, and had some
advantage OF them in the start, but
they soon rallied aud were rc-inforc-
ed by other brigades, and it was Il
desperate hand to hand conflict but
our cavalry soon got the best of them
and they reiterated ba k across the
river
saw more men cut with the sa-
bre that Gay than ever before or since.
| My uncle Il. s. ID. Heironimus, be.
longing to Rosser's brigade was Sc
yerely wounded by being cut on the
head with a satire laying his skull
bare, but he got we'll again. The ell
envy lost four hundred prisoners, three
pieces of artillery and several stand
OF colors, besides the killed and wouu.
ded.
The next day we resumed our
march and crossed the blue ridge, and
came to Front Royal and then turned
towards Winchester.
We began then to know what was
mp as the federal Gen. Milroy occupied
! Winchester with considerable force,
aud was well fortified and had strong
position. As we waded the Shenans
doah river that evening, told the boys
| that we would get no rest that night
until our line was formed around
Winchester, we being SO accustomed
to Gen. Jackson's flank movements,
and knew if he was ia command there
would be no halt, but VIC soon went
into camp. l then remarked that
Mllroy would hear Of our move, and
would either retreat to IIarpegs Ferry
or be prepared to give us battle, as
we could no. surprise him. We were
on the march the next morning the
18th of June and soon heard our ca
valry skirmishiDg with the enemy.
We moved on to near Winchester
when onr troops were disposed around
III battle order, but no engagement
Of any consequence by our division.
But that night our division was march,
ed around TO the left Of Winchester,
Oh By Jordan Springs, and came on
to the turnpike leading from Win
chester north to Martinsburg at Ste
phesons depot, ABOUT four miles from
Winchester but We were not quite
soon enough, as the head of our col.
umn got in sight OF the road, they
saw the enemy retreating, we were ia
their rear, and if we had been one
hour sooner VIC would have had our
line formed across the road and cap
iurCd all of them, hut some had got
through, and it was a running figh,,
AS it was, there were great many
captured and the others dispersed and
demoralized. My old brigade cap.
tured six regiments and 60. elk stand
Of colors, whcn the General gave one