National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-01-31

smole.cnshrouded plain, and that even at that
moment his schoolboy friends might DO tast.
ing OF the bitter cup that war oilors ever TO
the soldiers lips. The writer did not start
out to write q history of the battle, of its
strategy and its movements, but only that
part in 1t taken by Corse's brigade, which
was narrated TO him by comrades in bivouac
aiterward Up to about or o'clock in tho
afternoon IL was worry doubtful whether
the battle would not prove drawn
one, for never in the war did the
union troops display more undaunted pluck
and steadlastness. At this time. however,
their left wing was gradually being crowded
in on the center, placing them at fearful
disad Vantage when the conformation of the
confederate line of battle is considered. Still
they fought on gamely and made desperate
efforts TO break Jacksons limo behind the
railroad cuts and dumps in order to escape tho
grasp of the pincers so to speak, which were
gradually closing in upon them. There was
a Rhode Island battery of fourteen guns,
planted on hill about tho center OF tho
union line which had been thorn in tho
confederate side from the beginning of tho
fight. IL was well fought and we'll defended
by tho supporting infantry. Before 1t was an
open space about % milo wide, and two
desperate charges had been made against IL
by confederate brigados, and both had
been signally and bloodily repulsed.
About an hour by sun Col. Corso's brigade
was brought up 20 the attack, and rs no
wanted to win his brigadier's spurs in this
light, aud rs he was trusted and popular
with the men, Longstreot knew well that
he would either take the battery, or leave
the bulk of his men lying dead on the slope.
At tho word the brigade moved steadily
across the open, all the guns that could be
brought to bear being at the same moment
directed upon the union battery. The
alnNNg 10. l.ANW
fire was great among tho regiments, but
they went straight over the guns and gun
ners, charged tho supporting infantry and
drove them back in confusion on their re-
serves In the charge old Col. skinner of
the LIST Virginia regiment, who spOrted an
old fve-feet-long claymore which had come
down to him from Scottish ancestors, and OF
which he was very proud, spurrod his horse
among the guns sashing right and left with
his claymoro at the gunners. Ito turned TO
some officers near him and exclaimed, wit
ness, gentlemen, ! have killed three men
with my sword" and he had scarcely got the
words out of his mouth before ho pitched
headlong from tho saddle piorce by four
bullets from volley fired by tho retrcatng
fedcrals. lie lived until after the war, but
was crippled for life.
The capture of this battery, which was tho
key to the federal position, resulted in the
immediate retreat of Popes army. At first
tho retreat was made in confusion rs the
confcderntes pressed forward closely, but was
conducted in a more orderly manner whom
the shades of night put an end to the pursuit.
1t is singular fact that the only two cavalry
charges of the war in Virginia as part and
parcel Of battle were made, 80 far rs the
writer is aware, in the first and second battles
of Manassas In the first tho black horse
charged the zouaves, and in the second Rob-
inson's brigade Of cavalry charged federal
brigade. In all othor battles tho cavalry on
both sides when acting on the TANKS Of n
battle fought rather as mounted riGemen
than as cavalry.
The saddest feature of this battle was that
the majority of the wounded on both sides
owing to the neglect of some official, were
left lying on the field all that right in a
cold and drenching rain, and hundreds who
would have otherwise survived their wounds
died shortly afterward of pneumonia.