Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-11-14

ana Otgal an ilulSOl i'ii'""'o '' ~
at they knew not what, threaten
inc the destruction of their Owl
comrades. In vain were the
shouts and entreaties of the Off
GERS to bring matters into order
The men were for the time being
deaf to all orders aud remonstran
ccs. A blind unreasOning terror
had seized upon them, and yor
might as well have expOstulateC
with lunatics on the Stiffness o
their conduct. As far as my cX
pcrience went, | was fully con
scious | was acting like a fool, but
for the life of me l couldD' t help 1t
Finally the panic cooled down, and
then il was ascertained that anum
Der of the men had been hurt, but
by great good fortune none NOR
tally.
With the knowledge of the cause
of the uproar came revulsion o
feeling, ane roars of laughter sue
ceeded the tremblings Of fright
/ We could well understand after
this experience what the panic
among the federals at first Bull
Run meant.
With the dawn Of the morning
we were awakened by the roar 0.
cannon and the rattle Of musketry
across the river occasioned by Hill.
/ driving in the outlying forces Of
/ Fitz.John POrter's corps. 1t was
aa glorious a summer morning as
men could wish for the purpose OF
/ killing each other. After eating
our lObscOusc and coffee the bri-
oade crossed the bridge, and
turning to the righl, across the
fields, followed leisurely at about q
mile distance in the wake Of Hills
division, who was then driving the
enemy in the direction Of Gaines
Mill. The enemy fell back Sullen
/ ~, resisting at every point wheIC
a good defense could be made, and
+ I think it was after midday before
we arrived at Gaines's house and
saw the long lines of POrter's corps
interspersed with batteries crown
ing the crest of the hills couple OF
miles away, in place for battle.
War is horrible, but it is magni
fcent also, and there could be no
more hcart-stirring spectacle than
to witness the advance Of the long
line of confederate brigades, as
they deployed to the right and left
with flags waving and bayonets
glistcning in the bright sunlight,
taking up position opposite the
lines of the foe, who, grim and 81
lent almost, awaited the onset Oh
the heights. To us who were at
the time looking on in safety it was
signt Of absorbing interest, and
we anxiously looked to sec the be
ginning ofthe death grapple. KEN
per's brigade in the battles OF
Williamsburg and the Seven Pines
/ bad lost heavily and on that ac-
count in this fight Gen. Longstreet
placed us in the rear line Of the re
serve.
Soon the battle was fully joined
and the charging yell of the con
/ federates from one end Of the lines
to the other was plainly audible
above the roar Of cannon and mus
kerry. Longstreet and Hill n'
doubt expected to make shortworl
of Porter, and their attack was
general and savage. But thcN
were two serious obstacles in th'
way, apart from the fighting qnali
ties of POrter's men. Immediatcl,
at the foot Of the long, sloping bill
on which the principal battery 0
the federals was planted ran
shallow stream, with banks slOp
ing like a railroad cnt, and alOni
this natural fortiiication were sta
toned the flower Of the regimontl
Of the federal army. Again, near
" the entire right wing, Of the at
tacking force was subjected to th
enflading fire of the long range @
batteries of Gen. Mcclellan station
cd on the north bank Of the Chick
ahominy, and fearful execution wa
done by these guns, as their all
YVES not discOmpOsed by any II
turn fire. Again and again, wit
dauntless-nay reckless-determ
nation, were the brigades of Long
street and Hill hurled against tn
federal Notifications, but at nearl
every point they were bloody II
pulsed, and even where a foothol
was gained it was not long helC
As the day wore on we, who wer
in reserve in a piece Of woods, an
could see but little of the scene {
battle, grew nervous and anxiou
over the prospect, especially as W
could see, from the circumstance
a pretty good guide-of the aid
and couriers riding silently an
nervously, that the day was no
going as well for our side as "
would have liked. At last an al
to Georgia general stopped
minute near us to blow his hOrs'
and said he: 'Boys, these Yankee
, are fighting like HI today.
/ don't sec that we have game
much so far This was not il
enirifinO npws. nc NAV lie imapil