Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-02

study Of this formation will show its
peculiar efficacy. 1t so arranges the men
that each regiment can protect the others
flank, so that all the TANKS are protected,
except the outer angles of the two end
regiments. The dramatic impressiveness
of such a movement admits of no ade-
quate description. The men, nervous
with the approaching excitement, seem
to feel inWdrdly the necessit, OF clinging
closely to their fellow comrades, and as
the formation is made in double quick
time, the ranks move with the accuracy
of clock work and assume their places in
the line Of battle as evenly as if the COM
handlers had personally placed them in
their respective locations.
Mines famous Boston Light Battery OF
SIX guns was subdvided into sections of
two guns, and a section was assigned to
each one of the first three regiments. The
guns We're placed at the angles of the
squares. The fourth square, containing
the last regiment, was packed solid with
our ambulances, upon which repOsed the
sOldis RS Frustrated by the heat.
In few moments the terrible work Of
destruction commenced. As the solid
mass of cavalry came down upon us we
began to realize the strength Of the men
we had to fight. Texan Rangers, LOuisi-
ana Troopers, a regiment of Alabama
~ d@OOi1- " LOoC iilUblO " DIS 10 OlOIN OF
TO DEATH" come intrepiily toward us,
naked sahres in their hands and strong
huZzahs ACKNOWLEDGEMENT in their thrOats.
They dash valiantly ahead. VOlley after
yolley belches from our guns, but their
advancing lines do not WAIVER. Empty
saddles are turned aside and able-bodled
men Ill the vacancies as fast as our guns
can make them. At first our peculiar
formation rrpulses their terrific advance.
ur nd m hriG ~
upon their ranks; but in the face OF death
their bravery is undaunted and their cour-
age and resolution unfaltering.
What can they mean? They withdraw
as suddenly as they came. The abandon
the general attack of our ranks. Now
their purpose is manifest. They cOncen-
trate their whole force upon the unpro-
Uected outer angle of the One Hundred
and SiXty-secOnd New York Massinv
their columns and doubled in close array.
they begin the second attack. The gleam-
lng sabres are their weapons. On swiftly
boldly. beadlOng they come. They APP
prOach the flank and the carnage begins.
The steady lire OF the musketry fails 10
daunt their determination. Straight yay
we see that our first regiment is doomed
for such ValOr must succeed or they will
perish giOriOusly in the attempt. Their
attack is well conceived; they strike the
outer edge Of the unprotected angle; it
becomes man-tO-man fight; the other
regiments dare not break their square
formations, for the COnfederates move
with such celebrity that it would endanger
the whole liue. The troopers, wild with
excitement, scatter destruction on every
side; men fall 10y the hundreds. More in
tense the warfare RACES, and-great hea-
vens! the angle has given away. The
square breaks; the panic-stricken regi-
ment rushes on the One Hundred and
SIXty-fitth; the horsemen dash upon our
retreating men and stretch many poor
fellow upon the ground IN the agOnies of
death.
The COnfederates see another chance Of
breaking our second square by rushing in
with the strasglers. But their plans are
not so successful as before. Three or four
companies of the broken regiment reach
the square and are quickly placed in DO
siti0n to strengthen the endangered angle.
Fhe troopers come quickly, but hundreds
OF muskets scatter death amid their ranks
and empty saddles tell clearly that they
have aid dearly for their temporary vic
tory.
Still, they 10 not give in. Their last re-
giment held in reserve comes laundering
towards the angle. But many of the
horses stop and refuse to advance. The
reason is found in the brilliant red. white
and blue zOuave uniforms, which shine
unusually bright in the sunlight. The
troopers try in vain to make the animals