National Republican., 1885-03-04

fight Kemper had sent the 9TH Virginia
infantry to make detour behind the
woods and fall upon the enemy's left
flank and rear, and Col. Florence OK
eouted tho movement with success, for at
this junction-it was twilight nearly
we heard tho crash of his yolley on our
right front, and when we jumped over
tho breast works TO 20 forward to
help him 10 was found that tho troops
who had worried us so badly had givon
back through the woods in disorder.
That ended the fighting for that day and
IL was sorrowful day for mo for / lost
my friend and blanket partner. When
going into the fight ho said to me, "one
of us will go under-I feel IT," On scarch-
ing found him among tho dog tents
still living and conscious but horribly
wounded. Both his arms were broken,
two balls had passed directly through his
body, and he had flesh wound In the
thigh and yet he lived until about mid
night. His was the most remarkable
case of vital endurance that ever Camo
under my notice during tho war.
THE BRIGADE MADE A CAPTURE
that day. which was some little solace
for our loss. The barn referred 10 was
literally crammed with suffers supplies.
Barrels of brandios, whiskies, wines.
boxes of crackers, cheeses aud canned
goods, and groceries wero there sufficient
to supply all. 1t was some time before
the commanding officers found out the
existence of this treasure trove, for the
company officers were as Jealous In sam
pling the delicacies as the men, and when
at last guard was placed over the do!
lectablos. or what remained of them, the
majority Of the brigade were half-seas
over, and with canteens and haversacks
filled besides. Tho troops slept peace
fully that night, but there were many
swellcd heads and aching brows in the
morning. The sun had scarcely peeped
above the horizon next day whom
firing was renewed on our left, where
Gen. Gus Smith was in command, and
as tho battle rolled toward our posi-
tion the she'll began to explode around
and over the brigade line very uncom-
fortably. However. Huger's men wero
now ordered up to the front, and kemper
was directed to hold the redoubt and rifle
pits ut all hazards in case tho front limo
was forced back, as 1t was thought that
the entiro federal army was now across
the river. While we lay here Gon. "Jeb"
Stuart rode out in front Of the line, in
open view of the enemy's batteries, an d
hppeareu purposely to
MAKE A TARGET OF HIMSELF,
while the shells were popping around
him he kept his horse plunging and cur
vetting. and waving his hat, seemed to
enjoy the fun hugely. But as one of the
soldiers remarked, Somebody ought to
go out and hit him with stuffed club for
making such fool Of HIMSELF" The
brigade of Kemper needed no such en-
couragement TO do their duty. We'll
the battle Of the second day was
tame afinir compared with the savage.
ness Of that of the day before, and about
noon both sides seemed to have got enough
of IL, and the noise of the battle gradu.
ally died away. The confederates, had
failed to smash the federal left wing and
had lost heavily, Gen Johnston himself
having been severely wounded, but thoy
had not been whipped. and they held
their ground until after nightfall, when
they quietly withdrew to their own lines,
taking twenty pieces Of captured artillery
with them.
Now as to the behavior Of Casey's di-
vision this much may be said. From the
savageness Of the firing at the opening oi
the battle and the thickly strewn confed-
crate dead in front of the earthworki
they must have fought we'll at first what,
eyer they may have done afterward.
THOMAS ]. MURRAY.