The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1885-12-31

1 sHuSC WHU balk, yet f9lI TO DO.
| But build upon the sand"
| -Eiza Cook
A q ENEitAL'S DAY OF MISERY.
From the New York Tribune.l
A singular experience of the war WAS
that OF Brig. Gen. Robert ID. Lilley. Of
the Confederate forces, at the battle of
| ltutherford'- farm. near Winchester. Va.
zen. Lllley is now living At No. ID West
lweAty-second street, in this CITY, acting
as financial agent for the Centennial Or
| ganizatlon for the endowment of the
aShlngton and Lee University of Vir-
| GINA. A few evenings ago, at the earn
est solicitation of friends, he related his
story OF strange adventures on the bat
| tletield.
On July 10, 1864" he said, "lust af
ter Gen. Early had returned from Wash
ingtoa City, a portion Of his command
was formed across the main rosd leadinr
from Berryvlie to Singers Gap in the
Blue Ridge to meet a demonstration of
The Federal forces from that direction.
There WAS mach lively diminishing, AMI
we expected TO be engaged before night.
| After We had bivouackef to the north of
| BerryvlIie, AZ order came for us to move
| toward lnchester, when the troops had
finished their supper. We marched sill
night, and It was after sunrise when we
blvonackci along the lilwav track east
oil Winchester In the early afternoon,
Gen. Ramseur's division was ordered to
move promptly down the road leading to
Martlnsburg, Johnson's brigade first,
Lewis second and Pegram's (under my
command) third in column. About three
miles below the town, the head of the
column came upon the Federal forces un-
der command OF Gen. Averil, already in
line of battle, with twelve pieces of artil-
Iery ma>sed in the centre and supported
by infantry, with cavalry on the TANKS,
waiting for US.
When our battery opened fire and
whlie the troops were forming, the con
centra,cd fire of Averiil's twelve pieces
poured upon the battery and disabled it
entirely. The Federal line then advanced
and struck our front before the left wing
of Lewis brigade got in line In the
confusion which followed, Lewis brigade
was swept back past mine in great disor-
der. / urged Lewis to halt his brigade
on mine, but he said he could do nothing
with his men then. | saw at glance
that the only chance was to hold my brig
ade in position and check the enemy un-
til Lewis and Johnson could form in the
Notifications near Winchester. In the
meantime a shell grazed nv left thigh
with the same effect as if my body had
been hit a terrific blow with a club, and
it panied me so severely that. could
scarcely 81. on my horse and could not
move my leg. | spoke to Col. Board, the
case had to leave the battlefield, to take
command without further orders. The
Federal troops pressed forward, evidently
thinking that they were carrying every
thing before them. When within eighty
yards, my brigade rose and fred rapidly
and effectively, checking their centre
Their line was so long, however, that
their wings moved forward until they re-
sembled an arc of circle. had ridden
to the left of my line and while returning,
my right arm was shattered near the
shoulder by minnie ball. With the two
wounds received | ought to have ridden
from the field; but it was my first expert
ence with wounds and dismounted, ex-
pecting to walk out with the troops. Just
as | had done so, and while my horse was
| gaIloping to the rear, minnie ball went
through my already injured thigh, sever
ing tendon and completely disabling
me. looked around at Col. Board, who
was standing few yards away,te place
him in command, when he was shot dead
before my eyes.
=" 1t was very hot afternoon. Weak
with the loss OF blood, and feeling
deathly faintness coming on, lay down
! in the shade OF a tree, exposed to the en-
emy's fire. The balls struck the rocks
and trees, singing and ringing around so
that could not cling closely enough to
the ground nor make myself small
enough. | remember wonftring at the
time whether there would be chance for
me to recover if | should receive any
more wounds, even ii they should not
prove fatal at once. Ifcit az large as
man looks who weighs 800 pounds. |
wanted to give orders to have my brig
ade Withdraw, but even from my solitary
position could see it move away in good
order under the cover of smoke caused
| by rapid firing on both sides. The Fed
erals followed the retreat, moving eau
| tlOuSly ~ uFst, tT theJ Hdu Ueon Iuucn
shocked and surprised by the FIRE from
my men. As the Federal line passed
over me, the officers urged their men for
ward, and was obliged to hear them
say, We have them started now, and
must keep them going. My arm began
to pain me frightfuily, and looking up
| found that one of the Union soldiers was
trying to get my fieliglass ami my shat
tered arm was through the strap and rest
ing upon it.
.s Watt said, until | can lift my
arm through
"s+Ise qarck, them replied the soldier,
"No doubt he tried to be, careful in
taking of the glass; but he got it 40
quickly As possible, and hurried to his
place in the ranks, 1t the same time plac-
ing the prize over his neck
lin . few moments all was quiet
around me- Il lay there trying to realize
that less than an hour previously had
been riding 1t the head Of my brigade,
mounted On good horse. Now my d.
49, 5~:-.>-. H. - QnA .snasa -