National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-03-14

flowed n shallow stream. On the left
tho ground rose up, aud was covered
with laurel and ivy bushes also. We |
saw that we were in ravine which mar |
rowed as we went onward, so that the |
regiment could keep no alignment, and |
was soon huddled almost into mass. for
IL was not practicable TO take ground |
either to right or left, IL was either
20 forward or give back. Here was trap
No. 2, for some of the federal guns
seemed to DO planted so as to rake tho
ravine fore and aft, as IL were. While
we lost heavily as we advanced, II may
DO seen that we could return no efiectual
fire, aud the further we went the worse
tho situation became. At last we
got to where the field in which the bat
tory was planted came down TO tho edge
Of tho ravine on our left. At this point
all was confusion In the regiment, hud-
died together as the men were, aud an
effort was made to Chamber up into the
fold to form line, but federal regiment
came suddenly up to tho fence and began
firing down on tho mass Of men. 1t was
evident we were hemmed in on three sides,
and without show for our white alley"
as tho school-boys say at marbles. was
standing behind Tom Hayes, our color
bearer, afraid to shoot for fear Of killing
some of our own mon, damned up to-
gether as we were, when somebody yelled;
SAVE THE coLoRs, ASYHow
/ saw Hayes dart back like door and
at once followed suit with all the speed
of which / was capable. Numbers of the
regiment did the same thing, but many
were compelled to halt before they could
clear the ravine. as the Yank sharpshooters
ran along the tops Of the cliffs on other
sido, yelling Throw down your guns
Johnnies, aud give up" Although |
heard tho bullets whistling past me and
tho orders to surrender, was not too
badly. scared to have an eye single to
getting out of that, and 1 kept
pegging away until reached
tho ivy cliff first referred to, still hanging
on to my rifle, however, and here
saw our old colonel and a number of
others painfully struggling up its rugged
face. Here in tho pines the colonel
formed line behind fence with the re-
mains of tho regiment, but soon some fell
low came running up, saying the Yanks
had again hanked us on the left, where
upon we turned tail again and never
stopped TO draw breath until we mot at
the point where We had left our blankets,
one Of A. p. Hills brigades advancing in
| line of battle to re-enforce us. Gen. Hill,
usually so prompt in action, had on this
occasion been dilatory in coming up, per-
hsps from
CAUSES BEYOND HIS CONTROL.
This was about the Rloomiest day this
brigade experienced during the war. All
the regiments lost heavily, but tho 18th
Virginia, on account of tho difficulties OF
ground 1t had to contend with, was almost
blotted out Of existence for the time be-
ing. Besides n long list of killed and
wounded the latter Of whom fell into the
enomy's hands, the lieutenant colonel,
four or five captains, and double that
number of lieutenants, and between 125
and $50 men were captured. Indeed, II
remember Alright, when the fight was
over only about some 80 men could be
gathered about the colors out Of the 300
or more who went into the fight. The
colonel was like one beside himself that
night as he walked around crying out
"Oh my boys. my boys"
There is little more to DO said. The
confederates captured aud held the bat
terry which in the beginning had warmed
us up SO nicely, and held possession Of
the field as well after nightfall, but the
result of the battle was utterly inde
cisive, as the federals fell back without
disorder to fight the battle of Malvern
Hill next evening, which resulted in theii
withdrawal without further molestatior
to Harrison's Landing, ON the James.
THOMAS j. MURRAY.