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

Finally Recovered.
Perhaps there isno more gruesome feel
ing in the experience Of a soldiers life
than to BIO compelled to turn his back
upon tho enemy and to run for dear life,
with bullets whizzing about him like
swarm of bees. 1 don't mean when the
retreat is orderly, tho cohesion Of the
regimental organization maintained,
and every point Of obstruction taken
advantage of TO turn about and face for
time the victorious foe TO check them but
when the organization lis utterly broken
up and the pursuit is so fierce and near
that an attempt to rally, even for mo-
mont, Is not to be thought Of, and when
shot and she'll seem to be coming from
every point except in tho direction OF
fight. Under such circumstances, the
strongest-nerved man might be pardoned
for giving way to absolute panic, and even
II he cast aside his weapons to be enabled
to run the faster. Once during the war
the writer was participant In a race very
nearly similar to tho above In Its charac-
teristics.
AFTER TIE BATTLE OF eAINEs's MILL,
Of the seven days fight before Richmond,
Rempers brigade Of Longstreets corps,
to which the writer's regiment was at
tached, remained on the field of battle for
two days awaiting developments. II was
June 20 when we started on tho back track
over the repaired bridge which had b cen
destroyed by Porter's men when they
crossed to the north sido of the Chicka-
hominy in retreat. The battle Of Savage
station, on York River railroad, fought
mainly by Magruder's troops, was raging
when we reached tho Williamsburg road,
and here the command was halted for
some hours in order not only to secure
additional ammunition and provisions,
but to be at hand in case Gen. Mcclellan
should attempt to got into Richmond by a
coup dc main. We resumed tho march
across the country to the White OAK
Swamp road, on reaching which we went
into camp for tho night, and very glad we
were for what promised to be surceaso
for one night, ut least, from tho dust, the
heat. the toll, and the anxiety of tho four
or FIVE days previous. As soon az dark
ness had fallen
wHIzi WENT A ROCKET,
high in the air, from Longstreet's head
quarter bivouac, followed by another and
another in quick succession. After q brief
interval the signal was answered of in
the direction of tho Williamsburg road.
We know we'll what this meant. Tho
corps commanders wore in position as
ordered, and battle was almost certain
on tho morrow if the enemy should be
within striking distance. Tho next
morning by sun-up wo wero on the
march down the road, though our
progress was slow, as the halts were
long and frequent, and evidently with q
purpose. As was known afterward 1t was
70. Al 1FA ItNsr A "a
division to catch up with US, for they
were far ia the rear. As we'll as recol
lect, the quiet Of the morning of June 30
was not disturbed by the noise of fighting
anywhere along the line, and we began to
think that the federal army had gotten
too Ear out Of tho way In retreat to DO at
tackled, in other words, that they had
outmarched us. About noon rs the bril-
gade was listlessly plodding along the
road. heated and dusty flor the sun was
fairly searching oil things below, sud
denly thore was
RATTLE OF RIFLE SHOTS
down ahead of us, followed by the dis
charge of half dozen cannon shots
whats up" was the general remark al
we were faced into line on the side of the
road, and we had not long to wait for an
explanation. For here came laundering
cavalry at full tilt in retreat. Some Of
them had lost their hats, and from their
excited manner it was evident that they
had been pretty well shaken up by some
thing or other. Now, / don't know how
IL was In the federal army, but in our
army there seemed to BIO natural an
tipathy toward the cavalry on the part
of the infantry, aud they used
to guy and chat them numerically
when the regiments Of the different
services were passing each other on the
road. This feeling was exemplifed by a
remark once made by old Jubal Early In
the valley when angered by tho absence Of
some Of his cavalry when he wanted them
badly, II would give $4,000 to be shown
q dead cavalryman." OF course, the feel
ing was only skin deep, aud was mainly
made up of jealousy of what were thought
to be the superior privileges of the horse
mon, for we knew well that without the
efficient aid of our troopers we of the in
fantry could never have won q single
battle.
Well, as the Tarheels passed us, we as
sailed them with gibes and jest, but they
only remarked, "Wait till you'uns ri
down thar, you'll catch h-ll" aud thu
prophecy was fulfilled, as will be seer
further on, for we caught
SOMETHING NEARLY AS HOT.
The brigade was now moved down the
road at the quickstep. When we arrived
at a large open space we were halted anC
o battery was planted on the left of tn,
road in front of US. All seemed quiet IL
the woods ON the opposite side of thu
field, but when about . u. m. our battery
opened fire, it was Immediately answered
by fierce cannonade from down the
road, while puts of smoke from tn,
enemys sharpshooter5 curled up all llonl
tho line of the woods in front. 1t wa
evident that the foe were in force ahead
Kemper's brigade was now ordered t.
file to the right OF the road. Wher
the regiments were well strunI
out we were faced TO the lief
into line of battle and directed to stacL
arms, throw Off our blankets. and make
detail from each company to go to tn,
right to fill the canteens with water, o
which We were in need, not having lately
passed stream on the road. Troops were
\ now being rapidly passed to the front
and the roar of the battle was swelling
louder and louder. There was circum
stance that it is important to state here
Whenhthe details of K0mper's brigade
went TO the right and rear for water (thi
was learned afterward) they were so clos,
to the federal lines that they could easily
have been captured, and so could the Lou
doun battery which was on tho right tn,
brigade. But the federal officers would
not permit it, aud directed their troops {,
keep hidden rs much rs possible, As II rul
Gen, Longstreet was 80 thorough ia hi
accommodating that he sometimes sorel,
tried tho patience Of the commanding
general by his tardiness in bringing hi
troops into action, but he slipped up OF
this occasion, for he was outhnnked evet
before he got his lino into position, the fed
! eral left wing making an acute angle witt