National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-03-21

up his painting horse, he shouted, Bring
that flag out into the road herew We
leaped over the fence into the road to
form on the colors, but he shouted again,
Never mind forming, boys; break for
that knoll yonder," pointing to one Of
those curious knobs from fifty to 100 feet
high which occur in the Blue Ridge, and
which are generally covered with scrub
oak bushes.
The regiment rushed across the hun
dred yards Of open space intervening,
only two or three men being hit in the
exposure, and we were soon ensconced
around about the summit of the knoll,
hat on our bellies.
THE FEDERAL sHARPsHoorERs
now closed in upon US, but our long
range rifles gave US the advantage,
although they could fire more rapidly
with their Winchester breech-loaders.
And here the regiment was nearly put to
flight by ludicrous incident. The jar
of the firing and the clouds of dust raised
thereby disturbed q nest of hornets, and
getting their dander up they unanimously
proceed to act as the allies Of the Yanks-
and very effective allies they proved to
be. Every now and then some fellow
would yell, couch !" as q hornet banged
him in the head, and finally all the men
in the vicinity of the nest were compel ed
TO JUMP UP AND GET OUT o. RANGE.
At last couple Of fellows throw blan-
kets over their heads, charged upon the
nest, cut IL from the bush, and threw it
far down the hill, whereupon the routed
rebs were enabled to resume their p0-
sition.
Tho fight went on in desultory fashion
until about two hours before shutdown,
when tho enemy withdrew. The regi-
ment had suffered very much from want
of water, but there were very few
casualties. The colonel now drew up the
men in the open ground, and, after tho
canteens were filled and short rest
taken, he raised his voice and asked,
Boys, are you willing to 20 forward and
drive those fellows out of the gapW or
course, we all yelled, "Yes" but there
were some of us who thought that 1t was
sufficient to hold our own end of tho gap.
However, we filed off up the road. left In
front, passing Oh our way the dead and
wounded federals, five in number. who
fell at our first volloy One poor fellow,
who had beon shot through the bowels,
was seated against q fence on the road
side, aud he appeared very grateful when
some of the men gave him
WATER FROM THEIR cANTEENs.
The regiment had not gone mile when
the captain Of our skirmish line, some
200 yards in advance, cried out, Here
they are, colonelW We were at once
thrown into line on the left Of tho road.
The advance was made through scrub
underground, and as we emerged into
the open ground beyond there was seen
brigade Of cavalry, in column of fonrs,
in the road aud not hundred yards dis
tant. When we opened fire on the head
of the column the brigade seemed to
wheel about as one man, aud they went
down the hill at full galop. The cavalry
were in full view for half mile, and
most of the regiment got in two or three
shots before they were out OF range.
Then their skirmishers formed on par
allol hill about half milo distant,
and dsmountng began to fire
over their saddles ut our line.
Tho colonel ordered tho regiment TO
cease firing but the federal sharpshooters
kept pegging away, and fine marksmen
they were, for even at that distance they
knocked down our colors twice, besides
wounding several men in other parts of
the line. BY this time (although We
were not aware OF the fact
WHAT REMAINED OF GARLAND's BRIGADE
of Plckettis division had come up TO re-
enforce us. Col. Herbert then ordered
tho 18th forward, When we had gotten
within two hundred yards of the federal
line we wero faced by the right flank,
and double.quicked to the road some
three hundred yards to the right. Here
wa remained exchanging occasional shots
until after nightlall, when tho regiment
was quietly withdrawn. The cavalry
that attacked us was commanded, | be-
lieye, by Gen. Wesley Merritt, and no
came very near tagging us as above
stated, THOMAS j. MURRAY.