National Republican., 1885-02-07

or the enemy TO cross, and only made a
how of opposition to the movement.
During the forenoon Gen. Stonewall
Jackson, in company with Gen. Stuart,
rode along our front, and at first we did
not know him, as he had on brand.hew
zold-laced uniform, tho dingy, rusty
looking gray suit having become 80
identified with the man in tho eyes of
the men that It was difficult ut once to
them apart, but whom we did
him he received such yell of
vociforous congratulation as to cause him
and the old sorrel TO got out of sight at
dead run. About the middle of the after
noon tho
LONG LINES OF THE FEDERAL TROOPS |
began to make their appearance on the |
plains The day was beautiful one and |
the air almost Of summer softness. AS
the serried columns moved steadily along
with the sunlight glanclng from their
bayonets and thoir battle flags fluttering
above them while mounted officers gall
loped TO and fro, we deemed IL q most
stirring and gallant sight, and could not
but admire tho almost clockwork pre-
cision of their movements. Our men
crowded the breastworks to view the mar
tial scene, and even our batteries we're
for time comparatively silent, but we
were now and then reminded by the
spitoful shrek of shell as battery would
wheel out and open fireupon us, that IL
would be our duty on the morrow to
crush aud disorganize that fair array and
TO trail those gaily huttering flags in the
dust. That night both armies lay sleep
ing opposite each other, face to face, and
within striking distance.
At daybreak (13thl tho furious can
nonadiug was renewed and the continued
firo of tho skirmishers swelled the cho-
rus. The advance of the enemy was ex-
pected as soon rs the fog lifted but sun
up came and the day wore on, and yet no
advance. 1t was as fine day for fight
as tho veriest fro-eater could have wished
bright aud sunshiny. / think it was
about 10 o'clock when the cannonade and
musketry fro and yelling on the left
showed that
SERIOUS WORK WAS IN PROGRESS
at Marye's Hill. Shortly afterward bat
tory of artillery wheeled out from the
telegraph road into tde open field in full
view of us, and uulimbering fred q half
dozen rounds or SO toward Gen. Jackson's
position. Then q long line of skirmishers
came into view, aud swept past the bat
terry, followed closely by the main column
of attack in three lines of battle. This
was Gen. Franklin's attack. They
moved steadily across the open ground
against Jackson's corps, and although
suffering loss from Stuart's horse artillery
and froH, n battery which had been
plant near the railroad cut and In
front Of our division, aad which had thus
an en6lading fire. they never fsltered, but
pressed on. 1t was a pretty sight for a
soldiers eye, when, on nearing the woods
1 NIa.s
smoke curled upward in graceful wreaths
as they fred their first volley, and then
with shout
PLUNGED FORWARD IN THE CHARGE
1t must not be supposed that Jackson's
mon were idle all this time, for when the
woods hid tho attacking columns from
our view, the field they had passed over
was we'll sprinkled with dead and
wounded men, and we could see tho am
bulance men in crowds bearing off the
latter on their stretchers. The noise ot
battle both on the right and laft was now
terrific, and from the hurrahs that swelled
up on our right we feared that all was moi
going we'll there, and expected every in
slant to be ordered up as re-enforcements
How long this suspense continued dom
recolloct, but soon stragglers began Il
drop out of the woods by twos and threes
then by dozens, then in crowds, until
finally the shattered federal columns
reelsd back bodily in disorder. while tn,
retreating mass was piled with shot from
every gun that could be brought to bear
aud the confederate infantry pursued
until they too were stopped by the we'll
directed and deadly fire Of the fedora
batteries, and at length fell back to thei
original position.
. Whan TIM faIarat frnnna fa1Iin
back there was general on o white hors
who dashed madly about among his me-
waving his sword and ondeavoring t
rally them and IL was with real soIro'
that We saw him
PITCH HEADLoNG FROM HIS HORSE,
which ran about the field riderless.
There was no more close fighting Of
the right, except that two confederat
brigades, Pender's and another, made
dash from the railroad cut against poin
of woods in our front, from which fed
eral brigade was annoying some of ou
batteries. OF the fighting on our left q
Marye's hill, as didn't soc IL / won't at
tempt to describe it from hearsay. til
more so as it has been the action of tn
war the most fully and correctly writer
up by others. There was no room 70
mistakes in describing that slaughte
pen.
That night we laid down expecting {
renew the battle on the morrow, but who
daylight dawned, tho army of the Pote
mac had recrossed the river with oil il
impedimenta to its original position, an
l may say, in conclusion, that the federi
troops in this battle showed perhaps MOI
dashing bravery and bulldog tenacit
under adverse circumstances than in an
other battle of the war.
THos. J. MURRAY.