The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-03
A DAY OF MISERY.
General LiIley's Unhappy Experience In .
Small Battle.

4
General Lilley's Unhappy Experience in .
Small Battle.
| New York Tribune.
| A singular experience of the war was that of
Brigadier- General Robert d. Lilley of the Con-
federate forces, at the battle of Rutherford's
| farm near Winchester Va. General Lilley is
now living at No. - West Twenty second street,
/ in this city, acting as financial agent for the
Centennial Organization for the endowment OF
the Washington and Lee University of Virginia.
! A few evenings ago, at the earnest solicitation
OF friends he related his story of strange advent
/ uresl on the battlefield.
| ION the 10Th of July, 1864" he said, ''just
| after General Early had returned from Washing
ton City, portion of his command was formed
/ across the main road leading from Berryville to
| Singers Gap, in the Blue Ridge, to meet o
| demonstration Of the federal forces from that
| direction. There was much lively skrmishing,
and we expected to be engaged before night.
| After we had bivouacked to the north of Berry
| toward Winchester, when the troops had
| finished their supper We marched all
| night. and it was after sunrise when we
bivouacked along the railway track east of Win
chester. In the early afternoon General RAM
seur's division was ordered to move promptly
down the road leading to Martinsburg. John
| sons brigade first Lewis's second and Pegram s
| under my command), third In column. About
three miles below the town the head Of the col
umn came upon the federal forces under COM
mand of General Averill, already in line of
battle, with twelve pieces of artillery massed in
the center and supported by infantry with cav
airy on the TANKS waiting for US.
when our battery opened fire, and while the
troops were forming the concentrated fire Of
Averills 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's brigade got in line In the con-
fusion which followed, Lewis's brigade was swept
back past mine in great disorder. / 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 brigade in
and Johnston could form in the fortifca-
tons near Winchester In the meantime,
| she'll grazed my left thigh with the same
effect as if my body had been hit terrible blow
could scarcely sit on my horse and could not
move my leg. l spoke to Colonel Board, the
senior present. and instructed him that in case
had to leave the battlefield, to take command
without further orders. The federal troops
pressed forward, evidently thinking that they
were carrying everything before them. When
within eighty yards, my brigade rose and fired
rapidly and effectively, checking their center.
Their line was SO long, however, that their
wings moved forward until they resem-
bled an arc of circle. l had ridden to
the left of my line and while returning, my
right arm was shattered near the shoulder by
mimic ball. With the two wounds received l
ought to have ridden from the field; but it was
mounted. expecting to walk out with the troops.
just as had done So ard while my horse was
galloping in the rear, a mimic ball went through
my already injured thigh, severing tendon and
Colonel Board, who was standing few yards
away, to place him in command, when he was
shot dead before my eyes.
sit was very hot afternoon. Weak with loss
of blood. and feeling deathly faintness coming
on lay down in the shade of a tree, exposed to
q 10 he
trees, singing and ringing around so that could
not cling close enough to the ground nor make
myself small enough. / remember wondering
at the time whether there would be chance for
me to recover if l should receive any more
wounds, even if they should not prove fatal at
once felt as large as man looks who weighs
300 pounds. / wanted to give orders to have
my brigade withdraw, but even from my
solitary position | could see it move away in
good order under the cover of the smoke caused
by rapid firing on both sides. The federals fol-
lowed the retreat, moving cautiously at first, for
they had been much 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 frgiltfully,
and. looking up, found that one of the Union
soldiers was trying TO get my field glass, and my
shattered arm was through the strap and resting
upon it. Wait. said, until can get my srm
through
BE quick them replied the soldier
mo doubt he tried to be careful in taking off
the glass; but he got it quickly possible and
hurried to his place in the ranks, at the same
time placing the prize over his neck.
"In q few minutes all was quiet around me.
lay there trying ito realize that less than an
hour previously had been riding at the head of
my brigade, mounted on good horse Now
my division had been driven back. Between it
and me were the enemy. / was riddled with
shot and alone The heat was oppressive. /
l-41 ~o1 rN-
hand was a tree With sprouts growing out
with leaves. Slowly crawled around
and lay down in the hollow of the rock in the
shade. Here was slight movement of the air,
cool and refreshing. / thought of snakes when
got in. but had left my belt, sword and pistol
where lay first. l was just enjoying, as much
as | could. the cool breeze and bed of leaves
when espied federal straggler coming through
the woods He saw my weapons, stopped, and
discovered me.
Where are you woundedp ne asked
II told him as we'll as could
Have you any greenbacksp he demanded
"'None'
L will see.'
He kneeled down and began to search nv
pockets have since thought perhaps it was
well that my weapons were out of reach. Weak
as I was from the loss of blood, my indignation
made me forget pain. He took my pocket-book,
watch, some letters. a knife which had been
presented to me in 1859, plain gold ring, which
had worn for many years, and my new SLOUGH
hat, leaving his old battered hat behind as he
departed.
"A few moments later another federal soldier
came up He was an Irishman. He did not
want to rob me. He inquired all about my
injuries, and finding that l was suffering from
thirst went to spring three-quarters of q mile
away for some water. A group of Averilrs cavalry
came up. They ranged around me in semi
circle and inquired about our command, num-
bers, etc. avoided giving any information that
would be Of any service to them. Then they
began to see how desperately / was wounded
and how much was suffering They looked at
my bloody sleeve lying by my side, saw my
bleeding leg and then began conversing with
each other. While they were occupied among
themselves. / heard something moving in the
dead leaves among the rocks above my head
tried to persuade myself that it was a ground
hnk hat aLod u.