Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-03-03
ADAY OF MISERY.
GEN. L1LLEY's UNHAPPY EXPERIENCE IN
A SMALL BATTLE.

ADAY OF MISERY.
ZEN. L1LLEYs UNHAPPY EXPERIENCE IN I,
A SMALL BATTLE.
A singular experience of the war was that
If Brig. Gen. Robert D. Li:ley. of the Con- j,
tolerate forces at the battle Of Rutherford's
Farm. near Winchester Va. Gen. Lilley is
now living at No 10 West Twenty-second
street, in this city, acting AS financial agent
for the Centennial Organization for the en-
dowment at the Washington and Lee Uni
versity of Virginia. A few evenings ago,
at the earnesi solicitation of friends, he re-
lated his story of strange adventures on TEE
battlefield.
con the 10Th of July, 1854" he said,
s.iust aft, Gen. Early had returned from
Washington City, portion OF his command
was f,rmed across the main road leading
from Berryvilie to Smokers Gap, in the Blue
Ridge, to meeta demonstration of he Fed
eral foi ces from tn It direction. There WAS
much lively skirmishing and we expected
to be engaged before night. Affer we had
bivouacked to the north of Berryvil'e, an
order came for us to move toward Wlnches-
ter when the troops had finished their sup
Der We marched all night, and it was al
fer sunrise when we bvouacked along the
railwaytrack east of Winchester. In the
earlv afternoon, Gen. Ramseur's division was
ordered to move promptly down the road lead
ing to Martinsburg, Johnson's brigade first,
Lewis's second, and Pegram's (under my
handy third IN column. About three miles
below the town the head of the column
came upon fhe Federal forces under com
mand of Gen. Averill already in the line OF
battle, with twelve pieces of artillery mass
tnd hvTi n ia
with cavalry on the TANKS waiting for us.
"When our battery open, fire, and while
th- troops were forming, the concentrated
fire of Averill's twelve pieces poured upon
the battery and disabled it entirely. Tie
federal line then advanced and struck our
front before the left wing of Lewis brigade
got in line. In the confusion which fol-
lowed Lewis brigade was swept back past
mine in great disorder. l urged Lewis to
halt his brigade on mine, but he said he
could do nothing with his men then. l saw
at glance that the only chance was to hold
my brigade in position and cheek the enemy
until Lewis and johnson could form in the
Publications near Winchester. In The
meantime a shell grazed my left thigh, with
the same effect as if my body had been hit
| blow with club, and it panied me so
severely that could scarcely sit on ny
morse ana C0ulu uOt LnUVe my lOS. oPohS
to Col. Board, the senior present. and in
structed him that in case had to leave the
battlefield to take command without fur
Their orders. The federals pressed forward,
evidently thinking that they were carrying
everything before them. When within
eighty yards my brigade rose and fired rap
idly and effectively, checking their center
| Their line was so long, no wever, that their
wings moved forward until they resembled
an arc of circle. I had ridden to the left
| of my line, and while returning, my right
! arm was shattered near the shoulder by
mimic bali. With the two wounds received
I ought to have ridden from the field, but
it was my first experience With wounds, and
I dismounted, expecting to walk out with
the troops. Just as I had done so, and
while my horse was gallopng in the rear.
mimic ball went through my already-injur-
ed thigh, severing tendon, completely dis
aiding me- looked around at Col. Board,
who was standing a few yards away, to
place him in command, when he was shot
dead before my eyes
ssIt was a very hot afternoon. Weak
with loss of blood, and feeling deathly
faintness coming on, lay down in the
shade of a tree, exposed to the enemy's fire.
| The balls struck the rocks and trees, sing
inc and ringing around 50 that could not
cling close enough to the ground nor make
myself small enough. remember wonder
ing at the time whether there would be a
chance for me to recover if shonld receive
any more wounds, even if they should not
prove fatal at once. I felt as large as a
man looks who weighs 800 pounds. |
wanted to give orders to have my brigade
) Withdraw, but even from my solitary posi-
ton | could see il move away N good order
underline cover Of the smoke caus d by rapid
: firing on both sides. The federals followed
The retreat, moving cautiously at first. for
they had been .anch sh lcked and u"prised
by the fire fran NV men, As the f, deral
line passed over me. the officers urged their
men forward and was obliged to hear
them say. ssWe have them started now, and
must keep them going" NV arm began
10 pain me frightfully, and looking up, l
found that one OF the Union soldiers was
trying to get my field glass. and my shat
tered arm was through the strap and resting
upon it. Wait, l said, until can get my
arm through
"'Be quick. then, replied the soldier.
'iNo dOnbt he tried TO be careful in TAX
ing off the glass; but he got it as quickly as
possible and hurried to his place in the
ranks, at the same time placing the prize
over his neck. -
in a few minutes all was|quiet around
e. lay there trying TO realize that less
en an honr previously had been riding
he head of my brigade, mounted on a
horse. Now my division had been
EN- back. Between it and me were the
w. was ridltd with shot and alone
pat was oppre. sive. I looked around
poer spot. Near at hand was q tree
routs growing out around in ledge
b. dded with leaves. Slowly |
around aud lay down in the hol-
be rock in the shade. Here was a
ovement OF the air. cool and re-
I thought of snakes when I got
Il left my belt, sword and pistol
ny first. I was just enjoying, as
could, the cool breez and bed of
N | espied a federal straggler
ugh the woods. He saw my
pped, and discovered me.
&c you wounded?' he asked.
as well as | could.
BY gryenbacks p he deman-
}wn and began to search
We since thought perhaps
" weapons were out Of
was from the los of
on made me forget pain.
book, watch, some let
pad been presented to
pld ring, which | had
c6and my new SLOUGH
tered hat behind as
ter another federal
was an Irishman.
me. He inquired
Sding that | was