The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-04-01

so by the roadside, was moved forward a
take its place in the line Of battle land, by
the way, the men were at this time nearly !
starved, for the commissary trains had
been outmarched, and there was no such
thing as sub listing on that ravaged sec
ton.
The brigade was resting in line in
corn-field to the right of a house situated
about half mile or so from the spot near
which was General Lees headquarters and
where General Lengstreet the next day
planted his batteries to enilade the red
breeches column, which made the fierce
assault on Jackson's troops posted in the
old railroad cpt. From this point pretty
good view could be obtained of the field of
battle. Longstreet's line formed an oh-
fuse angle with that of Jackson, the legs
stretching forward and to some extent in
closing the enemy. Skirmishing was go
ing on in lively manner all along the line
with an occasional rattle of a volley and
the bang bang Of battery.
When the ball opened with the dawn.
the scene from the hill where the writer
was stationed was beautiful one. The
long lines capped with glittering steel the
roll OF smoke along the front of the in
fantry lines as they advanced: the blaze
and puffs of smoke from the numerous
batteries. the dancing of the battle flags,
and as bright sun and blue sky as ever
canopied a battle-all this was as inspiring
as it was terrible under the circumstances.
The battle had not been long joined before
a dense pail of smoke hung over the battle
field, and it was only here and there in the
pauses of the conflict, that the forms of
the cOmbatants could be distinguished.
The battle field assumed the appearance as
if waves of gray mist were rolling against
each other, now advancing and then re-
ceding. When the grand assault was
made on Jackson | began to feel appre-
hensive, for, up to that time, the Confed-
crates did not seem to have gained much
ground. even if they had lost none But
when | saw Longstreet planting his bat
teries to take that gallant column in
flank, Lord what a relief it was. They
charged again and again with determined
vim. but the terrific front ard flank fire
was too whitening and finally they went
back broken and shattered, leaving the
| field literally covered with their dead and
wounded Later on my attention was
directed to my own brigade, which had
been lying down in cornfield and which
xuac now ctnuHjpo nj OF Ac r
knew afterwards, there was a Rhode
| Island battery of twelve guns on Il hill
| directly opposite, and which had been
charged twice by Confederate brigades and
each time had repulsad them with great
| loss. Our brigade, Col M ID. Corse COM
manding, was then ordered up to try its
hand. Corse advanced his men straight
at the battery. and although losing at
every step, the brigade swept over the guns
and put the supporting infantry to flight
at the point of the bayonet. The charge
was as well planned and as CALAMITY ex-
ecuted as any other during the war
Late in the afternoon the fire of the Fed
eral left wing and left centre began to
slacken and recede, and the wells of the
victorious Confederates followed them as
they advanced inpursuit. Military critics
say that the pursuit was not as 6ercely
pushed as it might have been. for Pope s
retreat was not dlsorderly until after
nightfall. l suspect the Confederate in
fantry were pretty well tired out with the
heat and burden of the day, and Stuart s
cavalry had but little chance to operate
against infantry and artillery, even though
retreating in that broken country.