Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-05-30
THE BLUE AND THE GRAY.

| Sergeant +. b. N1ckerSOn, 20. b. SLn OnlO
the Federal troops of Greenwich in that Stat
operating against the Confederate forces in tn
lower Valley in the Spring of 1862 wrote on tn,
18th of April last. to Major j. W. Newton, o
this city, who was an officer Of the 5th Virgins
Infantry, making enquiries respecting an of
fcer of the End Virginia Infantry who was dis
abled and was carried to Kernstown after the
battle by party of Federals, of which Sergeant
Nickerson was one. The name of the wounded
Confederate was not as certained by the Fed.
eral soldier, but ever since the Ohioan has de.
sired to learn the name. and what became OF
the wounded Confederate for whom he felt the
deepest solicitude.
Major Newton furnished the SPECTATOR with
the inquiry, and it was accordingly published
publish it. The Times Of that city complied, as
perhaps others did, and the result was, MIR.
Nickerson received replies from Major Samuel
j. Z. Moore. of Berryville Clarke coun-
ty, Va, and Wilbur F. Kern, of Stephen City,
Frederick Co., Va. The information contain
ed in the reply of the latter is embodied also In
Major Moore's letter, which, as 1t is very speci.
fc in reference to the incidents referred to. and
authentic and reliable, and of much interest,
especially to the Ex-Confederate soldiers, we
publish 1t below as follows:-
May 9TH, 1883.
Mr.. F. B. Nickerson,
late Sergeant Co. B. Sth Ohio Regiment.
Dear Sir Il have just read in the Winchester
Times your letter of April 18th, 1888. to Major j.
w. Newton, concerning certain incidents
which occurred at the battle of Kernstown on
the 23rd of March, 1862. and as can probably
give you as much information on the subject
as any one else, have concluded to write to
The troops engaged in the affair on the right
side OF the Valley Turnpike facing towards
Winchester, on the Confederate side, were four
companies of infantry selected from the Stone
wall Brigade, and ordered to report to Colonel
afterwards GeneraI Turner A. Ashby, for duty
on the outposts. The companies were I'D" of
the End Virginia, commanded by Capt. Maiden
bousch, of Martinsburg (nOw in West Virginia)
Capt James Hunter, of Duffield, Jefferson coun-
ty NOW in West VAL, II" of the same regiment
commanded by Capt. Moore (the writer and
company from the 4th Virginia regiment, COM
manded by Capt. Edmundson, of Lexington,
We had been on that duty for some days, and
were formed into temporary battalion, under
command of Nadenbousch who was the rank
ing captain. On that day, we were thrown for.
ward on the right of the Turnpike for the pur-
pose Of OCCUPYING the attention OF Inc enemy
battle on the other side of the road, where the
real engagement took place later in the day.
mishers' with a portion of Col. Ashby's cavalry
as our reserve and advanced into piece OF
woodland where we encountered your Skin
fantry concealed by piece of high ground in
their front, and by the woods. Just at the mo-
ment that we found ourselves very near this
line Of battle. an officer of Col. Ashby's COM
mand Nieut. James Thompson, who was killed
in the last battle on Virginia soil, at Appomat-
tox), rode up with orders for us to retire. AS
soon as we commenced retreattng, the troops
in our front pursued us vigorously, and kept up
a constant fire from which we suffered greatly
in killed and wounded. Col. Ashby ordered up
Capt. Chews Battery of Artillery and opened
fire at short range on the right flank of the
pursuing troops, and at the same time por-
ton of his cavalry charged then on the left
flank which two attacks checked for time
the pursuit and enabled us to escape what at
one time seemed certain destruction to our lit
tie battalion.
tempted to leave the field on horse, was 1t.
Link of Co. II. I'd Va. who recovered from his
wound and survived the war. | do not know
whether he is living now or not. 1 did not
know him very well and have not heard ofhim
for number of years. feel quite sure that
have heard he recovered and was at his home
/ think Pleasant Valley must have been the
name OF his country home, as have no knowl-
edge of any town or village of that name in the
section from which he came. The name of the
village near which he lived Is Dufield, Jeffer
son county, West Virginia, a Station and Post
office on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
You are mistaken about having wounded the
Major commar ding cur battalion. AS have
said. Capt. Nadenoousch was in command oft,
and he was not wounded. This L know, be-
cause saw him the next day and every day
K1r some time after that affair. 1t was his
horse upon which Lit. Link was put after he
vas wounded, and Capt. Nadenbousch was
With him helping to take him off, but he and
some others who were with him werec Ompell-
ed to leave him, because OF the vigorous pur-
suit, and as he could not sit on the horse with
ont being supported, he fell TO the ground,
where you found him.
think it probable some one of those who
were with him was wounded as you have stated,
and that Link in the confusion and excitement,
suffering as he was with broken leg, got the
impression that it was the battalion command
err, and therefore SO informed you.
1t is somewhat remarkable that all four OF
our company commanders on that day are still
living. We were all young men then, but are
all growing old now.
Their names are Col. ]. @. A. Nadenbousch,
(Nadenbousch was promoted and afterwards
commanded his Iegi ment, the End Va.)
Captain James Hunter, Duffield, Jefferson
county, West Virginia.
bridge county, Virginia. (He became Colonel
of his regiment the 4th Virginia, and carries
an empty sleeve)
And the undersigned, who afterwards be-
Valley of Virginia.
1t gives me pleasure to write to you. because
the spirit of your letter is that which ought to
influence and govern every man in once
divided and now united country.
1 have always had great respect for the Sth
Ohio, because if / mistake not, faced them not
only at Kernstown on March 2Srd, but at Win,
chester May 25th, at Port Republic in June, and
it may be on other fields. and can bear testi-
mony to their gallant and soldierly bearing on
every field on which we met them. They believ-
we. 1t matters not which was wrong we can.
if we will be friends and brothers now. You
have my warmest sympathies in every effort
to promote this result.
Yours respectfully,
SAMUEL +. q. MOORE.