The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-12-19

that | would depoy the 9th n. Y. (his old
regiment and mine ALSO rs skirmishers at the
head Of the column aud skirmish
INTO tbs TEETH OF THEIR LINE OF RATTLE,
following with the head of the column at 100
PAGES: that I would not halt after giving the
order forward until we reached the crest of the
mountain. IL possible. These suggestions met
with the Generals approval, and he based his
written order upon them. i was TO attack at
the point and in the manner indicated, take
the crest of the mountain, and throw out a
picket-line for the night.
The enemy S artillery had now opened upon
everything in sight On our extreme left one
OF our batteries had gone into position, but
could do nothing toward siencing those OF the
enemy which were posted so high above on the
mountain that they could not be reached with
any effect. had prOspected the ground thor
Oughlv over which was to lead the column of
attack. aud had selected field about 200 yards
from the base Of the mountain, aud where VIC
would strike il 10 the right OF the road through
Burkiltsvilie. j led the troops under cover of
the uuduations OF the ground through farm
yard, little ravines and cornfeld TO the field
had selected 10 form the column in, without
discovery the other brigades following, Gen.
Newton second and Col Torbert, with Kearny's
old New Jersey Brigade, third. When we de-
bouched into the open field and commenced
forming FOR the attack, in full view of the
enemy, they opened all their guns bearing upon
Us, and brought battery from their right TO
ground even higher than the Pass to aid in
breaking our lines. The troops. however, form
ed with the GOODNESS and precision OF an exhibit
tion drill. and when the last line was in posi-
tion and the skirmishers had deployed, the ad-
vance was sounded, the order was passed, and
the FIRST column Of a division hurled upon
single point by the Army of the Potomac,
stepped out with all the steadiness OF the best
veteran troops. 1t must have been a grand
fwmf hmt mn tai Ia a TfI
ing spleudor Of that column as the bright Sep
tember sun shOne upon the arms and trappings
OF the m owing force.
THE sKIRMIsHERs WERE SOON ENGAGED,
the artillery from the mountain-top was firing
with Tspidity, but with little effect, for their
shells were bursting too high above MS, and we
soon drew under their fire altogether. When
the enemy's skirmishers had been driven back
20 their line OF battle and unmasked its fire,
down went the 9th skirmishers upon their
faces, and the first yolley from the enemys line
OF battle was received. My first line was st
this moment up with the skirmish-line, and
passed u steadily in quick time.
took one rapid glance 10 the rear, 70 assure
myself that al was right, and gave the COM
mand " Halt. Lie down" To my surprise
Rnd astoHishment the brigade Of Gen. Newton
was at least 500 yards in the rear, when it
should have been only 100 yards. i found the
enemy securely sheltered behind q stone wall
which divided road az the base OF the mount
ain from the field we had vet to cross. We
were losing men rapidly and firing away our
ammunition without doing much injury to the
enemy. The first line OF Newton's Brigade, the
sd and 18th n. Y, under command OF Col.
Rod Matheson, Of the 32d N. Y, came for
ward az a double-Quick. The 5th Me. and the
10th n. Y, having nearly expended their am-
muniti0n, were relieved from the front line
and formed 20 PAGES in rear, and their places
filled by the two regiments from Gen. Newton.
The 95th Pa. Col. Henry l. Cake who had
been skirmishing on the extreme left, near
Burkiitsyille, and had not Joined me in time
Tor the original formation, now came up, and
extended MY line with il 10 the right The
New Jersey Brigade, Col. Torbert command
ing, arrived on the left and commenced firing
By its drst line. The two remaining regiments
Of Gen. Newton's Brigade were also added 10
the left Of the line. The l2lst n. Y, never
having been under IRE. aud being commanded
BY inexperienced officers, left out of the Origi-
nal formation. They came up, however, when
the unexpected halt occurred, and were ordered
20 3 position behind stone wall 10
AWAIT THE RESULT OF TIE ATTACK.
The attacking force was now virtually in two
lines Of battle. the right within 100 yards Of
the stone wall, the distance increasing toward
the LEFT. owing 10 the base Of the mountain
curying rapidly back toward Burkittsyille.
The DOaBtain-side was thickly covered with
foliage, with no iedRes OF rock ia sight The
trees were Of that small growth which uni
fOrmly cover the sides Of the South Mountain
range The ascent was very steep; the dis
tance from the base 60 the summit over 500
yards. Gen. Slocum was IN the rear trying 70
get artillery up 10 shell the stone wall. but we
could hear the yells from the mountaiu-to as
though reinfOrcements were arriving aud there
was no time TO lose. / sought Col. Torbert on
bis line and held hurried consultation with
him 70 tie elect that We would separate In the
center. each riding down his own line, and or
Ger the men 10 cease firing. load, and be ready
for charge At dOubIe-quiek. This was done.
Every regiment prepared. the men took an extra
tug zt their Halst-belts. aud at the concerted
signal the entire command rose upon their feet
and giving 3 ringing cheer rushed forward.
The enemy was well prepared 10 receive US,
and poured in our faces terrible fire from be-
bind the wall, the trees aud rocks on the
mountain, and stone house on the right OF
The soth Pa, which was the right Of the line
There was not q falteT ia our ranks, or a shot
bred fEOn them. aud comrades were falling at
every step. At last the stone wall WAS reached,
the eDemys line broken. the stone house capt
Uren. with its garrison. and the enemy were in
EoUt flying Up the mOuntain-side Then our
lines, in perfect order, opened their FIRE, and
IN pursuit passed On up the steep mountain,
loading and firing as they went Torbert with
his gallant Jerseymcn had also carried his
'front.' and was pressing them closely I'D the
mountain On the left. The fercest part Of the
struggle was On the right, in front Of my line,
which is plainly shown ia the losses sustained
by the regiments composing IT, About half
way up the mountain above US a wood road ran
olagonaliy down its side. into which reinforce
MentE were pouring with the old rebel yell,
but the line Of blue kept struggling upward,
nrlng aud loading az rapidly as they could
under such difficulties
OUR FIRg HERE WAS VERY Effective.
Zach bullet must hit either tree, a rock or q
man, Tor they could not go over the mountain.
1kc enemy, however, were firing over Us and
our loss was very little, although two Of our
braTest and most gallant officers were wound
ed when We received the frst FIRE from the re-
inforeements in the wood road (C0l. Rod Math-
esonl 30 n. n, and Mai. Lemon, Of the same
regiment; and both these noble soldiers died
Of their wOunds). The 18th N. Y. and the 32d
"A. d. were nearly ont Of ammunition but they
together with the eGth Pa. on their right were
directly in front Of this newly-deyelODed
strength of the enemy, and il they now faltered
the victory would be Lost. MAJ McGinnis, of
the 18th, said TO me: Colonel, nv men
are out Of cartridges." i replied Never
mind, Major push on; we have got 'eu
On the run. The regiments each side of
you have got ammunition, aud are using itD
The gallant Major, Emilingly, encouraged his
men and pushed vigorously onward
The 30 y. y. was being cheered on by the
brave Col. Aathcson. as my horse struggled
along the steep side in rear Of his regiment
A moment after i had spoken an enc0nragiug