The National tribune., 1889-04-18
PIEDMONT AGAIN.
New York CaYalryman's Recollection of til
Rattle.

Battle.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: About mid
night June 4, 1864. our regiment, (the 1st n. Y.
Cav.,l hungry tired and sleepy, dismounted
near Piedmont Va, long enough to fry and get
outside of some pancakes and bacon. In the
gray dawn we were in the saddle again, riding
slowly southwark through piece of timber
After going about a mile the order came Halt.
First squadron dismonnt and take down the
fence to the right Of the road I" The regiment
charged through, and here, before it was fairly
daylight, the skirmshng commenced. The
Johnnies Immediately started on southwark,
and a sort of go-as-you please fight, conducted
at all yelocities from a dead stop to a rafting
gallop, ensued. / don't know as any of our
men were hit, but it will be long time before
/ forget dead rebel who lay on his back in a
gap of the fence with his eyes staring and his
face covered with blood. His comrades were
just beyond and rather than act as targets for
them whilst we tore down another place in the
fence we spurred swiftly over bis body.
About 10 o'clock they opened on US with
three pieces of artillery, and in other ways
seemed inclined to act more neighborly. Some
of our batteries soon came up and sent them q
few shots, when they limbered up and fell back
to another position. They had evidently re-
ceived reinforcements, and our cavalry and
artillery failed to drive them. They were
posted on a hill or ridge, and had more than
three big guns now, but how many more don't
know. Our infantry soon came up, and as they
formed their lines that beautiful Sabbath morn
ing, their blue uniforms set of by the green
fields, their banners flying aud their weapons
flashing back the sunlight, they formed pict-
ure to be remembered lifetime.
Our regiment was halted in hollow at the
foot of the ridge; higher up was piece of
timber Which was held by the enemy. The
infantry swept by us toward the timber in
| splendid order. When within a short distance
they received a terrible volley, which made
them falter. We could see many of their men
| fall, and many more came limping to the rear.
| Their hesitation was for but moment and,
with a shout that rose high above the din of
battle, they rushed forward, and were soon lost
! to sight in the smoke and timber. For few
| minutes there was a continual roar of mus
/ kerry, but it soon dwindled down to a brisk
/ skirmish- fire. We were now moved forward
almost to the edge of the woods, aud sat in our
saddles for an hour or more, when all of a sud-
| den the firing began with redOubied fury and
! the bullets began to whistle into our ranks
/ from the timber. Stragglers were coming back
/ in great numbers. Everything seemed TO in
dictate that our men were being driven back,
/ and was anticipating another skedaddle down
/ the valley. At this instant staff officer gall
/ lop3d furiously up and shouted, For Gods
SAKE, dismount aud help the infantry!" We
| dismounteG, leaving No. to hold the horses,
and the rest of the regiment marched through
4 the timber, which was strewn with killed and
1 wounded of both blue and gray, until we came
I TO our infantry, who were on its extreme edge
/ shaltering themselves behind trees and logs as
/ well as possible The enemy was behind a
1 rail breastwork across a clearing, perhaps 100
yards wide, and in the edge of another piece oil
timber. There was but an occasional shot be-
ing fired. The plan seemed to be, " If you see
/ head hit It." / noticed that our line was very
thin-but little more than good skirmsh-
line; but didn't fool away much time looking
aronFaa. and seeing log that looked as though
IL might stop bullet, lay down behind it.
4 At the same time bullet came-ping! and
I buried itself in the log few inches from my
head. We sent few shots from our carbines
amongst the rails, just for luck; but the rebels
/ were so well sheltered that we soon stopped
I wasting our ammunition. In a short time
1 prolonged shout came from behind the
/ rebel breastwork, and We saw them spring
over it toward us. This was a charge, and
gave them the contents of my carbine and
drew my revolver, when | saw blue uniforms
mixed with the gray and heard the Johnnies
! YELL " surrender, | surrender; don't shoot y
| In FIVE minutes we took thousand prisoners
and the fight was over. We went back to our
| horses, mounted. and hurried after the retreat
| ing rebels who were making excellent time
| towards Staunton.
We were so eager that we rode past the rebel
y
sat quietly on their horses in the timber, ready
to slip in between US and the rest of our army
hut we discovered them just in time to gel
back in safety. Near the rebel breastworlz we
found the dead body of Gen. w. e. Jones, their
commander. We then dismounted aud looked
over the battlefield. Our artillery had sent
their shot into the breastwork, knocking the
rails in every direction, killing and mutilatine
its defenders in the most horrible manner
some bodies being torn entirely in two. In Tho
meantime the guns scattered over the field had
been piled up, with lot of rails from the
breastwork, and fired. Many Of the guns being
loaded to the muzzle, they kept up lively
fusiiade until way into the evening.
After the fight we learned that the move
mont of the gallant Col. Thoburn's Division
across the narrow valley, and its charge up the
hill on the enemy's right flank aud rear, de
cided the contest in our favor.-W AsHTNGTor
MARSH, Co. f, 1st N. Y. Cav, Riehford, n Y
Loaded with impurities, your blood need
cleansing with Ayers Sarsaparila.
ILLINOIS, DEATH RECORD
Iii Regiments from Illinois In Three Battles o
1 Fa,n