The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-02-11
The 23rd S. C. Volunteers in Virginia
in 1862.
BY 4 SPRoTT GUARD.

this place was a bridge over Tub or Cub
Run, and he very quietly and unconcerned
ly rode over the bridge, On reaching th'
edge of the bridge next to where we were
he shouted, Don't shoot, it is friend, ant
quietly continued on his way. About tn
time he was passing the point just where
brought him quite close, some of the Con
federates on the left of the road discovered
he was Federal, and cried ont: ''1t's ;
id Yankee, kill him" The Federal seeing
he was discovered, put spurs to his hors
and dashed into the darkness like q flash
About twenty or thirty shots were fred afte
him, but with what effect we never knew
The horse at least made his escape, for W.
could hear him for some time after the firing
ceased, making the air ring with his hoofs
TWO CAVALRY ATTACKS REPULsED.
A short time after this Yankee had passed
US We were ordered to make ready to resis
charge of cavalry we heard coming dowr
the road upon us. The Federals came ful
tilt for US. At this time Col. Beubow or
dered US to be ready. The Federals turned
before reaching US, making kind of circle
As they made this half circle Col. BenboV
ordered the 23rd to fire, and the next mo
ment sheet of fire flashed from our mus
kets. The Federals retreated at a rapid rat
back in the direction from whence the.
came. The effect Of our fire could not b.
seen. Col. Benbow remarked: I'll bet tina
fire emptied some of their saddles"
Things now remained quite serene for {
while. All at once We heard them coming
again but We were prepared for them
They came little closer this time and be
ing ready the Colonel gave the order agai1
to fire. We poured another volley int
them. This time they made turn across
the road 10 their right and some scattering
ones among them got among some cf ou
men and in the darkness and confusion
succeeded in regaining the position where
the rest had fallen back to.
THE EVE OF BATTLE
After this affair matters began to ge
quiet. The 23rd then moved ACROSS the
road left obliquely forward into cornfielt
about hundrend yards in advance of oul
position Just left. Here we remained in line
Of battle. Everything was as calm and
quiet as could be, except an occasional stray
Yankee or Confeder te inQpiring for hi:
command. We de ou ewes aS comfort
able as the circumstances would permit
knowing the light of the next day would
usher in one of carnage. Gen. Lees whole
army now had arrived, and Gen. Pope had
collected all his detached forces, and had
them on hand and ready to lock horns with
the Confederates on the blood stained
plains of Manassas About deybreak the
23rd was ordered to fall back We quietly
marched down the road to the point where
we had the evening before left the road
This time it was to file left again and marcf
down string of fence again. On our right
was dense piece of woods. We marched
about half or three-quarters Of q mile and
halted. This was about sunrise or LITTLE
after. We here formed our line of battle
and were ordered to lay down behind thi:
fence, for the ball had opened, and Yankee
shot and shell had begun to search for us
The lines Of battle, twas said, extended 81,
miles, and by eight o'clock in the morning
the battle was raging with terrific SPLENDID
along the whole line. Evans's Brigade wa
now together, and was held in reserve fo
the final onset when the right time came
While the brigade was in reserve we suffer
ed considerable from the fire of the FEEDER
ais in our front. We had several mel
wounded, some severely, by shells falling
about and bursting above US. About twt
o'clock we received our scant rations, con
sisting of corr bread and beet, eating l
with relish that did not need any coaxing
for it was the first we had to eat for over tw'
days. We remained in line of battle ant
reserve till about five o'clock in the evening
About this time We saw Gen. Evans ndin:
down in front Of the brigade delivering hi
order to each officer commanding regi
ment. When he reached our front he sait
to Col Benbow: Forward with your regi
mentw The order came, Forward, 23rd!
and we rose from behind the fence, leape;
over, and begau to advance. The shells wer
now bursting all around u.s. The who'll
brigade was in line of battle and began t
move at The same time. Theline of battle wa
beautiful the battle flags of the brigade prou(
ly auttering in the gentle evening breeze
COL. BENBow WOUNDED.
We moved forward with the quick step, ant
a short distance from the fence shrapne
shell from the Federal batteries bursta shor
distance in our front and few feet abov
US. Col Benbow and several others wer
wounded. Col. Benbow leaned forward
sticking the point Of his sword ID the
ground to support himself from falling, anc
said to Lieut.-Col. Roberts, Colonel, yor
must lead the regiment; am wounded.
Col. Roberts said: Forward, boys, I vii
lead you" We continued alta double quick
In our front about three hundred yards wa
a piece of woods about seventy-fve or {
hundred yards wide This woods we wer,
not long in reaching, but having reached
it our movements were little inter
rupted by limbs and brush lying quite
thick through them. We kept in very gooi
order though, and reached the opposite side
very well embodied. By the time we hac
got about halfway from where Col. Benbov
was wounded and this woods in our trout
the FIRE from the Federal batteries became
very rapid, and shell and shot were coming
from every direction in our front and burst
ing on every side ofus, and more especially
in the body of woods we were about 10 enter
GOING INTO BATTLE.
After passing through the woods we came tt
o very extensive opening, in some places q:
far as the eye could see. On reaching this
edge of the woods We came to where tho
ground was rolling or hilly reaching a
point where we had to make descent grad
ually of about eighty or a hundred yards
At this distance began an ascent about sew
enty-fve or hundred yards. At the bottom
of these two hills as they may be called was
Tub or Cub Run flowing in all its majesty
aud its waters as cold as ever. About sixty
yards from the brow of this hill in our from
was a heavy battery of artillery, consisting
as well as remember, of seven pieces, ali
bright and glittering brass guns. Along in
supporting distance of this battery was {
line of Federal infantry, stretching like 6
blue cloud across our front. Scattered on
and all over the ground and hill in front Of
the woods we had just got through were the
Federal dead and wounded. The = regi
ment n. Y. Zouaves was terribly cut to
pieces at this place, and from their numbe,