The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-02-04
|. What contributed to their, casualties

was the bursting of one of their guns, and
by this accident their loss was made great
er. After the difficulty at this place was
over we were soon on the march again. The
Federals in their retreat and to further i'm
pede our advance, burned the bridge behind
them. The burning of the bridge compell-
ed us to march several miles to place we
could ford the river We forded the Rap
pahannock and Rapidan rivers, and were
soon in the wake of the retreating Feder-
ais. In few days after the affair on the
Rappabannock we began to near the plains
of Manassas. On Thursday evening about
o'clock We were in hearing of the guns.
Gen. Jackson was then unpleasantly enter
tanning the Yankees at Thoroughfare Gap.
Gen. Pope it seems attempted to check the
advance of the jubilant Confederates at this
place. and failing to do so continued to fall
back to Manassas. On the morning OF Aug
29th about sunrise we reached Thoroughfare
Gap, and the first or about the first things
we began to see was deal Federal soldiers.
We continued our march, and oil through
the gap saw dead Federal soldiers. After
getting through the gap we continued our
march, and for some distance saw dead Fed
eral soldiers. Along their line of retreat
guns and cartridge boxes were thrown aside
to Tighten their load as much as possible,
for the Rebel devils were close on their
heels. The 23rd was now making good time,
and about the middle of the day reached a
point IN hearing of. the guns at Manassas.
Gen. Pope now concluded to stop retreating
and give battle. We pushed forward, and
just as we were in a short distance of the
battle field We were halted and Col Benbow
was ordered to about face with his regiment
and march with all speed to little town in
our rear (the name I 5are forgotter) and
prevent the Federnls from capturing it. It
was reported that a body of Federals had
been detached and sent round to capture
this place. After marching about q mile
back we were ordered to about face again
about and commenced our march back, and
again it began to be exciting, for the artil-
lery on both sides was booming and the
rattle of musketry could be distinctly heard.
We pushed forward with quick step, and
began to meet prisoners being brought in
squads to the rear under guard. Keeping
the road We soon reached a point where it
was necessary to leave the road. At certain
point the 23rd was ordered to file left and
take through strip of woods. After get
ting in the woods Col. Benbow gave the
order halt. The next order was fix bayo-
nents, then forward We marched about
hundred yards in these woods alongside Of
fence which was on our right until we
reached an open field. Here Col. Benbow
gave the order: "Front! right shoulder
shift, arms double quick, march !" We
obeyed the orders promptly and moved for
ward. We cleared the fence in frontin good
order, and just as we cleverly cleared the
fence we received amid our ranks dis
charge of grape shot from battery station
ed on a hill little right obliquely Of our
front. This fire raked the ground in our
front and struck the fence in our rear with
terrible rattle, but, strange to say, we sus-
tanned no casualties from it. We continued
at double Quick to capture this battery.
ROUTING BATTERY.
Our speed was, however, impeded by
stream called Tub OF Cub Run (Which was
its right name cannot now remember) On
too wide for US to jump it. The water was
very cold and about waist deep. We were
not long in reaching the opposite bank of
the run, and after clearing the run we NOV
ed forward across the same road we had left
on ming Ie1l lnIO OF through Lne WOODS al
ready mentioned. By the time we reached
this road the Federals abandoned this posi-
ton and taking their battery fell back. On
reaching the road we moved across it and
reformed our line Of battle, We having be
come little disorganized in getting over
the run already spoken of. The position Of
the 23rd was now on the right Of the road.
On the left of the road was formed in line
of battle Texas Brigade, which was NOV
ing in our rear to support our regiment.
These dispositions of the troops to form on
the right and left of the road was made to
ptotect them from the fire of the enemy.
1t was thought the enemy would bring their
batteries to bear on this road and rake it
with grape shot. After We were all so ar
ranged it began to near night. We we're
quietly in position now, not knowing what
would be the next order. The fire Of the
troops on both sides had about ceased, with
the exception of random rifle or musket
shot fired in some distant part Of the field.
To be concluded next week.