The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-06

he had formed six gun SQUADS
and was sending she'll after shell into
their broken ranks, completing their rout
and fastening their retreat. Right here an
absurd incident occurred, which goes to
show that no situation may be SO terrible or
tragic but it may have a comic side to IT,
In leaping over the earthworks, a young
lieutenant discovered large pot of boiling
coffee on one OF the camp fires, rot ready
doubtless, for some pickets early breakfast.
Well, coffee was more than
scarce with US. He was ex-
cited and thirsty, and the chance TO get a
good drink of real coffee was a TEMPTATION
he could not resist, so he sprang over and
seized the pot, took huge swallow and
scalded the tongue and roof Of his mouth out
OF his head. Just then general officer gal
loped up and cried: "W hatre2irnent is this?n
"Hell fire and damnstionl' screamed the
agonized officer. sputterlng out the hot coffee.
The general stared. but, taking In the situa-
ton, rode off, laughing and saying: "a very
good name for your regiment, indeed"
The enemy, now thoroughly alarmed,
evacuated the trenches right and left OF us,
and commenced retreating toward Win
chester, closely pursued by our advancing
columns leaving 1000 prisoners, twenty
one guns and commissary and quartermaster
stores innumerable in our hands. These last
we're so valuable and so badly needed by US
that an undue number OF our officers and
men remained behind to look after them,
leaving little over one-half the forcs VINO
remained faithful to the colors to pursue the
enemy into the open country, thus reveal
ing our weakness and paving the way for
the disasters of the evening. The day was
advancing, the heat increasing, and the
men, under the tremendous exertions they
we're making, having driven the enemy
over six miles over rough country, were
rapidly becoming wearied and faint. The
enemy nowhere made stand against u.s.
but their masses seemed to cover the whole
country IN our front, retiring sulleniy,
but in some order, gradually before our adj
vance. Away in their rear could be seen
tho moro panic-strioken fugttives streaming
toward Winchester and spreading the
alarm and news OF their defeat. o, for the
power to have dispatched strong force of
cavalry Co have taken up the pursuit. aud a
wise head to have stopped our advance, and
we could have retired gloriously to our
stronghold at Fishers Gap, carrying With
us our hard-won spoils Gen. Early would
have added the brightest chaplet to his
crown, aud the enemy, discouraged and
crippled by the terrible blow, would have
gwen up the valley and retired across the
Potomac. But 1t WAS not TO be so. Our
troops were halted at noon for needed rest.
Our cavalry were diminishing afar on
the TANKS and barely holding their own
Gen. Sheridan. aroused by the startling
news Of disaster and ruin, at morn was GAL
Looping toward the front trying TO stem aud
turn the mass of fdgitives. "Come back,
men,n he cried, "and form line. | don't
want you to fight; only want to let you
see the Fifth corps fight" Before he ar
rived, however, among his troops, Gen.
Wright, having reoonnoitered our position
as we lay at rest and noted the small pur-
suing force, arrested the retreat threw the
Sixth corps, which he commanded, into
line. on which he rallied the other retreat
ing forces, ana advanced to the attack. This
we checked by one voley, their men break
ing for the corner Of the woods Ia front
Their cavalry in the meantime had forced
ours back, uncoverinG our TANKS, and were
moving In large force toward our rear.
Evans brigade on the left, fearing capture.