The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-10-06


tions The flag lived through bloody en-
gagements to the number of 90. The regi-
ment faced the enemy on OF fields, death
entered its ranks on IS, and the government
awarded it honors for 90 pitched cavalry
battles.
1t was an odd circumstance that the old
banner now hanging at Trenton should
miss 1--WE engagements and live through o.
and thereon hinges not little of the ro-
nance of the flag and of the valiant band
OF Jersey troopers which kept it so long
afioat. About the middle of the afternoon
OF juno q, 1869, the regiment, numbering
4Oo soldiers, trotted out on the famous
Shenandoah valley turnpike between Har-
risonburR and Port Republic in the ad-
vance of General Fremont's army. At its
head road Colonel Sir Percy Wyndham, a
veteran of three European wars, who wore
on his breast a medal for gallant deeds in
Garibaldi's army.
When the scouts and skirmishers posted
along the route warned the column that
the enemy was in force not far ahead tho
answer from Colonel Wyndham was. II
am ordered to charge any force meet"
and his followers, stirred with excitement
over the promised encounter, gripped their
drawn sabers more tightly and braced their
nerves for the crisis. The narrow road was
1nclosed by strong worm fence, and the
column marching in tours stretched O fifth
OF mile. AS the leading squadron en-
tered wood extending across the pike the
command rang out, Form platoonsl'' fol-
lowed quickly by the orders: "Gallopl
Charged! Then there was wild rush to
obey. The fence was ridden over or torn
down, and the platoons swung into battle
array as best they could to confront line
OF Ashby's cavalry and Stonewall Jack
sons infantry lying half concealed in the
wood and completely blocking the road.
Wyndham's first squadron charged down
the pike and was quickly swallowed up in
the deep ranks of Ashby's troopers. At
the same moment Juckson's infantry arose
from their hiding and poured volley into
the uniformed ranks of the Jerscymen. Sew
eral men and scores of horses were shot
down, the color bearer was endorsed, and
Colonel Wyndham and his three leading
captains, with about 40 troopers, were cut
Off from their followers and compelled to
surrender. With them went the flag The
survivors saw the hopelessness of further
attack against the enormous odds confront
ing them. They turned to reform their
ranks, but there wasn't flag, nor Il mount
ell field officer, nor squadron leader to rally
upon, and in short order the column that
had galloped forward with drawn sabers
was Keeling backward in. rout. When
they counted scars in their bvouac that
night, those novices in war were stung to
the quick to discover that the flag had
fallen trophy to the enemy.
The sequel to the Harrisonburg affair
shows that it will not do to judge n body of
new soldiers by one mishap. The Jersey
men brought out another flag, made due
nominations over it and carried it through
92 battles and skirmishes in vindication Of
their honor SO sadly luckless that June
afternoon in the valley. 1t lacked one
month of being just two years from that
date when the regiment was again trotting
along Virginia turnpike in advance of q
corps d'armee to clear the way for the
march of infantry to battle. 1t was in the