The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-04

ever knew, was killed at the head of his
men. and his brigade had been CONSOLE
dated with that of Hayes On the right
or Hayes came J. M. Jones' brigade. COM
manded by Colonel Witcher, their brave
leader having also fallen in battle at the
same time General Stafford was killed.
On the right OF the Louisianans came the
brigade of George II. Stewart. The posi-
ton thus taken by Johnston's division
was such as the fortune OF battle gave II.
IL was determined for us by the enemy.
more than by our own choosing. and FORM
ed a sharp salient not far from the right
OF Jones brigade. have frequently heard
the Confederate engineers censured for
allowing this salient In the lines. but as
l have shown already they had nothing
to do with forming the line. and as / will
show hereafter. II had nothing to do with
the disaster which happened to john
ston's division on the 18th.
Soon after the division was In line night
came on. and skirmishers were thrown
out and quiet reigned, but IL was the
hush which precedes the tornado. Tired
and worn out as the soldiers were there
was no rest for them that night.
The greater part of the line OF the
division was along the outer edge uhe
edge next to tho enemy Of a body OF
fine oak timber. As soon as night put an
were sent for, and along the whole line
through the night the men worked like
beavers, and the crash OF falling trees,
the ring Of axes, and the sound OF the
spade and shovel were heard. Trees were
felled and piled upon each other. and a
ditch dug behind them with the earth out
OF 1t thrown against the logs The limbs
and tops Of the trees as cut off from the
trunks were used TO form abattis by
placing them in front of the breast works
with the sharpened points towards the
enemy.
By daylight next morning a very fer
midable line OF Notifications frowned
upon the foe, and our troops rested
quietly and confident Of victory should
the enemy attack them. Between the
morning OF the 9th and the morning Of the
18th this line of breastworks was much
strengthened and became one of the very
best lines OF temporary field works ever
saw. IL was apparently impregnable.
Just behind the intrenched line OF infan-
try artillery was placed at the most
eligible points, to sweep the approaching
enemy with shot and shell and canister.
a description Of the ground In front Of
the Confederate troops at this point will
serve TO explain the situation more fully.
Just in front OF Ramseur's position there
was a cleared and open space for two or
three hundred yards. Then came dense
forest OF pine timber with the limbs hang
ing down TO the ground, shutting off all
view OF the interior.
The enemy's skirmishers occupied the
edge OF the forest, nearest Ramseurs
line and kept up a spirited fire at short
range, which compelled his men TO keep
close behind their breastworks. on Ram
seur's right, In front Of the Stonewall
brigade, the pine forest was much less
dense, and did not approach so near our
line while our skirmishers were pushed
into the timber, and the enemy's Skin
mishers were kept at a safe distance.
Opposite the right of the Stonewall bril-
gade the timber which came so close TO
their front terminated or gave out. and
in front of the Louisiana brigade and
Jones brigade there was a broad plateau.
an old field without timber or obstruction
of any kind extending for six or eight
hundred yards. Then the ground descend
ed into a rather deep hollow or ravine
covered with oak timber. which belt OF
tinker extended much further beyond,
and was filed with the enemy's troops.
The skirmshers from Hayes and Jones
brigades were posted in this timbered ra-
vine one thousand yards In front of the
breastworks.
All day on the 9th we were left I'm
quiet. and on the 10th nothing excited sus-
plcion until after the hour Of noon. when
the enemy slSirmishers in the edge of the
pine forest In front OF Ramseur became
particularly active and spiteful, and muf-
fled sounds began 10 issue from the I'M
seen recesses OF the wood which were
suspicious. and 1t was believed that the
enemy was massing there for an attack.
This was reduced TO a certainty later
in the afternoon. when in an instant a
column of the enemy rushed out from
among the pines and dashed swiftly
across the intervening space between them
and Ramseur. Ramseur's men were
ready, and poured a deadly volley into
them. but the blue lines did not falter.
and before our men could reload they
were on the works. Our men used the
bayonets, but were driven back. and the
blue coats. with three cheers and a tiger
given in regular hip hip! hUrrahl style.
moved on in pursuit. The two regiments
on the left OF the Stonewall brigade had
poured an oblque fire on the foe as they
advanced. and after the works were car
ried were drawn back and formed at
right angles TO the breastworks, from
which position they delivered a MUIR
derous fire into the flank of the enemy
after they crossed the line.
The triumph Of the victors was OF short
duration, for soon Ramseur's retiring line
was reinforced. and In turn the enemy
was driven back pell nell at a double
quick. and as they recrossed our works
and the open space 10 seek the friendly
gloom of the pine forest they had few
moments before left in such gallant array.
they were shot down until the ground
was covered with their dead and wound
ed. Ramseurs lines were restored and
there were no further demonstrations
.E..l.N
18th was damp and misty with dense
fog resting on the ground
During the night II was reported 10
General Lee that the enemy was again
Withdrawing from his front, and prepar-
ing to make another flank movement
To meet this the artillery was at once
withdrawn from the front and placed In
readiness 10 march at early dawn. Only
two guns OF Carrington's battery were
left 20 support Johnston's division.
Before it became light enough 10 dis
tngushed objects, the rapid firing OF
our skirmishers I'm the wooded ravine
in front OF the centre OF Johnston's line
gave notice that the enemy was advanc-
ing, and the heavy tramp OF large body
OF infantry and the sharp words Of COM
mand could be distinctly heard. Very
soon our skirmishers came falling back.
firing as they came, and announced what
we already knew, that heavy column
was advancing TO the attack. our men
were all up and ready for them with their
muskets cooked. peering through the
gloom for the first glimpse Of their foes.
For several moments, which seemed very
much longer TO the anxious and expectant
Confederates, no enemy came in sight:
but the tramp Of armed men drew nearer.
and the commands OF their officers
sounded more distinctly.
The enemy. consisting OF Hancock's
corps formed In columns OF brigades had