The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-09-07

upon those long lines of men. Numbers
were continually falling. Some were seen
laboriously crawling to the rear, and still
others were groaning and shrieking in the
agonies of death.
"a rebel color-bearer standing behind a
tree just at the corner of the woods in front
of US, waved his flag defantly, then made a
dash for tree which stood about five PAGES
out in the field. Scores fired at him as he
ran, and he passed the tree as he fell, riddled
with bullets. A dozen comrades with loud
yell ran out to secure the colors, but none
returned. Another squad dashed ont on the
same errand, and they, too, fell.
Loud shouts went mp from our lines, and
the men loaded more rapidly to be in readi-
ness for the next who made the attempt
Soon the third squad leaped for the fallen
banner, but only one ever reached It, He
held it aloft to allow the breeze to unfold
and flaunt it in our sight just as / raised my
gun to shoot. AS 1 fired there must have
been dozen other guns cracked down the
line, and once more the battle-stained
emblem of treason fell to the ground.
Another cheer long and loud went up from
our lines, and during the lull someone yelled,
Go get your - old rag, why don't yep
No further attempt was made, however,
TO secure it till after dark.
During the progress of the battle Jack
son sent two brigades to our left to flank US,
but Gen. Geary confronted and repulsed
them with severe loss. A 1snking force
was next sent to the right, but Gen. Cor
dons boys, ever on the alert and rife for
business, were there, and after giving them
a few volleys tried them with the bayonet,
and not being disposed to stand Yankee
steel backed by genuine Yankee grit they
retreated hastily.
Gen. TaliaferrO then ordered a charge
upon the center of our line, held by Craw-
ford's (First) Brigade, and on came the
rebels yelling and screeching like so many
devils, and firing rapidly as they advanced.
Stand firm, my brave soldiers!' were the
words that came up the line from the gallant
Crawford
"The rebels advanced to within so PAGES,
when we received the command to fire,
and as
OUR ENFIELDS FLASHED
one third the charging line went down.
The remainder halted and seemed to ponder
whether it were best to advance farther.
Their officers yelled and cursed savagely, but
another volley from our muskets decided
them, and they turned and fed. Thus in
more than a dozen places they endeavored
TO break our lines, but their desperate
assaults were repulsed on every occasion.
Gen. McDoweiIs First Brigade materi-
ally aided us in repulsing their last charge,
which was made just at dark. Gen. Nc
Dowell had marched his army hurriedly the
entire day, but being so far away in the
morning be could not reach us in time to be
of much use. He formed his lines one mile
in our rear, and we fell back, leaving the
sanguinary field in JacksOn's possession. l
never understood why he did not come up
and form line where we were, so our wounded
could be protected, as he had more men than
Jackson.
"The following day Stonewall Jackson
sent flag of truce, requesting an armistice
of sufficient duration to enable him to bury
his dead.
"The truce was granted, but the heartless
Jackson, instead of burying his brave dead,