The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-06-14

of the little mountain, and on this road the
rebels brought two pieces of artillery and
placed them on the rising ground on our
left, where they could enfilade Our regiment,
few rods away.
| While we were quietly resting, not sus-
pecting any danger, they discharged one OF
their guns, the shot passing over our line
without doing any damage or in juring man,
and then another shot in quick succession,
| but before the second shot we had grabbed
our guns and were rushing pel-mell to the
rear to get behind the stone wall for pro-
| lection.
Our artillery, stationed at the head Of our
regiment, instantly opened fire, and the dis
charge of two shots killed five of the horses
of the rebel battery, and if any of the men
were wounded do not know but, disabled
as they were, they got away in hurry. We
recovered from our hapless surprise behind
the stone fence free from any serious mis-
hap.
1t is not my purpose here to make any
| undue structures upon the conduct of the
| command, but / must say that it would
have been much more creditable to their
valor and heroism had they formed ranks
and faced their assailants, and given them
volley of musketry, instead of stampeding.
But they were startled and surprised at the
daring conduct of the enemy, and took a
mental view of the idea that it was better
to be living towards than dead heroes.
The enemy having disappeared with their
disabled, disordered pieces, and order re-
stored in the command, we moved our loca-
tion to the roadside further TO the rear. We
suffered no other misfortune in the regiment
than the severe shock given to our nerves
| by the mentioned unsupported assault. The
| battle ceased as the sun went down behind
the range of the Blue Ridge Mountains in
the west. We held possession of the field,
| with the dead unburied on both sides,
though to which side belongs the victory
remains undecided.
The enemy retreated to the south side of
the Rapidan. Early next morning it began
to rain, and copious shower fell during
the forenoon, and then the sun came out in
whitening rays after the rain ceased. l
took stroll alone over a part of the grounds
around the foot of the mountain, where
many of the d. ad were lying, distributed
| over the field and in the roads where they
had fallen, for no burying detail had made
their appearance.
noticed that their skins were blackened
by the hot rays of the August sun, so that
/ was not sure but they were negroes till
l read the labels pinned to their clothes.
Their bodies were terribly swelled, and
their limbs drawn into awkward shapes, all
together presenting horrible aspects.
Among the slain on that field l saw the
dead bodies of several CANNES, those quad
rupeds so faithful TO man. that had sacri-
feed their lives, allured by the rattle of
musketry into chase after phantoms.
1t is unnecessary for me to say that l was
in no position to know much about any stra-
tegic movements of troops. We bivouacked
In our dOg-tents for nearly week in the
neighbOrhood, till Lees army was reinforced,
as he was making an attempt to crush Pope
before McClellan's forces could be brought
10 his relief from the James River az was
expected; and without the help of McClel-
lan's army Pope considered his force too
weak to occupy line so far away from his
base of supplies and fell back TO The Kappa
hammock. Our brigade consisting, beside
our regiment, of the 56th Pa, the 10Th and
95th n. Y, in command of Brig Gen. l..
Cutler, marched for Kely's Ford.
Stopping awhile in the vicinity of Stevens
burg, the Sutler of the 14th Brooklyn (Zou-
aves) pitched his tent to sell his supplies;
but the order came to move, and before he
could pack up a squad of rebel cavalry made
dash and captured all his stores.
I was at a point where I saw at short
distance part of the operations. The cav
airy was soon routed and left, their presence
being the only intimation that there was
any rebel force on our side of the river; but
ubiquity was marked characteristic with
Jackson.
We reached the Rappahannock, waded
the river at Kelly's Ford in the evening,
and went into camp in the little valley, with
our artillery posted on the hill along the
river bank. Here, after night, went on a
foraging expedition in company with one of
my command. We were successful, captur-
ing stand of honey and shooting pig on
a plantation close by, and carried them with
much tribulation to camp. We had an ex-
citing adventure that night. The excitant
agent in the affair was young damsei on
watch over the family p;g-pen close to the
house. She would run to the house and
shout, Mother, the pig is there" till finally
the pig was stolen, when she changed her
speech, and shouted, Mother, the pig is
gone" Her words were truly pathetic.
1t was sad less to the family, for the
country was almost cleaned out of stock and
provisions, and soon the citizens had to
leave and take refuge in Richmond, or else
be conscripted into the rebel army But
such is the misfortunes of war, and doubt
less many of the bitter secesh women of that
hoJ Vouio uO w CuuuIc 4ihO
hardships In devotion to their cause.
gorged myself with my stolen eatables,
and the next day was too much indisposed
to join the ranks, and thereby came near
falling into the clutches as prisoner of war
when Stewards cavalry captured Pope's
Headquarters, near Catlett's Station, the
night of the 22d of August. That night
was on duty as cattle-guard at Bristoe Sta
ton. 1t rained in torrents, and was as dark
as Erebus that night when the rebels made
the charge and burned the wagon-train and
captured the army cattle. l was off my
relief and had spread my blanket on the
upper floor in an old house On the railroad
side, near little run.-ELLIoTT WINsCorr,
127 Amy ST., Syracuse, N. Y.
DEFEN Sc OF THE GENERAL.
One of Nelson's Cavalry" Speaks Good
W0rdS