Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-26
nELDON LIKE HEROES
The Maiden Battle Of tie TEenty-ElShth
North Carolina State Troops.
RAW SOLDIERS MEYER WAYERED.
Charged Until Recalled-The March to Tay-
lorsviiIc-Thc Way They Fooled the
Yaukees-A stiff Drink.
Correspondence OF the Charlotte On. c.
Obacrver)


vile. 1t remained there and at Rapidan
Station only short time. when 1t was
ostenslbly ordered TO Join Jackson IN
the Valley. From the foot Of the Blue
Ridge, before IL had crossed the noun
tans It was moved TO Hanoved Court
house. On the 26th Of May 1t was
marched through mud and rain 10 SLASH
Church" The Twenty-elghth North
Carolina Regiment, Of this brigade, had
IN 1t "many recruits just recovered from
the diseases incident to the commencement
OF camp life" Latham's Battery had re-
ported TO General Branch from North
Carolina the evening before the brigade
left Hanover Courthouse with only hair
enough men for the efficient service OF
the guns, and with horses entirely I'M
trained
on Tuesday morning, the 9th OF May
General Branch sent Colonel James ii.
Lane with the Twenty eighth Regiment
and a section Of Lathams Battery unoer
Lieutenant j. r. Potts. all wet and hun
cry, to Taliaferro's Minis TO capture II
possible, "A reported narauding party.
Finding no one at the mills. and II beng
reported that the enemy were advancing
on the Old-Church road 20 Hanover
Courthouse, Lane retraced ms steps
marching left In 'front.' having taken inc
prccautionsto throw out fankers ana ah
advanced guard.
FIRED on THEM
On reaching the pine thicket In front
OF Dr. Kinneys a squad OF five or SIX
Yankees stepped into the road, and our
advance guard fired on them. Colonel
Lane. suspecting an ambush, halted ms
regiment at once and faced 1t by the
rear rank. P'ding down the line. ne toli
the non 20 remember the counties from
which they hailed and reminded them
that the eyes OF all North Carolina Ve1e
on them. Then followed one OF those
clear and ringing orders so peculiar to
the Colonel and 50 familiar TO his men,
and the line. swinging around handsome
Nv, swept calamity through the thicket
driving a Massachusetts regiment before
f. Reaching the main road in front or
kidneys. ii was found that the twenty
ffth New York Regiment was concealed
in the field OF standing wheat and behind
the dwelling and out-houses: and the
order 10 charge was promptly given.
Yelling some of the men leaped the
ditch and high fence. and flushed the
enemy In the wheat in real partridge
hunting style. while the rest rushed
through the yard, where some OF tho en-
envy, from behind the houses. displayed
white haudkerchiefs on the bayOnets Of
their guns. More prisoners were cap
tured than could be held under the cir
cumstances. About seVenty-hve were
sent to The rear In charge Of a small body
Of cavalry from the Fourth Virginia
Regiment. which was returning from the
Mills IL was not until the Twenty
eighth had swept nearly across the wheat
field ana we're subjected q a severe en-
hllde artillery fire that they were aware
they had almost annihilated the Twenty
fifth New York Regiment in front o.
Nartindale's Brigade drawn up in line Of
battle ana supported by two batteries.
Colonel Lane fastened to recall his rcgi-
Inent. and he reformed il in the open field
on the opposite side Of Or. Kidneys
dwelling In this movement the flag
bearer was shot down. but onc Of his
comrades 3eized the colors and took his
place Here the men, heated and excited.
threw of heir knapsacks and blanl;ets.
made heavier than usual ~ the rain Of
the night previous.
OPENED BRIsKLY.
The two guns 4 Latham's Battery.
uncer Lieutenant J Is. took a cImaand-
iug position near tie centr. ot the line.
and opened a brisk al weil-drected fire.
Potts mounted The icr.e each time 70
watch the effects Of tn shells. and clapped
his hands ana cheered 5.s men whenever
any of those missiles Ma .neir mission. At
one Of his pieces one morse was killed and
thu other three wera badly wounded.
Company II. under Captain w. J. Mont
gomery. was sent out to watch our right,
and Captain George Il. Johnston, with a
part Of Company q, volunteered % watch
the left 1t was then that Lane gent his
! commissar Captain Nick GiOb0n.
| brother Of General John Gibbon, of The
| Federal army, TO Genera. Branch for rein
forcements ana 20 let lin know that we
had been cut of. Al the Same time he
/ encouraged his men by telling them that
We would soon have Mortindal" between
two fires; and when Branch's guns opened
/ they made the weikn ring with their
/ yells. Lane did not know then what an
+ overwhelming force of Infantry. artillery,
/ and cavalry, under General FitzJohn
; Porter. was between him and his general
THREE HOURS.
! This unequal contest was maintained
! for three long hours. in expectation OF
assistance; and when Lane found that
/ the enemy was trying 10 envelop his r'sht,
! he was forced to retire and leave the T.
! pound brass hJw.tZer on the field. Ex
posel tn whole Of The previous night
70 Il dr,nchiug rain without tents and
without food, having marched over hor-
! ribe muddy road and having fought
! braveiy for such "a length of time, the
men were not in condition TO retreat
/ before such a superior force; and yet, the
/ infantry cheerlully helped to pull Potts )
/ gun ont OF numerous mud-holes until we
/ reached Hanover Courthouse. on reach
ing ST. Paurs Episcopal church. where
the road forks, DR.. John Fontaine. Of
. a-tt n
ard a born scout, dashed up, and advised
Colonel Lane not to take the LETT fork.
, wnich led t. Ashland, and at the same
time pointed to the enemy's artillery,
posted on a Commanding hill near the
railroad. and told him that the infantry,
I in force. were making for this road be-
/ yJnd. Where does this road ieady'
asked Lane. pointing to the right fork.
/ "TO Tayl0rsviIe' was the reply. well.
! viii take it. Good-by, Johnnie. II you
/ get back safe. let General Branch know
that / am all right thus far ana am
making for Taylorsvile" And thus part
ed those two friends, not knowing that
they would ever see each other again.
"ALL RIGHT. COLONEL"
When crossing the railroad in Wick
! hams bottom Lane learned that 4 large
, body Of cavalry wGs still after him, and
/ made his men leave the road to take ad-
/ vantage Of the Cross fences. At the point
in The dirt road where 1t wound around
a thin strip OF woods. Lane turned his
regiment oye- 10 Lieutenant Colonel
Thomas L. Lowe, with ORDERS 10 keep
his men closed. and 10 move as rapidly
IS possible 10 Taylorsville. Then turn
/ ing 10 Potts he said: Lieutenant. unlim-
b-r your sun in the middle Of the road.
, intend to risk losing il TO save my regl-
/ meat" Potts Instantly replied: "All
I right. Colonel, l am mere TO obey your
1 orders. l hated 10 leave the other piece.
but it was not our fault II this one goes
/ 40. too. l know you will make IL all
I right" III this piece goes UP. you and
/ viii both 30 up with it," was Lane
answer. when the enemy's cavalry APP
pcared on the opposite Hill and saw that
one gun, IT was a Parrot, unlimbered
in the middl. Of the road and pointing
toward them, tay began TO form line OF
battle. 1T is working" said Lane.
"Splendldly" replied Potts. Lane added:
! "ReInain mere on your horse In the mid
die OF ,hs road. and make your men
lounge about carelessly and scuffe with
each other in front Of your piece while
! l ride behind the woods to look after
your concealed infantry support" None
! OF US bad ever seen large body of
cavalry before. ard some OF the Uen ex-
l .ook feilou,z ala yc,,