Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-27

GENERAL JANE
that General johnson was mistaken. and
that we were about 20 stir up hornets
nest OF Federal infantry.
1t turned out that this private soldiers
reconnaissance on his own hook had been
more reliable than the major generals.
for we were soon engaged with the whole
OF French's corps. The entire division
had TO be brought to our support, AMI
the battle was long and obstinate, ter
mir ating only with the coming OF night.
and with heavy loss on both sides.
This combat is known az the battle OF
Payne's Farm. and was brought on I'M
expectedly to both General Lee and Gene
raj Meade. by reason Of French's corps
having taken the wrong road, and, coming
out on the road on which Johnson's d.
vision was marching four or Ave miles
further to the right thar IT was intended,
IL should.
DROVE THE ENEMY BACK.
At the second battle OF Manassas, on
the afternoon OF the 10Th Of August.
Early's brigade was ordered to support
a. i. Hill, whose gallant men had borne
the heat and burden OF the day on the
left OF Jackson's Corps. who had repulsed
attack after attack. and when their
ammunition was exhausted had held their
ground apd fought with stones; but at
last were forced back from their position
along the abandoned railroad. EaTly's
men moved forward at a double-quick,
and without a moments pause. retook
the railroad cut and embankment, from
which Hill had withdraw. driving the
enemy back "peII-mell." At the point
where my regiment Cthe Thirteenth Vir-
ginia) struck the cut II was perhaps
twenty feet deep, and as / reached the
top on our side the enemy was disap-
pearing on the other, and our boys
dashed after them. Just as | was staning
to follow down into the cut General Early
rode up, hat In hand. and shouted above
the On OF the rebel yen: Colonel, stop
the men In the cut; don't let them 20
further" Running across the cut as far
as / could / seized my color-bearer as
he reached the top OF the bank on the
cnemy's aide. and ordered him to stand
where he was, and rallied quite a squad
OF my men around him. Then turning
from them TO halt others, ] found that
nearly the whole brigade had disappeared
In the woods in the direction the enemy
had fled, and that my own color-bearer
and the squad / had rallied around him
had also disappeared. and General Early
and myself were alone with the dead and
wounded.
COULD NOT STOP THEM.
! shouted across the cut TO General
Early: II can't stop them" He stormed
back, LET them go. then: damn them:
let them 60" This conclusion seemed
eminently wise and proper under the cir
cunstances, since they had already gone
clear out Of sight In the woods
/ followed on, and a quarter of q mile
In front l found them In line along the
far edge of the wood; while in their
la ora L., f,.n
was massed a whole field full OF the
enemy's reserves. After enjoying this
war,like display for short while I
moved the brigade back 10 the cut, where
they lay on their arms all night and
slept before the big fight OF the next
day, when Longstreet on the right and
Jackson on the left doubled up the wings
of Pope's army like the legs of pair
Of dviders
THE FREDERICKSBURG FIGHT.
At Fredericksburg in December 1862,
] was in command OF Early's brigade,
and A. p Hi was again in our front.
Gregg's brigade of Hills division was
posted along the railroad with its left
flank resting on a swamp supposed TO
be impossible for troops, but the enemy
found a path through 1t, attacked Gregg
In flank. killing him. and routing his
command Early's brigade was ordered
forward, met the victorious enemy adj
Vancing, drove hirl back. ara Ie-..sta o.
lished the front line along the railroad
at the edge of the wood. IN front of
| the brigade and for two or three miles
| up and down. extending back to the Rap
| paeannOck river, was spread out a great
| plain, on which was mustered the whole
OF Burnside's army. and a grand sight
II was.
''rwere worth ten years Of peaceful life
TO look on their arrayp
WERE EAGER TO FIGHT.
But this wariike array seemed to DOS
sees no terrors for the little handful OF
| soldiers composing Early's brigade, for
| IL was with difficulty taey could be in
| duced to stop the pursuit at the railroad.
and privates Joined with officers in appeal
| ing TO me to let them march out into
the plain and attack the enemy, 1t would
have been madness TO do so, but the bril-
gade had up 10 that time, never suffered
! defeat, and the men believed they were
! invincible. They were as near invincible
/ as mortal men could be. and they would
| have confidently marched into that open
| plain into the very jaws OF death II they
| had been permitted TO do so. A year later
| they were as brave as ever but they had
learned from experience and were less
rash. They would have stili marched out
into that plain and attacked Burnside's
whole army Il they had been command
ed to do 80. but they would have known
when the order was given, that some one
had Numbered"
CAUGHT By HIGH WATER.
! l could FIJI a hook with such remf.
| niscences. but space will allow but one
more. In August. 1851, when Stonewal
jackson began his famous march 10 the
| rear Of Pope's army, he marched up the
| Rappahannock river. and on Friday after
| noon reached a point opposite Warren
| ton Springs. As the enemy had no troops
ON the opposite bank. 1t was decided to
| cross. and Early's brigade being in adj
vance. waded the shallow stream a mile
! or two below the springs. and bivouacked
! on the north bank of the stream. Du-
ring the night II rained 10 torrents, and
| by daylight the little river was raging
! angry stream, impossible for men OF
| horses. The enemy received information
| that Jackson had thrown portion OF his
| force across the river. and early Satur.
! day morning commenced moving troops
| up the river 10 confront his adversary
This single Confederate brigade thus cul
| or from all hope OF retreat or reinforce
ments. seemed doomed 10 be captured,
But small creek which united its waters
| with the river just below Early's position,
| and between his troops and the ad-
yanclng column Of tho enemy was also
swollen BY the rains. and rendered i'm
| passable for infantry. and this delayed the
| advance all the forenoon.
PRESENTED A BOLD FRONT.
In the afternoon they crossed the creek
| and adyapesti in heavy force. Fortu-
uateiy, General Pope believed that the
whole Of Jackson's corps was across the
river and Immediately In his front. and the
Confederate troops BY presenting a bold
front and showing themselves at as
many points as possible kept up the
deception and the afternoon Of Saturday
was wasted BY the Federal commander in