Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-07-13


ment, in cooperation with Gems. Crook and
Averill. from Kanawha, upon Staunton and
Lynchburg, as their objective points
l was at New Market, with out-posts at
Woodstock when Hunter slowly began his
march the last week in May. at once made
the most earnest appeals to Gen. Lee for help,
representing my inability with 1000 men to
prevent the junction at Staunton, of Hunter,
Crook and Averiil with combined force of
over $4,000 men. Gen. Lee replied that he
could not spare a regiment, not even nv own
noble end to help me-directed me to call
out again all the reserves of the Valley,
Gold men, boys and detailed men in the shops,
FORCES, Sc, at Quarter-master ard Commissa-
ry posts), and to at once telegraph Generals
Sam. and VIM E. Jones, in South West Virgin
ia to come to my aid, saying i'll conclusion that
he would send them orders to forward to me
by rail every available man; and that in the
meantime, | must, at ali ha ards and to the
last extremity, resist Hunters advance
up the Valley till this help reached me, when
we must drive him back and then turn and
confront Crook and Averill and drive them
back from the Valley.
This was the situation. and hese were my
OlO0Ao3 WHOH vi U.iC lSt VI outt, 1ODt, my lIU-
tie band of not over / 600 brave and noble
men-mounted ON lean and jaded horses-was
driven out of New Market, and to Lacy
Springs, where we camped for the night. On
the second we were driven back through Har-
risonburg and to Mount Crawford, where
decided to contest the passage of the river,
and to that end, had trees cut into all the
fords, and mounted a heavy gun OF two, sent
me from Staunt0n, on heights commanding
the bridge and fords
1t was vital to preserve nv devoted men
from capture, as a nucleus for the reinforce
ments hoped for, and therefore l could offer
little resistance to Hunters army in the open
Valley, for Stahl's 800 Cavalry were ever
present and ready to flank and envelope nv
little band of followers. Occasionally we
could, and did, make stand and check them.
till flanked when there was no help for it.
but to fall back rapidly
On the night Of the End of June, | took up
my Head Quarters at Mrs. Robt Grattan's,
that matron who, as we'll as her three daugh-
tiers, would have done honor to Rome in her
palmest days. The Augusta reserves and a
few from Rockingham Joined me there. and [
also received telegram from Gen. VIM. e.
Jones that he was at Lynchburg, on his way
by rail, with 5000 men to join me. On the
5rd, these troops began to arrive in small de-
taciiihents, having marched on foot from
Staunton, II miles. Fortunately for us, Hun
ter made little progress that day, remaining
at Harffsonburg, and sending out scouting
parties OF cavalry, with whom some of my
men had several trifling conflicts, when they
pnaDonG ta mo- nJ,t No Le;l &
where kept the gallant 18th regiment on
duty all day to observe the enemy's move
ments.
To MY dismay learned from officers in
command OF the detachments arriving, that
no large organiseS body Of troops was on it's
way to join me, except Vaughan's small Ten
nessee brigade of cavalry Jones had cleaned
out the hospitals from Lynchburg to Bristol
OF conyaiescents, and gathered them together
with the depot guards along the railroad, ag-
gfegating all told less than 2,200 men. The
Largest organization was no more than a bat
.talion-not single complete regiment was
coming on-except as stated Vaughan's bri-
sade of about 500 men. Mostly they
panies During the day they all ar
AiNSNf oliet III tliO GfCuluS L OIubT6u GIGlr
various commanding officers to report to me in
person. Quitea crowd of these assembled,
all strangers to me, and many strangers to
each other from Southwest Virginia and
East Tennessee. l obtained lists of their re-
spective commands, and had a roster of the
officers made by Capt. Frank B. Berkeley,
my accomplished Adjutant General Colo
nels Jones and Brown of Southwest Virginia,
whose christian names l fail to remember,
were found to be the officers of highest rank
present. OF each of these 1 improvsed a
Brigadier, and with Capt Berkeley to assist
set them to work to divide the numerous small
bodies of men between them, as nearly equal
in number as possible, so as to form two
small brigades, for themselves, respectively
to command. In few hours during the
night this work was done, when ordered the
two Brigadiers pro TEN to aggregate their
men and complete the organization by form
ing regiments and battalions. About 10
o'clock that night Colonies Jones and Brown
reported their brigades organized as directed,
and were formally assigned to their respec-
tive commands.
Perhaps at no time during the war were
such heterogeneous materials brought togeth-
er so suddenly and compacted into harmoni-
GUS and obedent bodies of troops. l have
often thought this incident proved most strik-
ingly the devoted patriotism of our Confeder
ate soldiers. Here, without acquaintance
with each other, in the face of the enemy, and
a desperate battle impending at any moment
with overwhelming odds, some 1920 men and
officers without mumur of objection accepted
the situation, and with alacrity stepped into
ranks and touched elbows with strangers.
and obeyed orders FROM to them, unknown
and unfamiliar lips. 1t was an instance of
sublime devotion to their country, unsur-
passed solar as l know during the war, and
deserving to be held in everlasting remem-
brances by us, as personal honor to each
and every one of the officers and men, who
thus behaved, in the face of an enemy ready
to fall upon them, the next day, in the pro-
portion of three to one.
On the morning Of the 18th, before sunrise.
Gen. VIM. E. Jones and staff reached Mrs,
Grattan's, having ridden rapidly from Staun-
ton He was of my own grade in the army.
but his commission was year older than
mine, and of course he at once assumed COM
mand. Before and during hasty break fast
by camp fire 1 explained to him the situa-
ton. He adopted and ratified my organize
ton of his attachments ofinfantry, and in
formed me that Gen. Vaughan was coming
forward from Staunton with about 800 weary
cavalry to join us. Whilst we were discuss
ing what was best to be done, a courier from
Col. George W. Imboden of the 18th Va. cav
airy, who had remained all night on the
North side of the river in viglant observa-
ton, brought the Intelligence that Hunters
entire army was in motion on the road from
to Port Republic We Instant
ly OWNED his purpose to flank our somewh at
strong position behind the North river, and to
get across at Port Republic without opposi
ton, and thence move upon Staunton. Gen.
Jones was wholly unacquainted with the
country, never having been through it except