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

Allle VI TWO from MIS-. Grattan'S, and Just be
fore we parted, Gen. Vaughan rode up, ant
Jones introduced us, when on comparin,
the dates of our commissions, Vaughan ais,
ranked me by about 10 days, which entitled
him to the command of all the cavalry, min
included. He generously proposed to remail
with Jones and let me proceed alone and il
command to Hunters front. We then parted
Jones for Mowry's hill with the infantry. ar
tillery and Vaughan's brigade, and l TO
Mount Meridian.
1 recalled Col. Imboden from the mort
side of the river, and proceeded cautiously
picketing all the fords of the North River
On reaching Mt. Meridian late in the even
ing, my scouts brought information that Hun
ter had crossed and gone into camp at Por
Republic. Iplaced picket of about 20 mel
at the forks of the road. leading to Weyer'
Cave on Col. Alex. Given's farm, and bivou
acked my command on Col. Sam. Crawford:
farm, with orders to be in the saddle at da,
dawn. Just as it was light, we were in tn
act of mounting, when sharp firing wa
heard from the picket post. The 18th cavalr!
being nearest at hand, ordered, and accom-
MED Col Imboden to the support of the pick
Gen. Jones, when we parted, directed me I'M
der no circumstances to become involved In
serious conflict with numbers from which
might not be able to extricate my command
but simply to offer such opposition as would
harrass and delay Hunter Bearing this in
mind, when / passed through the village OF
Mt. Meridian, 1 directed Col. Imboden to
throw down the fence and pass into hill
field overlooking the road, and form line OF
battle. He had barely accomplished this
when charge being made by the enemy on
the pickets they fled over the hill towards us,
holly pursued. The 18th Immediately charg-
ed these pursuers, and drove them back rap
idly, but followed too far, for the whole OF
Stahl's $500 cavalry was just beyond the
forks of the road, and my men ran into them
when the situation became very serious.
We were driven back and in turn pursued
with great vigor. Capt. Frank M. lmboden,
commanding one of the best companies in the
regiment, was wholly cut off and surrounded
when he and about 40 men fell into the enc
my's hands as prisoners. With very grea
difficulty the rest Of the regiment was saved
being cut off and pursued alone by an entir
company, owed my escape to the speed ant
great power of my horse, gift stallion from
my command, who carried me at bound
over a post and rail fence into the river roat
below the village, where no one could follow
Reckoning the regiment just above the vii lag
of Mt. Meridian, a running fight was kept VI
that would have destroyed us all, but for tn
opportune arrival of Col. Robert White, a
the head of his regiment, the 23rd Va. cavalry
whose gallant and impetuous charge, along
with Davis Maryland battalion, checke'
the enemy with some loss on both sides, ant
enabled the 18th to get out of the lane in from
of Col. Sam. Crawfords house where it hat
become ''wedged in'' between post and raj
fences, and was at the mercy of the enemy il
the fields on both sides. and also in the WOO
behind.
This affair at an end, we fell bacl
without further difficulty to the eastern broy
of the hill where the battle Of Piedmont wa
fought few hours later, and there forme'
line of battle. The position overlooked clear
ed land for more than mile in our front
and my object in making the stand there wa
to compel Hunter to deploy his whole army
if possible, in the fields before, and a little
below US, knowing that if we could do SO, h
would lose at least two hours in breaking in
to column again to renew his march after We
should have retreated through New Hope, as
was my intention, as soon as he should de
ploy into line and advance. To get the full
benefit of this maneuver, | felt the great
need of artillery, to hold Stahl's cavalry well
in check. Believing Jones to be at Mowry':
hill, three miles back, for [ had not hearc
from him, dispatched hasty note request
ing him to send me section of Mechanic
hans battery and 800 infantry. with which
offered to so retard Hunter, that he would no
reach Mowry's Hill till afternoon. M,
courier met Jones and his staff before he wa
out of my sight, riding rapidly toward US. II
a moment the General rode up and greeted
rs. I hastily detailed the incidents of tn
morning, and inquired whether he had real
mynote. He replied that he had. just thel
the head Of Hunters column came in sight
and my skirmish opened fire on them NOR
than half a mile in front Of US. / told tn
General that trusty scout had gotten into
Port Republic the might before and ascertain
ed very accurately Hunters force, and 1t
ported it at 5000 infantry, $500 cavalry an'
81 guns-an odd number knew our fore
to be about 1900 infantry, 1900 cavalry
some 200 Preserves" McClannahan's six gun
battery, and 1 understood. eight guns tina
had been manned at Staunton, under com
mand of Capt. J. G. Marquis, with a body Of
detailed men and reserves temporarily organ
lied as field battery-14 guns in all.
When the General said he had received m!
note few moments before, inquired wheth
Ell he had ordered the artillery and supports
to report to me? He replied that he had an(
they would be up in less than minutes.
was astonished to hear that they were SO near
when he remarked that all his troops were
just back of us few hundred yards. Thi:
astounded me, and my first thought was tina
his guides had misled him, OR had left hin
and he had lost his way from Mrs. Grattan'
to Mowry's hill. Exclaimed "My God Gen
eral! You are not going to fight here, ant
lose all the advantage of position we shall
have at Mowry's hill?" Poor Jones is dead
was killed that day, and it might be we'll t
drop this interview right here. But the trut
of history is perhaps the best policy, and
will give it all. Col Robt. White command
ing the 23d Va. cavalry, was with me ant
heard it-perhaps others but do not now re
member who. Jones replied: "Yes, I an
going to fight right here, if Hunter advance
promptly to the attack. If he don't will g
over there and attack him where he u.s." point
ing to his troops then deploying into line
answered: We haze no adg0nt0ge Of gr0atn,
here, and he 0ut7aasusbers as nearly three to on,
and acaH beat u.s." This seemed to anger him
for he replied with great warmth and al
oath: 81 don't want any advantage of groun'
for can whip Hunter any aeaere.'' l thel
said with equal warmth: General! will
not say you cannot whip him here. but viii
say, with the knowledge have of his strength
that if you do, it will be at the expense of {
fearful loss of life on our side, and believing
we have no right to sacrifice the live
Of our men where it is possible to avoid it-a
it is now ifyou will even yet fall back tt
Mowry's hill. I enter my solemn protes