The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-05-15
TARHEEL'S THIN GREY LINE.
Campbell's RiahIanders 0utdone BY North
Carollnians.

At the battle Of Balaclava occurred
an incident which Kingslake has
painted in words and thus immortaliz-
ed. The Highland brigade, the 42d,
"The Black Watch" the Coldstream
Guards, the Grenadier Guards and the
63d, Sir Colin cid regiment, were in
position which threw the 93d just
along the crest of slight rise Of the
ground. The Russian artillery had
become annoying, and the 93d lay
down just behind the crest, where
they were better sheltered and con-
cealed. A division Of the Russian
horse was moving towards the left OF
Sir Collins whole line, and its head OF
column nearly even with the British,
when at once four squadrons of Rus.
slams, 400 men, swung quickly out OF
column and struck gallop toward the
English position. Instantly the High
landers rose from the ground and with
their tall forms and towering black
plumes looked like line Of giants.
The 93d was not in touch with either
Of the other battalions Of the brigade,
so they stood and took it, and when
the Russians got within 300 yards
opened fire on them and drove them
back. They never repeated the charge.
This scene has been celebrated in song
and story as "Sir Colin Campbell 8
Thin Red Line" 1t was witnessed
by the allied armies, English, French
and Turkish, and simply astounded
the Russians, for both sides saw it.
But I myself, with thousands Of
others, saw Johnston's s North Carolina
brigade do a thing on September 10,
1864, which far excelled in gallantry,
in frmness and in heroism this feat Of
the "thin red line" and I have never
seen description of it in print, and |
do not think it was referred to in the
reports. I am sure Bob Johnston did
not, for he was as modest as he. was
handsome and brave.
In September, 1864, Early army
was lying about Winchester. We had
been through Maryland, had terrified
Washington into fits and had gotten
safely back to Virginia with thousands
Of horses and cattle and hundreds OF
wagon-loads Of plunder Of every kind,
mostly eatables. I had cavalry bri-
gade Of wild Southwestern Virginia
Rorsemen, as brave and as undiscip-
lined as the Virginia rangers Col.
Washington surrendered at Fort Ne
cessity or Andrew Lewis fought Corn
stalk with at Point Pleasant. 1 was
bivouacked-we had no tents that
summer-about three miles north Of
Winchester, on the valley pike, and
picketed from the valley pike to the
Berryville pike, running east from
Winchester.
Gen. Robert D. Johnston, Of North
Carolina, had brigade of 300 to l 1000
muskets on the Berryville pike, on the
top of the ridge running across the
road. My pickets were a mile in
advance Of his in cash Hollow. :"
Sheridan, with $4,000 infantry and
10000 cavalry, lay eight to fifteen
miles beyond our picket line, from
Berryville. and Ripon to Charlestown
and Halltown, in Clark and Jefferson
counties, Virginia. Now, every morn
ing the Yankee cavalry would rush
my pickets in on Johnston 5 posts.
He would stop them until I got up,
and then I'd drive the Yankees back
and re-establish my original picket
posts. This done, Ia send my COM
mand back to camp.
[ had about 800 mounted men, and
I'd ride up to Bob Johnston's head
quarters-which were wagon under o
tree, one camp-stool and frying-pan
sizzling with bacon and a pot Of rye
coffee and some sorghum. Id get my
breakfast, but after 8 week of this
proceeding it either became mouoton-
GUS or my appetite showed no signs of
weakening. I don't know which.
One morning I dismounted after my
usual morning call to Boots and Sad
dies r. and swung myself very COM
fortably into Johnston's single and
only camp-stool. | smelled the bacon
and shifted the coffee and waited. In
a few minutes the cook handed me a
chip for plate and a tin cup Of red
hot coffee, so hot you had to set the
cup on the grass, and then Bob spoke
up.
Says he: Bradley, you let these
Yankees do you too bad. You'v got
SO scared Of them that you all run the
very first dash they make at you.
''Is that so, Robert p said L.
"That's pity, but don t know how
to help it. I do. the best I can. How
many Yankee cavalry do you think
you are good for p aoo
"Well," said he, GIVE got 300
muskets present for duty. By a
weeks time, as the boys get back
from the hospital, I'll have 1000.
Well, with 1000 muskets [ think |
can take care Of 5000 Yanks on horse
back.
Gail right" says I, "wait and see.
I hope you can.
So I got my breakfast and went off
nightly tickled at the conceit of the
Tarheel, for Sheridan's cavalry, with
Custer, Torbert and Devens, were
about as good soldiers as ever took
horse or drew sabre. We had drilled
them so that in three years we had
taught them to ride. They always
were willing enough to fight, and they
learned the use of the sabre from
necessity. Well, things went on as
usual. Every morning Sheridan would
send regiment out to feel Early, to
drive in his pickets SO as to make sure
where he was, and to know where to
find him when he wanted him, and
every morning I'd ride over to the
Berryville road, re.cstablish my lines,
get my breakfast off Johnston, and
come back to sleep.
By daylight, the 18th Of September,
scared cavalryman Of my own COM
mand nearly rode over me as [ lay
asleep on the grass, and reported that
the Yankees were advancing with a
heavy force of infantry, artillery and
cavalry up the Berryville road. Early
was up toward Stephenson's depot,
and Johnston and | were responsible
for keeninr Sheridan out of Winches-