Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-05-09


for action when new enemy, on
whose presence we had not counted,
made his appearance on the field,
drove the men from the gun before
they could load it and came near up
setting all my plans. Just as the men
started to ram down a charge in the
gun swarm of yellow-jackets came
flying out of the ground. They ap-
peared to have no fear of the artillery,
and evidently regarded our presence
as an invasion of their right to local
self government. AS they were under
ground and we were on top | thought
they ought to have stayed where they
were. They had evidently imbibed
the spirit as well as adopted the pol
icy of the Southern people, who had
gone to war for "their rights in the
territories. All that we asked of the
yellow-jackets was, in the language of
Mr.. Jefferson Davis, Ito be let alone.
But this was the very thing that they
were not willing to do, They flew at
the gunners and settled down on the
battery horses; the drivers could not
hold their horses and fight yellow
Jackets at the same time. They could
stand bullets, but the stings Of insects
were too much for them.
Gunners, drivers and horses all ran
off, taking the timber chest and caisson
with them. l was riding fine sorrel
mare which we had captured the year
before with Col. Russell, who had
been exchanged, and was then serving
on Gen. Torbert's staff. He told me
that she had belonged to Gen Phil
Kearney. A swarm settled down upon
her; the stinging made her perfectly
frantic, and she began rearing and
plunging. l could with difficulty keep
my seat in the saddle, and almost for
got that there was anything in this
world but yellow-jackets.
During this scene we were in plain
view and within a hundred yards of
the enemy. Fortunately through the
mist they could not distinguish gray
from blue. At the court Of inquiry
which was called to investigate the
conduct Of Gen. Kenly, who command
ed the train guard, some Of the wit
nesses swore that we were dressed in
blue. AS they stampeded when the
first shot was fired, it is not probable
that they looked behind to see what
was the color of our clothes.
As long as we were shooting at them
it was all the same whether we were
dressed in blue or gray, Fortunately
we were relieved from our predicament
by one Of the men running up, seizing
and dragging off the gun. The yell
low-jackets held the field, but seeing
us retreat, they did not pursue. Sergt.
Babcock soon got the gun in position
and ready for action, and sent shell
through the marching columns on the
pike. 1t knocked off the head of a
mule-this stopped the whole train.
All was now terror and confusion in
the enemy's ranks, and each man was
for taking care of himself.
The rapidity with which Fray and
Rham moved the gun from point to
point created the impression that sew
eral batteries were firing and Of course
that there was corresponding num-
Der of troops with them. Richards
with his squadron charged the head of
the procession, while Chapman and
Glasscock went at their rear. A body
of infantry rallied in brick church
in the suburbs of town. They opened
fire and killed one of my men-Welby
Rector, but Richards did not halt. He
charged on the church and took most
of them prisoners. Not since Peter
borough, whom Macaulay calls the
last of the knights-errant, captured
walled town in Spain has such a mount
ed charge been made. A strong body
of infantry formed behind a stone wall
near the pike. This did not stop
Chapman and Glasscock moment.
They rode over the wall and killed or
captured the defenders. remember
that, as l was directing the firing of
the howitzer, my sergeant-major, Guy
Broadwater, galloped up to me and
said:
Colonel, Lewis Adie is killed. 1t
was in the crisis of the fight and no
time to indulge in tender emotions. l
replied 81 can't help it. he was
noble boy and BrOadwater knew my
attachment for him. He had fallen
by Chapman's side when he leaped
over the stone wall. Major Birdsley,
ofthe Sixth New York cavalry, whose