The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-07-21

the fire of the enemy's guns to stop the
firing of our own artillery, ana ! "a'cn-
ed his red cap Win t sle ,he d bridge and
assembled the hill to the iort. NhS ~
structons were for him TO ask tne ply
ilege OF directing the guns agalns. ene
enemy. and In default tnereoi " e0"'N
firing altogether. aa,.-
In the meanwhile the disnountcd cav
airy were getting into battle array. M
lines were formed near the sta.ion' anu
they began TO move In our duecuoii' ~.
IDENTITY II was the intention OF the enemy
TO crush our small force at once wi,n su-
perior numbers. Column after coin,ln
was Laassed In the meadow ana inca
sent forward The ground was DIS
covered very rapidly by the adN ILLS LIS
ht SITS and the dead silence. "hlch pre-
vailed along py liae as they got nearer
must have deceived them MY oru.Ls.
were for every man 10 keep OH III
ground behind the hreastworks, whicn
we're only two or three feet high, and
when the first line Of the enemy hau
creased the ditch in our front. the com
n.1 ma would be given 10 flre. ~ az
ready stated, this ditch was not mo-
tnan seyeniy-five yards IN our 'front.' anu
when the men rose with he reDel yen,
ard poured a yolley into the ranks OF
the enemy. there was great consteiha'lo"
and ha:ty retreat
Tie battle was joined In desperate earn,
est. and when the Federals recovered
from their surprise there was a rally Oh
the scattered forces preparatory 10 an,
Otncr charge. The troops were Hasaeu
even more closely than before, and their
movements seemed quicker ana more ue-
termined. but the fatal ditch was an Cd
sfructicn which they never passed again
Our men reserved their IRE once more,
but they were growing impatient, anu
did not wait to see whether the federais
world ATTEMPT another crossing OF the
dich. .,,,.oa ,,,,h
equal gallantry, showing "A detcfnlhe5
resistance on our side, but II required
l.,nger time and heavier firing TO drive
them back Then followed q longer IN
terval between the charges, but LOT we
third time the effort was maze Dy ine
serried ranks of the enemy to press loi-
ward to the goal OF their amDit'oh' %
far as they could see, there was 10 IN
preston being made on our line. ana lhey
were no nearer the capture OF the brluBS
than when they first came in sieht OF
it, This third charge was resisted as De-
fore, and with equal success 800,
The sun was going behind the hills,
but as yet there was no sign that zen.
W. II. +. Lee had reached the enemy
rear His appearance on the scene would
rroan relief for our little band, as We
knew that with the coming OF nlsht lhe
Federals would have the advantage Ior
they could easily make approaches 10
our line by digging rihc pits. ana by
this means hem us In on three SIDES.
Daylight was important tor the solution
problem.
! gathered for the fourth charge there
| were misgivings as TO the result. On
! they came. however, and they were met
| with a calling fire of musketry when
grew even more furious as their hnes
| came nearer. II was during this charge
! that Lee and his division struck the rear
guard of the Federals. and they we're
| given an opportunity Of tsthing IN OPP
I n, site directions. only one result coulu
! ersue from this state Of things when
| was their hasty and immediate WITH
| draWal from our 'front.' ana preparation
began for sudden retreat.
| The road leading down the river was III
| their possession, and II was soon hlled
! with moving caravan OF wagons. aiNDu-
! larces. and troops. Their aruilery on
the hills was turned the other wav 10
rreyent the advance Of Lee. and undei
| The cover Of q rapid fire from their guns
! the retreat was speedily entered upon ~
was a time Of suspense and anxiety with
IS for we did rot know with certainty
| that Lees command was I'm reality on
! band CT whether 10 was only small
! detachment which had caused the enemy
20 f0rsake our front iae sun had gone
down. and the shadows were thick with
the smoke OF battle. When II grew dusk
there was positive and unequivOcal rcli r.
| because che of our videttcs came win
| the vel ,cme tidirgs that the Federals
were gone. and that Lee was occupying
the ground around the station. The long.
long day was ended, and the victory was
| GUS,
INCIDENTS or THE FIGHT.
This account might be extended .nde-
| hnitelv with personal incidents and remi-
| niscences. only a few VIII be given,
| however Col. Henry T.. Coleman, 10
| whom the credit of the Engagement is
chiefly due exhibited the highest qualities
Of a soldier. He was self-reliant admir-
ably poised In manner, and quick 10
take advantage Of circum stances. | was
l.l
was carried under the bridge, protected
by the abutment. Col. Coleman at once
suggested that he would take immediate
command of my end Of the line, While ht
would pass the word along the trtnehe'
that / was in charge OF the lett Wing
and this was done. lie came ana STOOD
I'm front Of me, where ! was lying on tn'
ground and was receiving such aiteh
| ton as the surgeon could give me- Mnei
] saw that he was .ncurring great risi
IN remaining there eny longer, as th'
mimic balls were whistling by every IN"
ment, and he appeared unconsclous o.
The TACT / cautioned him 10 step bac
one or two PAGES. bat his reply shove
that he di1 not appreciate the danger
and I'm another minute he was DrouG1
TO the ground within a few feet 81 me-
4 ball had gone through the knee, ana h
was disabled Ike myself.
His strltagem had ended so .ar "a
the exchange Of commands was concern
CO. and we had to find another 'Npe
! dent when was 10 lllcct the llShA JIM
| ~ through the young man VINO Aal pee
made auJutant OF the command. III
name was Lieut.. &. u. Humphreys, =
.he LIST Florida Oattali)n and he had bee
detailed from my company. AI,er CO.
| Coleman was wounded, Lieut.. liHm
phreys most CALAMITY met the rcsoonsi
hility upon him. and in connection Wit
| the other officers, faithfully execute
every order l.. ued from the disable
headquarters under the bridge. My nr.
Lieutenant was j. G.. Moon, Co. f., l5t
Miss. and he was detailed 20 act a
oommissary, while Lieut.. Han, of tn
51st Virginia, insisted upon using mus
ket. CAPTAIN Riddick showed splenii
nerve I'm the tight, and received Il sever
flesh wound before the engagement wa
over. The three principal oihce,s oelh
| wounded ~ is high praise that tne me
| deserve for their unilinching ldeEty
the end of the Tight Gathered lrol
every quarter of the Confcdcracy, IN
belonging to all arms OF the aerNlt
strangers 10 each other and serving unJ'
officers who had never net before. III
heterOgt command dld not quail &c
an instant. and displayed rars intrepid
" and steadiast courage iach ma
Vas .actuatod ny a feeling of nis own p
sponsibility for the successful termn'
ton OF the fight, and 10 army that eve
iroa the earin has produced "A drawer ban
than the 800 who saved the day al Staui
ton river.
The estimated strength OF the Federal
was 1000 men, but Gen. Wilson reporte
much smaller number as being actua
" engaged. Their loss in killed an
wour< led was not less than 800. equal
our whole number, as our men pure
~ of their dead the next day. not
prisoner was taken on either side. Ol
Total loss was 81 officers and men, an
five out Of eight officers were wounde
Six men were killed, one OF them a
Episcopal minister Of the neighboIhoo