The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-07-02

, when an officer met me, and inquire
: after my purpose in crossing tn
: bridge. Upon stating that my objet
: was 10 meet with Col. Coleman, h
, gave me cordial grasp OF the hanC
/ and said that he was Henry f. Cole
man. of the 12thi n. G.. 500
! learned that his mother lived in tn
neighborhood, aud that he was on
, wounded furlough. His head wa
; bandaged from wound received a
Spotlsylvania, and he had rendered hi
services for this occas ON TO Capt
Farinholt. He was satisfied that lii
Fcdciols could reach there during tn
day aud would expect to burn tn,
bridge, which could easily bu done i
there were no troops On the north sid,
to prevent it. He had taken about 15(
milita, old men and boys, and hat
been entrenching his position during
the night, but il was very slow work
The result of our conversation was
that l agreed to take my command
across The river, unless Capt. Farinholt
seriously objected to their going, and
join with Col. Coleman in what was
the only practicable defence of the
| bridge. found no difficulty i'll making
the transfer, and when scant break
fast was finished the two companies
were marched across. The militia
under Col. Coleman were evidently
much rejoiced to have reinforcements
come to their assistance, especially
when they recognized that the now
comers were old soldiers. 1t was de-
cided that my two companies should
take position ON the right of the
bridge, while the militia should occupy
the left of our entrenchments. Let
ME describe tie connguration of the
ground on the moth side of the ri, er,
so as 10 give better idea OF the
strength of our position as well as its
peril.
Roanoke station was within half
mile of the bridge, and the railroad
track WIS without curve between
them. From steep embunkment at
tho bridge, Using eight or ten feet
above the level grouud, the track grad
ually came nearer to the level unul at
the station here was no grading at ali.
On the right or east side of the rail-
road, looking northwards, thorc was IL
piece of meadow land, a Hundred yards
WIDE running to the creek which emp
tied here into the river. This creek
ran parallel to the railroad, and kept
the same distance from it, SO that the
meadow was one hundred yards wide
and eight hundred yards long. A ditch
ran across the meadow from the rail
road culvert to the creek, not more
than seventy-five, ,yalds in front of my
line. On the opposite side of the rail
road the ground Was uneven and irreg-
ular, and the river made bend above
the bridge. so that there was very little
chance to Vancouver troops on that
side, IT'S they would be in a narrow de-
file, with every advantage in favor of
the COnfederates. Just in the rGlr of
tho station there was Il succession of
hills, upon which we posted pickets
early IN the morning, and it was from
these hills in the afternoon that the
Federal artillery poured shot and shell
i'll and around the bridge until it was
besides comfortable to be
within range Our slender and hastily
earthworks formed n semi
circle, with tho bridge as The centre,
and each end resting upon the river
bank. There was no possible chance
of being tlanked in this position. but
there was also 10 avenue of retreat.
Failure meant tie capture of every
man. ami this was impressed upon all.
Soon after the line was established
and the men had been put to work
in throwing up dirt with their bayo-
nets, Col. Coleman and myself with a
few picked men went on a reconn0is-
sance three or four miles up the rail
road, using an engine and a passenger
coach which came that morning from
Danville. This was valuable incident
of the day, for we learned that tho
enemy was lcisureiy advancing, de-
stroying the railroad track, burning
tres,les and dcpots, and looking for
ward to an easy victory when they
reached the bridge over Staunton
River, and an unmolesled march on to
Danvillc. 1t was further ascertaincd
that Con. w. III. f. Lee, with his
division of cavalry, was only few
hours in the rear of Gen. Wilson, and
thai II stubborn defence of the bridge
would enable Lee to overtakc him.
After leaving some bogus dispatches
where they would likely fall into the
hands of tie enemy, and urgent mes
sagcs TO be handed Gen. Lee when he
passed that way, the reconnaissance
was ended, and we returned to the
bridge with encouraging words for our
little band of 300. The hou.s grew
slowly, the h, at was intense. and the
men we're suffering from thirst and
hunger. The creek water did not
satisfy them, and the rations were
growing scarce and unpalatable. They
gathered under the bridge, and the
old soldiers regaled the militia with
grewsOme tales of war as they had seen
it. Camp jokes and breezy songs fol-
lowed until 4 O'Clock in the afternoon,
when the sharp crack of rifle on the
hills brought every one to his place
along the line, and IN II few minutes
some OF our Nidettcs were seen coming
in haste to join us. The enemy was
almost IN sight, and the frs, courier to
arrive said they were very numerous.
The advance guard of Gen. Wilson
quickly drove in the balance of our
pickels, except two or three who were
cut IF, and who concealed themselves
in the woods until the fight was over.