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

explained. which was simply that an
officer had been sent by the command
can't OF the poN, Col. X. h. Nltner-' 80
enroll all che enlisted men Tor TIE pui
pose OF taking them TO some point y"
the r.ilroad In the dircC.io q hich-
mond. where Il was expected TO me, me
enemy. Nearly all these mon had oeen
I'm tie army from tie start, ana ~ rlu
rot take them long 10 ma out thdt ~
officer designated was tctait lheAPi ''".
ed which caused them TO inquire "he'l-
or he had been at tn. front. lis aisN'r
revealed the fact that he had .'N'i
smolt powder on the battlefield, ana inc
object OF coming 20 me was 10 OBTAIN w
intercession with the connahndnt ~
their behalf. | VIII not enter into lhe
particulars, but will only say ihat heN.i-
al hours were lost I'm convincing Soi;
Withers that these men were vhtt"'s
TO better consideration on account oi
past services. and that II was an 'nlus
ticc for him 10 place them undeI Vo'nn.
mand of one VINO was evidently unnS
for the position. Finally. IL was declueu
upon my suggestion that an Queer a,c,'
another state should be put IN chaIsc'
and that the rest Of as should so %iOns'
This ARRANGEMENT was not carried ou',
however as this officer relnqulsheu shc
command and insisted upon my l""ihs
charge. .,, -. ,ho
Every train brought additions to ne
force while we were waiting IN ildnIll,'
and an entire company OF detall'u ,. ~
Riddick arrived a short time before We
left They had been down 10 AnueI-
sonville with a lot Of prisoners ana WSlo
anxious Il reach Richmond, capt i'"-
dick requested that his company pe 'gihno
ed TO ours, and this was agreed 10. me
two companies numbered not over nun
drcd and nifty men, and al O'Clock on
Friday afternoon, June 2ith. we leit i,an-
Vile in box cars with arms. ammunition
and rations furnished hy col Wiihers
who had become reconciled to the titua-
ton. We were directed TO report 10 APP.
Farinholt. and he was advised OF our
coming Between eight and nine O'CLOCK
the train halted near the bridge over
Stanton river, fOrty-cght miles from
Danville. The men were marched at
once to a place for Divouac, ana WITH me
starry heavens for canopy, they were
Held a brief conference with Capt.
Farinholt. and he Informed me mat
the Federals were not expected untl inc
next day, when IL was his purpose 10 ne
fcnd the bridge from the south side Wheii
he had two pieces Of artillery mounted IN.
a fort overlooking the river, with when
he confidently expected 10 repulse the
enemy across the stream. lie also tviu
ne that there was an ofilcer on the Othr.
side of the bridge who had a part OF MS
own command. and with whom ne al
fered as to the proper defence OF the
bridge. This information was 6lauIy re-
ceived, for my impressions already were
against the plans OF the conmahedHl'
and | decided 10 Investigate the matter
! without delay the next morning. soon
after daylight | started across me prluse'
/ and as 10 was covered, the ~ was dtIh'
/ had gone only a few steps When an OIL
ncer met me. ana inquired after my pur-
/ pose in crossing the bridge. Upon itallnS
I that my object was to meet with Col.
/ Coleman. he gave me cOidial kIdsp ~
the hand, and said that he was heiiIy =
! Coleman, of the 18th y. c. ! soon learn
/ ed that his mother lived in the neighDor-
hood, and that he was on wounded 4ui-
| lOugh. His head was banddScd from "
wound received at SpotsylNi MA, ana ne
/ had rendered his services for this occd-
| sion TO Capt Farinholt. lie was rats
| fed that the Federals could rcach there
| during the day and would expect 10 Duili
| the bridge. which could easily be done II
/ there were no troops on the norih soc
TO prevent IL. lie had taken about 40
/ o.ltia. old men and boys, ana hdd Dee
| entrenching his position during the nieht'
/ but n was very slow work.
The result OF our conversation was tiat
! agreed TO take my command across INC
| river unless capt. Farinnolt sellOuAN
objected to their going. and Join with Col.
| Coleman i'm what was the Only pIdcucd-
! bic defence of the bridge. l tOuho 40
| difficulty in making the tIailsly,i, az" -
when "A scant breakfast was llnlsheu shc
! Two companies were marched across. Inc
! militia under Col. Coleman were evident
IN much reiOiced TO have reiniorcemch's
!
! they recognized that The newcomers ere
! old soldiers 1t was decided that my two
/ COMPANIES should take position on lir
| right of the bridge, while the mnlltid
| should occupy ;he left Of our cntIench-
| fneufs Let me describe the cOni$uld-
| fion Of the ground on the north SIDE OF
! the river so as TO give a better idea OF
the strength Of our position as wen az
its peril. -,
mile of the bridge. and the railroad
track was without curve between them'
From steep embankment al the briuse,
rising eight or ten feet above the leNel
ground the track gradually came nearer
10 the level until at the station thcre
was no grading at all. On the right OF
east side of the railroad, looking noiih-
wards there was piece OF heauo"
land a hundred yards Wide, running u
the creek which emptied here into the
| river This creek ran parallel 20 'he
railroad. and kept the same distahc'
from IT,. so that the meadow was ON,
hundred wards wide and eight hundred
Nalds ltrg. ditch ran across the mead
| cw from The railroad culNert TO the creek
rot more than scveniy-hNe yards IN IRON
of my line on the opposite side OF the
railroad the ground was uneven ana IT.
fosular and the river made a bend above
the bridge. so that there WIS very littl'
chance TO manOeuvre troops on that sue
as they would be IN a narrow de1le, VIII
every advantage in favor OF the Con
f,Geiatcs. Just IN the rear OF me STA
ton there VAS a succession OF NILS, upvi
which we posted pickets carly in th'
morning and IL was from these mis- u
inc afternoon that the Federal artiller,
poured shot and shell in and around IN
bridge until Ii was anything besides com
Portable TO be within range Our slehue
and hastily constructed earth-works form
ed a seml-circle. with the bridge as IN
centre. and each end resting upon IN
river bank There was no pOsslni
chance Of being fiankcd in this position
but there was also no avenue OF retreat
Failure meant the capture OF every man
and this was impressed upon all
Soon after the line was established am
the men had been put 10 Work IN throw
ing up dirt with their bayonets, Col
Coleman and myself. with rev plcAe
men. went on reconnaissance three %
four miles up the railroad using an en-
CINE and a passenger coach, which cam
| mat morning from Danville rms was
valuable incident OF the day. for we learn
ed that the enemy was leisurely adVanc
ing destroying the railroad track bum
ing trestles and depots and looking Tor
ward to an easy victory when they rcach
ed the bridge over stanton river, ana ~
| unmolested march on TO panNlllc. i
was further ascertained that Gen. W. Ii
| T. Lee. with his division OF cavalry, Wa
| OILY a few hOurs in the rear OF zen. WI
| son and that a stubborn defence %
| the bridge would enable Lee 10 oNcrtaN
him. After leaving some bogus dispatche
where they would likely fall INTO IN
| hands of the enemy. and urgent mes
saees 10 be handed Gen. Lee whel D
PASSED that way. the reconnaissance wa
| ended and We returned 20 the brl X
with encouraging words for our httl
band OF 500. The hours grew slowly, IN
heat was intense. end the men Mere SUI
ferirg from thirst and hunger. The cree
| x-rfqs did not satisfy them. and the IA