Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-01
AT sTAuNTON-RIvER BRIDGE.
Another Participant Writes OF inc
Battle at This Point.
PlNETREE, August 1S,lSs3.

PlNETREE. August 1S.lSs3.
To the Editor OF the Dispatch:
In your issue of July Il, 1875, find an
account Of the battle OF Staunton-river
bridge copied from the Greenv!lle 70. ~
Mountaineer. contributed by captain
Hoyt. In the main i think he is correct
hut certainly does considerable injustice
to many Of the participants, among whom
I would mention Captain ATKINS Oh
Boydton. Va, who seemed 70 me to be
everywhere during the fight Also, Cap
tain Pride, OF Clarksville, Va, whose
company numbering about 100 strong,
consisted of all the men IN uetachtu
service in and around ClarksvhIe' .he
most OF whom had seen service III 'he
various regiments from when they were
detached. This company arrived Oh ,he
scene Of action about SUNRISE Vi ."c.'
morning of June -, ls6i, ana was IN
medateiy assigned their places III '"'
trenches on the south side OF the bridge
"A portion being sent across the bridge
90 nickets. They were the last TO re-
turn before the artillery Of the enemy
opened on the bridge, ana as
soon as they were IN their places, cap
tain Atkins came up 10 captain ram
holt and requested 10 be allowed to take
any OF his men that would volunteer
to go across the bridge to assist Colonel
Coleman in receiving the charge OF the
enemy whose intentions were plainly
apparent. as they could be seen dismount-
ing and preparing for action
| think IL was then that Captain
Fannholt saw that he had made mis-
take, and that Colonel Coleman was
right. for he at once agreed that cap
tain Atkins should take the first company
that would volunteer. l distinctly heard
the request made Of Captain Pride. and
his reply. "They will 30 to the last man
Of them" The call was made just rs
the firing began. and tho minie-baiis
were falling around US Thick and fest-
Immediately there arose rebel yeli'
and every man sprang 10 his feet, under
the c1inmand Indian file. double quick.
for the BRIDGE" ! would here mention
that the bridge had 10 be crossed on
planks laid endwise: just the ordinary
welkway We crossed and were In POSI-
ton lust IN time TO receive the hrst
charge. and ! must say that no charge
was ever received with more cOolness CT
given with greater vim.
We lost two Killed and seven wounded
before we reached the bridge. and several
were wounded while crossing. This
writer spoke 10 Colonel Coleman Just u
him OF the danger Of his situation, and
pointed 10 thu fact that the men were
relying entirely upon him. There was
no nagglng Of the men or Of the officers
after Colonel Coleman was wounded.
word being quickly passed down the
line that his wounds vera slight.
one prisoner was captured. lie was
Du,chman, and could not speak more
than half a dozen English words. Just as
the firing was dying out and It could be
seen that there was To be some change
OF position on the part Of the enemy. five
Of Captain Pridc's company were de-
tached 10 go as far down the railroad
embankment as possible and ascertain
what was going on. II was soon learned
that the encmy's intention was to burn
the trestle-work extending over The
creek. which wsS. I think, distant
quarter Of q mile from the bridge. There
It was that this Dutchman was captured.
and from HE talk and gestures We learned
that the enemy was going" md that
General W. II. i. Ice was coming"
But must here say that the alarm was
premature, as General Lee did not ar
rive until past noon the next day. and.
undoubtedly. II the enemy had continued
to harass us through the night every
man Of US would have been killed or
captured and the bridge burned.
The men were worn out with heat
and thirst, and a great many Of the old
muskets with which the troops were
armed had entirely given out and were
thrown over the trenches. Whenever
during the fight one man was disabled
there were half dozen ready to take
his gun. l think. with Captain Hoyt,
that no men deserve greater praise for
their valor than the few hundred that
defended stanton bridge from the
north side on that memorable Gay OF
June -, 1884 \ PARTICIPANT.