The National tribune., 1896-06-04

stubbomly holding their ground. In
run was about halfway between thei
line-ofbattle and ours. One OF the lea(
horses had been killed, but being still
attached to the swing by the tugs, hi
bodv prevented the Others from moving
A boyish soldier of the 9th Ohio, ia
miliarlv called Scotty," made dasf
for the gun; detaching the living and tht
dead swing horses, he mounted the wheel
horse, fattened himself out along it
back, dug his heels into its fianks and
frodding the oEhorse with his bayone'
brought the gun into our line in fnt
style. The Coniederates, when they saw
what he was at, concentrated their fire Oh
him. and we could not cease firing tc
help him. !,
SCOTS Virginians were driven back
into the woods by the river and probably
ioined the Stonewall Brigade. The 9th
and 9TH Ohio received orders to double
Quick TO the left of our line. Dick lay
lor's Louisiana Tigers had broken loose
and were giving our batteries at the coal
bit and their infantry support (the Goth
Ohio) considerable trouble. Gen. Tyler
had moved the S4th and 10th Pa. to
the right of our line; the 1st w. Va. had
also been moved to the right.
Some writer says: in every great
battle Of the war there was q bell spot.
At Port Republic it was around the
guns at the coal-pit. Three times dur
inc the battle were these guns lost and
won.
Capt. Cook, in his " Life Of Stonewall
Jackson" gives a graphic description OF
their first capture. He says: jackson
perceived that the wooded ridge near the
Lewis House, on the Federal left, was the
key to the whole position, and that the
artillery posted there must be slenced. :.
Gen. TAYLOR was ordered TO take the
guns" The men
SWEPT FORWARD AT THE WORD.
They were the 9th, 9TH, Sth, and 9th
La. Wheat's battalion Of Tigers and
q Virginia regiment. The advance was
made In the midst Of one incessant storm
Of grape and canister. The men were
moved down like grass; dead and
wounded were seen on every side, but
they still rushed on, determined to take
the battery or die in front Of it. The
Federal guns were loaded and fired
with extraordinary ralidity, and the
walls Of agony Of men torn to pieces by
fragments Of iron mingled wildly with
the loud shouts of triumph as the troops
continued to press up the hill.
Gail at once was added a destructive
fire from their infantry [this was the
66th Ohio alone and men and officers
went down before it in one indiscrimi-
nate mass OF the sos men of the 7th
La. who want into the charge, 80 were
either killed or wounded. The troops
continued to rush forward, regardless Of
peril. For an instant the gun nuzzles
belched their iron contents ia their faces,
and then the crest was attained. With
loud cheers the Coufederates came in
contact with the enemy. As the can
noneers turned to fly many were trans
fixed with the bayonets; the horses were
shot and the guns turned upon the re-
treating infantry.
"But the struggle was not over. For
that battery to remain in the hands Of
the Confederates was to lose the day.
Reinforcements were hurried forward /;
. fresh brigade [only two regiments, 9th
and 9Th Ohio, took the place Of the one
repulsed, and gallant charge was made
TO regain the guns.
"The Louisianians were driven back
and The enemy dashed forward and re-
covered the pieces"
The reinforcement did not take the
place Of the one repulsed." The 9Th
and 9TH Ohio struck Taylor's column on
the flank, while the Goth Ohio rallied
and engaged him in the front. With
this exception Cooks description is cor
rect.
The battle had now ragged for FIVE
hours without intermission. The Con-
federates had been defeated in every
onset, and
DRIVEN FROM TIRE FIELD
jackson had been reinforcing his de-
featcd and demoralized brigades until
slmost his entire force had been thrown