Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-15
Hornets That Caused a Column 10
COuntermarCh.
THE BATTLE OF REAaSS STATION,
Is Described by a Private 1ho Par
ticipated in II.
CAPT.RE.
IMPORTANT
Thrilling Experience of Two Scouts
On-to-Richmond Movement Dis
closed-Two virginia Songs
"Jchnny Reb's" story.
written for the Dispatch.)


On August Is 1864, our command. the
Ninth Virginia Cavalry, Richmond Light
Infantry Blues Brigade, William II. +.
Lees division, General Wade Hampton
In command, moved out of camp In front
II Major Malones residence, and crossed
Rowanty creek towards the Petersburg
and Weldon railroad. In a field abutting
On the railroad we were ordered to dis
mount and advance on foot as infantry.
Just as the head OF the column came
near the field, where n fence had been
pulled down by the videttes, the captain
Of my company pulled off his hat and
rode as rapidly across the field as his
horse could carry him. He was observed
striking himself and horse with his hat,
and the head of the column stopped.
General Beale, seeing this, rode in adj
vance OF us. but ali at once he, too, left
Us in the same abrupt manner. Generals
Hampton and Lee, observing this with
establishment, rode TO the front, asking
what was the matter and why the col
lmn did not advance. They soon found
sut, as their horses began to kick and
plunge about, and then they rapidly
loned our captain and General Beale.
This was the first time the bloody Ninth
mad ever seen their brave leaders behave
In such a manner. We thought they must
have struck hornets nest, which proved
to be a fact.
HAD TO COUNTERMARCH.
The videttes In pulling down the fence,
had upset nest, and the little fiends
defended the road so well that we had
- countermarch to enter the field. Here
we soon engaged the enemys cavalry,
who were armed with siXtsen-shOoters,
but we charged and drove in the pickets.
On advancing a little further we Were
net with such a continuous shower of bull
cts that we were compelled to seek
cover and lay as fiat down as possible
lust here occurred one of the coolest
and bravest acts 1 ever witnessed be-
tween our line and that of the enemy.
Five horses had been left tied TO some
trees by the Yankees. Waiter Calls, a
member of my company, advanced in
the opening, and deliberately commenced
christening the halters. One horse had
been SO frightened that the knot was so
tight IL seemed impossible TO unite it,
Walter threw his whole weight against
1t several times, but did not succeed in
unfastening II. when some Of the boys
called to him TO cut 1t.
WAN Ell lI1E hal L. EN-.
''You fool. am not going to spoil the
halter" said he.
AL this time the enemy were pouring
the shot into us as fast as they could,
but. Notwithstanding. Walter brought
horses and all safety to the rear.
About this time We heard the report
Of small arms and cannon on our left.
We knew then that the infantry were
engaged. We drove the enemy back be-
yond the railroad, where they made a
desperate stand. Here a Miss Gosee was
shot After driving the enemy back from
the railroad our command swung around
TO the right. taking the Yankees in the
left and rear. From that time on TO the
end OF the battle, which lasted until
late In the night, We had our own way
with them.
HARD-FOUGHT BATTLE.
After they were driven from their
earthworks and had fallen back toward
Die Jerusalem plank-road we perceived
what a hard-fought battle It was, though
80 little mention has been made of il
by writers. In fort at the Junction of
Church and Halifax roads there were
forty-eight horses belonging TO the Tenth
Massachusetts Battery, killed in space
OF about QuSrter OF an acre.
General Hancock's corps had been en-
gagged In destroying the Petersburg and
Weldon railroad. from the former city
towards Stony creek. General A. +. HILL
with his command, supplemented by the
cavalry. were sent to drive him off, which
Hin did in fine style. sustaining heavy
loss. however as his men had to charge
strong works through open fields more
than mile wide, without bush or
depression 10 shield them. We captured
1900 prisoners. TO say nothing of the killed
and wounded We thought at the time
that General Hancock was among the
prisoners. He must have made a very
narrow escape. as learned from one of
the prisoners twenty-five years afterward,
whom I have captured twice SINCE and
sincerely hope has reason 10 believe that
he Jared better on the two last occasions
than on the first. This prisoner. Joseph
Lenty, of troy. y. Y, states that he had
bitten of forty-eight cartridges and
placed them on a fence-rail In front OF
him ready for the "Johnnies," and was
eager for them TO advance. when one OF
them tapped him on the shoulder and
said: you are my prisoner" After the
roar OF the cannon and the crack OF the
musketry had ceased the calm and rest
We so much needed was followed by
terrific storm. Thus ended the battle OF
Beams's Station.
MARSHALL. A. MONCCRE,
Private Company b. Ninth Virginia Cav
airy.
Reams's Station. Va. 1886
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