Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-05


| OF which had to b left behind. AZ oreen-
wood and at 0resncastle me tram w.
attacked by FEDERAL cavalry. pnt tnsy
were repulsed without bciny able 10 90
much harm. All our men discussed our
! serious defeat at Gettysburg, Its causes
! and probable consequences. ana All SEM
| ed to agree that the disadvantage arisins
| from our extended line was the cause OF
the disaster. Our army surrounded tne
Union army in the shape OF O nors..
| shoe and, Therefore reinforcements coulu
| not, in case Of need. be promptly rem
| dered by one part to the otner' the
| enemy. on the other hand, had the advan-
tags of a concentrated, billy position.
which we were unable to take. after the
| success of the first days battle had falied
| to be followed up, thus allowing the ue-
| feated army time to fQrtify and be rem
| forced. All regret the loss OF the brave
| soldiers. estimated at from 1000 to zo'"o
July 6th.-In search Of Jenkinss Brigade,
| / marched to Hagerstown, Nd. 1 was en-
| joying delicious dinner at the Wasning-
| ton Hotel when ono OF my troop ihlorineu
me that the enemy was in town. l called
NV men together: We heard the shooting
between some cavalry OF the Wise legion
| and the Yankees in the streets. and we
| FASTENED to assist the small Confederate
| force. We came too late. Colonel DAVIS.
! commanding. had his horse killed, ana
was taken prisoner, and his men were
! falling back. Fortunately, a regiment Oh
| Confederate infantry entered the CITY at
this critical moment. and we proceeded 70
drive the Yankees out OF the city. They
were In strong force, and skirmisning
was kept I'd until half-past O'Clock, wnen
Jenkins's Brigade came to our succor. The
| Union cavalry retreated, but surprised
| our wagon-traln at Williamsport, anu
| destroyed a number Of wagons. we en-
camped near Hagerstown.
July 7th.-Captain Norman reporting
sick. I took command of Company IL.
Fourteenth Virginia Cavalry. We marched
| towards Sharpsburg, and had some skir
mishes with the enemy, who left several
dead. wounded, and prisoners In our
hands. 1t was a reconnoitering move
met. On our advance we passed an IN
teresting group-Generals Robert II. Lee
Longstreet, and others. About three mites
from Sharpsburg our course OF nareh was
changed. and We advanced towards boons-
borough. About Ave miles from this VII
Iage. we encamped. The rain poured down
| and the creeks and the Potomac began 10
| rise.
Juiy Sth.-Early in the morning L re-
| ceived orders to report with my company
Mt General Robert r. Lees headquarters.
The General was already waiting ana M
structed me to leave half the company
with him. and to take the van WIN tIs
other half. He also directed NE 70 ATTACK
,ha enemv,s outposts whenever l should
meet them and TO send messenger 10
him IN such an event. We had not au-
vanced far. when we saw Federal Vi
dette and charged upon H. We sur
! prised the whole outposts. Killing Two. l
sent word at once 80 General Lee anu
waited further instructions. ABOUT .
| o'clock heavy cannonading was hearu III
| the direction OF Boonesborouen, ana SUI
after I received order to advance 10 the
| field Of action. The enemy inaus UP q
very strong force Of cavalry, artillery anu
infantry. General Fitzhugh Lee attacked
the left wing Of the Federals. Genera
Zones their centre, and Jenkinss Brlgaos
| VS. 70 fight the right flank. AT ~
O'clock. and about two miles from BooneS-
borough we came under the enemys hre'
| We Astronomical. and the whole
| brigade charged on the enemy
position behind stone fences, ana III
the woods. yelling almost Ike IN
| dams. We drove them back ABOUT
a mile, and held our ground. IN spite
OF a terrible carnage or bullets anu
shells At 7 o'clock L received oruer ~
| slowly fall back. when the enemy mace
desperate efforts TO cut US of in a de-
| file near Antletam bridge, but got out OF
the scrape unhurt The field OF action
was the historical ground known as the
| battlefield OF Sharpsburg, or, as the
! Federals term II. Antietam On our
| side several officers and men had been
| killed. / lost three men, and my uni
form Jacket showed a bullet-hole. When
! we fell back we had only two cartridges
| left Cor every man. The aim OF TINS
| engagement was TO ascertain the position
and strength of the Federal forces,
which are reported TO concentrate at
| Frederick City Another great battle
seems to be imminent.
July sth.-At o'clock in the morning
our cavalry force again advanced towards
| Antietam, and lively skirmishing
| ensued We fell back fighting constant
ly. AT o'clock in the evening we were
| reinforced by a regiment OF infantry. and
our assailants were repealed. These
| bloody engagements, surely are but pre-
ludes of battle. 4 report Is current that
Maior-General T. II. Hill is bringing on
two divisions from Virginia. Captain
Norman reported for duty, and took
command OF our company. During night
We camped near the days position.
July 1ith.-At daybreak we again ad-
| vanced about half mile. TO protect
| the tnlohluB LP a iOllS Aiir VI
zlgzag rifle bitches and abattis. At noon
/ we fell back to the rear OF the In
! fantry, and We're ordered to the right
! flank OF our line OF battle, which. am
told, is to be commanded by General
| Longstreet Passing the double row OF
| rine-ditches, we saw several batteries
| OF artillery bringing UP their guns. The
| right flank OF our army occupies a rarse
Of billy woodland, and I think IL IS
| strong position. At o'clock In the
afternoon Jenkins Brigade Is drawn w
| in line OF parade, and first an order
! Of General Robert Il. Lee was read. COM
! piimenting us on our good services before
| and during the battle OF Gettysburg, and
| expressing his confidence that we will
render similar good service IN the impend-
ing battle. This was followed BY
! the reading of circular OF General
! stuart stating that the cavalry, after
having successfully checked the advance
| Of the enemy. would be posted at the
| tanks of the army to take very active
action in the coming battle. ANY task
entrusted TO his men they are expected