Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1897-02-20

marching went better and more COM
pactly. A force was put todestroyiug
the railroad as we proceeded, All
bridges were burned. the ties set ON
FIRE, and the rails laid on top to heat
and bend them When within some
three miles of Lynchburg we met with
our first opposition Our advance in
strip Of woods ran into a concealed
body of the enemy and short Skin
mish ensued, but they soon retreated
towards their main body III the works
around Lynchburg. A halt was made
for the whole force TO be massed, as
battle was to be expected. Could we
have advanced at once upon the place
it might have been taken. but neces-
sary delays gave the Confederates time
to prepare and get reinforcements. 1t
was now the 18TH OF June, and we
were in sight of the outer deicnses of
Lynchburg. Our cavalry was located
on the left of the line and the infantry
and artillery on the right, the wagons
distance in the rear In front OF the
cavalry were some earthworks, on
which, led by General Duffie. one or
two mounted charges were made, but
without effect. A dismounted charge
was made. but also failed, and we were
withdrawn, without much loss, be-
yond the range of small arms, but
were under artillery fire most OF the
day. We were disinounted and in
line at the edge OF narrow ravine a
few feet in depth and filled with a
rank growth of weeds and briers.
Here we awaited the result of the bat
tie of the infantry and artillery on our
right, which was then i'll progress,
the crash of small arms and the roar
of the large guns being incessant.
Coles cavalry were located at about
the deepest part of this ravine. For
long time the Confederate gunners
overshot us from their works, their
shells screaming through the air high
above our heads. Now and then some
of our men would yell at them and
taunt them with their lack OF skill.
The boys had to have some amuse-
ment. We had among us few new
recruits who came III under the large
bounty offered by the State of Mary
land for men in 1864 The veterans
took this occasion to rally them lit
tie. As the missiles flew over our
heads with their peculiar sound, they
were interpreted as uttering the word
Bounty in their passage, for the
delectation of the recruits. The latter
bore it all goodnaturedly, however.
At intervals shell would be little
nearer to us, when on the part of most
Of us there was an almost irresistible
impulse to dodge, or duck our heads.
And now the gallant major, who fig
ured back at Woodstock, and later
while chasing the enemy near Harri-
sonburg, came into play again with
some good advice He cried out.
Men don't dodge. 1t does no good.
Stand up and take it cody" Pretty
soon after this advice shell fell right
in our line and burst, fragment OF il
striking down one of our comrades,
killing one horse and seriously
wounding two more. The major had
beer standing at the edge ofthe ravine
near me, but when the confusion had
quieted down little and the smoke
cleared away he was not in sight; but
a movement was soon heard among
the growth in the ravine, the bushes
stirred quite actively, and investiga.
ton proved it to be caused by the
missing major. One Of the men asked,
major, are you hurt? ?" Scrambling
out of the ditch the major shouted
''Mount. men mount and fall back.
They've got our rangeP p Four men
bore oar seriously wounded comrade
in a blanket to house not far away
(whom we never saw again, dear fell
low, for he died in the hands of the
enemy, and we obeyed the major
order with some alacrity, as we were
doing no good where we were and il
was near night. After dark, when nc
speaker could be seen, there was some
witticism at the majors expense,
such as, tits better to jump in ditch
near by, than dodge when a shell j:
on the fly" wish we could take tha'
ditch with us, etc.
We were now in line in an open field
and stretched ourselves on the groun'
to rest the best we could, holding GU
horses by the bride reins, expecting