The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-14
lSERsnAw Az EREDERIcKsnuRG.
Sft,y From mn Unpublished History
by Capt. ~. a. Dickcrt.
(Coiiclutlcdl

Burnside began pressing jackson
l7on the right, sill massing great bod
les in front and below the city. A
heavy siege piece, called "Long
Tom," mounted on an eminonce to
the right of tho road, played havoc
with the enemy as they crossed the
railroad cut, or displayed in the
plain below. Tho "Washington Artil-
lery," posted on the hill to tho right
Of the Mayree house, ral1ed the plain
! with grape and canister. Lees bat
teries were directed mostly to the
moving columns, while those Of the
enemy were endeavoring to silence
his guns to give cover to tho attack
ing party. BY 10 o'clock the battle
was on in earnest along the whole
line Burnside with a portion of
his troops was pressing Stuart and
Jackson hard, and from the start
was slowly driving these troops back,
doubling them on the centre and
rear Jackson is struggling hard to
hold his position, but the mad rushes
Of tho enemy drove him from the
field The artillery of both sides all
along the line ragged in all its fury,
and from the mouths Of several hun
drod guns rose q dense smoke like
setting cloud, while tho deafening
thunder shook the worry Garth. The
gallant Pelham, the youthful com
mander of Stuart; artillery, with
his mounted howitzers was aiding
Jackson with all the power and on
ergy of his daring nature, and the
sound of his small guns could be
heard far down the Rappahannock,
telling plainly that she, too, was in
tho throes Of desperate and doubt
ful conflict.
Tho forces in front Of Longstreet
were massing for an assault. Ran
som on the extreme loft was already
hotly engaged. III the general ad-
vance Tao enemy had first to strike
Cobb and here, it was soon seen,
was to be tho death struggle Of the
day. Largo bodies of troops lay in
front of Cobb under cover, awaiting
tho result Of tho first charge.
The advancing column approach
ed the stono wall without wavering,
and on nearing it poured a deadly
volley into those who had risen
al vo the wall to fire. The Goor-
glans met them with coolness and
precision. Soon tho engagement
was general, but tho most determin.
ed wQs in front of Cobb. Col.
Nance was ordered to occupy the
top of NIayroe's Hill to support the
Georgians below. Rushing out of
the entrenchment the Bird was car
Tied tlc.wn't!ssoo dirt road at II run and
in tho faco Of tho most terrific can
nonade Of shot and sholl the regi-
ment had ever been called upon to
endure. Reaching a ravine several
hundred yards down the road, this
distance. in plain Wow of tho one-
my's batteries, and who had gotten
exact range the day before, it SEEM
cd as if rushing into the very jaws
of death, SO accurate and rapid did
tho shells strike tho column. We
turned to the left, up = broad by
road to the broad plateau of May
reefs Heights. Under withering
fire Col. Nance formed line Of bat
tie from columns Of fours and ad-
vancod at double quick to a dull
road running at right angles with
tho Mayree house. Even under this
telling fire Of shot and shell and q
hail of mimic balls tho regiment
moved rapidly, but as deliberately
as on drill or zfress parade. Scarce
" had the sffno halted before Col
Nance, .that ideal prince of soldiers,
fell desperately wounded, then Lieu
tenant Colonel Rutherford. Major
Maifett took command, but before he
could issue an order he, too, fell and
had to be carried from the fold. Tho
command then fell upon that gallant
young captain Of the State Guard,
Willie uance, and IN gong up and
down the limo to get tho regiment in
order ho received his death wound
So with Capt. Foster Of Company X.
Tho house taps and upper stories of
! the buildings in our front and loft
were lined with sharp shooters, arm.