Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1897-08-20
How a Bridge Was Saved.


Lite IN the fall of 1864 | was sta
toned at Hicks Ford, on th
Meherrln rlYer, in Virginia. M
command consisted of COppen'
Battalion of Louisiana Tigers,
battalion of reserves, composed 0
men over 45 years of age and boy
under Is; light battery OF artil
lerN; and company of mounted
home guards, amounting in all t
not more than 700 men. The lOni
summer months had brought OuI
the routine Of lhrO~Ing up earth
works aud tetes-depOnt Tor th'
protection of the bridges OF thu
Petersburg aud " eldon railroad
Of which the one dt HICKS Fore
as the most important; and while
our conrad S OF the Army oil
Northern Virginia were undergoing
tue bardships and dangers OF thu
Siege Of Petersburg and Richmond
thirty miles to the north of us, W,
were lying in comparative comfort
aud idleness, tEe fertile surround
luz country ntfordihg us every
thing needed for the welfare Of The
troops.
Pleasantly situated though we
we're, we suffered much more from
that most lrkSOme malady known
to a soldiers llfe-mOnOtOny-and
louged Tor some change. No mat
ter what, to lend c0.Or or romance
10 that species OF vegetation known
as camp lite, skirmlsh, u march,
or even a pitched battle would
have been hailed as veritablt
blessing.
Finding all these quite beyond
our reach, in sheer desperation we
we're driven at last to that very
mild sort of dissipation known as
d country ball. Invitations were
issued by the officers OF my com
maud throughout tue surrounding
country and preparations Carried
forward with zeal to make 'the
balP a success. The Masonic Hall,
long siuce abandoned through the
fortunes of war, was renovated as
Tar as our limited facilities would
permit, and the dawning OF a
bright clear day IN early Decem'
Der found every thing IN readiness
for the mucb.talked.Of dance.
Long before the appointed hour
the little village was enlivened by
the appearance of sundry monde
script conveyances, added TO thu
more pTetentlOus vehicles, each
bearing Its quota of laughing eyes
and happy hearts, with here aud
there a sprinkling OF brOnzed faces
and bntternut uniforms that sup
Piled the shadows TO the brilliant
showing. Gray bearded pdter IA
mliias and sedate matrOus lent
their presence, while happy child
hood laughed and danced as only
chllhOod Can. They were merry
company, all inspired with the one
idea to have an oldlime Virginia
trolic with the boys i'll camp.
We've come up here Colonel,
said all old gentleman to me, ito
show you boys that if We cant
& ght with you we are proud to
dance with you, God bless you all.
You are doing nObly. Let US be
IN rry together
Such sentiments were common
as | welcomed the guests, but
ere far from cheering me, for Just
at nightfall 1 had received a dis
patch from Gen. Lee TO the effect
that The enemy was moving III
strong force III my direction, al q
cautioning me to TO ready TO make
resistance until aid should reach
me. was fuI ther Informed that
zen. Wade Hampton aud his
"a airy division might be expect
ed TO reach me by the following
morDIng, and that Gen. A. Z.
Hills corps Of The army of North
ern Virginia was proceeding to
intercept the forces OF Gems. War.
reu anu h4utz, which were NOV
i1g against ue.
What an ominous prelude to our
nights pleasure! And how grim
refrain t. the cherry greet
iugs to which had listened!
In blssiul ignorance our guests
were left TO the lulI enjoyment Of
the festivities, while l threw out
my little cavalry command as faI
ip advance of my position as
could with safety, with instruc
tions to its commander to keep me
fully Informed during the nigh;
of the approach of the enemy. |
than nuf my little army i'm nOsi