The Opelousas courier., 1897-10-23

vance by Fremont. The follow
ing morning, Sunday, June 9, m,
command moved several yards
down the road, and halted. Oul
train had gone east over the Blue
Ridge. The SUI appeared above
the mountain while the men were
quietly breakfasting. Suddenly
from below was heard the din OF
battle, loud and sustained, artil-
cry and small arms. The men
sprang into ranks, formed col
umn and marched, and | gallopcd
forward a short mile to sec the
following scene
''From the mountain, clothed
to it's base with underground and
timber, Il level-clear, open, and
smooth-eXtended to the river.
This plain was some thousand
yards in width. Half a mile
North, a gorge, through which
flowed a small stream, cut
the mounta~ at right
angle: TlF Norfhsxp shoulder
of this gorge projected far
Their into the plain Nan the.
Southern and on an e}sasSsd
plateau of tb@ Shoulder were pla-
ced six guns, sweeping every inch
of the plain to the south. FEEDER
al lines, their right touching the
river, were advancing steadily,
with banners flying and arms glea-
ming in the sun. A gallant show,
they came on. Winder's and an
other brigade, with a battery, OPP
posed them. This small force was
suffering cruelty, and its skirmish-
ers were driven in on their sup
porting line. AS my Irishmen
predicted, Shields boys were af-
ter fighting.' Below, Ewell was
hurrying his men over the bridge,
but it looked as if we should be
up on him ere he could
cross and develop much strength.
jackson was in the road, a little
in advance of his line, where the
lire was hottest, with rcins on his
horses neck, seemingly in prayer.
Attracted by my approach, he
said, in his usual voice, "Delight-
excitement | replied that
t was pleasant 20 learn he was
enjoying himself, but thought he
night have an indigestion of such
sun if the six-gun battery was not
'ilenced. He summoned a young
officer from his staff, and pointed
o the mountain. The head of my
approaching column was turned
hort up the slope, and speedily
anne to a path running parallel
With the river. We took this path,
he guide leading the way. From
i'm | learned that the plateau oc-
upied by the battery had been
!sed for a charcoal kiln, and the
'ath we were following, made by
he burners in hauling wood, came
pom the gorge opposite the bat
cry. Moving briskly, we reached
he thither side a few yards from
ne guns. Infantry was posted
ear, and rifemen were in the un-
ergrowth on the slope above.
approach, masked by timber, +
as unexpected. The battery was F
ring rapidly, enabled from ele- /
alton to fire over the advancing /
mes. The head of my column
egan to deploy under cover for
! attack, when the sounds of
little to our rear appeared to re-
de, and a loud Federal cheer
as heard, proving jackson to be
srd pressed. It was rather an Z
moment demanding ms
MT action. Leaving a staff Off
r to direct my rear regiment
e 7th, Col. Hayes-to form in
e woods as a reserve, | ordered
g attack, though the deploy-
ent was not completed, and our
pid march by narrow path had
casioned some disorder. With
'ush and shout the gorge vas
we were in the battery.
lrprise had aided us, but the
infantry rallied in a mo-
mt and drove us out. We re-
med, to be driven out a second
le. The rifemen on the slope
FRIED us no little, and two COM
MES of the 9th regiment were
up the gorge to gain ground
ove and dislodge them, which
s accomplished. The fighting
and around the battery was
nd to hand, and many fell from
7onet wounds. Even the artil-
Y men used their hammers in a
Y not laid down in the manual,
died at their guns. As Conan
/ to the devil: "'Twas claw
claw" | called for Hayes, +
he, the promptest of men, and S
splendid regiment, could not S
Something unexpected
occurred, but there was no
e for speculation. With a des-
ate rally, in which | believe the
miner boys shared, we carried
battery for the third time and 9
1 it. Infantry and riflemen had
n driven off and we began to I
a little comfortable, when the