The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-11

and moving at q trot across the open
fields to the Berryville road and to John
ston's assistance. There was not fence
nor tree nor a bush to obscure the view.
| We could see the crest OF a hill, covered
with a cloud Of cavalry, and in front OF
| them-500 yards in front-was a thin
gray line moving off in retreat solidly and
| in perfect GOODNESS and self-possession.
II A regiment of cavalry would
deploy into line and their bugles would
sound the charge" and they'd swo0p
down on the thin grey line Of North
| Carolina" The instant the Yankee br1-
giles sounded North Carolina Johnston
brigade) would halt, face by the rear
| rank, wait until the horse got within 1OO
yards and then fire as deliberately and
coolly as if firing volleys on brigade drill.
| The cavalry would break and scamper
| back. and North Carolina would about
face" and continue her march in retreat
as solemnly and with as much dignity
as il marching in review. But we got
there Just in time-that is to engage cav
airy with cavalry and hold Sheridan in
check until Johnston had got back to
the rest of the infantry and formed line
ut right angles to the pike west of Win
chester. Being an entirely open country,
every thing that was going on could be
seen for miles around; and Bradley John
son says, in conclusion: There were 40
600 infantry and 10000 cavalry in the
open fields against $500 infantry, and
3. 600 mounted gun men. The thing be-
gan at daylight. and kept on until dark,
when. fanked and worn-Out, Early re-
treated TO escape being surrounded.
This is the story given only in part
here). Of the thin grey line Of North Car
DINA and the cavalry charge, feat OF
arms before which that of Sir Colin
Campbell fades into insignihcance." The
brigade had a severe fight at the
Monocacy river, near Frederick City, in
entering Maryland. Capt. w. G. Wall.
comma nding Company f, was severely
wounded in this fight. While General
Gordon's division crossed the river and
attacked the line of battle in the flank,
Johnston's brigade was ordered to cap
ture a block house ON the other side OF
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. 4 CON
siderable number Of the enemy were in
the railroad cut and perfectly protected.
The brigade charged across the railroad
on the bridge under raking fire from a
heavy battery on the other side of the
river. Seeing it could not carry the
block house in that way, a company Of
soldiers passed under the culvert and
opened fire on the enemy in the railroad
cut from the flank, drew them out of the
cut and captured the block house. When
the first attempt to take the block house,
made by Col. Blackwell with the 23rd
regiment had failed, by reason of an en-
filade fire from line of battle behind the
railroad which caused the regiment to
fall back. General Johnston sent a mes
sage to Col. Davis to take the 18th regi-
ment and capture IT, Col. Davis says:
General ]. was not in very good hu-
Nor and | was suffering (sick) so that
could hardly walk However. | went
forward to the ravine mot knowing the
cause OF the falling back of the 25rd), and
here halted and had picked men as vi
dettes TO reconnoitre and see all they
could. Finding out about the line of bat
tie behind the railroad, / sent General ].
IL message that if | advanced | would
expose my men to an enfilade fire, and
that if he would dislodge the line of battle
behind the railroad. could take the
house without loss of men. | never heard
from General ]. In the meantime, the
fight was going on on the other side be-
tween Wallace (Of Ben Hur fame) and
Gordon. Three lines OF battle engaged
Gordons one, and now, Wallace begins
10 retreat. His men on our side then had
TO cross over quickly, or be taken. |
moved forward and al we struck the
bridge on our side, the enemy was clear
ing it on the other side. The retreat and
pursuit began, which continued for about
two miles We then advanced as far as
Blair's farm, in full view Of Washington
City, but soon deemed it wise to come
4Jn
erations in the valley under Early, al
ready given, were subsequent to the ac-
ton and events recorded Immediately
above. In the valley campaign, the
brigade was transferred to Ramseurs
division. At his death, General John Pc
gram succeeded to the conn and Of the
division. Almost Simultaneous with the
transfer of Sheridan from the valley to
Grants line near Petersburg. Early's
command returned to the aid OF Lee, at
least the greater part Of it. Picket duty
on Hatchers Run, during the greater
part of the winter. was onerous and Sc
we're. The 23rd took an active part in
the fight at Hatcher's Run, Capt Peace,
OF Granville, being its commander. It'll
was in this action that Gen. Joan Pegram
was killed, and Capt. Frank Bennett,
OF Arson, formerly commander of the
23rd, lost an arm, at the time being In
command OF the brigade skirmishers.
The division was afterwards commanded
by Gen Walker. Johnston's was one of
the attacking brigades that carried the
enemy's line of breastworks at the bat
tie of Hare's Hill, in which action Gen.
Johnston was so injured by fall from
the breastworks, sprain of the ankle,
that he was carried from the field.
On the withdrawal Of the army from
Petersburg, he followed in an ambulance.
To the last was he true to the high sol
dierly instincts of his nature. Finding
that the Federal cavalry were about to
capture the whole line of wagons and am
balances, he got hold of a few stragglers,
stopped an ammunition wagon, made
every man get down and take gun, and
with this force he prevented the capture
of the wagon and ambulance train. |
Further ON in the great retreat the cav
airy broke into the line, captured Cen |
eral Johnston's ambulance and the rest. !
including a portion OF the wagon train. !