Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-21
GIVE THEM THE BAYoNETg'

GIVE THEM THE BAYONETw
At this time there rode ~ fast to-
wards US from the front lone horse
and rider, gradually rising TO our view
from the bottom OF the hill. He was
an officer, and as he came closer, erect
and full OF fire. his jet-black eyes and
long hair and his blue uniform Of
general officer made him the cynosure
OF all. In a strong, decided tone he in
CURED OF the nearest aide what troops
we were. and who commanded He was
told that Colonel Jackson. with five Vir-
ginia regiments. had just arrived. and
was shown 10 where the Colonel stood
at the same time; the strange officer
then advanced. and we OF the regi-
mental staff crowded to where he was
to hear the news from the front lie an
nounced himself as General b. s. Bee.
commanding South Carolina troops:
He said: I'VE have been heavily en-
gagged all the morning. and, being over
powered. are now slowly being pushed
back; we will fall back on you as
support: the enemy Will make their
appearance In a short time over the
crest Of that hill" "Then. sir. we will
give them the bayonetr was the reply
of Colonel Jackson. With salute. Cen
eral Bee wheeled his horse and disap-
peared down the hill. where he immor-
tallized himself Colonel Jackson, and his
troops by his memorable words to his
command: CLOSE up men. and stand
your ground. Colonel Jackson, with five
regiments of Virginia troops. Is standing
behind us like a stone wall, and will sup
! port you" Thus was the name Of stone
WALL given to General Jackson and his
famous brigade. General Bee was killed
the next moment.
THE LIGHT ARTILLERY.
Our entire line lay in the pine thickets
Tor one long hour. and no man. unless he
was there. can tell how very long II was
TO us. Under fire from the two bate
ries. throwing time-shels though the
shells did not do a great amount Of kill
ing. was terribly deIloralZing. After
nearly half an hour the roar OF the field
pieces sounded louder than | had yet
heard ii. and evidently very near US.
This was the result Of the much criticised
movement of Ricketts, who had ordered
his battery down the opposite hill. across
the pike" and up the hill we We're on,
where. wheeling into battery on the level
top. he opened with grape and canister
right into the thicket and into our ex-
posed line. This was more than Colonel
Jackson could stand, and the general
order was Charge. and take that bat
teryw Now the. fight Of Manassas or
Bull Run began In earnest. for the posi-
ton we held was the key of the field.
Three times did our regiment charge up
10 and take this battery, but never held
It, for though we drove away the regi-
ment supporting it. yet another was al
ways close behind TO take its place.
Many fragments of these regiments
charged on us in turn as we retreated
into the pines. only TO be killed, for |
do not think any of them went back
alive. The green pines We're filled with
the Seventy-ninth Hghlanders and the
red-brceched Brooklyn Xouaves. but the
men who were killed twenty or thirty
yards behind and I'm the rear Of our line.
were the United States marines. Many
of these | had sailed with. and they called
on me by name 10 help them as they lay
wounded i'm the underground. water
Waterw Turn me Overt" Raise my
headr and Remove me out Of this fire"'
were their cries. ! then saw what was
afterwards too often the case-men with
wounded legs, unable TO move out Of the
line OF fire, MORALLY wounded while lying
helpless.
CHARGING AND COUNTERCHARGING
Our entire brigade thus fought unaided
and alone for at least an hour, charging.
capturing. retreating. and retakng this
fresh regiment as it came forward at
quick step up the slope of the hill. across
the table land of its top, and into the
pine thickets where we were, until We
were as completely broken up into frag-
ments and as hard pressed as men ever
were. IT had got down 10 mere hand-to-
hand fighting of small squads out in the
open and in the pines. There was no re-
relief, no achievements, no fresh troops
to come up or TO fall back on. Luckily.
the enemy was in the same disorganiZed
condition. General Johnston seized the
co!ors of a regiment, and on horseback
led a charge, eXcusing 1t afterwards on
the ground Of its being necessary at that
moment TO give a personal example. our
colonel. Jackson. with only two aides,
Colonies Jones and Marshall, both suisse
quently killed frequently rode slowly and
without the slightest cheering along our
front, encouraging us by his quiet pres
ence. He held aloft his left or bride
hand, as If he were invoking a blessing
as many supposed but really TO ease his
intense pain, for a bullet had badly shat
tered two of his fingers. 70 which he had
never alluded, and 1t had been forgotten.
This was the only time he was ever
wounded until his fall in action in 1853.
Thus the fate OF the day hung i'm the
balance at 2:30 p. NJ. Both sides were
exhausted and ready to say Enough
The critical moment which comes in all
actions had arrived. when We saw to
our left a cloud of dust, and out of 1t
emerged a struggling line Of men with
guns held at trail" Slowly they
came on TO the field, not from the want
of spirit, but tired out by "double-quick-
ing" in the heat and dust. As they pass
ed through and by oar squads there were
hurried inquiries; the enemy were point
ed out to them, and when seen from out
of their dusty and parched threats came
the first rebel yell" II was a fierce
wild cry. perfectly involuntary, and
caused by the emotion of catching first
sight of the enemy These new troops
were Kirby Smiths delayed men; the
train had that morning broken down, but
on arriving at a near station and hear
ing the sound Of fighting, he had ordered
the train stopped. and forming into line
and rapidly marching, guided only by the
roar of the guns. had arrived or the field
at the supreme moment.
THE ENEMY ROUTED.
The "yer" attracted the attention Of
the enemy, and surprised and startled
them. Inspired by the sight OF Federals,
the fresh Confederate troops, in one
long line, with volley and another yell,
swept down the slope of our hill and drove
before them the tired, broken enemy
who had been at it since sunrise. Kirb,
Smith was shot from his horse. but on
ward they went, irresistibly, for there
was no opposition; the enemy stood for
q few moments firing. then turned their
IL