Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-02-05

Mill. The glory consisted III the trophies
of the battlefield.
The regiment was then in brigade
with Hoods Texans, famous band Of
fighters that carried Off the honors that
day by piercing the Federal center and
deciding the battle. Hoods charge at
Gaines Mill was the first brilliant and
successful feat Of the kind on the bat
tlehelds of the Potomac. Tho day was
going against Lee when the Texans were
ordered in to start something. Every
where in Lees front were lines of breast
works and batteries planted upon
ridges, only to be approached across
wide and swampy ravines In front Of
Hood at the bottom bed Of ravine ran
deep creek with scarped banks an
swering adm irably for ditch. Beyond
it was breastwork heavily manned,
and above that near the crest another
breastwork manned with infantry and
several well served guns. The slope was
covered with thin timber, screening the
Federals from view, but enabling them
to see the charging enemy.
Led by Hood in person, the Fourth
Texas and Eighteenth Georgia together
rushed on through the ravine over
ditch and breastwork up the hill into
the batteries and swarming infantry,
but leaving a bloody trail behind them.
Colonel Marshall Of the Fourth was
killed instantly, but General Hood and
Colonel Ruff of the Eighteenth Georgia
escaped. Fourteen cannon were cap
tured in the charge, and nine of them
credited to the Georgians.
Gaines Mill might have had q differ
ent history if the attack Of Hood at the
center had been delayed or had failed.
Re-enforoements for the Federal line
were within hail, but the rush of the
Texans over the works in fall view Of
the army almost caused a panic, for the
Federals were largely outnumbered all
over the field.
The Eighteenth was spared further
slaughter throughout the seven days
battles, although it was engaged several
times. It's next bloody affair was with
the Texans at second Manassas. In that
battle Hood commanded one of Long
streets divisions and was in the thick
of the fighting which saved jackson
from destruction on Aug. 20 and 80.
Overboldness had placed jackson in a
trap, and Longstreet saved him ON both
days. After dark set in on the 29th the
regiment, led by Colonel Wofford,
charged a ravine held by Hatch's bri-
gade, drove the enemy and captured a
trophy in the shape Of battlehag be-
longing to the Twenty fourth New
York
Next day came the tug of war to de-
eide who should hold Manassas. Jack
son was being overwhelmed by Pope
and Fitz-John Porter's corps came up
on the flank Of jackson to give the fin
ishing stroke when Hoods division, led
by the Texan brigade, dashed into the
flank of Porter. The Georgians ran
against the Tenth New York zouaves,
skirmishing in front of the Fifth New
York zouaves, the two regiments con-
stituting General Warren's demibri-
gade. Warren was in support Of Haz-
lifts battery, the bulwark then Of Por-
ter's flank and of the flank of the army
The Tenth New York held its ground
until overrun, then in pursuit, cheered
by the capture of the flag Of the Tenth
by Private William Kay, the Georgians
rushed upon Duryea's sturdy zouaves,
the Fifth New York
The Duryea's had had warning and
were in solid line but the Georgians
struck them diagonally, compelling
them to bend back the line and fight
from two facings. In this manner they
covered the battery and stood there I'M
til over 400 of their number fell in their
tracks, over 100 of them killed. Orders
to retreat were given before the line
was annihilated, but the officers who
attempted to repeat them along the
ranks were killed before they could
make the orders heard. The Georgians
swept ON over the PROSTATE zouaves,
and the color bearer mounted one of the
guns and waved his battleflag to cheer
on the handful remaining.
Closing up its gaping ranks, the regi-
ment dashed on to a second battery.
The indomitable color bearer, Sergeant
Weems, led the column and was shot
down within 40 PAGES of the second row
of guns. Two others fell in attempting
to keep the flag afloat. Blindly rushing
Oh, the GeoTgians found themselves
alone in the midst of two Federal regi.
ments Colonel Woford withdrew his
remnant to the old line. Lieutenant
Colonel Ruff and the major had been
wounded. The loss in the ranks that
day was 81 killed and 81 wounded. The
most of this occurred in the struggle
with the Zouayes.
Two weeks after Manassas Hoods di-
vision together with Stonewall Jack
sons old command, bore the brunt of
the terrible fighting between the cast
and west woods at Antietam. The space
between these two pieces of woods in
front Of bunker church was partly pas
ture and meadow, partly stubble and
partly COZ cred with tall standing corn
that is, the corn was standing when the
battle opened. After successive charges
by the Federal divisions of Meade and
Williams and those of jackson and Law