The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-07-27

/ crossing" and we were soon under
arms on our way to the ford. Emerg-
ing on the turnpike, we we're halted
to support battery; skirmishers were
thrown out, and soon we we're all en-
| gagged. We tried hard to hold Patter-
son until Gen. Johnston could come
up from Winchester, but were forced
back, and here we saw Col. Jackson
under fire for the first time. Stolid,
imperturbable, undisturbed, he was
watched by every eye, and his ex-
ample was quieting and Of decided
moral effect. There for the first time
we saw the long line of blue with the
United States flag in the center, and
both sides exchanged shots, and at a
small hamlet called Bunker Hill"
some seven miles away, we, during
the whole of July 4, we're in line Of
battle, expecting Patterson hourly.
The next evening we fell back upon
Winchester, and after our arrival
ther, happened an episode which [
will relate briefly, as it was the first
and only attempt at mutiny that
was ever heard Of in the Confederate
army.
About 3 clock on the afternoon Of
the 18th of July the long roll was
beaten and we were marched to an
adjoining field, crushing under our
feet, as we moved along, the stone
fences bounding it. There we found
our five regiments surrounding num-
Der of tents, and when the "hollow
square was perfect, we became aware
that we had enclosed battalion Of
troops who had refused positively to
further obey their commander. Gen.
Johnston adjutant, Col. Whiting,
with Col. Jackson and the colonel of
the refractory troops rode up into the
square; the drums were ordered to
beat the assembly, and, to our infinite
relief, the battalion, under command
of its several captains, fell into line
at ence. Then there was a dead
silence; this was a mutiny. What
came next? How was it to be punish
eb? Was every tenth man to be shot,
or only the officers? AS I rode along
heard these questions asked by both
rank and file. Col. Whiting rode to
the front with paper in his hand,
and, when he arrived at the head Of
the troops, he read aloud with marked
emphasis, in substance, as follows:
That Gen. Johnston had heard with
regret and surprise that, on the eve
of an action, both men and officers
had refused to obey the orders of
their commander. He could only say
that it was the imperative duty Of all
soldiers to obey orders; that their
grievances would be redressed in time,
but such an example would and should
not go unpunished. He, therefore,
expected Of them instant obedience of
their colonel's orders; that Col. Jack
son with FIVE regiments was there to
enforce, if needed, his commands.
Their own colonel then put them
through their evolutions for SO many
minutes, and they were ordered back
to their tents, and all was quiet. 1t
seems hardly necessary to state that
those were the last orders ever given
by that colonel, as he was removed
from command.
All of Gen. Johnston's army were
then encamped around Winchester,
when, on the 18th Of July, at 3 o'clock
in the afternoon, again the long-roll
was sounded. From the number of
officers and men galloping
furiously off to every encampment, it
was evident that there was important
news. Gen. Patterson was known to
be at Charlestown, twenty miles
northeast, but nearer to the passes OF
The Blue Ridge than we were. Gen.
Beauregard was known to be at Ma
nassas Station, far to the east, eighty
miles by direct line, with the Blue
Ridge and the Shenandoah River be-
tween him and us. Soon the news
came; it was not an order, but simply
! message, from Gen. Johnston to
each brigade, regiment and individual
soldier, that Gen. Beauregard had
Just notified him from Manassas
Junction, on that morning at day
break, he had been attacked by an
force of the enemy
ron Centreville. He was holding
lis own, but needed help. Gen.
Johnston had started, and would go,
lay and night, to his relief; and he