Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-03-29

my from another direction aud FORM
ing IN hot haste. | now turned i'm
the direction of base To look for NV
support With the exception of some
dozen of my wounded men. impimg
IN the rear, there was not "A Confed-
crate soldier in sight. The view
was unobstrnctrd for mile to the
rear. then perceived that had
stirred up Il hornets nest and big
one, too. But | knew the mettlr Of
my men. Rallking and closing the
men on the centre. | ordered right
about, double quick. We had gone
about one hundred and fifty wards
from the guns which We relinquished
when the first two squadrons of the
enemy came laundering down on us.
Ordering halt, right about.
waited AN instant aud with a steady.
well directed fire i'm their faces check
ed their hcadlong charge, throwing
them into disorder aud emp,ving
some saddles Then taking advnn-
tage of their confusion. NV line
wheeled and we're going again at the
douhle quick. ioading as they ran.
The Fcderals. vino were Clusters men.
reformed their line. aud reinforced
1t by what appeared to me to be-
about three Squadrons. The battery
We mad just left uninjured was again
manned and shot aud shell was pour
Ell into rs. apparently doing their
mounted men aS much harm and
damage as it did us. But the enemy
was not lighting with his usual Spl
ii and energy There was no reason
why they should uot have annihilated
my iltIle band. alone and unsupport-
ei as Ne then were. Soon again they
came on us with their sabres glitter
ing in the bright sunshine. Again
| ordered "a halt. and wheeling about
face gave them a second vollry. With
the same result a. the first. Seeing
IA fence short distance off. ordered
the men to take and hold it. Bv the
time my line WAS formed behind the
fence the enemy was on us, aud with
this low fence between us "a desperate
fight took place. Clusters men had
now warmed up to the work. We
were too much exhausted TO retreat.
Many of the enemy forced their
horses over the fence To he either
shot down or knoched rom them
with the butts of our carbines. The
fighting here was fierce and terrible.
They dem mdcd our surrender. Nv
men did not have time TO reload their
carhlneS, but were using them AS
clubs TO ward off the sabre thrusts.
This state of affairs could not last
long, though both sides seemed de-
termlned to fight it out 10 the death,
when suddenly General Wade Hamp-
ton came up like the whir. wind. |
hailed hIm as our deliverer, but just
aS he came 10 where was a she'll
struck his horse, and exploding Sc
verely wounded him. The General
was carried bleeding from the field.
Next the dashing Young, leading the
Cobb Legion, rushed upon the scene,
Il very thuuderholt of war. At this
charge Clusters people broke and
were swept hack for ii considerable
distance, when they in turn were re-
Inforced by another reg ment from
Gregg'S division. Being now rescued
and relieved | hastily reformed nv
men and again al NanCrd on the right
of the Cobb Legion, who are now Ell
gaSrd in hand to hand sabre fight.
We FASTENED TO aid those who had
just saved MS by their charge. form
ing on their right and filling the
space between them and Chambliss's
left. Gregg at once hurled other
fresh regiments IN on the right of
Clusters men. These were in turn
met and checked 10y the jeff Davis
Legion, assisted on their left by the
North Carolina Cavalry, which
charged in gallant sly le. Still other
Federal regiments came laundering
in on our left extending the line of
battle still further in that direction.
1t was now Fitz Lees opportunity.
The brigade came up with the sabre,
each regiment charging IN success
sion, meeting the enemy midway be
tween the woods on our left and his
battery and checking any further