Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-09-30

ing. Srahie, a short, fat, red-faced
man with corlxscrew curls, could never
get through a sentence without stutter-
ing, except at giving the word of COM
mand, when, strange TO say, his orders
came clear and regular as shots from n
repeating rife
''Wh-wh-at's up?"
"Johnnies, lots of them, down the
road, coming right along"
I've only h-h-h-andful of men,"
"And I've only a guard"
az tell YOU what, licutenant"-n no bet
ter man than Snaffie ever drew a saber
you go back and get ready TO run,
and I'll take my little command and
make show on the road up there.
When you're ready, send me word and
I'll fall back. Then maybe we can get
up into ravine IN the ridge and fight"
lie had scarcely spoken the last
word before ! was out of hearing APP !
preaching the plantation, I was sur
prised TO see the yard full of armed |
men. Not knowing but that they were |
confederates, pulled up, but in an
other moment caught sight Of their
| flag. IT was no stars and bars, but the
real "Old Glory" and i confess / had
never seen il look so beautiful. Dash
| ing on and into the gateway, ] shouted:
1.-THE johnnies are on usi" but before j
could give any explanation there was
Gathering of hoofs, and Snaf1ie with his
men came tearing along. followed by
the enemy.
| Our men, having just come in, were
| all in the saddle, and soon formed in
line of battle. On the right was Col.
Wilton, tall soldierly man with beak
nose and a black. cleaning eye, COM
manding 4 regiment of 200 men-not
fourth of its original strength, for it
had been thinned by war. Next was the
remains of regiment-its complement
had been killed or captured at Chicka-
mauga-under a jolly. roistering Irish
man, Lieut.. Col. Rourle. On the left
of Rourlle's Irish boys was n somber,
-bushy-whislered German, Maj. Ping,
who had studied the art Of war in Prus-
STA, and whose men had studied the art
of plumber in Missouri. Snafiie's men,
painting IKE hungry stags, were hastily
formed on the extreme left. All eyes
were turned to the general, to learn
whether he would surrender or fight.
He waited till force equal to our own
was in the yard, leaving as many out
= side, then. drawing his sword, gave
the order
Charged"
The initial force was with our men.
The enemy, being on the defensive,
half formed, surprised at an attack
!, when they supposed we were waiting
TO surrender, soon became entanged
j with one another. Those nearest the
gate tried to get back through it.
Those on the outside, seeing their CON-
rades charged, endeavored to join
them, those within trying TO get out,
those without trying to get in, those
in the passage packed like pigs in pen.
maintained my place by the genera.
= so far as could, but it was impossible
to keep close to anyone. was jostlec
and knocked about, and narrowly es
capped being sabered or shot by our OWL
men. Then ] was turned round Will
my face to the house. Borne backward
by the confederates and our own mel
mingled, saw Margaret Beach at tn
:. window of her mothers room, unmind
full Of the stray bullets that occasionally
struck near her, watching the fight
Her eyes, noticed, were following tn
general wherever he went. Raisin,
mine to the room where she had beer
= confined, there at the window. ghos
from another world, a melancholy al
tendant on death at the carnival,
presiding ghoul over the massacre O
men, was pale face with eager sunke,
- eyes-the same ] had seen before
Then some one dashed against my hors
and set him spinning like teetotum.
= Confusion worse COMPOUNDED reignel
Orr men could do nothing but shoe
hack. pcnnes. each man fighting o
"a his own hook. At last troop of COZ
- federates were separated from the res
10 driven to the rear, and captured. II
g. enemy without began to tear down Il
- fence on one side, buA the general SCI
- Rourlxe to beat them off. The f0i-
-. that had effected an entrance was d
-, pleted. The general by slxillful mo
a; brought Pings and Snaffle's conmar'
Re together behind WiltOn's and, orde
~ ing Wilton to divide in the center, Sc
~ the united forces charging betwe'
NO the wings.
tbs finished the fight. A few co
Hs federates got out. the rest were tral
l pied. shot or taken prisoner. Then I
os panic was communicated to those wit
out. The general rode out. follow
- by the whole command. and CO
JOY menced q pursuit that carried some
our men Tniles away.