The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-09-26
TARHEELs. THIN GRAY LINE



by North Carolfuians
Colin Campbelrs Highlanders Outdone
by North Carolinians.
Can incident OF the battle OF Win
chester. Va, that surpasses the Nine
ty-third Regiments famous stand on
the morning OF Balaklava-How Cen
eral Robert d. Johnson repealed re-
peated charges OF yankee cavalry far
outnumbering his attenueted brigade
AS told by General Bradley Johnson.)
at h battle of Balakava occurred
an accident which Kingiike has painted
in words and thus immortalized. The
Highland Brigade. the Forty-second,
the Black Watch. the Cold Stream
Guards h Grenadiers and the Ninety
third, Sir Colin CampbelPs old regi-
ment were in position which threw the
Ninety-third just along the crest OF a
slight rise OF the ground.
The Russian artillery had become an
noying and the Ninety-third lay down
just behind h crest, where they were
better sheltered and concealed. A d.
vision Of Russian horse was moving to
the left of Sir Collins whole line. and
its head OF column nearly with the
British, where at once four sQuadrons
OF Russians, 400 men, swung quickly
out of column, n Struck a gallop to-
wards the English position. Instantly
the Highlanders rose from the ground.
and with their tall forms and towering
black plumes looked like a line OF
giants. The Ninety-third was not in
touch with either of the othersbattal-
ions of the brigade, so they stood and
took it and when the Russians got
within 300 yards opened fire o them.
and drove them back. They never re-
peated the charge. This scene has
been celebrated in song and story as
Sir Colin Campbelrs Thin Red Line"
1t was witnessed by the allied armies.
English French and Turkish. and sim
ply ~astounded the Russians, for both
sides saw it.
EXCELLED BY JOHNSTON'S MEN.
But I myself, with thousands Of 9TH
ers, saw Johnston's North Carolina Bril-
gade-Ffrst n. c., Battalion Sharp
Shooters, Fifth N. c., Twelfth N. c.
Twentieth n. c., and Twenty-third N.
c. ~regiments-do a thing on September
18th, 1864, which far excelled in gall
lantry, in firmness, and in heroism this
feat of the Thin Red Line" and I
ave never seen a description of it in
print, and I do not think 1t was referred
to in the reports. l am sure Bot Johns
ton did not. for he was as modest as
he was handsome and raw
In September, 1864, Early's army was
lying about Winchester. We had been
through Maryland, and terrified Wash
ington into fits, and had gotten safely
back into Virginia, with thousands Of
horses, cattle, medical stores and nun
dreds of wagon loads Of eatables Of
every kind. / had a cavalry brigade OF
wild southwestern Virginia horsemen,
as brave and as undisciplined as the
Virginia Rangers Colonel Washington
surrendered at Fort Necessity, or An
drews fought Cornstalk with at Point
Pleasant. I was bivouacked-we had
no tents. About three miles north Of
Winchester, on the Valley pike, and
picketed from the Valley pige, to the
Berryville pike, running east from Win
chester, General Robert D.. Johnston,
of North Carolina, had a brigade of 500
to 1000 muskets on the Berryville pike,
on the top of the ridge running across
the road. My pickets were a mile in
dvanc of his in Ashe Hollow. Sheri-
dan, with $1,000 infantry and 10000 cav
airy lay eight to fifteen miles beyond
our picket lines, from Berryville and
Ripon to Charlestown, and Halltown,
; in Clark and Jefferson counties, Vir-
| ginia. Now, every morning the yankee
| cavalry would rush my pickets in on
Johnston's posts. He would stop then
until 1 got up, and then I'd drive the
yankees back n reestablish my orr
| ginal picket posts. This done 1 would
send my command back to camp.
AN AL FRESCO BREAKFAST.
1 had about 800 mounted men, and
I'd ride up to Bob Johnston's head.
quarters, which was a wagon under q
tree, one camp stool and a frying par
Sizing with bacon, and a pot of rye
coffee and sorghum. I'd get my break
fast. But after a week of this proceed,
ing it either became monotonous or my
appetite showed no signs of weakening
I don't know which. One morning
dismounted after my usual mornin,
call to boots and saddle and swung my
self very comfortably into Johnston
single and only camp STOOL. I smelleC
the bacon and shifted the coffee AM
waited. In a few moments the cool
handed me a chip for a plate and
tin cup of red hot coffee, so hot yo,
had to sit the cup on the grass, AM
Bob spoke UP.
Says he: Bradley, you let thos
yankees do you too bad. You hav
got so scared Of them that you all run.
els that so, Robert?" said I. That
a pity, but I don't know how to help 4,
I do the best I can. How many yam
kee cavalry do you think you are goo
for?"
WELL" said he, I've got 800 musket
present for duty. BY a weeks time, a
the boys get back from the hospital
I'll have 1000. Well, with 1000 musket
I think I "a take care of 5000 yank
on horseback"
"All right" said I, wait and see.
hope you can"
SO I got my breakfast and ven OF
nightly tickled at the conceit Of tn
Tar Heel; for Sheridan's Cavalry, wit
Custer, Torbett and Devens, were abou
as good soldiers as I'VE took horse o
drew sabre. We had drilled them s
that in three years we had taught ther
to ride. They were always drillin
enought to fight and they learned tn
use Of the sabre from necessity.
Well, things went on as usual. Ever,
morning Sheridan would send a regi
ment out to feel Early, to drive in hi
pickets. so as to make sure where h
was, and to know where to find him
and every morning I'd ride over to tn
Berryville road, re-establish my lines
get my breakfast off Of Johnston, an,
back to sleep.
SHERIDAN'S ADVANCE.
By daylight, the 18th OF September
a scared c~avalryman OF my Own com