Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-17

1. land Brigade. the Forty-second, the
| Black Watch, the Cold Stream Guards
! the Grenadiers, and the Ninetythird, Sir
Colin Campbell's old regiment, 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
moving and the Nnety-third lay down
Just behind the crest, where they were
better sheltered and concealed. a divi-
sion OF Russian horse was moving to the
left of Sir Collins whole line, md its head
OF column nearly with the British. where
at once four squadrons of Russians-iOl
men-swung quickly out OF column and
struck a galop towards the English po-
sition. Instantly the Highlanders rose
from the ground. and with their tall
forms and towering black pluraes looked
like a line Of giants. The Nlnety-third
was not in touch with either Of the ether
battalions of the brigade. so they stood
and took IT, and when the Russians got
within 300 yards opened fire upon them
and drove them back. They never repeat
ed the charge. This scene has been cele-
brated in song and story as Sir Colin
CampbelPs Thin Red Line" It-was wit
messed by the allied armles-English,
French, and Turkish-and simply astound-
ed the Russians, for both sides saw It,
EXCELLED BY JOHNSTON'S MEN.
But L, myself, with thousands OF others,
saw Johnston North Carolina Brigade
First North Carolina Battalion Sharp
shooters, Fifth North Carolina, Twelfth
North Carolina, Twentieth North Caro-
lima, and Twenty-third North Carolina
regiments-do a thing on September -,
1864 which far exceled in gallantry. IN
firmness. and in heroism this feat Of the
Thin Red Line" and | have never seen
a description Of 1t in print, and l do
not think it was referred TO in the re-
ports l am sure Bob Johnston did not.
for he was as modest as he was handsome
and brave.
In September. 1864 Early's army was
lying about Winchester. We had been
through Maryland and terrified Washing
ton into fits. and had gotten safely back
into Virginia, with thousands Of horses.
cattle, medical stores, and hundreds OF
wagon-loads of eatables OF every kind
l had a cavalry brigade Of wild South
western Nirginian horsemen. as brave
and as undisciplinod as the Virginia
Rangers Colonel Washington surrendered
at Fort Necessity, or Andrews fought
Cornstalk with at Point Pleasant | was
bivouacked-we had no tents About
Valley pike, and DiclIeted from the Val
ley pike 20 the Beryville pike. running
east from Winchester, General Robert ID.
j Johnston. Of North Carolina, had a bril-
gade Of $50 10 1000 muskets on the Berry
Vile pike, on the top OF the ridge run
ming across the road. Ny plchets were
a mile in advance OF his in Ashe Hollow.
Sheridan. with 1900 infantry and 10000
cavalry, lay eight 10 fifteen miles beyond
our picket lines, from Berryville and
Ripon 10 CharestOwn and Halltown. In
Clarke and Jefferson counties. Va. Now,
every morning the Yankee cavalry
would rush my pickets I'm on Johnston's
posts. He would stop them until / got
up, and then I'd drive the Yankees back
and re-establish my original picket posts.
This done, / would send my command
back to camp.
AN AL FRESCO BREAKFAST.
had about so mounted men, and I'd
ride up TO Bob Johnston's headquarters,
which was a wagon under tree, one
camp stool, and a crying pan sizzling with
bacon, and a pot OF I'VE coffee and sOr-
ghum. I'd get my breakfast. But after
q week OF this proceeding L either be-
came mOnOtOnOus or my appetite show
ed no signs of weakening, L lon't know |
which. one morning L dismounCed after |
my usual morning call to boots and sad
die and swung myself very comfortably |
into Johnston's single and only camp |
stool. L smelled the bacon and shifted |
the coffee and waited. In a few moments |
the cook handed me a chip for a plate |
and a tin cup OF red-hot coffee-so hot |
YOU had to sit the cup on the grass, and |
Bob spoke up
Says he: Bradley, You iet those Yam |
KEGS do you too bad. You have got so |
scared OF them that you all run the very |
first dash they mako at you
rs that so, Robert2" said I. That's |
4 pity but | don't know how 20 help IL. |!
do the best / can. How many Yankee |
cavalry do you think YOU are good for?' !
WELL" said he, I've got $50 muskets /
present for duty. BY a weeks time. as |
he boys get back from the hospital, I'll |
have 1000. Well, with 1000 muskets / /
think can take care Of 5000 Yanks on |
horseback"
''All right" said I. "wait and see. 1
nope you cam
SO / got my breakfast and went of. |
nightly tickled at he conceit Of the |
rarheel; for Sheridan's cavalry, with |
Custer. Torbett and Devens, were about |
as good soldiers as over took horse or |
rev sabre. We had drilled them 50 that |
N three years we lad taught them TO
'ide. They were always drilling enough |
o fight. and they learned the uso OF the !
abre from necessity.
Well things went on as usual. Every .
morning Sheridan would send regiment
tut 10 feel Early, TO drive IN his pickets.
10 as to make sure where he was, and %
Know where TO find him. and every morn
ng I'd ride over TO the Berryvlle road.
'e-establish my lines. get my breakfast /
III Johnston, and back 10 sleep.
SHERIDAN'S ADVANCE.
BY daylight. the 18th OF September, a
cared ceyalryman OF my own command
Yearly rode over me, as | lay asleep on
he grass, and reported that the Yankees
we're advancing with heavy force OF
artillery. and cavalry up the
3erryville road. Early was no towards
tephenson's Depot, and Johnston and l
we're responsible for keeping Sheridan
ut Of Winchester. and projecting the |
confederate line OF retreat and Of COM
nunication up the Valley. In two minutes !
ny command was mounted. We always