The Portland daily press., 1900-09-06


of supports being cIose at hand. But no
reinforcements came and the First Maine
found themselves long way In rear OF
the enemy's lines, surrounded on all sides
and totally unsupported.
Not until after they had wheeled and
halted, did the COnfederatas take in the
situation then they imediately began to
rally to the edges of the woods and opened
a scattering but brisk fire which became
SO annoying, Colonel Smith dlsmOunted
part OF his men and returned their TIRE,
the men making breastWOrk of their
horses and resting their carbin9s across
their backs for better aim. At the same
time the enemy returned from the woods
on the right and took possession OF the
deserted guns.
The field in the rear OF the battery was
4 a long one, and about tWo-thirds as wide
as long, thickly wooded on two sides and
one md. The regiment was in cul de
sac,- The only way out was by the way
they went in, either over those guns, or
by the opposite side of the Barbour house.
The enemy being in possession OF both,
as they largely Outnumbered the regi-
ment, the situation was critical. Colonel
Smith looked and acted as cool as though
on dress parade. AS soon as he had raj
lied his scattered men, he remOunted the
regiment, formed SquadrOns and moved
directly towards those guns which the
enemy had by this time, succeeded In
j
ing on the regiment The Colonel was
keenly watching the motions OF the gun
ners and the instant they were ready to
ire. the order came, loud and stern,
"tOurs right, gallopl'' The order was
given at exactly the right time for the
squadrons had barely gained their width
in distance to the righU, when that shrek
Ing mass OF iron went tearing by their
rear, Not man or horse was injured.
Immediately came the order, "Fours left
Fr1rrk t,n
Ing by the opposite side OF the Barbour
house, into the Held beyond; scattering
the force that tried to oppose their pas
sage out.
Colonel Smith received a great deal Of
credit for extricating the regiment from
Its hazardous situation, by his quick com
prehens1on OF the emergency, cOoIness
OF decision, ana promptness to act under
such difficult circumstances.
The writer's idea of the time occupied
} in the charge and fight Is rather vague.
He interviewed several officers and men
of the regiment with no result; no two
agreed. At last he found man who
kept a diary and noted the time that
night. 1t was nearly or quite two and a
half hours from the time they debouched
from the woods until their return to the
Union lines. This man was wounded.
AS we charged through the rebel supports
in rear of the captured guns on the hill,
a rebel cavalryman struck him furious
blow with his sabre, which broke down
his guard, laid open the top Of his head,
and knocked him senseless to the ground.
when he came to himself, his horse was
standing within twenty feet OF him. lie
was surrounded by the enemy. He quiet
ly arose, mounted his horse and rode, at
a walk, toward our lines The enemy
were SO busy and excited, none or them
noticed him, and he came in all right.
He wears the scar caused by that blow
now.
The loss of the regiment was reported
to be forty killed, wounded and miss
ing, mostly missing.
Before the Regiment passed through the
opening, lieutenant discovered his horse
showing symptoms OF distress and ex-
hausti0n After they gained the Held,
and no enemy appearing, he slowed down
and fell in the rear, allowing quite gap
to intervene between the regiment and
and himself -all this IN order to favor his
horse. Feeling safe as he advanced
towards the Union lines, he began TO
congratulate himself that he had not been
wounded or received any injury In the
fight when, zip-ziD-zip. went several
bullets past him. Quickly glanclng back
he saw eight or ten OF the enemy S cav.
airy tearing after him from the woods on
his left, to Intercept him from his regi-
ment. A man in citizens clothes, far
in advance of the others, was the one
who opened fire upon him at long range.
Had he reserved his fire little longer
they might have approached con sidera-
bly, nearer before being discovered. The
lieutenant spurred his horse savagely, and
turning a little to the right to bring the
enemy more in the rear, went forward
full speed, throwing himself flat upon his
horses neck, those devils now yelling as
they could yell. The lieutenant expert
enced a sudden and violent revulsiOn of
feeling. Instead Of self. congratulations,
visions of Libby prison doomed up be-
fore him. In a moment more he arrived
at little brook ana saw sitting beside
it man of his own company, who had
been shot through the thigh, had cut
away his trousers and was scOOping water
with his hand upon the wound, the blood
yelling out freely.
CHANGING back, the Lieutenant said,
"Quick, give me your hand, Dogea,
can take vou out mo l am too badly
} hurt 1t wound kill me to try. Save
yourself, they will be here in moment. -
This was true. The enemy were ap-
preaching rapidly, and seeing the impOs-
J sibility of saving the man, the Lieutenant
spurred forward again. Halt, you
Z blamed Yankee" came a voice which
sounded uncOmfortably near, but it only
acted as the prick OF spur.
moment afterwards DOgea was
prisoner The enemy did not follow be
yOnd the brook as they were approach
ing too near the Union lines, and besides
the last part Of the way. Perhaps, he
too, had visions Of Libby prison. Three
minutes later he had rejoined his regi
ment, which had halted in the Held, anC
was listening to a complimentary speecl
from General Fitzpatrick.
About the time BufOrd decided to fall
back, Stuart received a courier d1spatcl
from his assistant adjutant general, whom
he had left in charge Of his headq uarter
on Fleetwood Hin, informing him tina
the enemy were in his rear, MARCHING
upon Brandy Station and Fleetwood Hill
from the Kelly's ford road This news
utterly confounded Stuart, who did no
credit it. Turning to a staff officer, b
ordered him to ride back and see what i
all meant, but just then came the sound
of cannonading in the direction Of Brand!
Station, and Ehis sdoubts were removed
Gregg had succeeded in stealing a
, march upon him, and reached the opel
| field (before referred to as the hghtin,
| grOund) ere any of the enemy Wers