The National tribune., 1901-10-17

WE FUND W ELb f.0 A11DM Il BE
this plantation the entire division was
drawn up and massed, and having no Or
ders to advance, We awaited develop
ments.
We were now some two miles in ad-
vance of our main army, with the enemy
or every side except narrow space in
our position was critical indeed, although
no enemy was in sight.
1t was now nearly dark, but all was
quiet until we were suddenly startled by
the sharp, irregular rattle of musketry,
which we knew to be the work of skir-
mishers, and then came fierce volleys in
termingled with the awful roar of scores
of pieces of artillery.
All of this came directly from our rear,
and, although we were unable to under
stand what it all meant, we were very GER
tain that something was wrong. While
we waited, wondering what it all meant,
an orderly came galloping up to where
Gen. BiTney sat on his horse, and handed
him paper. Suddenly the bugle sounded
the assembly; we took our places in line
and were soon on our way to the scene
| of conflict.
We reached the valley through which
we had passed in the afternoon without
having met any opposition, but on ascend
ing the slope, our advance line was sud
| denly confronted by the rebel pickets.
| The firing had ceased by this time, but
we soon began to comprehend that our
division of about six or seven thousand
men vas entirely surrounded by the en-
emy's forces.
Fully realizing our perilous position, we
| threw out pickets in every direction, and
every precaution was taken to secure our
safety.
Not having any particular duty just
| then, | threw myself on the ground.
| WEAKNESS overcame the sense of danger,
and | was soon fast asleep. About mid
night | was rudely awakened by an awful
crash of artillery, mingled with the rattle
o. musketry, coming from the exact point
where our friends ought to have been,
provided we had any, and not more than
40 rods distant. The din was perfectly
awful, and coming as it did in the still
ness of night, its terror seemed tenfold
greater. The firing soon slackened, then
ceased altogether, and all was quiet.
We learned afterward that the firing
was caused by Wards Brigade of our d.
vision, making a night attack on the ell
emy's line, which interviewed between us
and our main line, for the purpose of
opening a communication with our forces
and relieving us from our dangerous and
unpleasant position. This was success
fully accomplished, and the lively visions
of Belle Isle and Libby which we had
entertained faded from our view.
1t was during this assault that the Con.
federate chief 'Stonewall' Jackson was
MORALLY wounded. Nearly every regi
ment engaged in the battle of ChanceIlors
vile has claimed the credit of killing the
rebel chief, but there is scarcely room fol-
doubt that ii was done by some man oil
men of Wards Brigade of Birney's Di
vision of the old Third Corps.
Certain it was that the Confederate
army met with an irreparable loss in hi,
death and whatever advantage they gained
was dearly purchased.
"sToNEwALL" JACKsoN's ASSAULT ON
HowARD's CORPS.
We afterward learned the meaning OF
the fierce encounter of the previous even
ing. 1t was caused by a sudden attacI
by Jackson's Division on the Eleventh
Corps, resulting in its entire defeat anC
rout
Instead Of retreating on Gordonsville
as our officers Vainly imagined, jackson
! had simply marched his forces across gu
front and, having discovered that Howar,
in his fancied security had neglected al
precautions looking toward an attack OF
his part Of the line, he had massed hi
1 army and all Unexpectedly had fallen upol
: the Eleventh Corps and driven it bacl
with terrible slaughter. Those frghtene,
e Dutchmen came rushing to the rear, man,
of them not having fired a shot, shouting
T I'VE fights nit Siegel, but runs NIT How
S ard" In this case. however, the soldier
were not so much to blame for the defeat
, for very few men of any nationality vii
e stand and fight when suddenly and unex
pectedly assailed by determined foe.
, We remained In the little valley wher
we first encountered the enemy on GU
; return from chasing Jackson's baggag