The National tribune., 1901-06-06

the ravine. Then and there the turn
ing business was abandoned on that part
| of the field. The Federals next turned
| their attention mainly to our center, but
it was mo CO." Their next move was
to mass a formidable force on our right,
which they viciously, and with apparent
determination, attacked. Right there oc-
Burbridge's smoked Yankees" were or
| dered up against Cosby's line, and met
with an exceedingly warm, if not hos
pitable, reception. Possibly the "Afri-
cans" might have tarried longer and made
the affair more interesting to Cosby had
not the Kentucllians, forming the right
center, been in excellent position to pour
into their ranks a most destructive and
dcmOraliZing croSs-fire. The colOred
troops, who, by the way, fought nobly,"
very sensibly retired-leaving the field
with such alacrity that their invisible
ness" was seemingly the result of some
| incomprehensible magical process.
After the mysterious disappearance of
the "colored cOntrabands," we became in
| terested in the movements Of a body of
Federal cavalry whose evolutions and
charge by way of the bridge, a la Lodi
or ArcOla. They moved toward the bridge,
but declined the Kentuckians' loudly-ex-
pressed invitation to come on"
In the afternoon Gen. Duke and Col.
Witcher executed a flank movement
moving around and beyond the extreme
left of Stoneman's line. Somewhere en-
route, they found themselves ''up against
the ''cullud gemmen," who, however,
made little attempt to Obstruct the way.
In fact, the unexpected 'apparition" had
about the same effect upon them as the
appearance of a hawk has upon little
chicks-they were scared, and for the Sec
ond time that day became magically in
visible. Now, this pleasantly is not in
tended as a reflection on the colored peo-
pie. Under the same conditions and en-
vironment l would have gone and done
likewise" l have an abiding love for the
''colored population" When a child /
was nursed by good chocolate-cOlored
nanny" who wore the inevitable red
bandana turban. Peace to her soul, In
my youth played marbles and went
a-fshin' with ''comrade" negro boys on
Sundays. | have danced with them by
the light of the moon, Old Sambo playing
the banjo. tip my hat to ''cullud gem
man" today just as politely as to Cau-
casian-if the "darky" shows a disposi-
tion to exchange q like civility, and, 1
may add, he generally does. However. the
African has always been more or less su-
perstitious - afraid of 'apparitions. -
ghosts or 'ghostesses." But / am di-
crossing.
Gen. Stoneman himself narrowly es-
capped capture when Duke and Witcher
were investigating" his left and rear.
Just before dark we beheld a blue col
umn, followed by a wagon train, coming
| from the direction of Wytheville Later
we learned that this was a part of Gil
lem's Brigade, which StOneman had sent
down Rich Valley TO destroy the Salt
works, while we were being entertained
IV gf L
, self hard pressed, he had, as we supposed,
recalled Gen. Gillem's detachment
When night came there was cessation
of active hostilities, but the rain and cold
increased. We had been in the rain, cold
and mud two days, fighting much of the
time, with very little to eat. However, on
this Sunday night we were served with
| rations, not too plentiful, which had been
cooked by the women OF Marion.
ENIGMATICAL sTRATEGIcs.
After nightfall Gen. Breckenridge Or
dered his Kentuckians to withdraw from
their line of battle and move out on the
road to Marion. On account of the rain.
cold and darkness, and the proximity of
the enemy, this was a difficult and some
what dangerous movement to make 1t
was not until the "sma' i:ours ayant the
| twal' that the withdrawal was success
| fully accomplished, there being some de-
Enltory firing while we were executing the
change o. base. The movement was in
comprehensive to officers and men. Anx-
| iously the query went out, what does
this mean" Some thought we were GO
ing to Saltyille; others, that Gen. Breck-
inridge was simply attempting to execute
| strategical manuver. The consensus
opinion of the rank and file, however, was
that we should have retained our posi-
| ton. Before the close of the battle Gen.