The National tribune., 1901-04-18
FIERCE FRENZY OF BATTLE.
with the Sixth Corps In the Shenandoah
Valley in 1864.

With the Sixth Corps In the ShehandoAh
Valley in 1864.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: We had
been resting for some time in the Shenan-
doah Valley, after hard marching up and
down after Early, and retreating before
him, for it seemed that Sheridan was un-
der strict orders not to bring on a gen.
eral engagement. But after the General
returned from an interview with Grant
we were ordered under arms at once, al
though it was just before dark on Sept.
Is, 1864. Then we were allowed to lie
down and rest beside our arms, equipped
as we were, and TO be ready to march at
moments notice, so anxious was our
great leader to get at the enemy. AT /
O'Clock we started on our march to Win
chester, several miles up the valley, near
which the Confederate army lay.
After crossing Opequon Creek the road
for some distance ran up the deep, mar
row valley of a small tributary stream to
the Opequon, which ran in an almost
straight course in the direction of Win
chester At that time L noticed a deck
or two of cards scattered along our route.
As we marched on / saw more and more
of them, until they lay on the ground in
some places as thick as leaves in Autumn.
The boys knew they were going into bat
tie, and dreaded to die with playing cards
on their persons.
Soon we heard the hoarse music of ar
tillery, followed by the crash of small
arms, and knew the battle had begun, the
first of series fought during the ensuing
month, and ending at Cedar Greek. Our
regiment and the I'd Conn. II. a, of our
brigade, were marched up n side ravinc
and halted, as a reserve. Now and again
a rebel shell would come tearing down
the main ravine, making the dust and
stones fly. A piece of one knocked the
leg off of one of the I'd Conn, who was
lying too near the road.
Part of our corps, the Sixth, had charged
the Confederate center and driven il back
for some distance, until 1t was out-fanked
on both wings, and rushed back as fast
as it went in.
Just then the reserve was called on and
we double-quicked to the front, wheeled
into line, moved to the right into q piece
of open timber, and lay down awaiting a
charge, which the rebs had begun, aimed
at the I'd Conn. III. A., on our right,
formed at a sharp angle to our concealed
line. When the Johnnies got near enough
to present their flank to us, we sprang
up and poured our fire into them, which
caused them to beat a hasty retreat in
great confusion.
Then we made counter-charge through
the woods to an open field, where we
halted. The artillery tried to shell us, but
we were protected by low ridge In our
front. The I'd Conn. II. A. (as good a
regiment as any in the army took po-
sition on our right, but beyond the pro-
lection of the ridge, and were unmerci-
fully shelled. Their Colonel, Mackenzie
"a son Of Capt. Mackenzie, who hanged
the son Of Folks Secretary of War
at seal had not been year out Of West
Point, but he was cool and brave as an
old veteran. l saw him riding slowly
along his front. On reaching the center
Of the regiment one of his officers told
him he had better dismount as the rebel
artillerists were making target Of him.
Just then a large piece of shell passed
through his horse, killing it instantly
and cutting large piece from the leg Of
his trousers. He very quietly stepped from
his fallen horse, showing no excitement,
except by drawing in and biting his lip
Afterwards, as Gen. Mackenzie, he became
a famous Indian fighter, and died, de-.
mented, in 1884.
The ground we now occupied had been
fought over and few wounded and many
dead lay scattered over 1t, and here we
had to lay for an hour or two waiting
for the Eighth Corps to come up, which
by some mistake had gotten In the rear
of the wagon-train.
While waiting l went ever the field In
our front. There were blankets, knap.
GdHlctuS-lu IuQ DelOUS-
ings of a soldier in the field, scattered
among the ghastly dead. / found an Old
Confederate who had q wound In the leg,
and offered to take him to the rear, but
he feared he would be shot by his own
friends, who were now and then sending
a long-range shot In that direction, If I
should raise him out Of the little depres-
sion in which he was "hugging tho ground"
But / succeeded In moving him, at last,
yt-ffh n hn hnl nf thrnn
him to the rear Of our line on q blanket
picked up on the field. Then SAW man
beckoning to me from behind q stump.
He was a little to the left of our pro.
tecting ridge, and within short rifle-range
Of the rebel line at our left, but my file
comrade, f. Millington, and I made
rush and were in the act of lifting him,
when two close shots were made at US;
but we hurried the poor fellow to the rear
BE proved to be a Union soldier, shot
through the abdomen, and we placed him
beside the wounded Confederate.
During this time the rebels made two
charges on the line at our right, the ar
tillery and musketry breaking out In
furious roar on such occasions: but no
change took place In either line until the
two divisions forming the Eighth Corps
came up on our right. They formed in a
single line, about half a mile to our right
II.
and then opened the grandest battle-scenc
it was my good fortune ever to witness.
The whole line was in plain view from
our elevated position as it made one re.
sistless charge. "'Twere worth ten wears
of peaceful life one look at their array
As soon as they started On their mission
OF death the pandemonium of battle broke
forth with awful fury. The rifles kept
up crash and every piece of artillery on
both sides seemed to join in the dreadful
revclry" with terrible energy.
Still the line of the brave Eighth rushed
on. Hundreds Of wounded men were
streaming to the rear, and the ground t6ey
had passed over was dotted over with
their dead and badly-wounded comrades.
Only once they paused for moment; then
with their flags in the front they swept
grandly on and were soon lost to sight be-
hind projecting point of woods, and we
in turn were ordered to charge the enemy
in our front, and started on dOuble-quick
to perform that duty.
The Confederates In our front were
protected by rail-fence, but had only a
thin line. The brave fellows tried to hold
us in check in vain, and held their posi-
ton too long. Some surrendered, while
others tried to escape by running, but
were shot down almost to man. As they
rose from their protecting cover they were
swept away by storm of fire from our
line ONLY three Of them yvara IN foot IN