The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-09-05

Garnett, owing to Winder's death anC
the change of division commanders in thu
field, and before II was done Gen. Banks
contrary to the orders of his superior, per
| haps, advanced his whole line of battle
to the attack, although numerically weak
er than Gen. Jackson.
The two brigades of Augur's Division
with battalion of the Sth and 18th U
s. Regulars, under Capt. Pitcher, thrown
| forward as skirmishers, advanced in the
center through the cornfeld on what IL
now the Smoot farm, and assailed Early
vigorously. He was sOrely pressed by
| these two brigades OF Geary and Prince
for time, and being reinforced by Italia
ferro's Brigade on the left and a portion
of Thomas's Georgia Brigade of Hills
Division on the right, the progress Of the
Federal advance was soon arrested. The
Federal line was also reinforced by
Greene's Brigade, which was put in on
the left as a support to Prince. The CON
test in and In front of this cornfeld was
for a time stubborn and sanguinary. The
Federal loss was very serious for the num-
bers and the time the engagement lasted
Gen. Prince, in an effort to rally his
broken command, was taken prisoner II
this field by private of the % Va, sur
rendering his sword, however, to Gen.
Taliaferro.
But the Confederates were not so for
tunate on their left. Before this portion
of their line could be extended and rein
forced the Federals advanced. The two
brigades of Crawford and Gordon, con-
stituting the right wing of the forces ne
gagged, the former in advance and about
l 100 strong, the latter, in support and
still farther to the right, were moved for
ard from their position behind the wood
ed hill to the assault on the left flank of
the Confederate army. They moved from
their position across the wheatheld IN
splendid order, with banners flying and
confident step, and entered the woods on
the south of the wheatfield, overlapping
and enveloping the left of the Confederate
lines, broke and routed the major part,
if not the whole, of Garnetts Brigade,
leaving the way open to the Confederate
rear.
The Federals pressed rapidly forward,
and, swinging around to their left, passed
over the ground about where now stands
the Throckmorton house and well nigh
gained the main road. Taliaferro, whose
brigade was engaged with the Federais
in the cornfeld, attempted to change
front to meet this advance on his flank
and rear. Some of his regiments, then
for the first time under fire, became panic
stricken by this destructive fire on their
flank, broke and fed in utter rout- The
artillery ON the extreme left was with
drawn to escape capture
The whole left wing Of the Confederate
army seemed for a time to be broken
and shattered, and suffered great loss.
Every held officer in Garnett's Brigade
had been killed or wounded. 1t was for
a time scene of great confusion Off
GERS were in the melee, trying in vain
to rally their troops Jackson himself
appeared upon the scene, and drawing his
sword, as it is said, for the first and only
time during the war, commanded his men
to rally and follow him against the ad-
yancing columns of the enemy. He re-
manned with his discounted troops till
reminded by Gen. Taliaferro that it was
hardly proper place for the chief officer
in command.
THE TIDE OF BATTLE TURNS.
Just at this juncture the Stonewall Bri-
gade. consisting of the I'd, 4th, 9TH, 9th
and 33d Va, under command of Col. RO-
land, appeared on the field. These regi-
ments had been greatly reduced in num-
bers by the Valley campaign and the
seven days battle in front of Richmond,
but they were stanch veterans of more
than a dozen conflicts, and were not cas-
lily discounted. This brigade was rapidly
deployed in line in the woods on the west
of the road, with its right extended and
left thrown back, and opening its ranks
to allow the fugitives to pass through
boldly moved forward and opened a de-
structive fire on their enemies.
Unfortunately for the Federals, espe-
cially CrawfOrd's Brigade, they had ad
vanced too far from their supports and
suffered their line to become broken up
in their rapid advance, and were not in
Il L.
fresh Confederate brigade. They halted,
attempted to form their lines to meet their
fresh antagonists, but with little avail.
They were swept away before the onses
OF the Stonewall Brigade as chaff before
the wind, with frightful loss.
The battle was at once renewed with
great vjgor. Jackson ordered an advance
of the whole line. Ewell, on the right,
deploying his Alabama regiment as Skin
miShers, moved down from the mountain
slope, and extending his right brigade, I'M
der Trimble, reached CEDAR Run and es
saved to strike the Federal rear on the
north side of the stream, but was pre-
vented from crossing by the obstruction
of an old mill-pond. The I'd and 9th Va.
Cav. the 18th having been detached to
guard the left toward ThOroughfare Noun
tain and the 9TH sent to Madison Court
Housed, moved down the valley of the
the space between Early and Ewell.
Ewell, finding that he could not cross
the run, turned Trimble's Brigade on the
Federal batteries ON the left of their line.
The valley Immediately in their front was
so completely swept by the Confederate
batteries on the slope of the mountain
that Trimble's troops could not pass over
it till staff officer had been dispatched
TO order a cessation Of their fire. In the
meantime the Federal batteries had been
withdrawn and the left was in retreat
Gen. Branch coming on the field with
his splendid brigade of North Carolinians
about the time of the, Confederate ad-
vance was ordered to the support of the
Stonewall Brigade, and formed his line
in the woods on the left at right angles
10 the road, followed by Penders Bri-
gade, moving in column still farther to
the left. Taliaferro's Brigade was quick
ly rallied on the right. Many of Gar
nctt's men came back to the field and
fell in with the Stonewall Brigade, which,
with Branch's Brigade. moved rapidly for
ward through the woods. and entering the
wheatfield passed over the high ground
closing in toward the road, and by we'll
directed vOlleys crushed in and routed the
Federal right with great loss of life, es-
pccially in CrawfGrd's Brigade, which, in
killed, wounded and missing, lost more
than half their number; S67 out of $40
taken into battle. GOrdon's Brigade also
suffered severely.
fortunes of the hour by a charge of cav
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