The National tribune., 1901-08-29

by him in making preparation for the
casualty which he apprehended, so took
possession of the writer as to make him
feel that his time had in truth arrived,
and God, In His mercy, had given him
some prsmonition of it.
Some time about midnight Gordon's
command began to pass our camp. 1t
crept along so silently that it was in our
midst before we were aware OF it. We
| followed in the rear, passed over the
mountain and on the east side found the
infantry column at a halt. We moved
to the front OF the column and found our
selves but short distance from the river.
| Gen. Gordon was in earnest conversa-
ton with a scout who had just come in
from the north side as we came up.
Turning to Gen. Payne he said that
the scout reported a movement Of the en-
emy's camp that day, and that troops
were located on the road we were to pur-
sue, and that instead of risking a whole
regiment on the expedition TO Belle Grove
a squadron only should be sent, giving
to it the same instructions as previously
given to the officers in command Of the
regiment.
Gen. Payne instructed the officer in
command to send forward the best squad
ron he had in advance, with instruc-
tons to charge the ford and keep up the
charge until Belle Grove was reached
or such opposition encountered as It was
!
! The squadron, commanded by Lieut.
Browning, was the one selected to lead
/ the attack. and as we sat on our horses,
side by side, giving to him the instructions
we had previously received, we felt that
it would be our last interview. 1t was
calm, clear, still night in the Fail.
/ Never before did We see so many stars
in the heavens as there appeared to DO
that night. 1t Was SO still you could hear
/ the murmur Of the water of the Shan
andoah hundreds Of yards away.
The time had come, and everything was
ready for the attack. Gordon was in
place in front Of Bowman Ford. Ker-
mill, ready to rush across Cedar Greek
and take the enemy's works on their left
flank. Wharton's Division Of Infantry
and all the artillery had followed the
turnpike and had halted as near Cedar
/ Creek as possible, ready to rush across
when the front should be uncovered by
the flank movement Of Gordon and Ker
shaw. Rosser was on the back road and
Lomax had come down the Page valley
and was to attack on the Winchester and
Front Royal turnpike.
THE BATTLE ON.
The attack began with Gordon. We
crept down as close to the ford as possible
before beginning the charge. With the
uISI udSu VI tue HOISeS iut CudlcHSt Oh
the picket on the other side and the sharp
crack of the carbines rang out clear on
the morning air, but we charged on
through the river, passed the reserves, at
which point a few shots were fired. We
followed the road toward Middletown.
The residue of the regiment followed at
4 galiop.
About a mile or more from the river
we heard the advance squadron engaging
strong picket force. and presently
courier returned stating that it had en-
countered force posted in the woods in
the front, too powerful to overcome.
Sending the courier to report to Gems
Payne and Gordon in the rear, hs soon
returned with orders to the officers in
command of the regiment to charge what
ever force was posted in the woods.
We were now approaching the woods,
when, within about 200 yards distance,
a blaze Of fire ran along the edge of the
woods where the enemy were posted, the
bugle sounded the charge, and the next
moment we had passed through the line
of fire, leaving our foes in the rear and
pursuing our onward course.
Just at this time we heard Kershaw's
Division charge the Federal works above
US. Never before did we hear such a
volley of musketry as was delivered by
this division. Above we have referred to
the stiffness of the morning. The volley
VI uuShGlly lLOul hGISHd" ulNlSlOA
seemed to wake the stiffness from one end
OF the valley to the other. 1t was not
ushered in by a few preliminary shots, !
as was generally the case, but it was a
prolonged roll, without cessation, for ap- |
parently five minutes. After the volley |
was over the echo OF it seemed to roll |
back and forth over the valley a half |
dozen OF more times. When it had once
died away it would return to you again !
from another direction.
Passing through the woods where we
were for a time delayed, we came to a
large open field or fields, which extended |
well along the right to the turnpike south |
of and near the village.
This open country was covered with |
small shelter tents OF the Federal sol |
diers. They were hurrying for them, the |
long roll was beating and the bugle sound |
ing the assembly in every direction. We
halted for a moment, hesitating what TO
do. Day was now breaking. We had |
moved at a galIop all the way from the !
vance Of the infantry, which we had left |
on the south bank. But greatly were we
on looking back, to find Cor |
don's Division in line of battle imme-
diately in our rear, sweeping on to the |
front. How they got there so quickly will |
ever remain mystery to US.
About this time we encountered the 9Th |
another direction, and each mistaking the .
other for the enemy, engaged for time
in a lively set-tO. which resulted in some |
loss to both. However, the mistake was
rectifed, and we together dashed over the |
fields covered with the small tents, yell
ing, shouting, shooting, capturing prison.
ers and plumber of all SORTS We had |
never seen the like before. Presently we
reached the turnpike, near which was a
park of artillery, all of which fell into
our hands. Up to this time we had en-
countered but little opposition The Val
ley turnpike was filed with a stream of |
fugitives and wheeled vehicles of all .
sorts making to the rear Our cavalry
followed this stream of refugees, captur-
ing them, shooting down horses and We
hicles and overturning others to block up
he highway; but while we were pursu-
ing the fugitives down the pike and
through the villages, we spied corps
Of Federal soldiers in position on a ridge
to the left of the valley, which, regard
ess of the fact that we were intermingled
with their own men, opened a very Sc
we're fire upon us, which arrested our pro-
sress.
GoRDoN's THREE DIVISIONS.
We first struck the enemy's encamp- |,
lIent near the Cooley house. and here
Gordon formed his three divisions in line
II battle and furiously assaulted the Eighth
Corps of the Federals Crooks and drove
t in rOut and confusion across the turn
bike.
In the meantime Kershaw had by his
assault driven the Nineteenth Corps from |
he breastwOrks, and opened the way for I