The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1902-08-07

DEPLOYING UNDER FIRE.
we saw a cloud of dust from the di-
rection of Washington and column
of infantry had filed into the trenches
on the right and left and regiment
was sent to the front as skirmishers.
We saw the men deploy with preci-
sion, and Rhodes remarked: Those
are not hundred-day men. They are
old soldiers"
The deploying of that regiment with
precision, and under fire from the con-
federates, convinced Early and Rhodes
that portion of Grants army of vet
Grams had arrived. Early hesitated to
attack veterans, from the army of the
Potomac, behind strong entrench-
ments> His hesitation was the saliva
ton of the city. Not until three
o'clock that afternoon did a soldier
from the sixth corps reach the city.
cit was the work of Divine Provi-
dence,' says Col. S. E. Chamberlain,
the veteran who commanded the regi-
ment that Early saw deploying with
tain and in command of the regiment
that day, and as the years have passed
away l have grown to regard it as an
act of Providence that there should
have been sent there, at that impor-
tant moment, our veteran regiment,
which deceived Early and stopped his
whole army. We had only skeleton
of a regiment, some thing like 500 men,
and had been sent to Camp Stoneman.
near Washington, to be remounted.
Thus it happened that we were near
by, and were ordered to Fort Stevens.
The confederates had taken possession
of the houses within rifle range of the
fort, and we went out to dislodge them
and destroy the houses. That was the
movement that Early saw. We
marched out like veterans that we
were, drove the confederate sharp
We did this in the presence of the con-
federate army, and it was the GOODNESS
and audacity of the movement that
convinced Gen. Early that back of that
regiment was an army of veterans.
We were the Twenty-ffth New York
cavalry. My diary shows:
July 1L-Ordered out as skirmishers at
two p. m Rebs within rife shot of Fort
Stevens. Advanced and drove enemy from
houses. Sharp fighting. Burned several
houses by order. Was relieved by Sixth
corps. Loss, five killed and IS wounded
Maloney, of my company, killed.
July 12-Went out on skirmdsh line and
| relieved regiment of invalids. Exchanged
shots with enemy until evening, when en-
envy advanced strong line of skirmishers.
Sharp fighting by Sixth corps; enemy
driven back.
July 1S.-Rebs all left. Sixth and Nine
teenth corps in pursuit.
1t would have been gallant work for
that regiment to have charged an army
of veterans. even if they had been sup
ported by an army of union veterans.
But to charge the confederate out
posts, with nothing but defenseless
city to fall back upon, was an act Of
valor unsurpassed, and the Twenty
sixth New York cavalry deserves all Of
the glory that is given to it in military
history. The boldness of the advance,
the GOODNESS under fire, the successful
effort to dislodge confederate sharp-
shooters, all tended to convince Gen.
Early that the almost invincible Sixth
corps was in front of him.
Early says that he came in sight OF
the defenses short time after noon.
He ordered the attacking force into po-
sition, saying this was work of
time" Col. Chamberlain's diary saws
that his regiment was Ordered out at
two p. m" That would tally with the
time of arrival of Rhodes brigade,
when he and Early saw thecavalry dis
mounted men in advance with such pre-
cision as to compel Rhodes admiration,
as expressed: ''They are nothundred-
day men; they are old soldiers"
Col. Chamberlain says: 81 know OF
no human agency which directed us
during the four days of wandering
which brought us to the right spot at
the right time. It was providentiai.
We were instruments. in the hands OF
powers invisible which said to the in
vading hosts: Thus far and no far
Their shalt thou CO."
The veteran commander of that repi-
ment of heroes is quiet, elderly man.
wholly unobtrusive and unpretentious.
He is employed in subordinate capac-
ity in the treasury department. He
never speaks of the achievement OF
that day unless in reply to inquiries by
his friends, and then always with mod
esty, giving credit to Divine Providence
for the work which was done 50 vsl--
iantly. SMITH D. FRY,
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