Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-07
but were quickly repulsed and driven

1eheraI Jackson. presume, did not con-
slder himself strong enough to follow up
me advantage and make an aggressive
movement After this there was little
hghting on this part OF the field.
The cavalry had been dismounted and
ordered forward to cooperate with Cen
erai Jackson. but. as well as I remember,
there was but little opportunity for their
employment. Allow me. if you please, to
quote paragraph from General Lees
report as an answer to those cavillers
and maligners of the cavalry, who are
so ready to ridicule their pretensions and
call them, in derision, 1.-The buttermilk
rangers:
ITO the vigilance, boldness and energy
of General Stuart and his cavalry is
chiefly due the early and valuable infor-
nation of the movements of the enemy.
His reconnaissance We're frequently
within the Federal lines. resulting in
skirmishes and enga gements in which the
cavalry was greatly distinguished
A HOTLY-CONTEST STRUGGLE
The most llotly-contested struggle was
on the left flank, in General Longstreet's
front-on Marye's hill and the famous
stone wall-in front of which, on the
plane before the city, according to Cen
eral Longstreet's report, there were not
less than seven thousa nd Of the enemy
killed and wounded at the close of the
battle. Notwithstanding this great num-
Der of casualties and the immense amount
Of ammunition expended. the Washington
Artillery which occupied the hill and
bore the brunt Of the fight, lost only three
men killed: and Colonel Alexander's bat
talon. which relieved the Washington
Artillery in the afternoon, and was eX-
posed to heavy fire, lost only one man
killed. And to show how Intellectual is
sometimes the fire of these big guns Gall
sound and fury. signifying nothing, as
General Early was wont to remark), it
is related that one Of General Kershaw's
couricrs rode the Generals horse from the
stone wall up that steep hill while the
battle was raging, and came back by th$.
same way. untouched. The next two
days, the 14th and the 18th. passed quietly,
with only a very little skrmishing, al
though it was confidently expected that
the enemy would renew their efforts to
gain the coveted heights.
RETREAT OF THE ENEMY.
On the night of the 18th they folded
their tents and silently stole away in he
midst of a violent storm Of wind and
rain. which prevented the movement being
observed by our pickets, and the dawn of
the morning of the 10th saw them in po
sition on the north side Of the river.
On that morning we were early aroused
from our bivouac-probably on account
work Of the day. when General F'itz Lee
rode by and stopped, and while with us
received the first report of the retreat Of
the enemy; and l can wildly recall the
contemptuous tone of his remark-"What
a. flzzle.''
General Lee, in his report, says: "The
attack of the 18th had been so easily re-
pulsed and by so small a part of our
army. that it was not supposed that the
enemy would limit his efforts to an at
tempt which, in view of the magnitude
OF his preparation, and the extent of his
force, seemed to be comparatively insig-
rifcant
But Mr. Editor, I fear that + have al
ready extended this sketch beyond the
limit which you are willing to give to it,
and will, with your leave, continue the
narrative in another letter.
ION Linden, when the sun was low,
All bloodless lay the untrodden snow:
But Linden saw another sight
When the drum beat at the dead of night.
''Bv torch and trumpet fast arrayed,
Each horseman drew his battle blade.
Then shook the hills with thunder riven,
Then rushed the steeds to battle driven;
And louder than the bolts of heaven
Far flashed the red artillery.
The snow shall be their winding sheet;
And every turf beneath their feet
Shall be soldiers sepulchre."
Respectfully,
B. NJ. PARHAN1.
Company I, Fourth Regiment Virginia
Cavalry.