The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-08

It will be of interest to 1.ldbamians, es- pecially to those interested in Battles brigade, composed of the Third, Fifth, Sixth, Twelfth and Twenty-sixth Ala bama regiments, to hear the story of their galantry on the battlefield of Cedar Creek. The division of General Ramseur, composed of Battles, Johnston's ana Ramseurs old brigades, had marched all night to gain the left of the federal army commanded by General Phil Sheridan, then entrenched on the north bank of Ceuar creek In the valley of Virginia
 About daylight we waded the river and moved along the road to Middleton, which was in rear of the federal lines. As soon l as we struck the pekets on the. road, We 1 formed our lines bf battle, and-the rattle
 of musketry In rear of their lines so de-
 moralized the nineteepth corps, part of Sheridan's forces that they incontinently fled from the field, every man for him self but the Sixth corps of the army of the Potomac, under General Sedgewick were veterans, and under the leadership of this gallant commander, kept their lines intact and were retreating in beau tiful order across an open field when our line of battle came in full view or them.
 Upon Their Flank.
 My command was moving down upon their flank. There was battery of artil- lery of six guns between the lines, pouring a steady stream of shot and shrapnel into our faces, and between my line and the battery was small stream in deep ditch, which l could not get my horse to leap Riding up the stream to find a cross- Dot f1afz. .~fr fla eDr .1f
 tance to my right il line of battle, and receiving unfiinchingly the shot and shell of the enemy's battery.
 galloped up to the front of the brigade. asking for the commanding officer, when the colonel commanding the brigade Gen | eral Battle was at home wounded, 1 think) was found, l ordered him to charge with my brigade. He replied that he was un-, der orders from General Ramseur to hold his present position, and could not. called his attention to the fact that l was the commanding officer on the field and the battle was on, and his duty was now to obey my orders. He still refused to give orders to move, thereupon l turned to the men of his command and said: Sol diers of Alabama, the enemy are in your front, the colonel refuses to give the order for you to forward. Will you join your comrades in the charger
 Immediately there stepped to the front of the Fifth Alabama regiment its com manding officer. Captain Thad c. Belsher, more gallant spirit never beat in a sol dier's breast saluting me, he said, in his shrill voice: General will you stand be- tween me and a court martial?" You can't imagine how quickly l responded, T will, go ahead Besher." Under his command, the old Fifth sprang to the front, and with the whole of Battles brigade, rushed upon the battery. In few minutes the six guns were surround ed by the Alabamians There were gall lant soldiers in that battery and they clung to their guns, refusing to surrender and still vainly trying to carry off their guns.
 Looked God of War.
 In the melee saw mad Belsher mount ed on an artillery horse with sword drawn enemy made feint in our front at the upon an artilleryman who was struggling to get a gun off. Belsher sabered him, and rushing upon another man. who was unhitchng horses, he cut him down. The others either surrendered or were killed | in the fight.
 The whole line of battle then moved l down upon .Ae flank of the Sixth corps in retreat near to us We were still fol- lowing and fighting the Sixth corps, and
 woul. have routed them, when I received | an order from General Early to cease the | pursuit and withdraw my command. It | was apparent that 1t was a fatal mistake
 to allow an organized force of western l soldiers of the enemy to retire from the | field of battle in good order. Our victory i could not be complete until this corps | was routed. l so represented the facts
 to General Early. but the scattered condi- | ton of our own troops and their exhaus- ton after an all night march, were suff- l cient grounds in the opinion of the com | mandng general to stop the pursuit He | had no cavalry to follow them. up.
 | It proved fatal to us before the shades of evening appeared. General sheridan | as he returned his retreating army, found the Sixth corps organized and in good fighting trim, and re-organized his forces Late in the afternoon, he moved down upon Gordon's old brigade then on the ] extreme left of our line and overlapping it, he easily drove them in confusion from the field. My brigade occupied the pike road in front of Middletown, and the enemy made a fent in our front at the time the attack was made on the left of