Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-08-03
A FORTIETH
ANNIVERSARY
WAR STORY
August S-3I. 1868


rons, and just as he dashed of to the
front the Confederates opened fire
with cannon.
Averell started the whole column for
ward through narrow pass which
opened out into a valley, a mile in
length and inclosed on each side by
rugged rocky heights covered with
stunted growth of pine oak and chest
nut The moment the leading squadron
OF Federals appeared in the opening the
Confederates turned their guns upon
it. A jutting cliff on the right Of the
valley afforded cover for the horses Of
the Second and Eighth West Virginia
cavalry, and the troopers dismounted,
the Second climbing to the summit Of
the hill on the right and the Eighth on
the left.
Under the protection of the lines
formed on the summit Averell brought
his battery to the front and posted it
on a knoll, where it opened are with
accuracy on the enemy's cannon. Mean
while the Third West Virginia and
Fourteenth Pennsylvania cavalry fled
slowly through the narrow gap, the
troopers dismounted and formed in the
valley, making the line continuous from
right to left. The Confederates pressed
so close upon the battery that the guns
were compelled to use canister. The
enemy was finally driven back and the
battery advanced to a better position.
The Confederate leader, General Sam
Jones, had been deceived as to Averell's
Intentions; otherwise the chance for an
ambush at Rocky Gap would have
been used to better advantage. Cen
eral Jones believed that Averell would
keep close to the Blue Ridge and cross
eastward into the Shenandoah valley
and attack Staunton. It was late on the
night Of the 25th when Jones discov
cred that the raiders had turned west
ward from Huntersville and were NOV
ing toward the Springs. Taking the
brigade Of Colonel Patton he made
| night march and reached the gap
Just as Averelrs advance rode into the
pass.
Finding that he was too late in the
field to hold the pass Jones drew back,
after feeling the fire OF Averelrs guns,
to elevated ground at the end of the
valley. Here he posted his right upon
a rugged hill and protected his left by
stockade. Averell saw that his foe
was temporizing and decided to push
the fighting. One gun of the six in his
| battery had burst and the remaining
| FIVE were rushed forward to within 600
yards of the enemy A house in front
of Jones' center was occupied by Fed
eral battalion, but this was soon driven
out by regiment of Confederates
which came to the field at double quick.
Averell Immediately ordered the bat
terry to fire the house with Shells. s
During the fight at the house Baron
von Koenig attempted to lead forward
the West Virginians on the summit
and flank the enemy in the valley. In
spite of desperate fighting this move
ment failed, and for three hours the
ers, who found good cover 100 PAGES
apart.
During the lull in heavy fighting
Averell personally reconnoitered the en-
emy's line from the heights on the
right and left He decided to risk one
dash at the enemy's center, and or
dered up Captain Birds squadron Of
the Fourteenth Pennsylvania. The
troopers rode down CALAMITY, accom-
panied by the brave Won Koenig, who
| burned to be in every charge. He was
shot from the saddle in front Of the
| stockade.
About 300 Confederates left the
stockade in hurry when the cavalry
rode up, but regiment of reserves
| pushed through the fleeing line and
L RI H. a
fight, which cost the life of Major Nc
| Nally Of the Second West Virginia. At
tempts to push the line forward on the
right and left during the cavalry
charge had failed, and at nightfall
/ Averell found his men short Of amuni-
ton and repulsed at every. point.
One reason for AverelTs holiness
was the hope of receiving help from a
column under Colonel Scammon, which
had been directed to follow his march.
| No tidings came from Scammon. With
out help Averell could not break
| through the Confederate line. He de-
/ c1ded to wait until morning. When
/ morning came the enemy was found to
have been re-enforced. Barricading
| the roads with felled trees the Fed
erals withdrew, marching on the back
track through Huntersville and Bev-
/ erley.
/ In his retreat as we'll as in the adj
! vance Averell deceived his foe. They
looked to find him everywhere except
/ where he actually was. The road was
often blocked by barbados placed in
his rear by citizens or stray bands of
scouts or guerrillas but there was no
| attack beyond the usual bushwhacking,
/ and the column finished it's wonderful
/ march Aug. 81, with total loss of 218
| men. GEORGE L. KILMER.
| A New Woman.
She was ''swagger" and bold,
! She was heartless and cold,
| An amazon body and mind: