The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-24
tillery took the Same position on satur-
day north Of town, that it occupied on

tllery took the Same position on satur-
I day north OF town, that it occupied on
| sunday morning, when attacked by Gem
eral breckenridge. Saturday was a
rainy, disagreeable dayFsuch as we o. yen !
have in the Valley in the early part Ok
Nav. There had been much rain before
| this. and the ground was very soft and
,infavorable for the handling Of heavy
guns. 49,
n IT was perhaps near the middle Of the
day whe,, the Tederals took position Just
/! north OF town. and we took our place
southwest of town on another hill, aho
perhaps 1000 yards from the te e era
guns. They outnumbered us ten TO one
I suppose. but it seemed that 1t was
deemed necessary. for us to hold the enc
nv. if possible, at this point until the
arrival of General Breckenridge, who was
advancing rapidly from the southwest,
with several brigades of regular troops,
the cadets from the Military Institute az
Lexington. and the reserve forces oi
several Of the Valley counties.
About noon, then, on the 14th the enc
nv opened fire on us with their artillery.
and during all that long afternoon, amla
rain and mud, did we, OF McClanali "a. II >
battery reply to them, with what eitect
/ know not, further than that we kept
all that force from advancing or AZ
remember how their shells would pene
trate the soft wet earth around us, ana
then explode throwing mud and water IN
every direction. But our men, amid
much danger and discomfort, stood by
their guns and held the enemy AZ pay
until darkness put an END 10 the llhS-
wns gunner then and sent many
shot cross the little valley that inter-
vened between us and the Federals = {
wa s while thus engaged that word was
brought me that my faithful little sorrel,
which, had ridden SO long by day ana
by night, amid winters storms ana sum
mer's heats, had been killed by shot
from thc enemys guns. She had been
taken to the rea with the caissons FOR
safety while / was dismounted8 tn direct
the working of my gun. The attachment
exisfing between q soldier and the noble
stced That carried him SO long a time IS
akin is that existing between twp llulnan
friends, and the death of my horse 9hl yr
other circumstances would have ,w rnp1g
bitter teas from my eyes. But AZ
seemed as though the fountain OF
tears had been dried up by those long
terrible Years of fblOpdshcd; suffering ana
familiarity with 5destruc and death
After darkness had put amend TO our
work, we were ordered TO fan back sew
era niles and join the advahceIttpop -
Of General breckenridge. whom we met
some time during the night. 1t was
suppose not deemed prudent to leave our
guns so far in advance OF the army our
ing the night. and for this reason we
were ordered to fall back.
During the night all the troops, came
IN. and Sunday morning dawned clea1
and bright after the long gloomy, rainy
weather, and all nature seemed to put
on her brightest, lovcllest hues The
grass and wheat fields We're beautlfulis
green. tho fruit trees had put forth thsll
green foliage, studded here and there VAL
! some pure white blossoms the petals 2
| which stil chung to the. swelling So f1,
| fruit: tho birds, it seemed. were ylein1e
with each other that bright Sunday morn
Ing. to see which could In loudest strain
bvmn it's Makers praise, and t seemed re.
HAT the very air was so laden With s1nu
sic and fragrance thatsto5 breathe II 4, was "a
y pleasure and mere existence q !dellg 81
nut this lively scene was soon ~ u, 4 q
changed to one just the opposite TN.
scene Of life and beauty was to give way wa
IN q short time to one Of carnage, slt
farinp and of death. The troops Wert
mt in position as soon as practicable an
evcry arrangement made to attack TIT
/ enemy in his chosen position, which wa!
the same he had occupied the day before