The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-07

by road to the west, out Of the track
OF the storm, Ewell, with Kershaw In
rear was compelled to give battle. de-
Tense line was formed in the south side
of Sailors Creek. across the Deatons-
Vile road. But the pursuit was so close
that to give time for the alignment Kerr
shaw stationed the Mississippi brigade,
of less than five hundred men. COM
manded by Lfeutenant-Colonel Fttxger-
aid, on some high ground north OF tho
creek, to check the enemy's advance as
long as possible. This rear gfard was
assaulted Immediately and vigorously In
front and on both flanss. Here there
we're number of casualties including
two of the four regimental commanders
Major Cherry, Of the Seventeenth, and
Captain Sessions. Of the Eighteenth. Sc
verely wounded. When the brigade was
forced back. Colonel Fitzgerald took an
he held back the advance Until STIR
rounded and captured, that the brigade
might withdraw across the creek with
out disorder or disaster ~ syug
LOCAL DEFENsE TROOPS.
In the formation ION the south p OF the
creek, Custtsa4 Lee was on the left and
Kershaw on the right OF the road. Col
Oncl CrutCn1lelO. WIFI Tue HedVy al tIl-
lerymen from the Richmond defenses,
and the marines from the gunboats
formed Lees right. resting on the west
side of the road and the Mississippans
connected with. them on the east. On
the right was kershaw's other two bril-
gades, Georgians, commanded by Generals
Simms and Du Bose.
The Federals lost no time In attacking.
especially as there was no Confederate
~ ti11orp NOT "a ,Oiena.-f.@n rpCSnnr with.
First our position was thoroughly shelled.
On Kershaw's line there was some pro-
lection afforded by the scrub pine that
covered tho gully-scarred hill slope,
which was almost precipitous where the
Mississppians stood on its brow, to the
creek bank. On the other side of the
road with Commodore fuckers naval
battalion, the ground was different. The
creek bent to the east, forming a bottom
on the south side, and the line was naked
Of cover. There the punishment was
cruel. But no veterans ever bore pound
irg more herotcally than those marines
and heavy artillerymen. who had never
been under fire before. Fortunately. time
was held valuable by Grant, and the In
fantry columns quickly formed for the
assault. They came down the bare hill
side Of plowed ground and then we had
an inning. The line was dense and the
mark fair. Our; fire made them finch and
cover. and caused some disorder. but
the men in blue held steadily to their
work. When they reached the creek,
which was waist deep. and had steep
banks. they would have been beaten back
but that our line was little moro dense
than for slermishers.
FIRING ALMOST MUzzLE TO NlUz-
ZIIE.
Once across, they reformed under cover
of tho steep bank. and came at us with
= ,S<,i>
tute steadiness On the roadside our line
did not recede until tho firing was al
most muzzle to muzzle. The contact
was so close that a Federal officer rush
ing ito the front to. seize tho Golors OF the
Twenty-flrst Mississippi fell. as he was
shot, at the feet OF his slayer Fortu-
nately at this point there was a ravne
and thick woods to retire through. and
the pursuit was not immediate. or our
losses would have been more severe. The
attacking force at this point where Cen
eral Kershaw stood with his men, was
a brigade. OF sWhea toms division of the
Sixth corps. It lost in killed and wounded
373. Another brigade or that division.
with Custer's cavalry, turned and en-
yelopetl Kershaw's right, seymour's di-
vision of the Sixth corps and two divi-
sions Of the Second corps formed the
right or the Federal attack, and over
wbelmed Gusts Lee.
What Is written here Is from tho NOM
ory of a participant, a member of the
Mississippi brigade. and is especially
meant to apply to what he saw. But
as absorbing as were the happenings of
his own command, scene was enacted
by the troops on Its left who we're hav-
ing their first and last. baptism af fire.
that candnever 7be forgotten. Standing
on tho extreme left OF tho N1ississippian,
and on tho hill above Commodore Tuck
er's command, its movements We're plain
ly visible to me. How these men stood
the artillery fire has been stated above,
When the infantry advance came on
they lay in ranks on the ground, mo-
we could and with visible effect
WHAT TIE TRAIT ANSWER MEANT.
AS tho Federal columns drew near the
opposite bank OF tho creek called to
our neighbors: why don5t you shoot?''
When the question had been repeated the
answer came back: Go to hell! We
have officers to tell us when to fire."
Nor did they fire a shot until the Fed
erals had crossed the creek within fifty
yards Of them. Then they rosc took aim
and fired by wolley, at the word OF
command. Following up the volley by n
rush. they drove the Federals In front of
them into and across the creek. In the
charge their brigade commander. Colonel
Crutchfeld. was killed and his men we're
Immediately afterwards overwhelmed
and captured.@ " But there was no more
thrilling and gallant act during the war.
General Custis Lee, with his division,
was captured at the creek. A part OF
Kershaws shared the same fate. Others
retired in groups until they ran into