Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-09-16

br1gades. These included GQe ElSnCH
German Rifes) and Twenty-ninth
New York regiments, the Garibaldl
Guard and the Twenty-fourth Penn
sylvania. the Sixteenth, Eighteenth,
Thirty first, and Thirty-second New
York regiments. and Company G (Sec-
ond Artillery battery-the one lately
brought from Fort Pickens. Thus
Richardson could call to his support.
if necessary, reserve of 1000 men, in
addition to the 1000 with which be was
instructed to hold his position, to pre-
vent the enemy from moving on Gen.
teryille past our left, but not to make
any attack. The center, on the War
renton road, commanded by Gen. Ty-
ler, consisted of the First and Second
Brigades of the .Tyler Division, en-
bracing the First and Second Ohiosand
Second New York regiments, under
Gen. Schenck, and the Sixty ninth,
Seventy ninth, and thirteenth New
York and Second Wisconsin, under
Col. Sherman. Carlisle's, Ricketts,,
and Ayres's batetreis, accompanied this
imp ortant column, which numbered
6 1000 men, and was supported in the
rear by the Third, Tyler's Brigade, un
der Col. Keyes, consisting of the First,
Second, and Third Connecticut regi-
ments, and the Fourth Maine-a force
of 8 5000, available at a moments call.
On the extreme right, Col. Hunter
took the lead, with the two brigades of |
his Division, viz: the Eighth and
Fourteenth New York regiments un.
der Col. Porter, with battalion of the |
Second, Third, and Eighth regular in.
fantry of the Second Cavalry, and the
Fifth Artillery battery, under Col.
Burnside; the First and Second Ohio |
the Seventy first New York, and two
New Hampshire regiments, with the |
renowned Rhode Island battery. AT
ter Hunters followed Col. HeintZel.
mans Division. including the Fourth
and Fifth Massachusetts, and the First |
Minnesota regiments, with cavalry !
and battery, all under Col.
Franklin, and the Second, Fourth, and
Fifth Maine and Second Vermont re.
giments under Col. Howard. To
about 14,000 men was thus intrusted
the difficult and most essential labor of
turning the enemy by a circuitous
movement on the tight, and these
troops, as it eventuated, were to ex-
perience the larger part of the san
culinary fighting of the day.
On the night preceding the battle
Gen. Cameron visited the camp, re
viewed the Third Tyler brigade, pass
ed few hours with Gen. Mcdowell,
and then left for ashington. in spirits
depressed by no premonition of the
disaster which was to befall our arms,
and the private grief which would add
a deeper sorrow to the feelings he now
After midnight a car
riage was placed at Gen. McDowell's
tent which was to bear him to the
scene of action. In order to be ready
to move with the army / went down
to the familiar quarters of Lieutenant
Tompkins, whose company was attach
ed to the generals escort, and there
slept an hour while our horses ate the
only forage they were to have for day
and half. At o'clock we were
awaken ed the army had commenced
to move.
THE MIDNIGHT MARCH.
There was moonlight, as have said;
and no moonlight scene ever offered
more varying themes to the genius o.
1 great artist. Through the hazy val
Ieys, and on bill slopes, miles spart.
were burning the fires at which forty
regiments had prepared their midnight
meal. In the vistas opening along
dozen lines Of view, thousands of men
were moving among the 6tful beacons; |
horses were harnessing to artillery,
white army wagons were in motion
with the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. black Gov
ering, when one thought about it.
seemed as appropriate as that of the
coffin which accompanies condemned
man to the death before him. All was
silent confusion and interminglipg OF
horses and men. But forty
thousand soldiers stir as quickly as a
dozen and in fifteen minutes from the
of the hustle every
regiment had taken it's place ready to
fall into the division to which it was
assigned. Gen. Mcdowell and staff
went in the center of Tyler's the GEN.
tral column. At 2:30 a. m., the last
soldier had left the extended encamp-
ments, except those remaining behind
On guard.
To be continued next week.
L