The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-12-31
NEW MARKET A
Answer to Story of-Cot'l
Humphreys, Of Georgia.

NJ attention has been called to an
account OF the Battle of New Market
by Colonel Humphreys, which appeared
IN 3Our Confederate N Column $OctobersS
8th4ard 18th. and which 1I think does M
Justice to -yho Fitty-flrst virginia Kegl-s
ment and the cadet boys, and as 9 rnscon7
strained to give my recollectlons#o thoi
Night. #a# !.
Tho Battle Of New Market, wllchStook
place May is, 1854, was observation-disclosures
OF New Market, on both stdesssssof the
WALES, Turnpike. The lines ;sl0f battle ex-5l
tended at right angles SgorossAt leS&turn
pike. General g. Cs#Ss$Whartopsss brigade
was On the left ofsSsthesSg turnpjke.. The
Slxty-hrst Virginia. lygofSJohnsonisS
cavalry, but now dignloppntedf.;s was ITEM
.porarily attached to W.hartonntis brlsadeI
and was on his right next the road IN
tho center and next 70 theS3sixty-hrst
was the Thirteen Wfrginin battalion,
commanded by Colonel Clark. and on his
left was the Fifty stlfYirginia Regiment,
commanded by Colonel Forsberg. Whar-s
TOMS right was supported blythe cadets
and his left by Edgar's Battalion. On
the left OF the road and In the immediate3
front Of the Regiment isl q hill
OF considerable %eleyntion, (which was
strongly defended With infantry and ar
|tillery. The Federals had crowned the
uUllulCGOI MIulH lltllb% WAN|l@ ~ ~ y
commanded every nch of ground In Its
front and to, its left. 9TIsVidcnlty that hill
and battery was the key to Higel's posi-
ton, and tho obstinate defense he made
Ito hold 1t proves no so considered It..
breckenridge could not advance his right
wing on8the right OF the turnpike with,
out exposing It to nm inflade fire from
the! summit OF the hill referred to. Ills
Troops on the right were the Twenty
second Ylrginin Regiment and perr!ck'a.
Battalion. b8l
The question now Is, who captured that
hill and that battery2 i will ask, were
there any signs OF retreat along the
whole Federal line until that hill was
occupied by tho Tifty-frst, and that bat
terry In its possession? The order to
charge was given by Wharton. and In
stantly communicated to thea men by
Forsberg. Not mn officer was to be seen
In the rear The boys, drenched in a;
downpnurlng rain. rushed with q wild
shout and piercing yell that rent tho
clouds, seized the summit OF the hill,
took tho battery and sent the infantry
whirllng In disorder down the valley. At
this time, the smoke having liften in part
from tho field, 7 turned to look to the
right. and behold! those brave boys, the
cadets, had rushed to the front and
were bearing their youthful boson,s to
the front like veterans OF q hundred,
battles.
Not n regiment, nor do I know OF q
man, that failed to do the work assigned
him on that day. With my own hands
captured CRmpbell's horse and over
coat. / do not know that the colonel
was killed, or what happened to him.
But one thing ! know-he had a fne
. ella y-bank horse and Asswarm oYercoat.
|Colonel Campbell, T think, was OF the
Fifty-fourth or Flfty-slxth Pennsylvania
Regiment, ] belonged I oathe Fifty-nrst
Virginia Regiment. This regiment lost
In the Battle OF New Market los killed
ana wounded. and none captured, II
any other regiment In this battle lost
half that number 7 VIII endorse for Mr.,
Humphrey
The Fifty-hrst had not lost a man until
the charge on the hill, Having accom-.
plished this the Federal line gave way
ut every point with every rebel In hot
pursuit.. The Fifty-frst needs no borrow
ed hon0vs or stolen laurels, Wharton,
her tdolised leader, knows he Is Sendeared
In the hearts Of his old brigade. and
never did he tell the hoysIto 20 where he
did not dare to lead. 4
Very respectfully.
RcRT,g - WOLFE. Il
Richlands. Va, 1905,