Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-04-13


tons men. Rosser believing the
position could be held, gave
Capt. Boston orders 10 hold ID nc ali
hazards. This was fatal mistake.
Boston became so far advanced that
the subsequent heavy fighting
placed him beyond his support.
The result was that Capt. Boston,
owing 10 ROsser's unfortunate or
der, was captured with his brave
squad Of sharpshooters. During
all Of this time there was only the
small force on the left of the Snick-
erville road that had been stationed
there By Col. Munford. Munsord
moved the 5th Va. cavalry and the
4th Va, under Col. Wiekham, with
the 2 detatachment of Breathed's
battery, under 1t. p. p. Johnston.
the remaining guns being with the
1st Va. cavalry on the Middleberg
road. The enemy began to press
Ii. Walton and his sharpshooters.
Walton repulsed the amounted charge,
but being flanked where his men
were dismounted, he retired to a
position about so yards to the rear.
Johnston s one piece was opposed
to Randol's battery. They were so
close together that grape could al
most be used. Time and time again
the connoneers had TO cease firing
and hug the ground so intense was
the fire from Randol s battery. The
old End detachment, with Joe War
row as its gunner, stood like vete-
rams as they were, having never
left the field for any battery of Yam
kee artillery, but gave shot for shot.
That gun used more canister on
that occasion than was ever used by
the entire section in any previous
engagement. In order that l may
in my feeble efforts partially per-
petuate the daring bravery of this
gallant detachment | will give the
names of the men taken from the
diary of 1t. W. j. Cosgrove, who at
that time was Sergeant of the piece.
Sergeant, J. w. Cosgrove.
Guner, Joe Warrow.
No. !, Mike Gavigan.
No. 2. James Maun.
No. 3, Fl. Ell. Matthews.
No. 4, Jim Kane.
No. 5, John Fay.
No. 8, Mississippi Smith.
No. 2, Rev. Geo. FL. Zimmerman.
No. 8, John Culbreth.
Gun drivers, NJ. Boleman and F.
Neale
Caisson drivers, Henry Neale and
Pat Stanley.
Three distinct charges were made
upon our position, but were repul-
sed by the 9th Va. and the 3rd
squadron OF the 4th Va. and by the
End and 9th squadrons OF the same
regiment. The 4th Va. was with
Gen. Stuart on the Middleberg road.
In each of these charges 1t. Walton
had severely punished the Yankees,
unhorsing a great number of them,
pouring volley after volley into their
tanks as they would advance upon
our position. The enemy at last
seemed tired of this foolishness, so
they made a supreme effort to dis
lodge US, when the End and 3rd Va.
reached the field. Two squadrons
were at once dismounted and placed
on the left of the road near Breath
eds gun-the squadron of the End
Va. under Capt. Cary Breckinridge
and that of the Bird under Capt. Geo.
w. White. These 2squadrons were
advanced to the stone wall from which
1t. Walton had been withdrawn.
Col. Munford felt very secure In
this position and was perfectly will
ing that the enemy should wear him.
self out against his columns SO Sc
curely posted. His fianks were pro-
tected by the little river and its tri-
butaries, the stone wall in his front.
The ground in his front was very
rough and broken. The End Va,
cavalry, led by 1t. Col. J. NJ. Watts,
now charged the advancing enemy,
who had penetrated beyond the posi-
tion of the sharpshooters. The enc
my had 70 charge in column OF fours,
owing TO the nature of the ground.
The heads Of the columns met in the
narrow road in hand to hand fight
with the saber. Capt. Jesse Irv-
ing came on the scene at this stage
of the fight, opening fire on the ene-
my's left flank. This concentrated
attack on both tanks broke the at
tack Of the enemy, almost destroying
their leading squadron. In this
charge Tt. Watts of the End Va, was
wounded and permanently disabled.
Major FL. Cary Breckenridge now
took command of the regiment. The
regiment now moved up TO the right
to reform. carrying with it Col.
Louis p. deCesnola and the colors oI
the 4th N. Y, cavalry. The Fed.
eral cavalry not being satisfied with
the result so far determined to make