Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-04-20

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Jackson battery, commanded by lst |
Is. Micaigah Woods. having plenty |
Of ammunition. moved out with Jenk- |
ms brigade, 70 which they were at
taehed. This only made Breathed !,
more nervous than ever. Breathed
did not want any other battery togo
INTO o fight and he waiting for ann
munition. At last the wagons came |
in sight and the 2 batteries began 70 |
refill their limbers and caissons.
After marching short distance on
the York Turnpike Stuart turned to
The right passing the Stallsmith
farm toa commanding position which
controlled q wide plain
Of fields stretching 70 the base Of the
spur. This ridgeis known
as the "Cress Ridge" From this
position Stuart could see every road
leading from the Federal position.
The fields in bis front admitted Of
in any direction. Stuart
was pleased with his position.
While carefully concealing Cham
bliss and Jenkins brigade In the
timber, be pushed one Of Ii. Wood 3
guns to the edge Of the timber aud
fred a number OF shots TO develop
the enemy. Hampton and Fitz Lee
appeared in theopen ground. Gregg
was on the alert, having been APP
priced Of Stuart's position. Major
McClelland, Stuart's Chief Of Staff,
was Of the opinion that Stuart's OBJ
ject in firing that gun was pre-ar-
ranged signal between Gen. Z. Z.
Lee and himself, signifying that he
was In position as ordered. In the
meantime 1t. Col. Vincent Witcher's
battalion of Jenkins brigade was
dismounted and sent forward 70 hold
the Rummell Barn and line of fenc-
ing on the right. This Barn was
the object Of our attention later on.
The ball opened by shot from Bat
terry N, End u. S. horse battery.
The firing Of this battery was accu-
rate and effective. The very first
shot struck IN the Jackson battery,
and they repeated the dose so often
that the Jackson battery was dis
abled and had 10 retire and seek
shelter. The enemy now advanced
Q strong line Of dismounted men
against Jenkins squadrons, over
tapping his right flank. Col. Wit
cher was reinforced by dismount-
ed squadron from Chambliss, taking
position on his right. The line was
still further advanced in that direc-
ton by sharpshooters from Hamp-
ton and Fitz Lees brigade. The
End Va. cavalry, command by Col.
Tom MunfOrd, held the extreme
left. Reinforcements were also ad-
ded to the Federals, his line being
extended very much. Major Witch
err, of Jenkins brigade, had in the
meanwhile been holly engaged on
the right, and as long as his am
munition held out he not only main
tanned his ground, but gained posi-
ton to the front.
Running out OF ammunition he had to
retire just as the End Va. on the left closed
in deadly conflict. The Confederate charge
OF sharpshOoters was successful, driving
the Federal line OF skirmishers back across
the field some distance. Up to this time
no mounted men had been engaged.
Breathed was just about finishing load
ing his timber chests when he heard the
firing between Pennington's and Wood
guns. II he had have received an electric
shock he could not have been more ex-
cited. He jumped on his horse and was
on the road to the Cress Ridge in iiffy,
the battery following as fast as their
jaded horses could travel. We took DO
sition on the right slope within sight of
the Pennington battery and awaited or
derslto 60 into action. But am too fast.
We have to keep track OF the cavalry in
order to establish our location. A story
OF Breathed's battery without the cav
airy would be like the play Of Hamlet
with Hamlet omitted. There was a
strong friendship existing between the
battery and our cavalry. They used to
give US lots OF things that a soldier would
find in his foraging expedition legitimate
property common to soldiers wants,
such as chickens, pigs, corn and many
other things that could be classified as
forage. We could not very well leave
the battery, as an artilleryman has his
special position at the guns and in case
Of the battery going into action he would
be missed. But to return.
The Federal cavalry moved forward in
strong force, charged and forced back the
Confederate line, capturing a number of
prisoners. This charge was continued
to the line nearly to the Rummell barn,
1t was met gallantly by Chambliss' brig
ade, aided by the old LIST Va. The Fede-
raj cavalry was again forced back, but
being reinforced Chambliss was again
compelled to retire. The magnificent
Hampton came on the field at this mo-
ment with his veteran brigade aetach-
ments, consisting of the LIST n. C. and the
Jef Davis Legion. The battle now ragged
with fury-eharge~ and counter charge
was made until every regiment except
Cobb's Legion and the 4th Va. had been
engaged. Breathed brought the battery
into position, but could not fire because
OF the continual mix up OF the blue and
the grey In the plains below. For many
minutes the fight ragged, pistol aud sabre
being used freely. Neither force seemed
willing to give way and held on tenaci-
ously like two bull dogs. The fierce at
tack OF the Federals was broken at last
Both forces withdrew to the lines held at
the opening OF the fight. Now was
breathed's opportunity and right glad
did he avail himself Of It. We opened on
Pennington's gums with vim peculiar to
the old battery (the cavalry looking on)
and never In the annals Of warfaredid two
opposing batteries more ardently strain
every nerve to crush each..other. These
two batteries had opposed each other on
every battlefield DIVA. and now that thew
met on Northern soil, it was our ambi-
ton TO hold our ground, and we did so.
| have talked with ex-Confederates sol-
diers who witnessed the struggle between
the two batteries, and they tell me that
1t looked at one time as il both BATTERIES
would be exterminated. Shell was fired
as last as men could load. The guns be
came so hot that | was afraid that the