The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-21

ernl hundred yards up the creek on the
south side and saw the Federal Infantry.
which / supposed was the sixth corps,
still in line OF battle behind tcmporar!
works on the north side OF INC or t.t1
moi far from our lines. Major Peter u
Otey. temporarily commanding brigade
Of whnrton's division, had his men near
on the south side of Cedar Creek, While
was in position also on the south size
OF It. told him of my seeing TINS N
fantrys on the north side still in me
and suggested that he join me ana we
would together attack It. Ills reply
was that he was under orders to remain
where hc was. and could not do so.
then returned to my position on the hill
to await orders. Within half an hour
af.cr this incident I received orders to
como on across the creek and to move
ahead on the Valley pike towards Mid
dletown
In Line in Front Of Middletown.
After crossing Cedar Creek and PASS
ing through the abandoned camp Of the
enemy, where noticed some strasglers,
some soldiers with Federal prisoners IN
charge. and numerous camp followers
gathering up plumber, we marched ahead
towards Middletown. and between the
creek and AIiddletown we found some
Of our artillery in position west Of the
main turnpike firing into body OF woods
a mile or moro away. I rode over TO one
OF the batteries (AIlledgs's) Of Nelson's
battalion to learn what could. and was
told by Captain Millcdgc. In reply to
question from me. either that General
Gordon or Colonel Carter was massins
or about to mass all Of our artillery on
the enemy supposed to be retiring on
the back road west Of the main Valley
pike. Continuing orr march, and when
near Middletown, / was directed to place
one battery (Fry's) Of four guns and one
section (Joness) Of two guns on the
right and left Of the pike at Middletown.
where our line seemed to be forming,
stretching off westwnrdly from the Val
ley pike. which evidently was the right
of our line. as l saw no infantry or cav
airy in touch with Dur guns on the
right
MY battalion at this time consisted of:
1st. Captain William Fry's Orange
Artillery, -four guns.
Cd. Captain a. w. CARRIERS Staunton
Artillery. four guns.
Sd. Captain Lorra Inc Jones's Second
Howitzers, four guns.
Where we were In line In front of
Middletown. between 10 A. NJ. and
p. NJ, several times I noticed General
Early and staff come to our front on
the right observing our firing at inter-
walls on the encmy's Horse Artillery.
The six guns, as mentioned, were in
line on the right and six guns CARRIERS
four guns and Jones's two guns) were
u short distance to the rear In column
and not on the line ready for action.
TO REINFORCE GORDON ON LEFT. +
About 1 o'clock p. NJ. I observed Cen
era Early. General Gordon. Lieutenant
Colonel King and others in n group in
rear of our line and little to the west Of
the pike, and heard Colonel King say
to General Gordon, Here are some guns
not in line" General Gordon presently
said to General EARLY: General here
are some guns not In line: let me have
them and take them to our left" General
Early thercupon ordered mo to take tho
six guns. which were not In line to the
left OF the infantry line. as requested
by General Gordon. said TO General
Early: IF take these six guns to the
left and leave the other six guns hero.
my battalion will be divided. Suppose
you let the SIX guns which arc on the
left of the line here 20 with General
Gordon. and let me place these six guns
on the left with the others of my bat
TALON" mol said General Early, II
do not. want any more shifting Of guns"
replied, "Thcrc will be no difficulty
in this, as we can unimber our guns
before the others pull oNt' General
Gordon then said: Don't be uneasy
, about taking your guns to the left: my
old brigade Is there, and will protect
them General Early then said: Take
these guns not in line and go with Cen
eral Gordon to the left" Thereupon
took my six moccupcd guns and moved
to the left -four guns of CAREERS and
two guns of Lorraine Joncs's batteries)
and took position on the left of a grad
, ually rising, open field to the left and
slightly in rear of Evans's brigade. Tho
brigade was on the extreme left of our
| infantry line and well into the woods
| on our right
We mlimhcrcd the guns in this field
| and stood waiting, observing the enc
| my's cavalry Vcndcttcs stationed at In
I terYals along our front and to the right
| Of their line Of infantry.
| RETREAT OF EVENs'S BRIGADE.
! An advance of I1vans's brigade into
! the woods In his front, In an apparent
! attack. WAS made, ana soon retired. as
! II repulsed. and afterwards a disordcred
retreat to the rear followed. We fired
| at the advancing line of the cncmy's
| infantry, which appeared to be very
| thin line from the light firing and tho
| frequent display of colors along their
! line, About this time my adjutant
Lieutenant r, II, Christian, came to me
! saying: General Gordon asked II our
| guns had been captured" and was told
4 no, and then said tell him, meaning me,
''he had better take his guns out from
here nt once" Seeing our infantry gone
/ n moved the guns back through tho
woods, and as passed back ] met Gem
eral Gordon, and asked him what did
all this mean, His reply was, Every
thing has given away on the right and
you had better yet your guns out of
here After moving back from tho
woods 10 the open hills, / met Colonel
Carter. who directed me To 80 into pop-
tion on top Of the hill back Of where
we We're to the left Of Nelson's battnlioit
which was also on a hin back to the
right and IN rear Of Gordon's division
We fema'ned here firing into the wood.
J without seeing any enemy until directed
to 90 on back 10 the turnpike and back
, towards Cedar Creek, After getting he
! hGpaIAted parta Of Lliiallnu &C.,