The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1905-01-13
Battle of Jonesyille, Lee Co., Va.

4
On the End day of Jan, 1863, we
were in East Tennessee, Just after
the battle Of Bean Station, which
was fought on Christmas day. 1t was
warm and rainy until about three
O'Clock in the afternoon. We receiy-
ed an order to be ready to march
at nine o'clock that night 1t turned
cold and was said to be the coolest
night ever known in that section
We crossed Clinch river and started
in the direction Of Lee county, Vir-
ginia. We marched all that cold
night and at daylight we came in
sight of the enemy, which was camp
ed in two squads, about one-quarter
mile apart. They had a battery Of
four guns and large train OF wag-
ons, having come up there from Cum
berland Gap to forage When we
came in sight we were ordered to
halt and prepare for a charge. The
General divided our regiment into
five companies each, to charge each
squad. The first five companies were
ordered to charge the battery. The
last five, which included mine, was
ordered to charge the lower squad.
We made the charge and they fought
like turks, but began falling back to-
ward the squad that had the battery.
The first five companies had charged
the battery and captured it, but
they recaptured 1t from our men.
They also recaptnred their artillery,
and we could see our men running
in every direction. Lieut-Col. Cook
was with our detachment and Gener-
al Jones ordered Col. Cook to form
the five companies and charge that
battery again. and we formed right
in the field under a heavy fire of
grape and canister We marched right
up through an open field with them
playing on us with the four guns as
we went. We got up to about 100
yards OF the artillery to cross
fence that was between us. Ny com
pany, d. OF Sth Va. Cavalry, was on
the right OF the line and next TO a
lane that nan up to where the artil-
lery was. Then we were ordered to
lay down, as the fire was so heavy.
There was a large brick house right
behind the artillery and their men
could be seen forming two companies
right. behind that house. called
the Colonel's attention to it, that
they were forming to charge my COM
lpany. He remarked, they have
more sense than to charge you where
lyou are" In few minutes l saw
them start and come out to where
the artillery was, and by this time
they were not over a hundred yards
from me- The Colonel told me not
to fire until he gave me orders. They
marched right square up in front of
my company aud faced us to make
the charge, And when ] saw them dc
+ that | ordered my company to fire
without orders from the Colonel, and
not throw away their ammunition. We
were lying behind the fence and 1t Wal
a deadly fire What we didn't kill
Jumped off their horses and left then
fright there and ran back behind tbs
brick house again. Our fire was SC
deadly that they fell back to higf
point beyond the house and got theil
force on top Of the point. Then th'
General ordered us to charge th'
point. We started and got up with
in about one hundred yards of them
Their Col. saw we were going to taxi
them, so he ordered his men to ceas
firing, and surrendered to us. w
captured four guns and large trail
. Of wagons, about four hundred pris
oners and all their cavalry horse
: There was wheat stack on tn
le point where they surrendered.
Al great many Of them had taken thei
a cylinders out OF their reyolvers an
i. hid them in the wheat stack. wa
ID standing there while they were SUI
to rendering looking on, and yanks
e. soldier stepped up TO me and sale
o. 81 want TO make you a present
r. my fine revolver. We then marcht
an them down into the field. The
Is. were two young men In the crow
at sons OF a captain whom We had xii
ra- ed in the first charge. We told the
a boys that We would help them bu
te- their father as decently as we coul
raj They replied: "You fellows kill
IS him and you will bury him If y
it want him buried" We told the
lrg we were not so anxious to bury hi
In The Colonel in command OF the Va
af- KEGS was named Devere. They h
m captured two OF my regiment 4
days before that, and he would l
let them go to fire and made tn,
ms, sit out and freeze to death. WI
vs. we captured him it was all the G'
of eral could do to keep the men fr'
rse. killing him, and in crossing back o.
ure Cnnch river the General made b
af wade the river. and told him Il
re- he would not kill him nor let him
9Th killed, but would punish him all
Iere could for his kindness to our men
to write this for my old compani'
ests who were in the same regiment
rug who will remember 1t well. We W
then ordered to the Valley of
ginla. and In going down there
vor- met the enemy at place cal
of Piedmont. and there General 10
S. was killed. We lost a great mi
will of our regiment there. Win W
tive some more on this At another ii
Old Conf