The National tribune., 1906-03-01
ADVANCE AND RETREAT.
CONTINUED from page II

-
Corps, which was pushing forward
rapidly with the design TO secure a
position on the flank or in rear of the
federalS. This maneuver resulted in
one OF those bold and dazzling achieve
ments which not only won my unbound
ed admiration. but Geservedly earned
for jackson the highest appreciation
and encomiums of the civilized world.
Whilst he was Fastening forward with
determination 10 allow no obstacle
to hinder the accomplishment of his
OBJECT, his train was attacked by the
enemy near WelfOrd's Ford, on Hazel
River; nevertheless, true to the in
spiration of his genius, he pushed on
ward, leaving Trimble's Brigade to pro-
tect his baggage against this assault.
Gen. Trimble galIantly repulsed the
Federals, as my division moved for
ward to his support.
a ComIcaI Panic.
Longstreets Corps continued to
threaten the enemy, while jackson
turned his right flank and cut his COM
municatioEs with Washington. He
finally stood at bay near Manassas,
whilst Lor5street, by a forced march
from the t;appahannock, pushed for
ward, and reached about midday on
the 2Sth Tiioroughfare Gap, which was
guarded by q strong force of the enemy.
My command had marched nearly
the whole previous night. About 2
a. m, after passing through valley
amid darkness which was greatly in
creased by dense wood, the troops
were allowed to file off, stack arms, and
bivouac on a slope, and around a knoll
upon which some of our cavalrymen
had been stationed on picket duty The
fatigue Of the men was so excessive
that they dropped down in line, and
fell asleep almost the instant they
touched the ground. Amid the still
ness and darkness which reigned in
the encanIment, some Of the officers,
who had dismounted upon the summit
OF the hillock, kicked over an empty
barrel which had been used by the cav
alrymen as a receptacle for forage and
1t came rolling and bounding down the
slope over the bushes toward the
Texans, who We're then in sound
sleep. Just at this moment a fayorite
animal of one of the regiments, "the
old gray mare" loaded with kettles, tin
cups and ftying-pans, dashed up the
hill from the forest below with q rat
ting noise. Some one gave the alarm,
crying with q loud voice, Look out,"
and the brave men who had fought SO
nobly at Cold Harbor sprang to their
feet, deserted their colors and guns
and ran down the slope over a well-con-
structed fence, which was soon levelled
to the ground, and had continued their
flight several hundred yards before
they awoke sufficiently to recover their
wits and boldly march back, convulsed
with laughter. This incident is the
origin of the brigade song, the burden
OF which ran, "The old Gray Mare came
tearing out o. the Wilderness" The
truth is, in time of war, cap explodes
much louder at night than in the day.
Late in the afternoon of the 28th my
DIVISION was instructed to unite with
Gen. d. r. Jones's Division and gain
possession Of Thoroughfare Gap,
narrow mountain detile, protected as it
were, by wall of stone on either side
AT the same time Gen. Lee sent a force
to the left to threaten the Federals in
rear, whilst a portion of my command
passed through the Gap under a heavy
fire OF artillery, and my main force
crossed over the ridge upon the imu.e-
date left of the Gap. The enemy was
thus forced to retire, and my division
bivouacked for the night beyond this
stronghold. At early dawn on the
morning of the 2Sth L put my troops
in motion, and, in accordance with in
structions from Gen. Longstreet form
ed his advanced guard in the direc-
ton of Manassas. l placed Lieut.. Col
Upton, of the 5th Texas. IN command
of abd4t $50 picked men from the
Texas Brigade, to act as skirmishers
and instructed him to rapidly push the
Federals in his front impressedI
upon him the Importance of Fastening
TO the support of Gen. Jackson, and
assured him l would keep the division
in readiness to render him prompt as
sistance, If requisite. Here was achieved
by this advanced guard of the advanced
guard one or those military feats which /.