The National tribune., 1906-09-20
THE BUCKTAILS.
Confined from page -


rnSiy fire." AS he stepped swiftly from
behind tree long line of red flame
showed over the cresr os the hill. and.
without tlinching. pierced by "a vG,lev g
! balls, Martin Kelly dropped dead. Col.
Kane. ever watchful and alert perceived
at once that the line in front of him not
only greatly outnumbered his scanty
command. but was stretching out to-
wards the left, threatening to envelop
its flank. and Instantly he ordered de-
tachment of his small band 10 drive
back the menacing force. Wounded in
the leg early in the fight. leaning against
a tree. he directed his rapidly falling
men. The opposing lines drew closer
together. and as the Bucktails by q
whitening fire drove back the attack
that swarmed towards their flank. the
rebel line appeared to crumble. and for
moment it seemed as though success
would attend the efforts of the devoted
band. At this moment Gen. Turner
Ashby. on foot. appeared in front of the
Confederate line. urging his Virginians
forward. His horse had been shot un-
der him, but. undaunted, he sprang for
ward. ordering the men to cease firing
and use the bayOnct. tAshby was Fid-
ing horse belonging to Lieut.. Willis.
He was now killed and Ashby
was on foot. Lossing's civil War in
America Vol. H.. p. 1851 charge.
men," he shouted: ''ior Gods sake.
chargei" C.Stonewall Jackson and the
American Civil war" by Lieut.-Col. c.
F. r. Henderson Vol. l.. p. 445; also.
John Estcn Cookies Military History
of Stonewall Jackson."3 His regiment
rallied for moment Then one of the
Bucktails took deliberate aim and fired
Oates states that the shot was fired by
Corpl Holmes who was lying mortally
wounded on the ground. In this he is
-,1r ., II. ~,
error. The man believed to be the real
marksman il still living. but though
proud of his membership in the regi-
ment prefers TO remain unnamed in this
case.) With the crack Of the rifle Ash
by. the beloved General of the Confed-
eracy. fell dead. (The stern Jackson
valued Gen. Ashby 50 highly that In his
official report he said: "As a partisan
officer / never knew his superior: his
daring was proverbial: his powers of
endurance almost incredible: his tone
of character heroic. and his sagacity al
most intuitive in divining the purpose
and movements of the enemy" o. r. |.
XII. l.. p. 712. Col Kane who. pris-
oner. vas taken to Gen. Ewelrs head
quarters, is reported as SAYING that upor
an officer reporting to that General that
the Confederate forces had aaind glo-
rious victory, driving the enemy from
the field, Gen. Ewell exclaimed Gen
eral, / am aStonished that YOU should
have the face to come into nv presence
and claim victory. such victories
would drive us to hell before we arr
ready to go. Shame, shame, that not
over 100 men should so nearly destroy
one of my best brigadeS. and worse that
must lose the brave Gen. Ashby. who
nad to take command of your brigade
in person in order to prevent defeat. ]
would not have lost him for n regiment
such as you Capt. John p. Bare
stated that this conversation was re-
sorted to him by an officer to whom
Col. Kane had repeated it. Though
plainly somewhat exaggerated and dis
torted. it is doubtless nearly correct. and
the fact that Col. Kane had been
classmate of Gen. Ewell's. and was
therefore more likely to speak frankly
to him. may explain how the latter
alone amongst the COnfederatcs. seems
the strength of the Bucktail battalion.)
Fierce, Close Fight.
Col. Kane was wounded a~ain in the
breast. and Lieut. Wolfe. approaching
him. said: Colonel shall | send two
men to carry you back; we can't stay
here any longer: if we don't get gu.
right speedily we will all be captured"
With bulldog courage the Colonel re,
NppiGcu ISu are Ublng HODly, Lieu
tenant: give them - About the
time that Gen. Ashby fell the Ist Md
under Col. Bradley T. Johnson, came to
the assistance of the 5Sth Va. Raging
at the loss of their brigade commander
and led by Johnson. the two regiments.
charging forward till but $50 feet sepa-
rated the connatants, redoubled their
attack on their foes now reduced in
numbers to between 50 and 60 Con-
WINGED that the hp taf
would not arrive. with his own force
but half the size it had been an hour
previously. while the enemy had beer
strengthened by fresh troops Col Kane
reluctantly. as the darkness gathered.
ordered his men to retreat. Capt. Tay-
l,:r. of Co. n. succeeded in drawing of
the survivors. numbering but SO. I'm
willing to leave his commander alone
wounded he returned to the field. to
recover the body if dead or to assist
him if still living. With Kane he wa
made prisoner. Recognizing his chiv-
alror conduct. the Confederates offered
him his narole. but he refused, as did
also Col. Kane.
Many stories have been told about
this battle. On the Union side the loss
Of the Bucktails was at first underesti
mated. though the bravery of the men
was Immediately recognized Gen.
Bayard. in his renort. dated Harrison
burg. June 4. 1862, to Assistant Adjt-
Cen. Rreck. SayS:
"Col. Kane hau light with regi-
mert of infantry. He was wounded and
taken prisoner; also. Capts. Tayl"- and
blanchard and Lieut.. Swayre wounded.
He lost - Een. The Bucktails fought
splendidly."
In Gen. Fremont's general report of
he Valley campaign, referring to this
action, he says:
Gen. Frc71Ont's Report.
almost Immediately after getting IL
70 the timber the Rifles encountered p
regiment of cavalry with artillery and
i regiment of infantry, from which they
received very damaging fire. a very
severe engagement of half an hour fol-
lowed, during which the Rifles lost up
ward of 40 in killed. wounded and miss
ing. Col. Kane WIS wounded and taken
prisoner, Capt. Taylor a prisoner. Capt.
Blanchard shot through both legs, and
Lieut. Swayne wounded. This noble
body of Rifiemen is entitled to the ex-
preston of my warm admiration for
excellent conduct and efficiency during
the march and for distinguished bravery
on this occasion" Uieut. Swayne died
in the hospital ~ Harrisburg. and Capt. |
Blanchard. although he succeeded in
reioining the regiment near Sharpsburg, |