Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1906-09-26

front, and there received his death
wound. At last the brigade was
moved rapidly through the woods
on their left where they formed
line of battle and advanced TO the
edge of the woods, halting behind
a rail fence. In their front was a
large field which had not been cul-
tivated that year and was grown
up with weeds and wild grass, and
beyond that was another piece of
woods. In a short time large
brigade of the enemy emerged
from the woods opposite, march
ing left oblique for the purpose of
uniting in the attack on our line TO
the right of us. If they had not
been interrupted i'm their march
and had reached their destination,
a disaster to our army would have
been inevitable. At once a COM
mand forward" was given To the
"StonewaIl Brigade" and the men
climbing the fence and forming on
the other side moved forward at
GOub'e time. The enemy who were
evidently taken by surprise at their
sudden appearance, executed
half wheel which brought them
facing the advancing line, and they
commenced firing. but the brigade
moved steadily forward, reserving
Its fire until the two lines were very
close together when the command
passed down the line Halt Aim
low. Fire". Not a breath ofair was
stirring and the smoke of their guns
prevented them from seeing what
was before them, but the command
rang out Forward Charge bayo-
nets. When they reached the
place where the cnemy's line had
stood, they found none but dead and
wounded men. Such destruction
from a single volley was rarely if
ever seen on any battle field.
The brigade was then rapidly
wheeled to the right and hurled
like a thunder bolt on the right
flank of the enemy, who, confident
of victory were pressing Early's
line, and soon scattered them like
chat before the wind. When the
wheel was ordered Company /, of
the Second Virginia Infantry,
under command of the writer, was
ordered to the edge of the woods
from which the enemy had emerg-
ed, there to deploy as skirmishers
and protect the flank of the wheel
ing lines. On arriving there, be-
fore they had time to deploy,
regiment of Federals came up in
column of fours at double time
with trailed arms, led 10y an officer
wearing the uniform of Lieuten-
ant Colonel; but at the command
Company ! sent sixty bullets into
the head of the column killing
many, including the officer in COM
mand, whereupon the whole regi-
ment vanished in confusion and
was no more seen on that field.
Looking TO the left it was soon
afterwards discovered that long
line of troops was advancing at
right angles with our line, and at
first it was uncertain who they
were, but upon their approaching
nearer, to the relief of all who we're
anXiously watching them, the Con-
federate flag was recognized. The
General commanding the division,
rode forward with his staff and a
guard of cavalry, and upon being
Informed by the Captain of Com
pany | that his skirmishers were
from the Second Virginia Infantry
deployed there to guard the flank,
he introduced himself as General
Pender and directed the Captain
to withdraw his skirmisherS, they
being no longer needed there, and
report to his regiment. Company
| | then by rapid movement took
its place in the regiment in time tC
take part in the attack on the
enemy's flank, which routed them
as already mentioned.
Theenemy were pursued through
wheat field where the wheat was
in shocks, ahd through a corn 6elC
beyond it, and soon our whole line
advanced, emerging through the
woods into the open country, pre-
| senting a magnificent spectacle
Gen'l jackson remained on the
= field the next day after the battle
, and the men were engaged in taking
: care of the wounded and buryiuS