The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-28

TeHuy 10 proceed anu WaitlnB Tie moves
ment OF tho other command General
toward the right, in the direction OF Gem
eral Payne and General Gordon. / told
him had not. All was quiet; VIC rode
out n short distance, stopped and lis
tened, but not n sound was heard Gem
eral Early remarked. Gordon should
have attacked by this time." saying; as
ne left me, no would ride over to see
what General Kershaw was doing. Gem
eral Kershaw's position being In the d.
rection OF where General Gordon was to
attack the enemy tthe Eighth Federal
Corps) About n half hour after General
Early left mo 1 heard firing, which
supposed was cnused by General Cor
dor's attack. The firing soon increased;
then there were several shots from the
cannon The firing on the right OF our
line against the Eighth Corps soon
stirred UP the Federals on tho north side
OF the turnpike. Colonel Carter ran up
several pieces OF his artillery and fired In
the direction OF the Nineteenth Corps.
and. we learned afterwards, with such
good effect as to materially interfere with
its formation and organization.
GORDON's AND KERsHAW'S ADJ
VANCE.
General Gordons attack upon the
Eighth Corps was evidently surprise.
He. with the assistance OF General KAY
shaw soon routed that corps, killing and
woundlng and capturing many. Gordon
and Kershaw pushed tho routed Eighth
Corps across the turnpike. struck the
Nineteenth Corps, which was also driven
back in some confusion. but making re-
sistance more or less effective. AS soon
as the enemy was forced back north OF
the turnpike and the bridge over Cedar
creek, I moved forward with two bril-
gades, followed by Colonel Carter with
his artillery, with my third brigade in
rear of the artillery.
sTRAGGLERs.
AS we crossed the rising ground east
Of the bridge, there seemed to be
number of stragglers In the camp and
In the rear of the attacking force. COL
Thomas Smith. who was In command
of the leading brigade. detached guard
and sent him with orders to all strag-
glers TO join their commands Mt once.
Colonel Smiths officer reported COM
paratively small number of soldiers
struggling. but that most OF them were
Transfers now connected with the quar-
termaster and cornnissary departments
or citizens who were following the army.
ARRIVAL OF WHARToN'S TROOPS
ON RIGHT OF SECOND CORPS.
When my column, moving along the
turnpike, arrived about opposite the
right of General Gordon and General
Kershaw the firing was quite sharp. ]
could not see our forces. owing to the
depression. or learn where the firing
was. But I could see limo of battle
on a plateau across a valley through
which a small stream flows. The line
OF battle was the Sixth Corps. which
up to that time had not been engaged.
but was simply awaiting tho advance OF
our forces Gordon and Kershaw), then
engaged in the ravine at the base of the
higher ground upon which the Sixth
Corps was in line of battle.
RAMSEUR AND PEGRAM FORCED
BACK AND CALL FOR HELP.
AS I was about to move forward to
turn the left flank OF the Sixth Corps,
Colonel Carter having in the meantime
come up with his artillery. General Gen.
eral Ramseur and General Pegram came
up hurriedly and requested me to go,
each to his assistance. as each said his
men were being forced back and needed
assistance. replied I thought had
best try to turn the flank OF the line of
battle on the opposite plateau (this was
the Sixth Corps. but seeing General
Early short distance from US. near the
artillery which seemed to be getting In
position to open fire on the town on
the opposite plateau (the Sixth Corps,
/ suggested we would refer the matter
to him. Riding up to General Early, !
told him what / had intended to do.
when Generals Ramseur and Pegram
explained their position.
MOVES TO HELP Pc
GRAM, AND IS REPULSED BY
SIXTH CORPS.
General Early told me to go to the
assistance of General Pegram. l moved
at once with two briagdes (Which had
come up, my line being still in the rear
of the artillery by the flank. but while
in position. some one in the rear of the
line gave the order to charge Charge!
our men are giving way!" The men.
the order was properly given,
rushed forward in some disorder and
irregularity. diving toward the position
held by the Sixth Corps. was riding
at the head of the line, and before I
could get back to correct the error the
men had gotten SO far ! could not cor
rect the mistake that had been made
but had to order n general charge. In
making this charge. we were at a great
disadvantage, having to pass through a
thick patch OF corn and by a house and
across q ditch. about ten or twelve feet
wide and three or four feet deep, and
then up steep hill with some trees and
bushes.
Our movement was plainly seen by tho
Sixth Corps. and. OF course. were in po-
sition to receive our charge. while our
mon. starting without proper orders or
in proper condition. and moving over
difficult ground and climbing steep
ascent. We're at a great disadvantage.
Consequently, we failed to accomplish
our purposes. and lost very heavily In
killed and wounded. When reached
the edge OF the road which extended up
the steep ascent found the left Of tho
Sixth Corps had either been forced back
or changed front to meet our attack.
Realizing that any further effort to force
back the Sixth Corps with nay. already
depleted ranks would result In almost
annihilatlon, I ordered the men to fall
back. first to the ditch or creek at the
foot OF the hill; but finding we were still
subjected to the fire of the enemy, and
having no support in tho direction OF
General Cordon'S line. I ordered tho man