The National tribune., 1908-01-23

sas Are correct Rickettss Division was
ordered to hold Longstreet in check at
Thorofare Gap until the rest of the
army captured Jackson We were to
hold Longstreet iii check two hours
We drove part of his force back thru
the Gap, and held the Gap all after
noon In the evening we fell back and
camped for the night Next morning
at daylight we heard drums over a
small hill a quarter of a mile away. An
Aid was sent to find out what troops
Were there. He came back very speed
lily with word that Longstreets whole
corps was there. They had crossed dur
ing the night farther up the mountain,
and neither force knew of the nearness
of the other. Now, here was a case of
hades to pay and no pitch hot And it
was. Fall in quietly, men. Load at
will" And with bayonets fixed we,
with strong line of skirmishers on
both f1anks and in front, started for
Bull Run. When we arrived there
Hartsuff,s Brigade was left to protect
the left of our line on Bald Hill, and
here is where Mcdowell comes in. We
had just been placed in line when Nc
Dowen came back cursing like pirate,
and wanting to know who gave orders
to post the brigade there. The brigade
was composed of the 9Th n. Y. S. M,
18th Pa, 18th and 18th Mass. All the
regiments were ordered to another po-
sition except the 9th n. Y, a small
regiment When We were placed in
our new position we faced a strong
line of battle, and in the rear of that
battle line three strong columns of
Johnnies were marching direct to the
point Mcdowell had taken the rest of
the brigade from. II swept the 9Th n.
Y. from its position and fianked the
rest of the line Our losses were some
thing fearful. The position from where
Mcdowell ordered the brigade was the
key of the position, and while we were
being slaughtered Mcdowell rode to an
elevated position farther to our right
on Bald Hill, and, sitting on his horse
there, held up above his head a white,
peculiariy-shaped cap he wore, and the
firing ceased on that part of the line,
but was terribly increased on our part
of the line and the whole line swept
back. I was left standing alone except
for the dead and wounded. Col. Dick
Coulter rode up to me with our regi-
mental flag in his hand and said, Hold
my horse until / rally the regiment"
but came back Immediately, for there
was none to rally. He asked me If the
horse could carry him, as the horse was
badly wounded. / said, "I do not know.
Colonel" but he got on and went off
at a gallop- / started to the rear alone,
with the tears running down my cheeks
and saying TO myself, I'VE are whipped
the second time on the same battlefield,
and by treachery." AS / was going
back Co. man called to me to save
him got him on my back to a little
ravine in the rear of our lines, and the
rebels were so close then l told him ]
would have to leave him, as the John
nies We're close behind us. AS / ran
up the other side the rebels kept call
ing me to surrender. / said II will
die first" Sigel had a line of cannon
in line some 200 yards from the rayine.
] ran as near as l could between two
brass pieces, the cannoneers motioning
me to lie down, but I did not, and as
i ran thru between two guns the men
cKeered me. My, how the shell scream
ed past as l came back.
Years after the war I was talking to
an old soldier about my narrow escape.
He said. II saw it. AS you ran up the
bank of the ravine a rebel just behind