The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-27

passage and retreat across this
"siought OF despond" to the works
was effected. The Yankees did not ad-
vance further. no doubt believing wo
were but M outer line well supported.
But for this last stand OF Gray's Bri-
Sade. Fichmond could have been casily
entered. Many soldiers OF the legion
VIII remember the splendid practice
that day OF battery OF artillery. the
Richmond Howitzers, on our right as
II played Upon the advancing line OF
blue. sending Its shells with deadly
erect INTO the column al the discharge
OF every gun. The anaconda lire
OF the enemy was thus drawn closer
around the doomed city. Sherpshoot-
Ing between the infantry outposts on
the right for several days kept us on
the alert as we did heavy picket duty
to the left on the highways leading
into the city Determining to recover
lost ground. orders were received from
Lee to attack and turn the enemy :
Hank. Before day we were on the move
and by country roads got into position
at right angles to Anderson's (Georg!a)
brigade and TO. the infantry line We
waited until the infantry opened fire
and then advanced. 4 battery OF ny
ing artillery fired three shells at us
and limbered up in retreat Two OF
those missiles burst over us and Sc
verely wounded two fnen--the third
cut "A pine top. which fell on the writer
and several others. but without hurt
to US For the only time during the
war. as we pressed the Fcderals back
was permitted TO see the flashing
OF the muskets of two opposing lines
or infantry for Rearly a s,alf-milc
distance. The sight was grand indeed
and Intensely exciting as the enemy
gave way shall remember as long as
life lasts the yell OF victory as the
boys in gray charged on the feeing
bluecoats. Gary's Brigade turned the
flank. The legion captured the
battery and pursued the enemy until
checked ny the murderous lire OF their
double line OF reinforcements
From Horse to Engineers.
trusting to memory, it Is impossible,
after many years, to detail accurately
In succession the movements of the
legion during a years restless cam
paign OF small fights. So the thread
OF the story will be continued as the
events come to mind. Some time after
this last victory at the close of a
pleasant day. we went into camp. feel
ing assured of week or two of rest
and quietude. At midnight we were
aroused. horses and camp left in charge
of a detail and hastily marched sew
eral miles, put in position on the line
OF the infantry. 10 the left In a body
! OF woods. given picks and spades and
| commanded to throw up earthworks.
| Grant had made Il sudden dash on Rich
inond and would attack in the morn
| ing. AS this was the first time after
| the legion became cavalry that II was
ordered TO do this fatigung work OF
| infantry. the murmurs and curses were
| loud and deep, the men averring that
! II was false alarm and that no large
| force mad crossed the James lust
| before day. the work being finished
an he ma inc "a 81.
! their labor, with guns and accoutre-
ments lying about carelessly on the
/ ground, our videttes were driven in.
Our old soldiers knew the import OF
| the cracks Of the rifles in front and
| cartridge boxes and hustling into
/ the bitches; for it must be known that
| breastworkA were made by Lees vet
/ Grams during the war by digging
! ditch about two feet deep and three
| feet wide. throwing the earth up three
| feet In front Here We STAYED for
three long days and foiled the enemy
| In an attempt to surprise us. The
| works were not charged, but a scat
terins fire was kept up during this
! time at long taw.' the enemy evil
IDENTIFY being afraid 10 advance. The
officer In command of Company B.
finding the ditch too crowded for COM
! fort, reclined on the ground just back
OF 1t. The sharp whiz of bullet
above his head. at intervals, show ed
| plainly that he was the mark of one
elevated sharpshooter. A Cherok ee
Indian named BLY,, in Company E. on
our left. at last espied MIN up a tree
and taking careful aim with his rifle
| sent shot at him, the result OF which
was known by Bly's laconic: Me kill
! him. and there was no more sharp
| shooting. On this occasion Lieutenant
| Colonel Niohalson. the gallant veteran
lAr
the arm, his first and only wound dur
ing the war. from which he recov-
! cred.
After this the legion was in a fight
near Fussels Mill. and then with the
| brigade 1t aided a cavalry force un-
der General Hampton to defeat body
of Federals near Samaria Church, driv-
ing them to the James River under
| cover of their gunboats. In one OF
! Grants attempts on Richmond, strong
columns were simultaneously hurried
| by forced marches along the Charles
| city. Williamsburg and Nine-m mile
| Roads towards the city.
On the first named road the legion
held them at bay until relieved by in
| fantry, then marching rapidly along
the line OF earthworks to the next
road, reached it and got into position
| on either side OF the artillery In the
fort just as n line OF blue emerged
from body of woods several hundred
yards distant and dashed for the
works supposing them to be held by
the battery OF artillery only. A we'll
| directed fire staggered and so demon
| allied them that they in panic broke
| their line, some retreating to the woods
| while the greater number flung them
| selves into ditch running across the
! open space in front OF the Confederate
! works. AL this juncture an officer in
! breathless haste ordered the legion to
! the Nine Mile road At the double
| quick we rushed diagonally across a
field for the works on that road while
| a black and blue column of Yankee
| negro troops moved rapidly on them
| In front. They We're CALAMITY held
| at the time by TWO guns of the Pal
! metto Battery and sixty mounted cav
! alrymen, under command OF General
| Gary. We gained the entertainments
! and opened a deadly Are on the negroes.
I at twenty PAGES, we moved along
/ the line on the attempt to place our.
! flank opposite to theirs. The lines