The Washington herald., 1914-05-15


massed in such a position that 1t could
only retreat when attacked. This II
did, in some confusion. its usefulness
for the day being ended.
Tho second feature of the fight. and
the one on which the fortunes of the
day turned. was a charge by the Con-
federates on the Federal line, and the
capture of guns from their batteries
both at the right and left
Advancing across open country the
Confederates faced a terrific fire but
kept steadily on.
Meanwhile there was confusion
among the Federals. Some of SiegePs
regiments had never been under fire
before. A few Of them could hardly
be restrained from rushing upon the
enemy. while others held back and re-
fused to advance on command.
A few slimpses of the possible causes
of Federal defeat are obtained from
the oficial reports of the battle. and
from Gen. Sigers writings.
Charge and Countercharxe.
When Gen. Sigel started from the
right. where he had spent the forenoon.
to go to another part of the line. he
found that .the companies placed be-
hind the batteries quickly rose from
the ground and followed me, as IL by
command. I Immediately turned them
round. brought them back to their po-
sitions. and remained at my post"
This incident resulted. wrote Gen.
Sigel. in his being chained" to that
position for the rest of the fight.
Gen Sigel describes the loss Of the
guns on his right. When informed by
the artillery officers that the position
could not be held. he ordered two COM
panies of the Twelfth West Virginia to
advance and protect the pieces" but ito
my surprise there was no disposition to
advance; in fact, in spite OF entreaties
and reproaches the men could not be
moved an inch. At this moment, To save
the guns. I determined to make q coun-
ter charge"
One of the regiments in that part of
the line was the Thirty-fourth Massa-
chusetts. Its commander. Col George d.
Wells, in his report, tells graphically of
the counter charge and its failure. When
a charge was ordered the Thirty-fourth
advanced. but soon found that the other
regiments had turned back. leaving the
Thirty-fourth rushing alone into the
enemy's line.
II shouted to them to halt. but could
not make a single man hear or heed
me-" reported Col Wells. "and it was
not until they had climbed an interven-
ing fence and were rushing ahead on
the other side, that I was able to run
along the lines, and. seizing the color
bearer by the shoulder, held him fast as
the only way of stopping the regiment
The wings surged ahead, but, losing
sight of the colors, halted"
The regiment made q stand and began
firing. Its losses were heavy. Lieut..
Col. w. S. Lincoln was among those who
fell. He was severely wounded.
Federal Guns Taken.
When Col. Wells looked back to the
guns he saw, to his surprise, that they
had unlimbered and were moving to the
rear. and that the infantry also was
gone. except one regiment. far to the
see two Confederate battle flags at the
point where the guns had stood.
The Sixty-second Virginia Cavalry
and the boys of the Vir-
ginia Institute had charged the guns and
captured three of them. A gallant charge
1t had been, across open country at first,
and then, after breathing spell in a
little rocky ravine, 800 yards from the
straight on to the cannon's
mouth"
The guns Col Wells saw going to the
rear were InOSe Inat escaped. On the
left. also, two guns had been lost by the
Their counter charge had been
made too late.
With his line broken, Gen. Sigel ordered
a retreat to q bridge across the Shenan-
ioah at Mount jackson. five miles in
his rear. Wagons and cavalry mingled
with the infantry on the road. There |
was dire confusion, and the enemy press |
I'd on hard behind. but q commanding |
position on Rude's Hill. near the river, |
was reached before dark. and there al
rear guard stand was made while the
,orces crossed the river.
Gen. Breckinridge could make no at |
tack here, as his men were out of am
nunition. Before they could secure II the |
Federals had made good their crossing, |
md had fired the bridge.
By marching all night they reached
strasburg, where they were protected by
Cedar Creek.
Col. Moor reported that his men at the |
md Of the retreat had been on their
egs two days and two nights without \
up Of coffee, or even meat rations, num-
,ers of them barefooted. The mud at j
yew Market was so deep and tenacious /
hat many of the soldiers on both sides /
ost their shoes and stockings IN 1t.
Losses OF the Day. II
Col Wells reported that his regiment
iad been almost continuously march
ns or under arms. for IS hours. In .