The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1914-04-03
MORE FACTS CONCERNING
MAI. JAS. b. STEEDMAN.
Continued from page 81.

camp WITH weary llnDS anu Sdu
hearts, for we understood that a gen.
eral retreat had been ordered and
that the "army of the Potomac" was
again to become the army of Bull
Run.
The Brigades in front of us were be-
hind time two hours, this stopped us
on the road and of course all be-
hind had to stop also. There was a
miserable botch, and the consequence
was after six hours of marching and
countermarching, lodging among
wagon wheels and plunging thro mud
holes we found ourselves only quar-
ter of a N lie from camp, where we
remained without shelter and abso-
lutely nothing provided to eat, the
wagons having gone on with all COM
missary stores and no rationS hav-
ing been issued previous to starting.
The men whom we did not try to re-
strain under the circumstances, killeC
several fat hogs belonging to the peo-
pie of the country and ate without
salt. You can judge our chivalrous
general from his conduct under these
circumstances so distressing, and the
result in part of his own want of
foresight. He rode up to Gile Com
pany while engaged in cutting up a
fine porker, and said, "Men, | am
sorry to find that you have come all
the way from South Carolina to steal
hogs. I'll be damned if | am not
ashamed of you" He also ordered
their arrest, but was stopped by Jack
Giles who told him that he (.Ia"k,
was the man to be arrested i. any,
IS he had consented to the killing,
this requiring immortal honor among
the Marching Fifth"
Last night, the wedge of wagons
having been removed, we recon-
mended, our journey towards Bull
Run, and at an early hour this morn
mig, having overtaken our wagons. we
halted for breakfast at this point,
within 6 miles of Manassas. We are
all in confusion, everybody eating and
again eating for we have been actual
ly starving for more than 80 hours
The whole army has fallen back upon
its old lines and here we will, | sup
pose, remain unmolested. Some think
we have gained moral victory. l
don't see how; and with all confidence
IN the judgment of our Generals, |
confess that | cannot understand their
Observation-Disclosures may be obliged
by force of public clamor to advance
on us but l think this less probable
than if we had remained. Our only
chance for another fight before our
term expires is to be sent home for
the defense of dear old South Caro-
lima. Meantime as nobody knows
whether we are going or where we
opportunity, of replying to you.
Please explain my silence to Carr1.
II 1T should be continued, as l shall
write as soon as l can. Love to Ann
and the chilren and kind regards to
you. Yours sincerely,
J. B. Steadman.
p. S.-A little brush with the Yam
KEGS occurred yesterday and as the
circumstances will show you of what
= xind the -rascals are, l will give you
them.
A troop of Ransoms N. C. Cavalry.
nupmbering 120, were accommodating
near Vienna, when they discovered a
large body of Yankee horsemen an.
forwards ascertained to number 300,
advancing along the road. Drawing
up his troop near the road, and behind
shelter of wood, Ransom waited
until the "Yanks" had nearly passed,
when with a whoop he charged their
center, and cut thro them, this divid-
ing their line in two--without offer
ing the least resistance, the panic
stricken wretches put spurs to their
horses and sought safety in flight.
Ransom pursued one of these two
halves, and cutting down MANY of
them, took 20 prisoners. He then
turned and pursued the other half to
within 12 miles of their encampment
and captured one fellow in sight of
his Reg. which was forming. Our men
were permitted to bring off their can
tlves without molestation and TODAY
they passed our camp with them on
their way to Manassas. Our bows
were in splendid spirits, and said they
wanted no better fun than hunting
Yankees on their own ground. Thev
only wanter overcoatS to be perfect
ly contented. The Yanks were armed
with sabres, navy repeaters and can.
blnes; yet they made no fight what
ever, and the only casualty in Ran
some's command was a broken arm
to one of his men from his horse fall
ing with him in the chase. Are you
fellows going to let such a breed OF
dogs occupy your state and burn your
metropolis?
Some still think that Mcclellan in
tends to attack us here. We have
again ordered to dispatch all our
heavy baggage to Manassas, and to-
morrow Beauregard presents us with
our battlef1ag. Does this mean a
fight? | think not The flag is of
pink with a cross of blue in which
are 13 golden stars. Every Reg. will
have one of these to prevent mistakes
in future.
Farewell. Steedman
Centreville, Va, Jan. 27. '62.
Dear Mr. Arthur.