The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-03-01
Incidents of the Second Battle OF
Winchester and Its Aftermath
BY J. Nj. Tate.

September LIST, 1858 found Rhodes
Division q EAriy's corps distributed
along the Shenandoah valley 20 watch
the enemy ana guard its stra1skica1
points.
The third Alabama regiment 81
which the writer 81 this article was a
member was stationed az a little VIZ
lage called Bunker Hin some ten or
fifteen miles north 81 Winchssteg. In
addition 90 dosing picket duty, our time
was occupied In drilling the Faw re-
eruits lately resolved from the camps
Of instruction The only pastime per-
mitted the men after company arm
waa checkers and cards. and as q mat
ter % course every man that engaged
Ia these games was equipped with a
deck 81 cards. and groups could bs
seen here and there playing poker or
seven mp
co 60 AZ well as most all % the
other companies. had suffered severely
IA the battle Of Gettysburg both IN
officers and men. Orders we're received
about the 10th ~ September by my
company % hold an election for 2nd
! AA#ahSAAEAAA AANFAtAE AEHA AtA@ a7A@AhA'M
81 orderly 1er9eaut ( offered Tor the
vacancy. and fortunately was elected
Ny commission after having ran the
usual Hantlst Of red tape. was handed
me duly endorsed by Gen. Roaers
Rhodes or September ism. with in
structiona 70 assume duty as such on
receipt
ny first act vas to return 70 quar-
termaster ny gun, accoutermenta and
ammunition The second was. 20 rip
from my sleeve the diamond and chew
erons which distinguished me a. first
sergeant Both Of these impaisivs acts
| ! had occasion e regret soon after
with discontinue and modification
ny old fatigue Jacket nos faded and
worm. had preserved its original color
| eeneath the cheverons. and these hav-
/ ing been ripped ofI. my tate rank a. a
4 non commissioned oflcer was an plain
y marked as r the stripes had never
been removed,
The Second sergeant who had neen
4 advanced 90 1rst proved % be as eager
% don ny discarded insignia as had
IN aoning H. Picking up the diamond
shaped piece. he DEITY sewed Il IN
the angle OF his stripes and stood up
% compare il with the marks Of mine.
During this comparison. several COM
I radea gathered 10 congratulate Us on
cur advancement When one Of the
naeu grasping the humor 81 the affair.
cried 20 the others, Come here every
body" Company CO. has two orderly
sergeantsa and seizing each - us BY
an arm continued. u defy any ~ you
80 tell which r. who. and Who i
whichy"
our embarrassment vas cut short
/ BY the ominous sound % the long roll
There was no longer time fer ievitg
Blankets were rolled. cards were thrust
IN breast pockets, cartridge boxes
encEled. arms snatchsd from stacks
and IN less than ten minutes after
the command, Fan In Men" every
soldier was IN his proper place when
the order waa given. FORWARD march
We were heading towards winches-
ter and had proceeded some ave miles
when news was passed along the lines
that General Rhodes and staf was APP
proachinw. Gen. Rhodes was consid-
cred BY every one as a martinez. yet
he YVES loved as well az feared by ali
L was said u him that his eyes nevel
failed 70 see anything out 81 the usual
order, A. he approached, every mar
put himself on his good bahavior. and
without coaching from officers. as
sumed = soldierly attitude Comins
, abreast Of oDr company he slowed hi.
horse 50 az 70 keep pace with us. fxes
. bis eyes sternly on me. and In a tons
, - renremand said. Sergeant. where j.
your gun Why are you not Ia tine +
{ ! replied IN 3 shaky voice. General
am an officer lately promoted from
an orderly serEeant"
"You are n Pretty looking officer
said he. without sword ~ Insignia. 6
! = impossi bic. Ia your strange xarh q
tell whether you are a n-commls
] stoned officer, or one latNly reduced q
, the ranks After Ne set through TN
little skirmish ahead. come % m,
quarters and I will give YOU a FUR
, Tough 20 80 10 Richmond and equfl
. yourself decently"
4 Looking around ] expected 90 -
, my comrades enjoying my reprimana
] cut found them Instead busily engage.
ia preparing fer the coming skirmisl
Some we're adjusting their cartFige
J boxes. some counting the rounds o
I ammunition others tearing letters 4
pieces. As Ne proceeded. the lnfalll
bic sign OF the coming conflict wa
seen in the read A Jack 81 diamonds
! followed IS an ace 81 clubs reinforce
/ BY cards OF every kind. informed "A
that those In 'front.' had been NOR