Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-12
CAVALRY
BATTLE At ASHLAND
Troops Of North and South Clash
When Attempt Is Made to
Destroy Bridge.
THE DASH ON OLD CHURCH
Veteran Tells OF Bloody Arrays in
Fighting About Richmond, and Re-
counts His Gruesome Experiences
at Cold IIarbor.

counts His Gruesome Experiences
at Cold Harbor.
During the progress Of Grants cam
paien against Richmond in May and
June. 1864 1t became matter of rn1ich
importance TO the Federal commanders
to destroy the bridges of the Richmond
and Fredericksburg and Virginia Cen
trail Railroads which crossed the Pa
mnnkey River. and to tear up the
tracks in the vicinity of Ashland. The
destruction of the aforementioned
bridge was efectually accomplished at
daybreak on the 18th day Of June so
Colonel J. b. Mcintosh reported. by n
regiment OF Chapman's Brigade. He
further states that with three regi-
mcnts of his own brigade-the Fifth
New York, Second Ohio and First Con-
necticut-hc pushed on to Ashland. and
there. while we were engaged in de-
stroying the railroad. we were at
tackled by two divisions OF the enemy's
cavalry" For the protection of the
men engaged in the destruction Of tho
track. n body OF dismountcd men were
placed in position in a body Of woods
through which ram deep ditch with n
considerable embankment, Offering ex-
cclient protection against an attack.
No sooner than the advance of this
Federal body on Ashland was reported
TO General w. H. r Lee than he was
in motion with part Of his division
TO oppose H.
When the Ninth Regiment of this iii
vision reached the vicinity of the
woods occupied by the enemy, one OF
our regiments had been dismounted
and were moving TO attack them We
were also quickly dismounted, and en-
tered the woods as a support 20 the men
in advance Beside fence, at the edge
Of the timber, as we hurried forward.
lay the body of soldier who had re-
ccived a death shot as our first line Of
skirnishers had approached the fence
before us.
AS our men proceeded into the woods
heavy hre was heard, and IL was
supposed the regiment in front Of US
was holly engaged. Now and then
amidst the dying bullets one or another
OF our men would be struck but no
volley was fred by us for fear of kill
ing friends in the line which 1t was
thought we were supporting. II pres
emily became evident that not a Con-
federate was IN our front, the regiment
which we supposed to be there having
borne TO one side or the other and left
only the Federals before us we'll pro-
tectcd in the ditch which has been men
toned.
MEN DASH FORWARD
TOWARD FEDERAL DITCH
When this discovery was made our
regiment at once raised yoll and
dashed forward for the ditch, while its
| occupants. eaping over the bank. beat
FRI, ~
thvm before turning his back to US
struck the man at my sidc--R. Il. Spill
o mainland. the bullet striking his teeth
and destroying several of them, passed
out Of his cheek. The contact of the
bali with his teeth sounded TO me very
much II II mad struck and shattered
I. china plate or cup. The wounded
d man told me later that this noise was
1 caused by the bullet striking the metal
plate OF his carbinc, from which IL
glanced 10 his mouth.
Close 10 this ditch John Nea!e. an
other oomrade near me. was mortaily
wounded, and | never saw him again
Here. TOO. fell a brave young fellow
named Gaines from Culpeper County
Further 10 tine left fell Lieutenant John
e Harwood, OF the Richmond County
Cavalry, an uncle OF the late Colonel
John B HARDWOOD, Of Richmond. for
whom ne was named. MY last glimpse
OF him was as william Reamy bore his
body on his shoulder back from where
he fell. For this sad task Rcamy was
so stout and stalwart as to need no
assistance.
When we reached the farther edge
OF the woods an open leld OF no great
size appeared before us. whore the re-
treating enemy were seen mounting
their horses amidst considerable CON
fusion. An officer who sat promi-
nently on his horse directing the dis
mounted men as they regaincd their
. saddles offered a tempting target to
Tom Jett. who CHANGED TO stand near
e me and called to me. saying. See me
knock that officer off," and then rails
ing his carbine. taking aim and airing
The ofticer fell back on his horse and
- then to the ground as IL killed or badly
wounded. Our FIRE here was rapid, and
&evidently with serious effects on the
n confused ranks OF the enemy, who
Srapidly retired from our view
II began now to be reported that
General Rosser, with his brigade, had
. gotten in their rear. and that there
was fine prospect OF our making a
large capture. We we're, therefore,
Bmarched in the direction OF our led
horses. and when we got to them, 10.
- instead OF mounting them, we were
= hurried forward on foot in the woods
= on the right. while Lieutenant Chris
tian led a squadron in n charge down
= the road. only to find the road barri-
ca ded and in possession OF fresh Fed
eral brigade which had come to the
rescue OF the men whom we had been
hghting. The timely arrival of this
brigade enabled the enemy TO escape
with his ambulances filled with his
seriously wounded, of whom. however
thirty remained In our hands. the Fed
erals not having had adequate means
20 carry them away. This escape was
largely accomplished also by the open
ing up OF n road through some dense