Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 4.djvu/115

Rh ice.&quot; On approaching Manassas, one regiment was formed on the north side and one on the south side of the railroad. In this order they moved on in the intense darkness, watchwords and responses having been arranged. On each side of the railroad the Federals had a battery, consisting of four pieces, continuously firing toward their foes. The following is General Trimble’s account of his success: &quot;The position of the batteries on either side of the railroad having been ascertained pretty accurately, the word was given, Charge! when both regiments advanced rapidly and firmly, and in five minutes both batteries were carried at the point of the bayonet. Sending an officer to the north side of the railroad to ascertain the success of the Georgia regiment, he could not immediately find them, and cried out, Halloo, Georgia, where are you? The reply was, Here! all right! We have taken a battery. So have we, was the response, whereupon cheers rent the air.

In addition to the 8 guns and 300 prisoners taken, 2,000 barrels of flour, 2,000 barrels of salted pork, 50,000 pounds of bacon, large supplies of ordnance, 2 trains of over 100 cars freighted with every article necessary for the outfit of a great army, large quantities of sutler’s stores and other valuable supplies fell into Trimble’s hands. The next morning, the 27th, Trimble having reported the accomplishment of his mission and asked for aid in holding his captures, General Jackson sent the divisions of A. P. Hill and Taliaferro to join him at Manassas. Ewell, with Jackson s remaining division, was left at Bristoe with orders to fall back if attacked in force. As these two divisions moved up to Manassas, Branch’s Carolinians had a sharp encounter with one of the Federal batteries and its supports, but soon dispersed this force. Shortly after Hill s division arrived, Genera] —