Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 21.djvu/354

 346 Southern Historical Society Papers.

of the Union troops, put them through drill. They were greeted with good-natured cries from the soldiers, giving the rebel war-cry of "Yip, yip, yah!" Finally, Bordunix gave the order to aim and then to fire, at the same time suiting the action to the word. The amazement of the Unionists can be imagined when two of their num- ber fell seriously wounded. Before they had fully recovered from their surprise another volley was fired, wounding others. The three men hastily retreated. The town was searched, but they were not found, as they had gone further down the road. The army moved forward, and a mile from town was again fired upon, this time from ambush. The order was given to capture them alive, and they were charged by at least five hundred men, but were not taken, as they apparently knew the rough country well.

Another mile, and three more Union soldiers fell under their aim. Two miles further on three others fell out of the ranks, and were carried to the roadside to await the arrival of the ambulance. The three avengers hastened forward, and found concealment in a grave- yard beside the highway. Here they waited again for Stoneman's army. The troops were ordered to fire if another assault was made. They advanced nervously for the fifth time. Suddenly the crack of three rifles was heard, and the roar of 500 muskets answered it. The mad Virginians fell riddled with bullets, and were buried where they fell. Theirs was the last blood shed in the war.

[From the Richmond (Va.) Star, January 25, 1874.]

THE RAW CONFEDERATE OF APRIL, 1861.

The Amusing Experience of Commander Robert N. Northen, of Pickett

Camp Confederate Veterans, as Narrated to the Camp

Monday Evening, January 22, 1894.

[Pickett Camp of Confederate Veterans, of this city, sometime since inaugurated a happy regulation. This is the reading at each of its weekly meetings of a paper by a comrade of some experience of his a own as soldier. These memories will be not only precious to pos- terity, but they are valuable as materials of history.