Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 32.djvu/103

 Sheridan" 1 's Bummers. 91

A courier dashed up to the gate, and the message came in, "Pre- pare to move in an hour's time !" The music ceased, the merry voices were low, and the farewells were hastily spoken. As we hastened away from the gate, the Major said: "Confound the Yan- kees. I wish they'd behave themselves and let us have a little fun." I replied: "Just to think of the nice cream and cake we've missed ! I could kill a thousand of them !" Judging from the muttering along the road to camp the Federals were consigned to lower and warmer regions, especially for breaking up the party.

The camp was all astir, soon the order rang out, " Fall in," and we filed out of the beautiful grove. Woe unto the Yankee that had fallen into our hands that night, for there was fire in our hearts and we thirsted for his blood. In the morning the enemy was located and after some skirmishing, his advanced posts fell back. He was not quite ready for battle yet. Several days were spent in watch- ing each other's movements. At dawn in the morning of the lyth of September the boom of a cannon and the rattle of musketry in our front told us that the enemy were in earnest. (By way of expla- nation let me say : Having been severely wounded at Chancellors- ville, I was detailed as Commissary of our regiment. So, I gener- ally saw the fighting from a point, where distance lent enchantment to the view.)

Gradually the enemy forced our skirmish line back on the main body. About two miles from it Early decided to make a stand, his centre resting on the Berry ville pike. 'The gallant Gordon was in command of Jackson's old division, and held the right of the pike. I think Generals Rodes and Robert D. Lilley held the left of our line. By 9 A. M. the battle was raging along the whole line. The heavy blue lines were repulsed time and again. Never before, in the history of the war, did our boys fight with such courage and desperation. They knew what was at stake, even the hospitable town and the dear old valley itself. By gradually flanking our right, the enemy began forcing our line back. Rhoades had fallen, and Lilley was left badly wounded on the field. But our men, like lions at bay, came back stubbornly. At length the Federal line halted, deeming it wise to measure well the ground in front before venturing too far. Imboden's cavalry covered our left wing on the valley pike. About 3 P. M. we heard a great shout from that point, and climbing an eminence I saw the charge of Sheridan's troopers. It was a splendid sight. In a front line of half a mile they swept on, their sabres flashing in the sunlight, and their fine