Page 170 - History of Rockingham Co
P. 170
\ ROCKINGHAM COUNTY
In the meantime, Winder being now reinforced by the seventh Louisiana
regiment, Colonel Hays, seeing no mode of silencing the Federal battery,
or escaping its destructive missiles but by a rapid charge, and the capture
of it, adranced with great boldness for some distance, but encountered
such a heavy fire of artillery and small arms as greatly to disorganize his
command, which fell back in disorder. The enemy advanced across the
field, and, by a heavy musketry fire, forced back our infantry supports,
in consequence of which our guns had to retire. The enemy's advance
was checked by a spirited attack upon their flank, by the fifty-eighth and
fifty-fourth Virginia regiments, directed by General Ewell and led by
Colonel Scott, although his command was afterwards driven back to the
woods with severe loss. The batteries were all safely withdrawn except
one of Captain Poague's six-pounder guns, which was carried off by the
enemy.
Whilst Winder's command was in this critical condition, the gallant
and successful attack of General Taylor on the Federal left and rear,
directed attention from the front, and lead to a concentration of their
force upon him. IMoving to the right along the mountain acclivity, through
a rough and tangled forest, and much disordered by the rapidity and ob-
structions of the march, Taylor emerged with his command from the
wood, just as the loud cheers of the enemy had proclaimed their success
in front; and although assailed by a superior force in front and flank,
with their guns in position within point blank range, the charge was
gallantly made, and the battery, consisting of six guns, fell into our
hands. Three times was this battery lost and won in the desperate and
determined efforts to capture and recover it. After holding the batteries
for a short time, a fresh brigade of the enemy advancing upon his flank,
made a vigorous and well conducted attack upon him, accompanied by a
galling fire of canister from a piece suddenly brought into position, at a
distance of about three hundred and fifty yards. Under this combined
attack, Taylor fell back to the skirt of the wood, near which the captured
battery was stationed, and from that point continued his fire upon the
advancing enemy, who succeeded in recapturing one of the guns, which
he carried off, leaving both caisson and limber. The enemy, now occupied
with Taylor, halted his advance to the front. Winder made a renewed
effort to rally his command, and succeeding, with the seventh Louisiana,
under Major Penn, (the Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel having been
carried from the field wounded,) and the fifth Virginia regiment. Col.
Funk, he placed part of Poague's battery in the position previously
occupied by it, and again opened upon the enemy, who were moving
against Taylor's left flank, apparently to surround him in the wood.
Chew's battery now reported, and was placed in position, and did good
service. Soon after, guns from the batteries of Brockenbough, Courtnay
and Rains, were brought forward and placed in position. Whilst these
—145—
In the meantime, Winder being now reinforced by the seventh Louisiana
regiment, Colonel Hays, seeing no mode of silencing the Federal battery,
or escaping its destructive missiles but by a rapid charge, and the capture
of it, adranced with great boldness for some distance, but encountered
such a heavy fire of artillery and small arms as greatly to disorganize his
command, which fell back in disorder. The enemy advanced across the
field, and, by a heavy musketry fire, forced back our infantry supports,
in consequence of which our guns had to retire. The enemy's advance
was checked by a spirited attack upon their flank, by the fifty-eighth and
fifty-fourth Virginia regiments, directed by General Ewell and led by
Colonel Scott, although his command was afterwards driven back to the
woods with severe loss. The batteries were all safely withdrawn except
one of Captain Poague's six-pounder guns, which was carried off by the
enemy.
Whilst Winder's command was in this critical condition, the gallant
and successful attack of General Taylor on the Federal left and rear,
directed attention from the front, and lead to a concentration of their
force upon him. IMoving to the right along the mountain acclivity, through
a rough and tangled forest, and much disordered by the rapidity and ob-
structions of the march, Taylor emerged with his command from the
wood, just as the loud cheers of the enemy had proclaimed their success
in front; and although assailed by a superior force in front and flank,
with their guns in position within point blank range, the charge was
gallantly made, and the battery, consisting of six guns, fell into our
hands. Three times was this battery lost and won in the desperate and
determined efforts to capture and recover it. After holding the batteries
for a short time, a fresh brigade of the enemy advancing upon his flank,
made a vigorous and well conducted attack upon him, accompanied by a
galling fire of canister from a piece suddenly brought into position, at a
distance of about three hundred and fifty yards. Under this combined
attack, Taylor fell back to the skirt of the wood, near which the captured
battery was stationed, and from that point continued his fire upon the
advancing enemy, who succeeded in recapturing one of the guns, which
he carried off, leaving both caisson and limber. The enemy, now occupied
with Taylor, halted his advance to the front. Winder made a renewed
effort to rally his command, and succeeding, with the seventh Louisiana,
under Major Penn, (the Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel having been
carried from the field wounded,) and the fifth Virginia regiment. Col.
Funk, he placed part of Poague's battery in the position previously
occupied by it, and again opened upon the enemy, who were moving
against Taylor's left flank, apparently to surround him in the wood.
Chew's battery now reported, and was placed in position, and did good
service. Soon after, guns from the batteries of Brockenbough, Courtnay
and Rains, were brought forward and placed in position. Whilst these
—145—
