Pictorial history of the war for the Union, volume 1 (of 2) : $b A complete and reliable history of the war from its commencement to its close ... together with a complete chronological analysis of the warStephens, Ann S. (Ann Sophia)
History
Pictorial history of the war for the Union, volume 1 (of 2) : $b A complete and reliable history of the war from its commencement to its close ... together with a complete chronological analysis of the war
Stephens, Ann S. (Ann Sophia)
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Our regiments and artillery then crossed the river in hot pursuit. At a
distance of a quarter of a mile the road again crosses the stream, and
General Garnett sought in vain to rally his troops at this point. Major
Gordon of the Seventh Indiana led the advance, and soon reached the spot
where General Garnett, on the opposite side of the river, was
endeavoring to rally his forces around him. Gordon called upon Captain
Ferry’s company, and ordered them to fire. The rebels greeted Major
Gordon with one volley and fled. General Garnett turned to call his men,
and motioned them back, but all in vain. At this moment, Sergeant
Burlingame, of Captain Ferry’s company, raised his piece, took aim, and
fired. General Garnett fell backward, his head lying towards our forces,
and with open mouth, as though gasping for breath. He uttered not a
groan, and when Major Gordon reached him, a few moments afterwards, he
was just expiring. The Major stooped down, tenderly closed his eyes,
disposed his limbs, and left a guard of loyal soldiers around him to
protect all that remained of the chivalrous and honored, but mistaken
leader of Western Virginia.
Every Virginian among the followers of this gallant man fled, and left
him to fall and expire alone. But a young soldier wearing the Georgia
uniform and button, sprang to his side, only to share his fate, for a
musket shot answered this devotion with death, and he fell side by side
with his commander. The Federal troops, even in the glow of victory,
stopped to pay a tribute of respect to this generous youth. They placed
a board at his grave and cut rudely upon it, “A brave fellow, who shared
his General’s fate and fell fighting by his side. Name unknown.”
The loss of our troops was killed, two; wounded, twelve. The enemy lost
eight on the field, three died in hospital, and ten others were wounded.
A large number of prisoners were taken, including six Georgia captains
and lieutenants, a surgeon, and a number of non-commissioned officers.
Beside prisoners, there were also captured two stands of colors, one
rifled cannon, forty loaded wagons, hundreds of muskets and side arms,
with other effects of various kinds.
This action is honorable in the highest degree to all engaged in it.
They had pursued and overtaken an enemy who had twelve hours advance;
they had made a forced march of nearly thirty miles in less than
twenty-four hours, over the worst of roads, and with scarcely any food,
some of the men having been without nourishment for thirty-six hours.
They then fought a battle, cut off the enemy’s baggage train, captured
their cannon, routed their army, and found themselves in full possession
of the field. The day and the event will ever be memorable, and Ohio and
Indiana may well be proud of their sons.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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