The Fifth Virginia Regiment in the battle of Manassas.
At the request of our friends in
Augusta county, we publish the subjoined narrative, written by one who participated in the battle.
Though coming at a late day, it will repay perusal, not only on account of its graphic style of composition, but from the introduction of incidents hitherto undeveloped.
It is, moreover, gratifying to record the deeds of a gallant regiment of which little has yet been said, while glowing and merited commendations have been bestowed upon others.
Sunday, the 21st July, 1861! Who, at
Manassas, will ever forget the terrific scenes that raged so fearfully and destructively there on that day; language is inadequate, the tongue cannot find utterance for words sufficiently descriptive; the ingenious mind can invent no figure however brilliant the imagination or splendid the pencil stroke, that will equal the terrible fierceness of the serried hosts that day met in battle array.
How terrible a work to engage human hands!
Will not civilized Christendom require at the hands of the debauched and despotic Government, who have instigated and are carrying on this unholy war, a sea of repentant tears for the wrongs they have committed this day against the innocent and unoffensive of earth and the justice of high Heaven?
But, ‘"vengeance is mine, saith the
Lord."’ Be their consciences their accuser, and let their deeds exhibit their guilt to the world.
Early Sunday we were aroused by the drum beating the long roll, and we immediately formed in line of battle.
Soon the enemy commenced a heavy cannonading on our right, which our accomplished
Generals soon discovered to be a feint mads by the enemy to attract our attention in that quarter, while their real attack would be made on the extreme left.
We were immediately ordered to take position several miles to the left.
We had not been in position long, before it became evident we were in a warm neighborhood.
The enemy's artillery, just in our front, but hid from our sight by a skirt of woods and an eminence between us, thundered forth its deadly missiles, and presently, too, the sharp, ringing crack of the rifle was heard, showing that the advance guard of skirmishers had met. Cavalry scouts could be seen, galloping within the lines, when a terrible volley of musketry, immediately in our front, assured us shat the ball had opened, and the fight had commenced in right good earnest.
Between 9 and 10 o'clock a m., the enemy, in tremendous force, advanced his right against our left, with the view of turning our left wing and getting position in the rear of the ‘"Junction."’ They were met by several South Carolina regiments (including
Hampton's Legion) and the Alabama 4th, our regiment (the 5th Virginia) being held in reserve; but soon we were ordered forward to support the 4th Alabama.
On our way to take position on a hill we were met by a portion of a South Carolina regiment who had been compelled to fall back by an over whelming force, and who informed us that the 4th Alabama was being literally out to pieces.
Here, also, we met two pieces of the
Washington (La.) Artillery retiring, having expended their stock of ammunition.
This was by no means encouraging, but we felt the necessity for greater exertion on our part, and forward we rushed to the assistance of our friends.
Amid a perfect shower of musketry and cannon balls the command to half and lay down was given, as it was impossible for us to return the enemy's fire, they being completely sheltered by the hill.
Not being able to return the enemy's fire, or even see them, our men cried out to be led forward or taken back to the foot of the hill; but our gallant
Col. Harper assured us that he had no orders to advance, but was directed to occupy this position until the enemy should make their appearance, when we were to fire and charge bayonets.
Finally, the order to advance was given, and under a perfect shower of shell and shot we arose and started up the hill.
A portion of our regiment misunderstanding the order, we were thrown into temporary confusion; but soon called, and our gallant
Major,
Wm S. H. Baylor, taking the lead, we rushed forward and gained the position on the hill behind some old houses.
Before we gained position, however, the Fourth Alabama Regiment had been compelled to retreat, and we found ourselves face to face with a powerful force of the enemy, and conspicuous among them was the famous Ellsworth Zouaves.
Just in our front was the Second New York Regiment.
On the left of them the Zouaves.
were stationed, while on our right, and completely flanking us, was the First or Second Maine Regiment.
We fired a telling volley of musketry into the regiment in our front, which drove them rapidly to the rear.
This drew the fire of those on our left upon us, and while engaged with them, the
Maine regiment on our right, (who we supposed at first to be friends,) advanced rapidly upon us, and sheltering themselves by lying down behind a fence, they poured a most destructive fire into our ranks, and here some of our best and bravest men fell.
Here the noble and brave
Billy Woodward exclaimed, ‘"I will never retreat. 'Give me liberty or give me death.'"’ His lips had scarce given utterance to those heroic words, when a ball pierced his brave heart.
It soon became evident that with our single regiment it was impossible to maintain the position, exposed as we were to a centre and two raking flank fires from at least four times our number.
We therefore fell back to a skirt of woods some hundred yards in the rear, where we were joined by a portion of the Alabama 4th, who had fought so gallantly and suffered so terribly at the house on the hill before we came up. A portion of a South Carolina regiment also joined in with us here, and during the rest of the evening we fought side by side.
The very part of the field the contest now raged, and desperate efforts were made by each party to gain some decided advantage, without apparent success, though they greatly out numbered us, and I looked on at the terrible and desperate strife without being able in my own mind, to determine which would be victors.
Greatly to the encouragement of our brave troops, who were so heroically struggling against superior numbers, several fresh batteries made their appearance, and took position on an eminence just to our left.
These opened upon the enemy, whose main column was sheltered behind a gradually sloping hill, thickly covered by small timber.
and protected by a part of the celebrated Sherman Battery.
A tremendous cannonading now took place that far surpassed anything I ever imagined.
It appeared to me as if Heaven and earth were being rent asunder, so terrible was the crash and roar of the monster instruments of death.
Several times the enemy attempted to rally for a charge on our batteries; but whenever their lines came within, the terrible discharges of round shot and canister from our batteries swept them like chaff before the wind, their long and splendidly- formed lines fairly melting away.
Yet the tremendous force before us seemed not to diminish, and every inch of ground was contested with sullen and determined force, our brave troops fighting with renewed energy and vigor.
Being parched with thirst and almost exhausted, I ran down to what appeared to be a branch or mud hole, and drank copiously of the muddy water, and was just returning to my regiment when I met
Gen. Johnston, who inquired of me to what regiment I belonged.
I told him. He then inquired how
Gen. Jackson's Brigade was getting along.
I told him we were fighting bravely and well, but against large odds, and needed help.
He at once said, go join your regiment and tell them to hold their position, and in a few moments I will send reinforcements to their aid. I hurried back to my regiment with a lighter heart than I left it.
On reaching the top of a hill, I could see in the direction of
Manassas Junction a large column of men rapidly approaching, and filling past them, with the swiftness of the wind, was a splendid body of Cavalry, numbering probably a thousand.
These came rushing on like a mighty torrent, with drawn sabres glittering in the evening's bright sunbeams, mounted on steeds who seemed to be maddened by the contest that was being waged by man against his fellow man. I soon recognized this to be the splendid body of Cavalry commanded by the gallant
Col. Stuart, of which the excellent company from
Augusta (
Capt. Patrick's) forms part.
In the meantime,
Gen. Beauregard appeared on the field in person, and approaching our regiment inquired who we were, and on being informed, he addressed us in the following cheering language: ‘"Fight on, brave
Virginia boys; the day is ours everywhere else, and it must be here also,"’ He then commanded us to follow him, and, with a loud cheer, we rushed forward, determined to do as commanded, or die.
By this time
Sherman's battery had evidently become somewhat disabled, and had slackened its fire a little.
Our course was turned directly in that direction.
We reached the top of an eminence, fired a volley and at a charge bayonets rushed down upon it.--We found every horse attached to the battery was either killed or disabled and not a man, except the dead and wounded were left with the guns.
Almost every company in the regiment claim the credit of first reaching the battery.
I would not do injustice to any. But a proper regard to truth and honor, to whom honor is due in this particular act, compels me to say that the left of the regiment, under the command of
Major Baylor, was the first to reach the immediate vicinity of the battery, and
Corporal R. T. Bucher, of the West Augusta Guards,
Captain Waters, and
John Suts, of the
Augusta Rifles,
Captain Antrim, were the first men to reach the captured guns, Corporal
Bucher sprang astride one the pieces and fired his musket at the retreating enemy.
By this time the reinforcements I referred to coming from the direction of
Manassas, had arrived on the ground, and, unperceived either by us or the enemy, marched rapidly to our left and to the right of the
Federal forces, under cover of a skirt of woods.
These troops consisted of three
Tennessee and one
Virginia regiments; from this position they poured into the ranks of the enemy (who were partly concealed by thick undergrowth,) the most terrible and deadly volley of musketry I ever witnessed; and then, with a shout that rent the air, they rushed in one grand sweeping charge upon them.
The enemy, terror stricken, broke ranks and field in the wildest confusion over the hill; the cavalry charged upon them, sending terror and dismay among their already confused and broken ranks; the guns of the captured batteries were turned against them; batteries were run upon eminences which commanded roads along which they retreated, and which raked and crushed their disordered columns dreadfully, and shout after shout rent the air from the victorious Southern troops.
Our cavalry pursued the retreating columns of the enemy far on the road towards
Alexandria, capturing (besides slaying numbers of the wretches) more than two thousand prisoners, immense stores of provisions.
arms, ammunition and equipments, of the finest kind.
Thus (about 6 o'clock P. M,) was ended one of the most desperate and hotly contested battles ever fought, perhaps, on the
American continent.
Notwithstanding the grand victory and brilliant success which it had pleased Divine Providence to crown our arms, and which we had strained our every nerve to gain, yet when the strife of battle had ceased, the roar of guns and the clash of arms had died away, and we had turned to retrace wearily our steps to camp, it was in silence and with sad and heavy hearts; for we bore along with us many beloved and brave fellow soldiers — comrades in battle, in peace our tried and trusted friends, who on that field of battle had yielded up their lives in defence of their country's rights.
Gallant, brave and lamented fellows, you could not have died more nobly, or in a nobler cause."
